Best CompTIA A+ Study Resources

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What the CompTIA A+ Exam Actually Tests

The A+ is two separate exams — Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) — and you must pass both to earn the certification. Core 1 focuses on hardware, networking fundamentals, mobile devices, and virtualisation. Core 2 covers operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS), security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Both exams are 90 questions with a 90-minute time limit and a passing score of 700 out of 900.

The most important thing to understand about the current A+ exams (220-1201/1202) is that they are heavily scenario-based. CompTIA writes questions that describe a real situation — a user's computer won't boot, a printer isn't connecting to the network, a technician needs to securely dispose of a hard drive — and asks you to identify the correct action. Memorising definitions is not enough. You need to know what to do in a given situation, not just what a term means.

Performance-based questions (PBQs) appear at the start of each exam. These are drag-and-drop, matching, or simulation-style questions that test whether you can actually apply knowledge — ordering the steps of the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, matching cable types to their specifications, or selecting the correct tool for a given diagnostic task. Most candidates find PBQs the hardest part of the exam because time pressure is intense and they can't be easily guessed.

How Long Does It Take to Study for A+?

Most candidates without prior IT experience need 8 to 12 weeks to prepare for both A+ exams studied consecutively. Candidates with hands-on IT or help desk experience often shorten this to 4 to 6 weeks per exam. The split across two exams means you effectively have two study cycles — which is actually an advantage, because you can focus entirely on Core 1 topics before switching to Core 2.

A realistic daily commitment is one to two hours. Cramming doesn't work well for A+ because the exam tests practical application — you need time for the concepts to settle and for scenario-based thinking to develop. The candidates who fail and have to retake are almost always the ones who tried to rush the process in two or three weeks.

A useful milestone: when you're consistently scoring 85% or higher on full-length practice exams under timed conditions, you're ready to sit. Don't book your exam date until you've hit that threshold on at least two or three separate attempts on fresh question sets — not the same questions repeated.

A+ Study Strategy — What Actually Works

The most effective A+ study approach combines structured reading with active practice. Here's what the candidates who pass on their first attempt tend to do differently from those who fail:

Read to understand, practice to pass. Use a study guide or video course to build foundational understanding — you can't practice-exam your way to understanding how RAM works or why DNS uses UDP. But once you have the conceptual foundation, shift heavily toward practice questions because the exam is scenario-based and you need to train your brain to think in that format.

Study Core 1 and Core 2 separately. Don't try to study both simultaneously. Finish your Core 1 preparation, sit and pass Core 1, then shift entirely to Core 2. This keeps your focus sharp and avoids the confusion of having two different topic areas competing for attention in your head. Most candidates schedule Core 2 two to four weeks after Core 1.

Track your weak domains. Every time you take a practice exam, note which domains you're missing questions in. CompTIA reports your performance by domain on your score report — candidates who fail often fail because one or two domains dragged their score below 700 while other domains were strong. If Core 1 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting is where you're losing points, drill those specifically rather than doing general re-reads.

Use hands-on practice wherever possible. The A+ has a reputation for testing things you can only learn by actually doing them — Windows settings navigation, command-line tools, hardware installation. If you can set up a virtual machine and practice running sfc /scannow, ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew, and navigating Device Manager, those PBQ simulation questions become much less intimidating.

The Most Tested A+ Topics — Where to Focus

Based on the domain weightings, certain topics appear on almost every A+ exam and should receive disproportionate study time:

Port numbers and protocols (Core 1). You need to know at minimum: HTTP (80), HTTPS (443), FTP (20/21), SSH (22), Telnet (23), SMTP (25), DNS (53), DHCP (67/68), RDP (3389), SMB (445), SNMP (161). The exam tests these constantly in both multiple-choice and PBQ formats. Know the port, the protocol (TCP vs UDP), and what the service does.

CompTIA's 6-step troubleshooting methodology (Core 2). This appears on nearly every Core 2 exam in scenario form. The steps — Identify, Establish Theory, Test Theory, Establish Plan, Implement Solution, Document — must be memorised in order. The most common trap: questions that expect you to say "document findings" as the final step, not "verify the fix worked" (verifying is part of step 5, documentation is step 6).

Malware types and removal procedure (Core 2). Know each malware type — virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, rootkit, spyware, keylogger, RAT — and what distinguishes them. The malware removal procedure is also tested directly: identify and quarantine, disable System Restore, remediate (remove malware), schedule scans, enable System Restore and create a restore point, educate the end user, document.

Storage types and RAID (Core 1). SATA vs M.2 vs NVMe physical specs, HDD vs SSD trade-offs, and RAID levels 0, 1, 5, and 10 including their minimum disk requirements, fault tolerance, and use cases. RAID 5 (striping with parity, minimum 3 disks) and RAID 10 (mirroring + striping, minimum 4 disks) appear most frequently.

Windows command-line tools (Core 2). sfc /scannow (system file checker), DISM (deployment image servicing), chkdsk, diskpart, ipconfig, netstat, ping, tracert, nslookup. Know what each does and when you'd use it in a troubleshooting scenario.

Common Reasons Candidates Fail A+

Relying on dumps. Brain dumps (leaked exam questions) are tempting but counterproductive. CompTIA refreshes its question pool regularly, dump questions are often wrong or paraphrased inaccurately, and candidates who pass via dumps typically can't do the job — which defeats the purpose of getting certified. Use official practice exams from Dion Training or Professor Messer instead.

Underestimating Core 2. Many candidates find Core 1 harder during study because hardware specs feel dry, but then struggle with Core 2 on exam day because the scenario-based security and troubleshooting questions require applied thinking rather than recall. Give Core 2 at least as much time as Core 1.

Not practising PBQs. If you've only done multiple-choice practice questions, the PBQ format at the start of the exam will slow you down significantly. Dion Training includes PBQ-style questions in its practice sets, which is one of the main reasons it's consistently recommended by candidates who passed.

Booking the exam too early. A common pattern in retake reports: "I had studied for three weeks and felt ready, then failed by 40 points." The exam feels doable in your head until you're under timed conditions reading scenario questions about situations you've only read about, not practised. Hit 85%+ on practice exams consistently before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to take Core 1 before Core 2?

Technically no — CompTIA doesn't enforce an order. But Core 1 (hardware and networking) provides foundational knowledge that makes Core 2 easier. The vast majority of candidates take Core 1 first and Core 2 second, and study guides are structured this way.

Is A+ worth it without work experience?

Yes — it's specifically designed as an entry point. A+ is vendor-neutral, widely recognised by employers including the US Department of Defense, and demonstrates baseline technical competence to hiring managers who otherwise have no way to evaluate a candidate without prior job history. It's the most common first certification for people entering IT support and help desk roles.

How much does the A+ exam cost?

Each voucher costs $246 USD (as of 2025), and you need two — one for Core 1 and one for Core 2 — for a total of $492 before any discounts. CompTIA occasionally offers exam bundles. The CertMaster voucher bundles include exam vouchers at a discount and may be worth comparing if you're buying study materials anyway.

What jobs can I get with A+?

Help desk technician, IT support specialist, desktop support analyst, field service technician, and junior systems administrator are the most common entry-level roles. Salaries for A+-certified technicians average $45,000–$60,000 USD depending on location and employer. A+ alone rarely leads directly to senior roles — it's typically followed by Network+ or Security+ within one to two years.