CompTIA · Exam reference
About the CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 exam
CompTIA A+ is the entry-level certification most IT support job adverts ask for by name, and earning it means passing two exams: Core 1 (220-1201) covers hardware, networking, mobile devices and hardware troubleshooting, while Core 2 (220-1202) covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting and operational procedures. Both exams are version 15, launched on 25 March 2025, and both must be taken from the same version. This course covers all nine domains across the two exams in one bank.
10
Sample questions
90 min
Exam time limit
75%
Practice pass mark
CompTIA A+ is the certification most IT support job adverts ask for by name. Earning it means passing two separate exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), and both have to come from the same version. Version 15 launched on 25 March 2025 and replaces the 220-1101 and 220-1102 pair. Core 1 is the hardware half. Hardware and network troubleshooting is 28 percent of it and hardware itself is another 25, so over half the paper turns on knowing what a component does and what you see when it fails. Networking is 23 percent, mobile devices 13, and virtualization and cloud computing 11. Core 2 is the software and process half. Operating systems and security take 28 percent each, software troubleshooting 23, and operational procedures 21. Operational procedures is the domain candidates skip: documentation, change management, safety, disposal, and what you do when you find something you should not have on a customer's machine. It carries twice the weight of virtualization on Core 1. Both papers run to a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes and both include performance-based questions, where you configure a simulated screen or put steps in the right order instead of picking a letter. Core 1 passes at 675 and Core 2 at 700 on CompTIA's 900-point scale. The questions are scenario-driven. You get a user, a symptom and a constraint, and you are asked what to do first. Memorising connector types will not answer that. Working through questions built the same way will.
Exam Domains Covered
Exam Format & Details
CompTIA A+ requires two exams, taken in either order, but both must come from the same version. Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) each run to a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, and each mixes multiple choice (single and multiple response), drag and drop, and performance-based questions. Core 1 passes at 675 and Core 2 at 700, both on CompTIA's 900-point scale. Version 15 launched on 25 March 2025 and retires around 2028. CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support role. The exams are offered in English, German and Japanese. Core 1 (220-1201) domain weights: - Hardware and network troubleshooting (28%) - Hardware (25%) - Networking (23%) - Mobile devices (13%) - Virtualization and cloud computing (11%) Core 2 (220-1202) domain weights: - Operating systems (28%) - Security (28%) - Software troubleshooting (23%) - Operational procedures (21%) This course combines both exams into a single bank, so each domain's share here is half its share of its own exam. Performance-based questions appear on both papers and are worth more than a single multiple-choice item, so they are worth attempting rather than flagging and abandoning.
Why Practice Questions Matter
A+ questions are short scenarios with one best action. Two options are usually correct fixes and only one is correct first, and that judgement comes from doing questions rather than from reading. This bank is split across all nine domains in the same proportion as the two exams, so the pressure you feel while practising matches the pressure on test day: heaviest on troubleshooting, operating systems and security. Every explanation says why the other options fail, because on A+ the wrong answer is normally a real fix applied at the wrong step, to the wrong layer, or before you checked the obvious thing.
Sample Practice Questions
The following questions are a preview of the type of syllabus-aligned questions you will practise in CertCrush. They reflect the format and reasoning style of the CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 exam — not actual exam content.
Q1.A technician is preparing a 4 TB boot drive on a workstation that uses UEFI firmware with Secure Boot enabled. Which of the following partition styles is required?
- A.GPT
- B.MBR
- C.exFAT
- D.FAT32
Domain: Operating Systems
Q2.A support team based outside Europe handles tickets containing personal data belonging to residents of the European Union. Which of the following governs how that data must be handled?
- A.GDPR
- B.PCI DSS
- C.DRM
- D.EULA
Domain: Operational Procedures
Q3.A technician finds that laptops in a design studio have gone several months without operating system or application updates because updates were deferred indefinitely. Which of the following should the technician configure FIRST?
- A.Set the laptops to download and install operating system and application patches automatically
- B.Create a local administrator account for each user
- C.Enable the built-in Guest account for testing
- D.Increase the screen lock timeout so updates are not interrupted
Domain: Security
Q4.A technician is quoting a memory upgrade for an office desktop and wants the new modules to run in dual-channel mode at their advertised speed. Which of the following should the technician verify before ordering? (Select TWO.)
- A.That the motherboard supports the modules' DDR generation and rated MT/s
- B.That the modules are a matched pair installed in the slots the board designates for dual channel
- C.That the modules use ECC rather than non-ECC memory
- D.That the system drive is partitioned as GPT
- E.That Secure Boot is disabled before the modules are installed
Domain: Hardware Components
Q5.A technician formats a USB flash drive as FAT32 for an office that mixes Macs and Windows PCs. A user then reports that a 9 GB video file will not copy to the drive even though 40 GB is free. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
- A.FAT32 limits any individual file to 4 GB
- B.The volume needs to be repaired with Disk Utility
- C.macOS cannot write to removable media unless FileVault is enabled
- D.The file must be owned by root before it can be copied
Domain: Operating Systems
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in the free CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 sample?
The free sample includes 10 syllabus-aligned practice questions, sample flashcards, and a preview chapter from the study guide. No account or payment is required to try the sample.
How many questions are in the full CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 course?
The full course includes a comprehensive question bank covering all exam domains. You can see the total question count on the CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 course page.
Are these official CompTIA exam questions?
No. CertCrush questions are independently written and syllabus-aligned — they mirror the format, difficulty, and reasoning style of the official exam. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by CompTIA.
Which domains does the CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 course cover?
The course covers 9 exam domains: Mobile Devices, Networking, Hardware Components, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting, Operating Systems, Security, Software Troubleshooting, Operational Procedures.
Can I study on mobile?
Yes. CertCrush is fully responsive and works on phones, tablets, and desktops. The timed exam, flashcards, and study guide all work on mobile without installing an app.
What happens when I create an account?
Creating a free account lets you access full courses, track your weak areas by domain, and resume practice sessions across devices. No credit card is required to register.