How Many Questions Are on the CompTIA A+ Exam, and What Score Do You Need to Pass?
How many questions on the A+ exam? Each core has a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, with Core 1 passing at 675 and Core 2 at 700 of 900, per CompTIA.
The CompTIA A+ (V15) is two separate exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), and each one has a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, per CompTIA. You have to pass both. Core 1 passes at 675 and Core 2 passes at 700, and both scores sit on a 100-to-900 scale, not a straight percentage. So the full answer to "how many questions on the A+ exam" is up to 90 per core, up to 180 across the certification, taken on two different days.
If you are preparing for this exam, the parts that trip people up are the two-exam structure and the scaled score. A 675 is not "75 percent correct," and many candidates sit down and see closer to 82 or 83 questions rather than a full 90.
Up to 90 questions per core, 90 minutes each
Quick takeaways
- The A+ is two exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). Each has a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, per CompTIA.
- You must pass both cores to earn the certification. Passing one is not enough.
- Core 1 passes at 675 and Core 2 passes at 700, both on a 100-to-900 scale, per CompTIA.
- The scaled score means 675 is not "75 percent correct." There is no published number of questions you must answer right.
- You may see fewer than 90 questions in a delivery. Candidates commonly report around 82 to 83; 90 is the ceiling, not a guarantee.
- The retired codes 220-1101 and 220-1102 are the previous version. Prep against the current 220-1201 and 220-1202.
- PrepClubs is independent prep material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CompTIA.
The exact format, per CompTIA
Here is what CompTIA publishes for the current A+ (V15) exams side by side.
| Attribute | Core 1 (220-1201) | Core 2 (220-1202) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum questions | 90 | 90 |
| Time limit | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 675 (100-to-900 scale) | 700 (100-to-900 scale) |
| Question types | Multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, PBQs | Multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, PBQs |
| Required to certify | Yes | Yes |
Both cores share the same ceiling and clock. What changes is the passing bar (675 versus 700) and the content each core covers. Notice there is no single "A+ passing score." Each core is scored and passed on its own.
Why there are two exams
The A+ splits its content across two cores on purpose. Core 1 (220-1201) leans toward hardware, mobile devices, networking basics, virtualization, and hardware troubleshooting. Core 2 (220-1202) leans toward operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Passing one core does not grant a partial certification. You hold nothing until both are passed, and CompTIA gives you a window to complete the second after the first.
This is why budgeting your prep matters. You are studying for two distinct exams, sitting them on two days, and paying for two vouchers. Treating the A+ as "one test" is the most common planning mistake.
How the 675 and 700 passing scores really work
Most pages see 675 out of 900 and translate it to "about 75 percent," then tell you to aim for 75 percent on practice tests. That is wrong.
The 100-to-900 range is a scaled score. CompTIA converts your raw performance into that scale using a model that accounts for the relative difficulty of the items you saw. Two candidates who get the same number of questions right can land on different scaled scores if their items differed in difficulty. Because CompTIA does not publish the per-item weighting or a question-by-question key, there is no honest way to say "you need exactly X of 90 correct" on either core.
Aim for a repeatable margin above passing, not an exact miss-count
The practical target: on full-length practice tests scored as a straight percentage, treat a consistent 85 percent or higher as your green light for each core. That margin survives the scaling and a few unlucky items on the day.
Why you might see fewer than 90 questions
Candidates often finish a core with 82 or 83 questions rather than a full 90, then worry the exam glitched. It did not. The "maximum of 90" wording is deliberate. CompTIA can include unscored trial items and vary the delivered count, so not every sitting serves the full 90. The number you see tells you nothing about how you are doing.
The takeaway: prepare for the full 90 in 90 minutes on each core. If you build the pacing for the maximum, a shorter exam is only ever easier.
The question types, and why the mix matters
Both cores use a mix of formats:
- Multiple-choice items are the familiar pick-one or pick-multiple questions. Most of each exam is these.
- Drag-and-drop items ask you to match or order things, such as pairing connector types to ports.
- Performance-based questions (PBQs) are interactive tasks: configure a setting, troubleshoot a simulated scenario, or complete a sequence. There are usually a handful, and they tend to come first.
The PBQs matter out of proportion to their count because they eat time. Under-prepared candidates sink 15 minutes into the first PBQ and then race the multiple-choice items. A sane play is to skim the PBQs first, finish the quick ones, flag the hard ones, clear the multiple-choice questions to bank time, then return to the flagged PBQs. You can only run that if you have practiced the real format.
FAQ
How many questions are on the CompTIA A+ exam?
Each core has a maximum of 90 questions, so up to 180 across both Core 1 and Core 2, per CompTIA. You may see fewer than 90 in a given delivery; 90 is the ceiling per core.
What score do you need to pass the A+?
Core 1 (220-1201) passes at 675 and Core 2 (220-1202) passes at 700, both on a 100-to-900 scale, per CompTIA. There is no single combined passing score; each core is passed on its own.
Is 675 out of 900 the same as 75 percent?
No. The 100-to-900 range is a scaled score that accounts for item difficulty, not a straight percentage of questions correct. Aim for a comfortable margin above passing on full-length practice tests, ideally 85 percent or higher scored as a percentage.
Do I have to pass both cores?
Yes. You earn the A+ only after passing both Core 1 and Core 2. Passing one core alone grants no certification, though CompTIA gives you a window to complete the second.
How long is each A+ exam?
90 minutes per core, for a maximum of 90 questions each, per CompTIA. The performance-based questions at the start are the most likely to eat that time.
Why did I get fewer than 90 questions?
CompTIA delivers up to 90 per core and can include unscored items and vary the count. A shorter exam is normal and tells you nothing about your score. Prepare for the full 90 so a shorter one is only ever easier.
What happened to 220-1101 and 220-1102?
Those are the retired previous-version codes. The current A+ (V15) exams are 220-1201 and 220-1202, so study against the current objectives.
Related on PrepClubs
- The CompTIA A+ Exam Objectives: Every Domain and Its Weight
- How Hard Is the CompTIA A+, Really?
- CompTIA A+ Practice Test: Drill Both Cores
Knowing it is up to 90 questions per core and 675 or 700 to pass is the easy part. Building the pacing to clear both cores under the clock, PBQs and all, is what gets you certified, and you only get that from full-length practice on both cores. That is how PrepClubs' A+ track is built: a free diagnostic to see your real level, then full-length timed practice tests for Core 1 and Core 2, each answer with a written rationale. It is a one-time purchase with 30 days of access, not a renewing 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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