So I have been studying for my Linux+ exam for a month now and I am not prepared. I read through a whole book and a half and done a bunch of practice tests and run it in a VM for this month but nothign helped. I remember certain basic stuff which makes up some of the exam, which I found out I only need 38/60 correct answers on the test to barely pass, but I want to do better. It isn't so much that its NOT clicking, it makes sense as I read but I can't apply it to my own situation. Using a VM and making up my own lab work really isn't working. I heard about LabSim but that seems a bit expensive for my budget and I want to take this within the next two weeks. I can't remember stuff just by memorizing I have to do it but I hit issues with this somehow with this topic.

My problem is I watch training videos online and read the books and try things and they make sense for the moment, but then I take a practice exam and its either stuff I didn't cover or don't remember. I started making flashcards which tries to help but still I don't get it to click. It is startign to discourage me and make me think I just won't pass the exam and I am unsure how else to keep studying or what to focus on.

Any suggestions for keeping motivated and not burning out on the studying? If I try to take breaks I end up not coming back to what I was doing alot of times so that is a tough one.

It helps me to learn with friends. Got any mates (1 or 2, 3+ is distracting) that are doing the same thing? My friends keep me motivated. One because it's a challenge to beat him, one because he can use my help and I don't want to let him down.

I also used to learn by writing a sort of summaries. I'd just open a text file, and start reading a book. When I read a bit, I would try to write a text that explains what I just read, but to someone that doesn't get it, like a friend, brother, or just someone with the IQ of a potato. (As you said, you get it, but dont seem to remeber it).
Not really motivating, unless you can actually distribute your work when it's done, and get people telling you this helped them.

Not sure if you already tries this, but making old exams and test usually helps. You might discover a structure in the way's they give exams. Try to see what kind of questions they have, and than see how they are usually answered. What kind of facts to they expect for a questions about subject X? List them. etc.

Problem with going to take the exam is the cost associated with it. If I fail I must pay a second time which is not something I want to do. I also don't really have anyone to sit and work on this with however.

Might there be an organisation (the one giving the exam, or perhaps others) that have old exams?
Around here, most of exams, be it from university, for a drivers licence, or first aid diploma, have some sort of practice exam. Usually old exams from last year.
It's not always given to you by the organisation that gives you the exam though.

That feeling is very common for university students. You just have to do the best you can, and in the end if you don't pass, atleast you can say you did the best you can, and that's the best you can hope for.



You just have to think about the motivations for you to study. I usually think how useful the subject I'm studying is and what application it has. I study mathematics, so when I'm studying the more abstract stuff, I google the applications it has in real life and the context in which it was developed.
Another motivation for me is that I know I have to do my best to get good grades, because I need them. But I don't focus much on getting good grades, I focus on doing my best and enjoying what I do.

But, in the end, you'll just have to study, whether you like it or not.

Just realize that you'll have to re-cert in 3 years anyway, so if you don't pass your first try it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

... On second thought, not certain if that helps

Put it in writing? Someone once said that if you can't put it down in writing, then you haven't learned it. So instead of flashcards try to pick a question or a concept and answer it on paper without any aid at all, like a test, then look back over it and see what you really do and don't know.

You'd be surprised how well this works.

As for the actual time? I say tough it out. No breaks. Hit it hard for 4 hours solid, and then close shop for the night and don't touch it until the next day.

Actually the Linux+ you don't since you get the LPIC-1 with it which doesn't expire as far as I know of.

I never studied. I depended on my own natural ability to retain knowledge. my opinion is that if the instructer is not covering material that is necessary for passing that class and tosses it out as homework/study then they aren't doing their jobs.

This is for a certification, it's not a class (though you can take classes like the OP's mentioning of LabSim which has online instructor videos). There is no teacher, it's all on you.

I think I may give this a go. I am going to go through the book and write out notes, not type actually write, and see if this helps at all. I have been doing it for training videos but I feel this may help more. I have two books and I wonder which will be better for it, my certified CompTIA study guide or the textbook I got for the Linux+ class. Any tips on getting out only the important information?