220-1201 — CompTIA A+ Core 1 (V15)
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CompTIA A+ Core 1 (V15) (220-1201) Practice Questions

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105 questions
June 13, 2026 updated
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Domain coverage

  • Mobile Devices (13%)
  • Networking (23%)
  • Hardware (25%)
  • Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%)
  • Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%)

Sample Questions (11 of 105 shown)

Q1 Mobile Devices (15%)
A technician is replacing the screen on a laptop and notices a thin cable routed around the perimeter of the display bezel. What is this cable most likely used for?
  1. Powering the keyboard backlight
  2. Connecting the Wi-Fi antenna
  3. Providing signal to the trackpad
  4. Supplying power to the optical drive
✓ Correct Answer: B
Laptop Wi-Fi antennas are almost always routed around the display bezel because the elevated, unobstructed position provides the best wireless signal reception. The thin cable seen during screen replacement is the antenna lead running through the hinges to the wireless card.
Q2 Mobile Devices (15%)
A user reports that their laptop display shows a very faint image that is only visible when a flashlight is shone on the screen. Which component is most likely faulty?
  1. LCD panel
  2. Inverter or LED backlight driver
  3. Video cable
  4. GPU
✓ Correct Answer: B
When the display produces a visible but very dim image, the LCD panel itself is working — it is generating the image. The problem is that the backlight is not illuminating it. On older CCFL displays this is the inverter; on modern LED displays it is the LED backlight driver board.
Q3 Mobile Devices (15%)
A technician needs to add more RAM to a laptop. Which form factor should the technician use?
  1. DIMM
  2. SO-DIMM
  3. SIMM
  4. RIMM
✓ Correct Answer: B
Laptops use SO-DIMMs (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules) because they are compact — roughly half the length of full-size DIMMs used in desktops. SIMMs and RIMMs are legacy form factors no longer commonly used.
Q4 Mobile Devices (15%)
An employee's company-owned tablet must be configured so the IT department can remotely wipe it, enforce password policies, and push approved applications. Which technology should be used?
  1. VPN client
  2. Mobile Device Management (MDM)
  3. Full-disk encryption
  4. Remote desktop application
✓ Correct Answer: B
MDM allows IT administrators to remotely manage, secure, and configure mobile devices. MDM platforms can enforce password complexity, remotely wipe lost/stolen devices, push and revoke applications, and apply security policies.
Q5 Mobile Devices (15%)
A technician is replacing the battery in a laptop that uses an internal non-removable battery. Before opening the case, which steps should the technician take FIRST?
  1. Remove the hard drive and disconnect the display
  2. Power off the laptop, unplug AC power, and disconnect the internal battery ribbon cable
  3. Boot into BIOS and disable the battery charging circuit
  4. Ground the laptop chassis to the AC outlet using the power cord
✓ Correct Answer: B
When working with internal batteries, safety is paramount. The correct first step is to power down, unplug the AC adapter, then carefully disconnect the internal battery cable before touching any other components. Some manufacturers also recommend holding the power button for 10-15 seconds to drain residual capacitance.
Q6 Mobile Devices (15%)
A laptop with a touchscreen is experiencing "ghost touches" — random input detected without user touch. After confirming no physical damage, which action is most likely to resolve the issue?
  1. Replace the laptop keyboard
  2. Update or reinstall the touchscreen digitizer driver
  3. Increase the screen brightness
  4. Disable Bluetooth
✓ Correct Answer: B
Ghost touches on a touchscreen are typically caused by a faulty or outdated digitizer driver. The digitizer is the component that senses touch input, and if its driver is buggy or corrupted, it can register false input. Updating or reinstalling the driver often resolves the issue.
Q10 Networking (20%)
A technician needs to securely transfer files to a remote server. Which protocol should be used instead of FTP?
  1. TFTP
  2. SFTP
  3. SMTP
  4. SNMP
✓ Correct Answer: B
SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) provides encrypted file transfer over SSH (port 22), making it a secure alternative to FTP which transmits credentials and data in cleartext.
Q11 Networking (20%)
Which port does HTTPS use by default?
  1. 80
  2. 443
  3. 8080
  4. 8443
✓ Correct Answer: B
HTTPS (HTTP Secure) defaults to port 443 and uses TLS to encrypt traffic. Port 80 is standard HTTP. Port 8080 is a common HTTP alternate port. Port 8443 is a common HTTPS alternate.
Q12 Networking (20%)
A workstation is configured to obtain its IP address automatically but is receiving a 169.254.x.x address. What does this indicate?
  1. The workstation has a static IP conflict
  2. The DHCP server is unreachable and APIPA has self-assigned an address
  3. DNS resolution has failed
  4. The default gateway is incorrectly configured
✓ Correct Answer: B
Addresses in the 169.254.0.0/16 range are APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) addresses. When a machine is configured for DHCP but cannot reach a DHCP server, Windows and other OSs assign an APIPA address allowing limited local communication.
Q13 Networking (20%)
Which tool is used to identify unlabeled network cables by emitting a signal that can be traced?
  1. Network tap
  2. Loopback plug
  3. Toner probe
  4. Cable certifier
✓ Correct Answer: C
A toner probe (also known as a "fox and hound" or cable tracer) is designed for tracing and identifying network cables. The kit consists of a signal generator that sends a signal through the cable and a probe that emits an audible tone when near the correct cable.
Q14 Networking (20%)
A small business wants their network printer to maintain the same IP address. Which SOHO router setting is the MOST appropriate?
  1. MAC filtering
  2. DHCP reservation
  3. Static IP on the printer
  4. Port triggering
✓ Correct Answer: B
DHCP reservation assigns a specific IP address to a device based on its MAC address. This ensures the printer always receives the same IP from the DHCP server without requiring a manual static IP configuration on the device.

