CompTIA A+ Practice Questions (Core 1 220-1201 + Core 2 220-1202)
A+ is the entry credential for IT support and help-desk roles, and earning it means passing two separate exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), the current V15 series. Most prep products make you buy each core on its own. This one bank preps both, and it rehearses them separately, the way you actually sit them: five full-length Core 1 forms and five full-length Core 2 forms, 90 questions and 90 minutes each. Roughly 900 original questions across all nine domains at official V15 weighting, with a clear rationale for every answer, and it covers the newer material V15 added such as Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, DDR5 and M.2 NVMe, Zero Trust, EDR, and AI in IT support. Take a free timed practice test first, then unlock the full bank for $69 one time, which is less than most candidates pay for a single core elsewhere.
By PrepClubs Editorial Team, updated October 8, 2026
CompTIA A+ is a vendor-neutral, entry-level IT certification earned by passing two separate exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), the current V15 series. Each exam has a maximum of 90 questions and a 90-minute time limit. Core 1 passes at a scaled 675 and Core 2 at a scaled 700, both on a 100 to 900 range. The exams mix multiple-choice items with performance-based questions (PBQs). Core 1 covers Mobile Devices, Networking, Hardware, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, and Hardware and Network Troubleshooting. Core 2 covers Operating Systems, Security, Software Troubleshooting, and Operational Procedures. Each exam is scored as one overall scaled result with no published per-domain minimum. It is widely recognized as the baseline requirement for IT support and help-desk roles.
Source: CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) V15 Exam Objectives. PrepClubs is not affiliated with CompTIA.
Both A+ cores in one bank, with a rationale for every answer
Official facts checked 8 Oct 2026
How long is the CompTIA A+ exam and how many questions does it have?
CompTIA A+ is two exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), and each one allows 90 minutes for a maximum of 90 questions, according to CompTIA. You need to pass both. The pass mark is 675 for Core 1 and 700 for Core 2, on a scale of 900. Questions are multiple-choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based. CompTIA does not publish a calculator rule for the exam.
The two A+ exams
“Number of questions: Maximum of 90 per exam, including multiple-choice (single and multiple response), drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions”
“Recommended experience: 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist job role”
Which A+ practice tests are on PrepClubs, and how long is each one?
PrepClubs has 11 A+ practice tests: 1 diagnostic and 10 full-length forms, 925 questions in all. 10 run 90 questions in 90 minutes, 1 runs 25 questions in 25 minutes.
The question count, time limit and question mix in each row are read from the question bank that runs the live tests, last on 8 Oct 2026, so each row matches what the test shows when you open it.
Showing 11 of 11 A+ practice tests
- Security
- Software Troubleshooting
- Hardware
- Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
- Networking
- Operating Systems
- Mobile Devices
- Virtualization and Cloud Computing
- Operational Procedures
| Question mix | Calculator | Guide | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA A+ Diagnostic (Core 1 220-1201 + Core 2 220-1202) Diagnostic | 25 | 25 min | 60 s | Security 4 · Software Troubleshooting 4 · Hardware 3 6 more areasHardware and Network Troubleshooting 3 · Networking 3 · Operating Systems 3 · Mobile Devices 2 · Virtualization and Cloud Computing 2 · Operational Procedures 1 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Practice Test 1 Full-lengthCore 1 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 26 · Hardware 22 · Networking 20 2 more areasMobile Devices 12 · Virtualization and Cloud Computing 10 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Practice Test 2 Full-lengthCore 1 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 26 · Hardware 22 · Networking 20 2 more areasMobile Devices 12 · Virtualization and Cloud Computing 10 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Practice Test 3 Full-lengthCore 1 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 26 · Hardware 22 · Networking 20 2 more areasMobile Devices 12 · Virtualization and Cloud Computing 10 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Practice Test 4 Full-lengthCore 1 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 26 · Hardware 22 · Networking 20 2 more areasMobile Devices 12 · Virtualization and Cloud Computing 10 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Practice Test 5 Full-lengthCore 1 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 26 · Hardware 22 · Networking 20 2 more areasMobile Devices 12 · Virtualization and Cloud Computing 10 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Practice Test 1 Full-lengthCore 2 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Operating Systems 26 · Security 26 · Software Troubleshooting 20 · Operational Procedures 18 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Practice Test 2 Full-lengthCore 2 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Operating Systems 26 · Security 26 · Software Troubleshooting 20 · Operational Procedures 18 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Practice Test 3 Full-lengthCore 2 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Operating Systems 26 · Security 26 · Software Troubleshooting 20 · Operational Procedures 18 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Practice Test 4 Full-lengthCore 2 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Operating Systems 26 · Security 26 · Software Troubleshooting 20 · Operational Procedures 18 | Not allowed | Exam objectives | |
| CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Practice Test 5 Full-lengthCore 2 | 90 | 90 min | 60 s | Operating Systems 26 · Security 26 · Software Troubleshooting 20 · Operational Procedures 18 | Not allowed | Exam objectives |
Sources
- CompTIA: A+ Core 1 and 2 (V15) (comptia.org), checked 8 Oct 2026
- CompTIA: A+ Core 1 (220-1201) (comptia.org), checked 8 Oct 2026
- CompTIA: A+ Core 2 (220-1202) (comptia.org), checked 8 Oct 2026
- PrepClubs question bank, the files behind the live A+ practice tests, read 8 Oct 2026
“Not published” means the publisher does not state that fact on any page we could find. We leave it blank instead of quoting a prep site.
