A+ Core 1 Practice Test (220-1201): Hardware, Networking, and Cloud Drills
An A+ Core 1 practice test has to match the 220-1201 blueprint. Here is how to drill hardware, networking, and cloud by domain weight to clear 675 out of 900.
An A+ Core 1 practice test is only useful if it matches the exam you are actually sitting, which is CompTIA 220-1201. Core 1 is a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, multiple-choice plus performance-based questions (PBQs), and you need 675 out of 900 to pass, per CompTIA. Any bank built for the retired 220-1101 is testing an exam that no longer exists, so the first thing a good Core 1 practice test does is get the version right.
The second thing it does is drill you in proportion to the real 220-1201 domain weights, so your study hours land where the exam actually spends its questions. Here is how to use a Core 1 practice test that way.
Quick takeaways
- Core 1 is CompTIA 220-1201: max 90 questions, 90 minutes, multiple-choice plus PBQs, per CompTIA.
- The passing score is 675 on a 100-to-900 scale. That is a scaled score, not a raw percentage, so do not read it as "675 questions right."
- The current version launched March 25, 2025. Practice built for the retired 220-1101 is out of date. Confirm any bank you use says 220-1201.
- Core 1 is heavily weighted toward troubleshooting (28%) and hardware (25%), so most of your drilling belongs there.
- Practice the PBQs specifically, not just the multiple-choice, because that is where beginners lose the most time on exam day.
- PrepClubs is independent prep material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CompTIA.
What a Core 1 practice test has to match
Before you trust a score from any Core 1 practice test, check that it mirrors the real exam format. If it does not, a good practice score can lull you into booking too early.
| Attribute | CompTIA 220-1201 (Core 1) |
|---|---|
| Version launched | March 25, 2025 |
| Questions | Maximum 90 |
| Time | 90 minutes |
| Question types | Multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, PBQs |
| Passing score | 675 (on a 100-to-900 scale) |
| Retired predecessor | 220-1101 (do not study from this) |
The passing score is the detail people misread most often. 675 out of 900 is a scaled score CompTIA calculates across the whole exam, so a practice test that reports a simple percentage is an approximation. Treat a comfortable margin, consistently in the mid-to-high 80s on realistic full-length practice, as your signal to book, not a single borderline pass.
Core 1 (220-1201): drill by domain weight
CompTIA publishes the exact domain weights in the 220-1201 objectives. Use them as a time budget, because a Core 1 practice test that mixes domains evenly does not reflect where the questions concentrate.
| Core 1 (220-1201) domain | Approx. weight |
|---|---|
| Mobile Devices | 13% |
| Networking | 23% |
| Hardware | 25% |
| Virtualization and Cloud Computing | 11% |
| Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | 28% |
Read that from the bottom up. Hardware and Network Troubleshooting at 28 percent, Hardware at 25 percent, and Networking at 23 percent together make up roughly three-quarters of Core 1. That is where the bulk of your practice questions should live. Mobile Devices (13%) and Virtualization and Cloud (11%) matter, but they are not where the exam concentrates, so do not over-invest early study time there.
Troubleshooting is worth a second look because it is both the largest domain and the one that leans hardest on PBQs. A multiple-choice-only bank will systematically under-prepare you for the part of Core 1 that carries the most weight.
The Core 1 drill loop
A practice test is a diagnostic, not a study plan on its own. Run this loop so each test you take actually moves your score.
- Take one full-length timed Core 1 test. Ninety questions, real clock, PBQs included. Get an honest baseline for 220-1201 specifically.
- Tag every miss by domain. Most beginners cluster their misses in troubleshooting and hardware. Sort your errors so you can see which high-weight domain is dragging your score.
- Drill your weak, high-percentage domains first. A ten-point gain in troubleshooting (28%) moves your total score far more than the same gain in mobile devices (13%).
- Practice PBQs on their own. Set up and work through the interactive tasks separately. This protects your pace, since PBQs eat the most time under the 90-minute clock.
- Re-test with fresh questions. Confirm your Core 1 score is comfortably clear of 675 on realistic material, then book the exam.
The point of the loop is that the second and third passes are targeted. Taking practice test after practice test without tagging misses by domain is how people plateau just under passing.
Common Core 1 mistakes a practice test exposes
Two patterns show up again and again. First, studying from the retired 220-1101 because it is still all over the internet in older videos and PDFs. The domains shifted between versions, so old material wastes time and can teach the wrong emphasis. Second, treating a raw-percentage practice score as if it were the real scaled 675 threshold. A realistic Core 1 practice test should feel harder than a casual quiz, and your "ready" bar should sit well above a bare pass, not right on it.
FAQ
What is the passing score for A+ Core 1?
675 on a 100-to-900 scale, per CompTIA. It is a scaled score across the whole exam, not a raw percentage, so aim for a comfortable margin on full-length practice rather than a borderline result.
How many questions are on the A+ Core 1 exam?
A maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, including multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions, per CompTIA. A good Core 1 practice test should be a full 90-question, timed set, not a short quiz.
Is Core 1 220-1201 or 220-1101?
The current Core 1 exam is 220-1201, which launched March 25, 2025. The 220-1101 is the retired predecessor. Only use practice tests that match 220-1201, because the domain weights changed between versions.
What does A+ Core 1 cover?
Mobile Devices (13%), Networking (23%), Hardware (25%), Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%), and Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%), per the 220-1201 objectives. It is the hardware-and-networking half of the A+.
Are performance-based questions on Core 1 practice tests?
Better banks include PBQ-style tasks; many free sets do not. Since PBQs consume the most time on the real exam, practice them specifically. Do not let exam day be the first time you work a performance-based task.
How long should I study for Core 1?
For a true beginner, often several weeks to a couple of months for Core 1 alone, depending on hands-on experience. Take a full-length 220-1201 diagnostic first to see your real starting point, then plan your study weeks around your weakest high-weight domains.
Related on PrepClubs
- CompTIA A+ practice test: how to drill both Core 1 and Core 2 to a pass.
- CompTIA A+ exam objectives: the full 220-1201 and 220-1202 domain breakdown.
- CompTIA Network+ practice test: the recommended next cert after A+.
- The CompTIA Trifecta: how A+, Network+, and Security+ stack into a career path.
Drill Core 1 to a clean pass
Core 1 rewards proportional practice: most of your time in troubleshooting, hardware, and networking, the PBQs drilled on their own, and a full-length 220-1201 diagnostic setting your baseline. PrepClubs' A+ track is built for exactly that, with full-length Core 1 (220-1201) practice tests, PBQ-style tasks, and written rationales that explain why each answer is right, plus a free diagnostic to place you before you pay. It is a one-time purchase with 30 days of access, not a subscription. If you prepare with PrepClubs and do not pass your real test, we extend your access at no extra cost. No fine print. PrepClubs has helped more than 1,600 students prepare for cognitive and certification assessments. Start with the free A+ diagnostic.
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