Free CompTIA A+ Practice Test: Using the Free Diagnostic Before You Pay
A free CompTIA A+ practice test is the smart first move. Here is how to use a free Core 1 and Core 2 diagnostic to place yourself before you buy anything.
Start with a free CompTIA A+ practice test. There is no reason to pay before you know where you stand, and the A+ makes that especially true because it is two exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), with separate passing scores, per CompTIA. A free diagnostic on each core tells you which one is close and which one needs weeks, so you spend money and study time where they actually matter.
This is how to use a free A+ test properly: as a placement tool, not a prep plan. A free set gets you honest data. Getting from that data to a pass is a different job, and this guide walks both.
Quick takeaways
- The current A+ is two exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), each max 90 questions in 90 minutes, per CompTIA. The old 220-1101 and 220-1102 retired in 2025.
- Take a free diagnostic on each core separately. Passing Core 1 tells you nothing about Core 2 readiness.
- Use the free test to place yourself and find weak domains, not to "learn the material" (free sets are too small for that).
- Free A+ sets usually skip performance-based questions (PBQs), which are exactly where beginners lose time.
- To actually get ready you need depth per core: enough questions per domain, plus real PBQ practice.
- PrepClubs is independent prep material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CompTIA.
Step 1: Take a free diagnostic on each core, separately
The most common A+ study mistake is treating it as one blended exam. It is two, and they cover different material. Core 1 (220-1201) is hardware, networking, mobile, virtualization, and troubleshooting. Core 2 (220-1202) is operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
So run the free diagnostic twice, once per core. Ninety timed questions each if you can. Your goal is not a good score; it is an honest starting score on each core, because that is what tells you how to split your study weeks.
Step 2: Read your results as a domain map
A free diagnostic is most useful when you tag your misses by domain. The V15 domain weights tell you where the exam concentrates, so weight your study toward your weak, high-percentage domains.
| Core 1 (220-1201) domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | 28% |
| Hardware | 25% |
| Networking | 23% |
| Mobile Devices | 13% |
| Virtualization and Cloud Computing | 11% |
If your free Core 1 misses cluster in Troubleshooting or Hardware, that is most of the exam, so that is where your weeks go. On Core 2, Operating Systems and Security are tied at 28 percent each, with Software Troubleshooting at 23 and Operational Procedures at 21, so a free-test weakness in OS or Security is the highest-value thing to fix first.
Step 3: Know what the free test is NOT telling you
Be honest about the limits of any free A+ set, so a decent free score does not lull you.
- Free sets skip PBQs. Both cores include performance-based questions (interactive tasks), and they eat the most time on exam day. Most free sets are pure multiple-choice, so they hide your biggest pacing risk.
- They are small and reused. A free bank of a few dozen questions can be memorized. That trains recall of those items, not mastery of the domain.
- They can be built for old codes. Any set labeled 220-1101 or 220-1102 is for the retired version. Confirm the free test targets 220-1201 and 220-1202.
A free test that you pass tells you that you are ready to study seriously, not that you are ready to book the exam.
Step 4: Convert the diagnostic into a real study plan
Here is the loop that turns free-test data into a pass, run once per core:
- Diagnose with the free timed test for that core. Record the score and the weak domains.
- Drill the weak, heavy domains first, using the weight table as your priority order.
- Practice PBQs specifically. Do not let the real exam be the first interactive task you attempt.
- Re-test with fresh questions until your practice score is comfortably above the passing line (675 for Core 1, 700 for Core 2, on a 100-to-900 scale).
- Book that core's exam, then repeat the whole loop for the other core as a fresh cycle.
The free diagnostic is step one. Steps two through four are where depth of practice matters, because that is where readiness is actually built.
Where the free-first, then-paid model earns trust
The honest sequence is: free first, pay only when it makes sense. A free diagnostic should cost nothing and tell you the truth about your starting point. Paid prep is what gets you across the line, and it should be backed by a guarantee so the risk is not all yours. If your prep comes with a pass guarantee, a first-attempt stumble costs you study time, not a second $265 pair of vouchers bought in a hurry. That is what makes "start free" a genuine offer rather than a teaser.
FAQ
Is there a free CompTIA A+ practice test?
Yes, many exist, and taking one first is smart. Use it as a diagnostic on each core (220-1201 and 220-1202) to find your starting score and weak domains. Just confirm the set targets the current V15 codes, not the retired 220-1101 and 220-1102.
Can a free A+ test tell me if I am ready to pass?
Only partially. A free set shows your starting point and weak domains, but it is small, usually skips performance-based questions, and is not a full simulation. A good free score means start studying seriously, not book the exam.
Should I take Core 1 or Core 2 first on a free test?
Diagnose both, then study one fully before the other. CompTIA does not require an order; most people take Core 1 (hardware and networking) first because it supports Core 2's software and security material. Either order is allowed.
Why do free A+ sets not include PBQs?
Performance-based questions are interactive and harder to build, so free banks usually leave them out. Since both cores include PBQs and they consume the most time, a free multiple-choice-only test hides your biggest pacing risk.
What score do I need to pass the A+?
675 for Core 1 (220-1201) and 700 for Core 2 (220-1202), both on a 100-to-900 scale, per CompTIA. You must pass both cores, and the two thresholds are genuinely different.
Does PrepClubs offer a free A+ diagnostic?
Yes. PrepClubs runs a free A+ diagnostic so you can place yourself on each core before paying, then a paid two-core bank with PBQ-style tasks and written rationales, all backed by the 30-day Pass Guarantee.
Related on PrepClubs
- CompTIA A+ exam objectives (220-1201 and 220-1202): the full V15 domain breakdown.
- Free practice tests: free diagnostics across the catalog.
- CompTIA A+ test track: the paid two-core depth bank.
Diagnose free, then drill to a pass
A free A+ practice test is the right first move, and PrepClubs makes that first move genuinely free: a diagnostic on each core so you know exactly where you stand before you spend a dollar. When you are ready to prepare, the paid A+ track is built for the two-exam structure: full-length practice for Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), weighted to the V15 domains, with PBQ-style tasks and written rationales. 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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