What you get with the full bank
A large bank of original CompTIA A+ practice questions written to the current Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) V15 objectives. Full coverage of all nine domains across both cores, weighted to the official blueprint: Core 1 covers Mobile Devices, Networking, Hardware, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, and Hardware and Network Troubleshooting; Core 2 covers Operating Systems, Security, Software Troubleshooting, and Operational Procedures. The bank includes the topics V15 added, such as Wi-Fi 6E, Software-Defined Networking, containers, DDR5 and M.2 NVMe, Windows 11, deeper Linux, Zero Trust, EDR, and AI in IT support.
A clear rationale for every question. We explain why the correct answer is correct and why each other option is wrong, so you build the reasoning the exam actually tests rather than memorizing answers. PBQ-style items are included: the performance-based tasks the real exams use, such as configuring a SOHO router, matching a connector to a port, or picking the exact command that produces a result, are rendered as scenario items so they work on any device.
Two ways to practice. Exam mode is a timed, full-length 90-question form built to one core at the real V15 domain weighting, because that is what you sit: Core 1 and Core 2 are separate exams on separate days. Five forms for each. Study mode lets you practice by domain, review rationales as you go, and retry the questions you missed.
The nine A+ domains and their official V15 weight
A+ is two exams. Core 1 (220-1201) has five domains and Core 2 (220-1202) has four. This bank keeps them apart: five forms built to the Core 1 blueprint and five built to the Core 2 blueprint, so whichever exam you are sitting next, you rehearse that one and nothing else.
Core 1: Mobile Devices (13%)
Laptop and mobile hardware, display components, accessories, mobile connectivity including eSIM, and application support. Where a call often starts.
Core 1: Networking (23%)
Ports and protocols, network hardware, wireless standards including Wi-Fi 6E, Software-Defined Networking basics, SOHO configuration, and network services. Concrete ports, connectors, and settings.
Core 1: Hardware (25%)
The heaviest Core 1 domain. Cables and connectors, RAM and storage including DDR5 and M.2 NVMe, motherboards and CPUs, power supplies, and peripheral installation.
Core 1: Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%)
Cloud models and characteristics, client-side virtualization, and container concepts. The lightest Core 1 domain by count, but a reliable source of easy points.
Core 1: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%)
The largest Core 1 domain. Diagnosing hardware, storage, display, mobile, and network problems using the correct troubleshooting method and the right NEXT step.
Core 2: Operating Systems (28%)
A leading Core 2 domain. Windows 11 and Windows 10 features and tools, command-line utilities, installation and configuration, and deeper macOS and Linux coverage.
Core 2: Security (28%)
Physical and logical security, Zero Trust concepts, EDR and malware detection and removal, social engineering, wireless security, and workstation and mobile-device hardening.
Core 2: Software Troubleshooting (23%)
Diagnosing OS, application, and malware problems and mobile-device software issues, in the correct troubleshooting order.
Core 2: Operational Procedures (21%)
Documentation, change management, safety and PPE, environmental controls, incident response, the appropriate use of AI-assisted tooling, and professional communication. The policy-and-procedure domain.
Try nine real A+ questions, one from every domain across both cores
Both cores, all nine domains, one question each. Five from Core 1 and four from Core 2, straight out of the bank. They sit in the final form of each core, so buying does not mean answering them twice. Click a question to reveal the answer and the reasoning.
