Studying for a CompTIA certification exam can be overwhelming. There’s a lot of information to learn and a number of ways to prepare. So how do you know which method will work best for you? A good place to start is to determine your learning style. Are you a visual or auditory learner? Do you learn best by observing or diving right in to try things? Everyone learns in a different way, and understanding how you learn will help you make the most of your exam prep.

We’ve described four learning styles below, but if you are still unsure as to where you fit in, take our quiz, and we’ll help you pinpoint whether you’re an explorer, a scrutinizer, a scholar or an architect.

Trial and Error Explorer

You experiment to figure things out. When it comes to learning, you prefer a combination of classroom and hands-on activities so you can watch and learn, ask questions and then figure the rest out as you go. You excel in math, logic and problem solving; enjoy numbers and patterns; and tend to categorize and classify things.

Self-Paced Scrutinizer

You are an independent learner and worker. You like to do things in your own way, in your own time. Because of this, you prefer self-study options to learning in a classroom. You are self-motivated and do whatever it takes to achieve your goals and dreams. You may be spontaneous, following your instincts rather than conducting extensive research or comparing numerous options.

Attentive Scholar

You have a process for everything and have systems for keeping things on track. After learning in a class or observing a new technique, you like to read the material, highlight the key points and then study what you learned using flashcards. Once you learn the material, you have it locked in. You love trivia games and word searches and like to research all of your options before making a decision.

Hands-On Architect

You are a visual and tactile learner. You like to see and touch things to understand how and why they do what they do. You were the kid who took apart clocks, vacuum cleaners or even computers to better understand how they work. Today you’re an innovator – you imagine a solution, visualize how to get there and then make it happen.

Now that you know your learning style, you can choose which classroom or self-study options will help you prepare for and pass your CompTIA certification exam.