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CompTIA220-1201 + 220-1202Available

A+ exam practice

A+ exam preparation

868 approved A+ practice questions across 9 exam domains, each with an explanation. Aligned to 220-1201 + 220-1202 (V15).
Practice A+ free now

10 free questions now, no account. A free account adds 10 a day. All Access removes the limit.

868 approved questions No credit card required Progress stays private

Role and experience fit

Is This Certification Right For You?

Use the provider’s official candidate guidance alongside this practical fit check.
Good fit if...
  • You are entering IT without a formal technical background.
  • You want a credential that maps directly to help desk and desktop support work.
  • You prefer broad practical coverage over depth in one specialty.
May not be right if...
  • You already work in IT and are targeting a specialty such as security or cloud.
  • You need a credential for an engineering or administration role rather than support.
Recommended background

No formal prerequisite. Around nine to twelve months of hands-on experience, including lab or home-lab work, is the usual recommendation.

Skill level: Foundational

Practice coverage

What You'll Practice

Coverage follows the latest approved blueprint when available, with Standards Library data as the fallback.
Core 1: Mobile Devices13%Core 1: Networking23%Core 1: Hardware25%Core 1: Virtualization and Cloud Computing11%Core 1: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting28%Core 2: Operating Systems31%Core 2: Security25%Core 2: Software Troubleshooting22%Core 2: Operational Procedures22%
Question types
Multiple choiceMultiple responseScenarioMatchingHot area

Exam style: Balanced conceptual and scenario practice

PBQ and simulation support: Interactive practice formats are included when approved content supports them; live vendor simulations are not reproduced.

Current public exam profile

A+ exam details

Standards facts are public. Questions, answers, attempts, and learner analytics remain private.
ProviderCompTIA
Exam code220-1201 + 220-1202
Exam standardCurrent exam version
Exam standard220-1201 + 220-1202 (V15)
Question countMaximum 90 per core exam
Time limit90 minutes
Passing method675/900 Core 1; 700/900 Core 2
PracticeApproved practice available
Full exam simulatorFull Exam Simulation requires a complete exam blueprint
Browse exam domains Practice test details Exam simulator details Study guide

What you get

What A+ practice includes

10 free sample questions per certification, no account, no card. 10 practice questions every day, with explanations and saved attempts, across every published certification. No daily limit, Full Exam Simulation, and the Practice Exam Builder for every published certification. $4.99/month or $39.99/year.
Explanation with every answer
Practice by domain, objective, difficulty, and question type (5 question types)
Timed practice exams
Readiness score, best score, and improvement over time
Missed-question review and attempt history
No daily limit with All Access

Prime Learning writes its own A+ practice content and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by CompTIA. Certification names and marks identify the credential you are preparing for.

Exam overview

About the A+ exam

A+ is a two-exam credential and the most common formal entry point into IT. Core 1 covers hardware, mobile devices, networking, virtualization, and troubleshooting; Core 2 covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. You must pass both, and they are scored separately — 675 out of 900 for Core 1 and 700 out of 900 for Core 2.

The exam is unusual among entry certifications in how much weight it puts on procedure rather than knowledge. Operational Procedures alone is 22% of Core 2, covering safety, documentation, change management, and professional conduct. Candidates from a technical background routinely underestimate this section because it does not feel like a technical topic.

Troubleshooting is the connective tissue across both exams: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting is 28% of Core 1 and Software Troubleshooting is 22% of Core 2. Half of each exam, roughly, is diagnostic reasoning applied to a described symptom.

Domain breakdown

What each A+ domain actually tests

Weightings follow the current published exam blueprint. Study emphasis should follow the weighting, not the domain order.

Core 1: Mobile Devices

13%

Laptop and mobile hardware components, display types, accessories, and mobile connectivity and synchronization.

Study focusFocus on physical component identification and the connectivity settings involved in common mobile configuration tasks.

Core 1: Networking

23%

Ports and protocols, networking hardware, wireless standards, network configuration concepts, and network types.

Study focusLearn the common port numbers thoroughly — this is the most reliably tested factual material in Core 1.