- A.Enroll the device in MDM to enforce a screen lock
- B.Turn on the phone hotspot and tether the laptop
- C.Configure a corporate VPN client on the device
- D.Set the company web proxy in the phone Wi-Fi settings
- A.Configure VLANs to split the switch into broadcast domains
- B.Configure port forwarding rules for each department
- C.Enable jumbo frames on the department switch ports
- D.Run crossover cables between the accounting and sales groups
- A.Never trust, always verify: authorize every request
- B.Implicit trust for any device inside the network perimeter
- C.Trust on first use: verify at enrollment, then allow
- D.Single sign-on: one login covers all internal resources
- A.Type 1 hypervisor VMs, each booting its own guest kernel
- B.Containers, isolated user spaces served by the host kernel
- C.Dual boot, loading one operating system per power cycle
- D.A RAID 5 array striping data with parity across disks
- A.The login credentials expired and needed to be re-entered
- B.The application server ran out of disk space mid-session
- C.Continuous posture checks revoked access when it drifted
- D.The user's session timed out after the idle policy limit
- A.du -sh /var/log
- B.ls -lh /var/log
- C.lsof +D /var/log
- D.df -h /var/log
- A.A rootkit, loaded at kernel level to subvert the OS
- B.A Trojan disguised as a legitimate application
- C.A worm replicating itself to nearby hosts
- D.Spyware collecting browsing data for advertisers
- A.Install more physical RAM to fit the workload
- B.Enlarge the page file on the system boot drive
- C.Swap the boot drive for a faster NVMe SSD
- D.Run disk cleanup and defragment the volume
- A.Turn on the tool's private mode, then paste the full ticket
- B.Save the customer's details in the tool's shared history
- C.Email the customer record to the AI vendor's support team
- D.Redact personally identifiable information before using the tool
Core 1 vs Core 2: they are not the same exam twice
People treat A+ as one body of knowledge split down the middle. It is closer to two different exams that happen to share a name. Core 1 is hardware and networks, Core 2 is operating systems and security, and Core 2 carries a third more objectives in the same 90 minutes.
| Core 1 | Core 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam code | 220-1201 | 220-1202 |
| Questions | Maximum of 90 | Maximum of 90 |
| Time limit | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Pass mark | 675 on a 100 to 900 scale | 700 on a 100 to 900 scale |
| Domains | 5 | 4 |
| Sub-objectives | 27 | 36 |
| Heaviest domain | Hardware and Network Troubleshooting, 28% | Operating Systems and Security, 28% each |
| Lightest domain | Virtualization and Cloud Computing, 11% | Operational Procedures, 21% |
| Subject matter | Mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization, troubleshooting | Operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, operational procedures |
| New in V15 | Networking up 3 points, troubleshooting methodology no longer scored | AI concepts added, malware removal moved into Security |
Sources: the CompTIA A+ 220-1201 and 220-1202 V15 exam objectives, document version 4.0, and the CompTIA A+ V15 certification pages. CompTIA publishes no official V14 to V15 changelog, so the change rows are a direct comparison of the two objectives documents. PrepClubs is not affiliated with CompTIA.
A+ is two exams, and the rules around that catch people out
The version-lock rule is the one nobody warns you about
A+ is not one exam with two halves. It is two separate exams, two separate vouchers, and two separate sittings. You are not certified until you pass both.
Here is the trap, in CompTIA's own words: if you pass Core 1 but the exam version retires before you complete Core 2, your Core 1 result is no longer valid and you have to pass both exams on the new version. Core 1 and Core 2 must also come from the same version, with no mixing.
V15 launched on 25 March 2025 and CompTIA estimates retirement around 2028, so there is room. But if you pass Core 1 and then leave Core 2 for eighteen months, you are gambling a $274 voucher and the study time behind it. Book them close together.
What both exams actually cost
Each voucher is $274 in the US, so the credential costs $548 in exam fees alone. Voucher plus Retake Assurance is $359 each. UK list is GBP 171 per voucher. Vouchers carry a 12-month validity from purchase, which is worth knowing if you are buying both up front to lock the price.
The good news is the back end. A+ has the cheapest upkeep in the CompTIA stack: 20 CEUs over three years against Network+'s 30 and Security+'s 50, on a $75 CE fee rather than $150. Your three years are valid from the date you pass the second exam, not the first.
And if you go on to earn Network+ or Security+, renewing the higher certification renews A+ underneath it automatically, so the 20 CEUs stop being a separate job.
V15 put AI on the A+ exam for the first time
The headline addition in V15 is Core 2 objective 4.10, "Explain basic concepts related to artificial intelligence (AI)". V14 Operational Procedures ended at 4.9. There is no equivalent objective in the previous version, so any study material written before March 2025 has a hole in it exactly where the newest content sits.
Two other structural moves matter. Malware removal left Software Troubleshooting and became a Security objective, which is a large part of why Core 2 Security rose from 25 to 28 percent. And CompTIA removed the Windows version pin from the objective titles, so objectives that used to say "Windows 10" now cover Windows 10 and Windows 11 together.
Core 1 moved less. Networking gained three points to 23 percent, Mobile Devices lost two to 13. One objective disappeared entirely: the six-step troubleshooting methodology is no longer a numbered, scored objective. It survives in the Core 1 objectives document as a competency standard that CompTIA explicitly marks as not tested.