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Exam overview

The CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) is the first of two exams required to earn the industry-standard A+ certification, designed to launch your IT career. Launched in March 2025 as part of the V15 update, this exam focuses on foundational skills in hardware, networking, mobile devices, and troubleshooting. Passing Core 1 and Core 2 prepares you for roles like IT support specialist and help desk technician while building the knowledge needed to pursue advanced certifications like Network+ and Security+.

Our 220-1201 practice test platform offers 500+ original practice questions that mirror the latest V15 exam objectives. Each question includes detailed explanations, scenario-based context, and exam tips to help you master the material. The practice tests cover all 5 domains with weighted accuracy, ensuring you spend your study time where it matters most. With our performance-based question simulator, you'll gain hands-on experience in troubleshooting hardware, configuring SOHO networks, and diagnosing connectivity issues—exactly what you'll face on exam day.

Whether you're new to IT or preparing for your first certification, our 220-1201 practice tests adapt to your skill level. The intelligent feedback system identifies your weak areas and generates targeted practice sessions to close knowledge gaps. Combined with our mobile-friendly platform, you can study anytime, anywhere. Join thousands of IT professionals who've passed their A+ Core 1 exam with our proven practice test system. Start your free trial today and take the first step toward your IT career.

Official Exam Domains & Weighting

To successfully pass the 220-1201 exam, candidates must master foundational IT skills across the following five core domains:
  • Domain 1: Mobile Devices (13%) – Install, configure, and troubleshoot mobile device hardware, accessories, and network connectivity.
  • Domain 2: Networking (23%) – Understand networking concepts, protocols, ports, and configure SOHO networks.
  • Domain 3: Hardware (25%) – Install, configure, and maintain hardware components, peripherals, and internal system components.
  • Domain 4: Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%) – Understand virtualization concepts, cloud models, and desktop virtualization.
  • Domain 5: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%) – Diagnose and resolve hardware, network, and connectivity problems using troubleshooting tools.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Core 1 (220-1201) focuses on hardware, networking, mobile devices, and troubleshooting, while Core 2 (220-1202) covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Both exams must be from the same version (V15) to earn A+ certification.

CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on IT support experience, but most candidates study for 4-8 weeks with focused preparation. Our practice tests help you assess readiness in as little as 2 weeks.

Yes! Our platform includes PBQ simulators that mirror the real exam experience. You'll practice troubleshooting hardware issues, configuring networks, and diagnosing connectivity problems in a simulated environment.

You need a scaled score of 675 on a scale of 100-900. Our practice tests use the same scoring algorithm, so you'll know exactly when you're ready.

Yes, CompTIA offers online proctoring through OnVUE. You can also take the exam at a Pearson VUE test center. Our practice tests are accessible from any device, so you can study anywhere.

The exam has a maximum of 90 questions, including multiple-choice (single and multiple response), drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions. Our practice tests include all question types.

A+ certification prepares you for roles like IT support specialist, help desk technician, field service technician, and junior IT administrator. It's the industry standard for starting an IT career.