Core 1: Hardware

25%

Cabling and connectors, storage devices, motherboards, CPUs, power supplies, and printer hardware and configuration.

Study focusPhysical recognition matters. Being able to name a connector or drive form factor on sight is worth more here than conceptual depth.

Core 1: Virtualization and Cloud Computing

11%

Cloud service and deployment models, and client-side virtualization concepts and requirements.

Study focusThe lightest Core 1 domain at 11%. Learn the service model boundaries and move on.

Core 1: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting

28%

The heaviest Core 1 domain. Diagnosing failures in storage, displays, mobile devices, printers, and network connectivity.

Study focusApply the troubleshooting methodology to symptoms rather than memorizing fault lists; the exam varies the symptoms but not the method.

Core 2: Operating Systems

31%

The heaviest Core 2 domain. Windows features and tools, command-line usage, installation and configuration, and macOS and Linux basics.

Study focusKnow the Windows administrative tools and the common commands by what they do, since questions typically describe a task and ask which tool performs it.

Core 2: Security

25%

Physical and logical security controls, malware detection and removal, social engineering, workstation hardening, and mobile device security.

Study focusLearn the malware removal procedure as an ordered sequence — the order itself is examinable.

Core 2: Software Troubleshooting

22%

Diagnosing operating system, application, mobile, and security-related software problems.

Study focusPair each symptom with the tool you would open first; that mapping answers most questions in this domain.

Core 2: Operational Procedures

22%

Documentation, change management, backup methods, safety procedures, environmental controls, incident response basics, and professional communication.

Study focusDo not treat this as filler. At 22% of Core 2 it is worth more than the security domain in several scenarios, and the answers are unambiguous once learned.

Preparation sequence

A study plan for A+

Timings assume consistent weekly study alongside full-time work. Adjust the length, but keep the order.
  1. Phase 1

    Core 1 hardware and mobile

    Weeks 1-4

    Work through physical components and connectors with hands-on exposure wherever possible. Recognition is faster to build by handling than by reading.

  2. Phase 2

    Core 1 networking and troubleshooting

    Weeks 5-7

    Learn ports and protocols, then spend the bulk of your time on diagnostic scenarios. Sit Core 1 at the end of this phase.

  3. Phase 3

    Core 2 operating systems and security

    Weeks 8-11

    Practice Windows tools and command-line tasks directly on a machine rather than reading about them.

  4. Phase 4

    Core 2 procedures and review

    Weeks 12-13

    Cover operational procedures thoroughly, then run timed practice for both cores before sitting Core 2.

Exam-day judgment

Mistakes to avoid and strategy that works

Common mistakes

  • Dismissing Operational Procedures as common sense when it carries 22% of Core 2.
  • Studying both cores simultaneously instead of passing Core 1 first, which spreads attention thin across nine domains.
  • Reading about Windows tools without opening them, then failing to recognize what each one actually does.
  • Neglecting port numbers, which are among the highest-yield facts on Core 1.

Exam strategy

  • Sit Core 1 as soon as you are ready rather than waiting to prepare both exams together.
  • For troubleshooting questions, identify the methodology step being described before evaluating answers.
  • On procedural questions, choose the answer reflecting documented process over the technically fastest fix.
  • Use physical recognition questions as quick wins to bank time for scenario items.

Where it leads

Roles that value A+

Help desk technicianDesktop support specialistField service technicianIT support specialistJunior systems administrator

Questions candidates ask

A+ FAQ

Do I have to take both A+ exams?

Yes. The certification is only awarded once both Core 1 and Core 2 are passed, and each has its own passing score. Most candidates sit them separately, several weeks apart.

Is A+ worth it if I already work in IT?

If you are already employed in a technical role, your time is usually better spent on Network+, Security+, or a specialty credential. A+ delivers the most value to people who need to get through hiring filters for their first IT position.

How long does A+ take to prepare for?

Around three months for both exams is typical for someone new to IT studying consistently. Splitting the effort — Core 1 first, then Core 2 — is the more reliable approach than preparing for both at once.