Which step confirms a theory in troubleshooting methodology?

N10-009 By islever Editorial Last updated Sep 1, 2026

Short answer

A Duplicate the problem.

Question

Which of the following steps of the troubleshooting methodology should a technician take to confirm a theory?

Duplicate the problem. Correct Answer
Identify the symptoms.
Gather information.
Determine any changes.

Key Takeaways

This question tests the order of the CompTIA troubleshooting steps, specifically that 'test the theory' involves duplicating the problem. The trap is confusing the initial information-gathering phase's duplication step with the later theory-confirmation step.

To confirm a theory in the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, a technician must duplicate the problem to reproduce the issue under similar conditions. Community consensus points to Option A as the correct answer, as it validates the suspected cause against observed symptoms.

Common mistake: The most common wrong answer is C. 'Gather information.' Many test-takers associate duplication with the first step of information gathering, but confirming a theory requires actively reproducing the problem after a cause has been hypothesized, which is a separate action in the methodology.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

The CompTIA troubleshooting methodology places 'Test the theory to determine the cause' as the third step. This testing typically involves duplicating the problem to replicate the symptoms and verify that the suspected cause produces the observed issue. As commenter [1] states, duplicating the problem helps validate the theory and provides evidence that the suspected cause is correct. Option A is therefore the direct action taken to confirm a theory.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Option B (Identify the symptoms) is part of the initial problem identification step, not the theory-confirmation phase. Option C (Gather information) is also part of the first step, used to understand the problem before forming a theory, and does not validate a theory. Option D (Determine any changes) is an information-gathering activity from step one, helping identify potential causes but not confirming them. Only duplicating the problem actively tests the hypothesis.

Community Comment Notes

Comments are unanimous for Option A, with two responders providing clear reasoning that duplicating the problem is the validation step. One commenter raised a concern about the official CompTIA site listing 'gather information' as part of the information-gathering phase, but that commenter later acknowledges the correct answer is A. The consensus correctly distinguishes between initial information gathering and the theory-testing action.

Official Reference

These links open the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

Memorize the seven-step troubleshooting methodology in order. When a question asks about confirming a theory, recall that 'test the theory' is the third step and involves duplicating/reproducing the problem. Be careful not to confuse the initial information-gathering steps with the later validation step.

Community Votes

100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer A. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 3 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 3

HeatSquad77 👍 2 Answered A

A. Duplicate the problem. Explanation: To confirm a theory, a technician needs to reproduce the issue under similar conditions to ensure the identified cause matches the symptoms and behavior of the problem. Duplicating the problem helps validate the theory and provides evidence that the suspected cause is correct.
GT256 👍 2 Answered A

I think "A" is correct. You're right though, all these choices are part of the information-gathering phase but the only choice that can allow you to directly confirm your theory is by "duplicating the problem" (again) after making some changes.
ec80b38 👍 1

This should be C but Correct me if im wrong under step three on the comptia website it is said this step is also part of the "information-gathering" phase

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