How Hard Is Network+? An Honest Read After A+
How hard is Network+? An honest look at N10-009 difficulty, subnetting and PBQs, how it compares to A+, and how to know when you are ready to book.
How hard is Network+? For most people it is a step up from the A+ in depth, but a narrower topic, so the difficulty is different rather than simply higher. The A+ is wide and shallow across two exams. Network+ is a single exam that goes deeper on one subject, networking, and expects you to actually reason about subnets, protocols, and traffic flow rather than just recognize terms.
If you have just come from the A+, that shift is the whole story. You are trading breadth for depth. The topics that felt like a quick mention on Core 1, IP addressing, the OSI model, ports, become the entire exam on Network+, tested at a level that rewards genuine understanding over memorization. Here is what that actually feels like and how to prepare for it.
Quick takeaways
- Network+ is CompTIA N10-009, a single exam of up to 90 questions, per CompTIA, versus the A+'s two exams.
- It is deeper than A+ on networking specifically. Subnetting, protocols, and the OSI model are tested to understand, not just recognize.
- Subnetting is the topic people fear most. It is learnable, but it needs deliberate practice rather than reading.
- Performance-based questions (PBQs) are the difficulty spike, the same as on the A+, and where pace collapses if you have not drilled them.
- Coming straight from the A+ helps, because the A+ networking domain is the on-ramp to Network+.
- PrepClubs is independent prep material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CompTIA.
Network+ vs A+: a different kind of hard
If your reference point is the A+, this comparison is the fastest way to calibrate.
| Difficulty factor | A+ (220-1201 / 220-1202) | Network+ (N10-009) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of exams | Two cores | One exam |
| Shape | Wide and shallow | Narrow and deep |
| Core challenge | Coverage breadth, two passes | Depth on one subject |
| Signature hard topic | Performance-based troubleshooting | Subnetting and protocol reasoning |
| Question count | Max 90 per core | Max 90 |
| Best on-ramp | Hands-on IT basics | The A+ networking domain |
The takeaway is that Network+ is not "harder A+." It is a focused deep dive. People who struggled with the A+'s sheer breadth sometimes find Network+ more comfortable because it stays on one subject. People who breezed through A+ on hardware familiarity sometimes find Network+ tougher because it demands reasoning they could skip before.
The three things that make Network+ hard
Three concrete factors drive the difficulty, and all three are trainable.
First, subnetting. This is the topic that gets the most nervous questions, and for good reason: it is math under time pressure, and you cannot fake it. But it is also completely learnable through repetition. Once the process clicks, subnetting questions become some of the most reliable points on the exam. The difficulty is entirely in the practice you put in beforehand, not in the concept.
Second, depth of understanding. Network+ asks you to reason about how traffic actually moves: which protocol does what, where a problem sits in the OSI model, why a configuration behaves the way it does. Memorizing definitions is not enough. You have to understand relationships, which is a higher bar than a lot of the A+'s recognition-level questions.
Third, performance-based questions. Just like the A+, Network+ includes PBQs, and they are the time sink. Subnetting tasks, configuration scenarios, and troubleshooting sequences take longer than multiple-choice and cannot be guessed. Candidates who run out of time almost always lost it on PBQs.
Does coming from the A+ make it easier?
Yes, and this is the good news if you are reading this right after passing the A+. The A+ Core 1 networking domain (23 percent of Core 1) is a genuine on-ramp: it introduces IP addressing, common ports, and basic network hardware, which are exactly the foundations Network+ builds on. You are not starting cold. You are extending material you have already seen into real depth.
That is also why the common cert order puts Network+ right after A+. The momentum is real, as long as you respect that Network+ takes those A+ basics much further and does not let you coast on recognition.
Is there a Network+ pass rate?
You will see numbers quoted, but CompTIA does not publish an official Network+ pass rate, so treat any exact figure as unofficial. As with the A+, the readiness signal that actually matters is your own performance on realistic, full-length, timed N10-009 practice, especially on subnetting and PBQs. A rumored pass rate tells you nothing about your specific weak spots. Your practice scores do.
How to tell when you are ready
Convert the anxiety into a measurement.
- Take a free Network+ diagnostic on N10-009. Get an honest baseline and see which of the five domains, and whether subnetting specifically, is weak.
- Drill subnetting until it is automatic. This is the single highest-return study activity for Network+. Practice it daily until the process is muscle memory.
- Do full-length timed exams. Match the real 90-question, timed format so your pacing is trustworthy, not just your knowledge.
- Practice PBQs on their own, then book when your practice scores are comfortably passing with subnetting no longer a weak point.
FAQ
Is Network+ harder than A+?
It is deeper on networking but narrower in scope, so it is a different kind of hard rather than strictly harder. The A+ challenges you with breadth across two exams; Network+ challenges you with depth on one subject, especially subnetting and protocol reasoning.
Is subnetting hard on the Network+?
Subnetting is the topic most people worry about, but it is very learnable with deliberate, repeated practice. It is math under time pressure, so reading about it is not enough. Drill it daily until the process is automatic, and it becomes reliable points.
Should I take Network+ right after A+?
Yes, that is the common and sensible order. The A+ Core 1 networking domain introduces the fundamentals Network+ builds on, so the momentum helps. Just expect Network+ to take those basics much deeper.
What is the hardest part of the Network+ exam?
For most people it is subnetting and the performance-based questions. Both take time and cannot be guessed. Drilling subnetting to automaticity and practicing PBQs separately are the two highest-leverage ways to lower the exam's difficulty.
What is the Network+ pass rate?
CompTIA does not publish an official Network+ pass rate, so treat any exact percentage as unofficial. Your own scores on realistic, full-length N10-009 practice are a far better readiness signal.
How long does it take to study for Network+?
For someone coming off the A+, often a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on how quickly subnetting clicks. Start with a free diagnostic to see your baseline, then weight your study toward subnetting and any weak domains.
Related on PrepClubs
- Free Network+ practice test: how to use a free diagnostic before you pay.
- CompTIA Network+ practice test: the full N10-009 drill guide.
- CompTIA Network+ exam objectives: the complete N10-009 domain breakdown.
- How hard is CompTIA A+?: the difficulty read on the cert most people take first.
Turn the difficulty into a study plan
Network+ is hard in trainable ways: subnetting, depth of understanding, and PBQs. Every one of them responds to deliberate practice, and the fastest start is a real baseline instead of a guess. PrepClubs gives you a free Network+ diagnostic to place you on N10-009, then a full-length bank with subnetting drills, PBQ-style tasks, and written rationales that explain the reasoning behind each answer. 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 Network+ diagnostic.
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