Where CompTIA contradicts itself, and what we will not repeat
Two A+ facts are stated inconsistently on CompTIA's own site and we are not going to pick a side and present it as settled.
Salary: the A+ certification page says tech support specialists earn a median of $60,000, with the 90th percentile up to $121,728. The CompTIA career-role page it links to says $62,000 for the same role, credited to CompTIA analysis of Lightcast and Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The methodology-backed figure is the $62,000 one, so treat the range as roughly $60,000 to $62,000 and ignore anyone quoting it to the dollar.
Languages: the combined V15 page says English only. The individual Core 1 and Core 2 V15 pages both say English, German and Japanese. If you need a non-English sitting, confirm with CompTIA directly rather than trusting either page.
Build the rest of your prep stack
How A+ is scored
A+ is two separate exams and you must pass both to earn the credential. Each exam has a maximum of 90 questions and a 90-minute time limit. Core 1 (220-1201) passes at a scaled 675 and Core 2 (220-1202) passes at a scaled 700, both on a 100 to 900 range. They are sat separately, not as one combined test.
The passing score is a scaled score, not a percentage of correct answers, so there is no published question-to-score formula and no per-domain minimum. Each exam is scored as one overall scaled result, which means strength in one domain can offset weakness in another within the same core. Each of our forms is built to one core at the real V15 domain weighting, so your practice percentage tracks close to exam conditions for the exam you are about to sit.
Performance-based questions usually appear first and can carry more weight than a single multiple-choice item. Do not sink all your time into them at the start. Flag, move on, and return with the time you have left.
Who uses the A+?
A+ is a common baseline for help-desk, desktop-support, and field-technician roles, and many IT employers list it as a requirement or a strong preference for entry-level support hiring. It is frequently the first certification on the path into an IT career.
An A+ prep approach (about 30 days)
Days 1-3: Take the free diagnostic and read your domain breakdown
Start with the free 25-question timed diagnostic. It samples both cores and scores you domain by domain, so you can see exactly where you stand before spending a cent. Your two weakest domains become the focus of the plan.
Days 4-14: Study mode by domain, weakest first
Work through study mode one domain at a time, reading the rationale on every question including the ones you get right. Hardware, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting, Operating Systems, and Security carry the most weight, so do not leave them for last.
Days 15-24: Drill PBQ-style and troubleshooting items
PBQs and multi-step troubleshooting are the number-one candidate anxiety point. Work the router-configuration, connector-matching, and command-selection items, and drill the correct order of troubleshooting steps until the reasoning is automatic.
Days 25-29: Full-length timed forms
Sit exam-mode forms under a strict 90-minute clock. Aim to consistently clear the pass approximation with time to spare, and review every miss by domain and by core.
Day 30: Light review and rest
Review only your flagged and missed items from the last two forms. Do not cram new material the day before. Settled recall beats last-minute volume.
Common A+ mistakes
Preparing for one core and forgetting the other
A+ is two exams. Candidates who drill Core 1 hardware and neglect Core 2 operating systems and security get blindsided on the second sitting. This bank carries five full forms for each core, so you prepare for the whole credential without mixing the two in one sitting.
Studying old-version material
The current series is V15, codes 220-1201 and 220-1202. Prep built for the retired version misses the newer topics such as Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, DDR5, Zero Trust, and EDR. This bank is written to the current V15 objectives only.
Memorizing answers instead of reasoning
A+ is scenario-heavy and troubleshooting-first. If you learn "answer B" without the why, a reworded stem will beat you. Read the rationale on every question, especially the ones you got right.
Skipping troubleshooting order
Core 1 troubleshooting and Core 2 software troubleshooting reward the correct ORDER of steps: identify, theorize, test, plan, verify, document. Many hard items hinge on the best NEXT step, not the eventual fix.
Related reading
A+ FAQs
A score tells you how you did. The coach tells you what to practice next.
After every test you get a short plan built from your own answers and seconds: which sections cost you points, which ones eat your clock, and the drill that fixes each.
Math: 11 of 12 right, at 31 s a question
Drill math against a 20 s clock. That frees about 2 minutes per test for the sections you miss more.
People who got the same questions right took 20 s.
Illustrative data
- Every section mapped on accuracy against speed, with one fix for each
- The questions that ate your time, and the clock checkpoints to hit next time
- Where rushing costs you, and the point to guess and move on
- A read that sharpens with every test you take
Your pacing report is free with your first test.
Prove you are ready for both cores before exam day.
One bank for both A+ exams: five timed Core 1 forms and five timed Core 2 forms, roughly 900 original questions, a rationale for every answer. Start free, then unlock it for a one-time $69 with 30-day access and a Money-back Guarantee*.
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