Merge study-tracker into repo + update exam goal to July 7

- Updated README with combined navigation and exam details
- Updated SCHEDULE.md exam goal from June 30 to July 7, 2026
- Added certifications/roadmap.md with full cert path (A+ → CCNA → AWS → CKA)
- Added certifications/a-plus-core2.md with exam details, domain breakdown,
  practice test log, weak areas, and homelab experience map

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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kenpat 2026-06-18 18:38:39 -05:00
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# CompTIA A+ Core 2 Study Project # CompTIA A+ Core 2 — Study Workspace
Private study workspace for CompTIA A+ Core 2 `220-1202`. Everything for passing CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) lives here.
## Clone **Exam goal:** July 7, 2026
**Hard deadline:** July 12, 2026
**Status:** Active study — Phase 2 (Security)
```bash ---
git clone https://gitforge.kitestacks.com/kenpat/comptia-a-plus-core2.git
cd comptia-a-plus-core2
```
This is a private Forgejo repository, so cloning requires an account or access token with repository read access. ## Quick Navigation
## Goal | File/Folder | What's in it |
|-------------|--------------|
| `SCHEDULE.md` | Day-by-day study plan (June 10 July 7) |
| `MEMORY.md` | Current state, progress, what's next |
| `quiz-log.md` | Every quiz attempt with score and missed concepts |
| `lab-log.md` | Hands-on lab progress |
| `notes/` | Study notes organized by objective (OS-1, SEC-1, etc.) |
| `quizzes/` | Quiz question sets by topic |
| `labs/` | Hands-on lab exercises |
| `flashcards/` | Quick-review cards for memorization-heavy topics |
| `mind-maps/` | Visual maps of each domain |
| `reference-materials/` | Index of study resources |
| `certifications/` | Certification roadmap and exam details |
Prepare to pass Core 2 by June 30, 2026. ---
## How To Continue ## How to Study Each Day
Start with `MEMORY.md` for the current state, progress, and next action. 1. Open `MEMORY.md` — it tells you exactly where you left off
2. Read the matching note from `notes/` (e.g., `notes/SEC-1-security-fundamentals.md`)
3. Do the matching lab from `labs/` if practical
4. Take the matching quiz from `quizzes/`
5. Update `quiz-log.md` with your score and any weak concepts
6. Update `MEMORY.md` with today's progress and tomorrow's next step
Useful files: ---
- `SCHEDULE.md`: day-by-day study plan
- `quiz-log.md`: quiz attempts and missed concepts
- `lab-log.md`: hands-on lab progress
- `mind-maps/core2-status.html`: visual objective status map
- `notes/`: lessons by objective
- `labs/`: hands-on exercises
- `quizzes/`: section quizzes
- `reference-materials/REFERENCE_INDEX.md`: processed reference inventory
## Current Flow ## Exam Info
1. Study one objective from `notes/`. - **Test code:** 220-1202
2. Run the matching lab from `labs/` when practical. - **Questions:** 90 questions in 90 minutes
3. Take the matching quiz from `quizzes/`. - **Passing score:** 700 / 900 (about 78%)
4. Update `quiz-log.md`, `lab-log.md`, `MEMORY.md`, and `mind-maps/core2-status.html`. - **Format:** Multiple choice + performance-based questions (PBQs)
## Reference Policy ## Domain Weights
Full extracted text from commercial PDFs is intentionally not committed. Use summarized project notes and the reference index for continuity. | Domain | Weight | Strategy |
|--------|--------|----------|
| Operating Systems | 27% | Heaviest — memorize Windows CLI tools and edition features |
| Security | 24% | Strong from homelab experience |
| Software Troubleshooting | 26% | Practical — use real-world analogies |
| Operational Procedures | 23% | Most memorization — review late in study plan |
---
## Background Strengths (from homelab)
Running KiteStacks homelab already covers real-world versions of many exam topics:
- **Security:** firewall rules, TLS certificates, OAuth2/OIDC SSO, VPN (Tailscale)
- **Linux CLI:** file permissions, process management, networking tools, SSH
- **Troubleshooting:** diagnosed and fixed production-level distributed systems issues
- **Documentation:** maintains active RUNBOOK and git-tracked change history
- **Networking:** Cloudflare Tunnel, Docker networking, DNS, reverse proxy
---
## Study Resources
- **Professor Messer** — free YouTube videos + paid practice exams (professormesser.com)
- **CompTIA CertMaster** — official practice platform
- **Sybex** — used for cold diagnostic (harder than real exam, ~60-65% equivalent)
- **Jason Dion practice exams** — Udemy backup
- **r/CompTIA** — community forum
- **Professor Messer Discord** — accountability and study partner replacement
---
## Core 1 Result
CompTIA A+ Core 1 — **PASSED** — highest score in a class of 22 students.

