What is Covered in Mac Service Certification Exam (MAC-16A)

 

What's on the exam?

The ACMT 2016 Mac Service Certification Exam (MAC-16A) is a computer-based knowledge test that Pearson VUE offers online. This is an open-resource test. We encourage you to use Apple references to answer the questions. We recommend that you have GSX access, but you don't need it to pass this exam.

To earn Apple Certified Mac Technician (ACMT) 2016 certification, you need to pass this exam (MAC-16A) and the Apple Service Fundamentals Exam (SVC-16A).

Exam summary

  • Number of sections: 7
  • Number of learning objectives: 58
  • Number of total items: 70
  • Passing score: 80 percent overall (at least 56 out of 70 items to pass)
  • Exam time limit: 2 hours

Seven demographic questions are presented at the beginning of the exam. These items aren't scored and don't use the 2 hours given for the exam.

This exam has a must-pass section. To pass the exam, you need to score at least 4 out of 5 in the Safety section.

Sections and topics

Here are the sections and topics that the ACMT 2016 Mac Service Certification Exam covers.

OS X Care (17 items)

  • Use Disk Utility to prepare a volume to use OS X.
  • Describe the OS X installation process from the Mac App Store and OS X Recovery.
  • Identify the proper methods to migrate data from one Mac to another using the data-migration tools in OS X.
  • Identify the types of updates that the Mac App Store delivers.
  • Identify the power states of a Mac running OS X.
  • Describe how to troubleshoot power states on Mac models that don't have a sleep indicator light.
  • Identify the symptoms of an SMC that isn't functioning correctly.
  • Explain how to maximize the battery life of an Apple product so that a customer can understand.
  • Change the password for an account in OS X. Compare and contrast changing passwords with resetting passwords for accounts in OS X.
  • Store a username and password combination in the default keychain for an account in OS X.
  • Identify the different types of accounts in OS X, and describe the capabilities of those accounts.
  • Identify and describe the default settings for Gatekeeper in OS X.
  • Configure FileVault 2 in OS X to secure the data on a Mac.
  • Configure the Firewall in OS X to secure the network connections on a Mac.
  • Describe the data-privacy concerns that are presented when Location Services is enabled in OS X.
  • Set up a Firmware (EFI) password on a Mac. Find and list features and techniques that firmware password protection blocks.
  • Describe how to use Time Machine in OS X to create, restore, and manage a secure backup copy of a customer's data. 

OS X Functionality (6 items)

  • Identify the components of the default OS X user environment.
  • Find and manage Library folders.
  • Describe how to configure and use Spotlight in OS X to find a given set of information.
  • Describe how to use Mission Control and Spaces to configure the desktop environment in OS X.
  • Identify and use gestures on a trackpad to control the OS X interface.
  • In a simulated environment, use System Preferences in OS X to resolve a given issue by changing a setting.

OS X Networking and Services (7 items)

  • Use System Preferences in OS X, and Apple accessories, to configure a wired or Wi-Fi connection to an existing network.
  • Use System Preferences to configure OS X to securely share data over a network.
  • Enable AirDrop in OS X and share a file with another AirDrop-enabled Mac or iOS Device.
  • Use tools in OS X to configure an Apple ID account using tools in OS X.
  • Use System Preferences to configure iCloud services in OS X to sync data among Mac, devices, and the cloud.
  • Use tools in OS X to configure Mail to send and receive emails.
  • Describe how to configure Continuity services in OS X.

Troubleshooting Macs (11 items)

  • Troubleshoot, evaluate, and isolate a given issue with a Mac to learn how to fix the issue.
  • Given an isolated issue, categorize the issue as a hardware issue (including accidental damage), software issue, environmental issue, or educational opportunity.
  • Given a customer scenario, correctly answer a set of knowledge-based questions about evaluating and isolating issues.
  • Identify Mac issues that are resolvable with customer education.
  • Identify Mac-specific environmental issues.
  • Describe when hardware troubleshooting should occur in relation to perceptual, environmental, and hardware troubleshooting.
  • Describe types of software issues and the corresponding techniques likely to resolve them.

Repairing the Mac Family (24 items)

  • Identify the online resources necessary to ensure proper and safe servicing of a Mac model.
  • Given a simulated workstation, identify the supplies that are necessary to reduce the possibility of being harmed while servicing Mac models.
  • Differentiate between Mac models, families, and form factors based on physical appearance or serial number.
  • Describe the purpose of specified diagnostic tools.
  • Identify the diagnostic tool most appropriate to a given troubleshooting scenario.
  • Identify special troubleshooting considerations related to the Apple Thunderbolt Display (27-inch).
  • Identify specialized tools, fixtures, or procedures required to service the iMac.
  • Identify specialized tools, fixtures, or procedures required to service the Mac mini (Late 2014).
  • Identify special tools required to service the MacBook Pro (13-inch).
  • Identify the internal connector types for the specific MacBook Pro (13-inch) models and how to handle them without damaging the product.
  • Identify specialized tools, fixtures, or procedures required to service the MacBook Pro (15-inch).
  • Identify specialized tools, fixtures, or procedures required to service the MacBook Air (11-inch).
  • Identify specialized tools, fixtures, or procedures required to service the MacBook Air (13-inch).
  • Identify specialized tools, fixtures, or procedures required to service the Mac Pro.
  • Identify the ports and port accessories for the Mac Pro models.
  • Identify the internal connector types for the specific Mac Pro models and how to handle them without damaging the product.
  • Describe service issues related to a specific Mac Pro model.
  • Identify specialized tools, fixtures, or procedures required to service the MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015).
  • Identify the internal connector types for the MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) and how to handle them without damaging the product.

Safety (5 items)

  • Identify safety precautions necessary to safely service iMac models.
  • Identify appropriate precautions to ensure personal and workplace safety when servicing MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) models.


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205733