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# CompTIA A+ Core 2 Schedule # CompTIA A+ Core 2 Schedule
Dates: June 10 through June 30, 2026 **Exam goal: July 7, 2026 (hard deadline: July 12)**
Dates: June 10 through July 7, 2026
## Phase 1: Baseline and Operating Systems ## Phase 1: Baseline and Operating Systems

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# CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) — Exam Details
## Status
- **Studying since:** June 11, 2026
- **Exam goal:** July 7, 2026
- **Hard deadline:** July 12, 2026
- **Passing score:** 700 / 900 (~78%)
- **Format:** 90 questions in 90 minutes
## Study Strategy
- Took cold diagnostic practice test first to find weak spots
- Study weak domains first (not start-to-finish)
- Practice tests every 34 days to track improvement
- Don't schedule the real exam until consistently scoring 85%+ on practice tests
- July 4th week = buffer week or final prep if needed
## Domain Breakdown
| Domain | Weight | My Confidence | Priority |
|--------|--------|---------------|----------|
| Operating Systems | 27% | Medium | High — most content |
| Security | 24% | High (homelab!) | Medium — review gaps |
| Software Troubleshooting | 26% | High | Medium — use real experience |
| Operational Procedures | 23% | Low | High — most memorization |
## Practice Test Log
| Date | Test | Score | Notes |
|------|------|-------|-------|
| 2026-06-11 | Sybex diagnostic (cold) | 50% (50/100) | No prior study. Sybex ~60-65% equivalent on real exam |
## Key Weak Areas
- Windows command-line tools: `sfc /scannow`, `DISM`, `chkdsk`, `bootrec`, `diskpart`, `ipconfig /all`, `netstat`, `tracert`, `nslookup`
- Malware types and the exact removal steps (quarantine order, safe mode boot, etc.)
- Windows OS editions and what features each one has
- Operational procedures (safety rules, environmental controls, compliance)
## Study Resources
| Resource | Type | Status |
|----------|------|--------|
| Professor Messer | YouTube + paid practice exams | Active |
| CompTIA CertMaster | Official practice platform | Planned |
| Sybex | Practice exam book | Used (diagnostic) |
| Jason Dion | Udemy practice exams | Backup option |
| r/CompTIA | Community forum | Active |
| Professor Messer Discord | Study accountability | Active |
## Homelab Experience That Helps
These hands-on KiteStacks experiences map directly to exam topics:
| Homelab Experience | Exam Topic |
|-------------------|------------|
| Cloudflare Tunnel setup | Network security, VPN concepts |
| Authentik SSO (OAuth2, OIDC) | Authentication, authorization, MFA |
| Tailscale VPN mesh | Remote access, network topology |
| Docker container management | Virtualization, OS concepts |
| Linux CLI (daily use) | OS commands, file permissions |
| Diagnosed OAuth2 distributed bug | Software troubleshooting methodology |
| RUNBOOK + git change tracking | Documentation, change management |
| Grafana/Prometheus monitoring | Operational procedures |

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# Certification Roadmap
**Career goal:** Cloud Engineering
**Current level:** CompTIA A+ Core 1 passed (highest score in class of 22)
## Path
| # | Cert | Status | Target | Notes |
|---|------|--------|--------|-------|
| 1 | CompTIA A+ Core 1 | ✅ PASSED | — | Highest score in class of 22 |
| 2 | CompTIA A+ Core 2 | 🔄 Studying | July 7, 2026 (goal) / July 12 (hard deadline) | Diagnostic: 50% Sybex cold |
| 3 | CCNA | 📅 Next | ~2026 Q4 | Gold standard networking cert |
| 4 | AWS SAA-C03 | 📅 Planned | After CCNA | Core cloud cert, most in-demand |
| 5 | AWS SysOps Associate | 📅 Planned | After SAA | Operations focus, maps to homelab |
| 6 | CKA (Kubernetes) | 📅 Planned | After AWS | Container orchestration at scale |
| 7 | AI / Prompt Engineering | 📅 Planned | After cloud foundation | AWS AI Practitioner, DeepLearning.AI |
## Why This Order
- Networking (CCNA) before cloud makes AWS 3x easier to understand
- Associate certs before specialties — breadth before depth
- Homelab project (KiteStacks) already demonstrates cloud engineering skills at associate level