What the CompTIA A+ 220-1201 is and who it is for
The CompTIA A+ is the industry standard entry level IT certification for IT support, help desk and desktop support roles globally. It takes two exams to certify. Core 1, exam code 220-1201, covers mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualisation, cloud computing and hardware troubleshooting. Core 2, exam code 220-1202, covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting and operational procedures. This guide is about Core 1.
The current version is V15, which launched on 25 March 2025, and it is DoD 8140 approved. CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands on IT support work. If you are starting out in IT, working on a help desk without a certification, or changing careers into technical support, A+ is usually the first credential an employer looks for, and Core 1 is the first of the two exams you need.
CompTIA A+ 220-1201 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam code | 220-1201 (Core 1) |
| Questions | Up to 90, including multiple choice, drag and drop and performance based questions |
| Time allowed | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 675 on a scale of 900 |
| Exam fee | US$274 per voucher |
| Where you sit it | Pearson VUE testing centres or online proctored |
| Certification valid for | 3 years |
What is on the exam
Five domains. Hardware and troubleshooting together are more than half of the exam.
Mobile devices (13%). Laptops and portable devices: installing and configuring laptop hardware and components, display types, mobile device accessories and ports, and setting up network connectivity and application support on phones and tablets.
Networking (23%). The fundamentals a support technician needs: TCP and UDP ports and protocols, networking hardware, wireless standards, network services, IP addressing basics, and choosing and installing the right network cable or connector.
Hardware (25%). The components inside a computer and the peripherals around it: cables and connectors, RAM, storage, motherboards, CPUs, power supplies, printers and multifunction devices. Questions test whether you can pick the right part for a requirement and install it correctly.
Virtualisation and cloud computing (11%). The smallest domain: cloud models and characteristics, and client side virtualisation such as running virtual machines on a workstation. Small, but easy marks if you cover it and easy to lose if you skip it.
Hardware and network troubleshooting (28%). The largest domain. A troubleshooting methodology, then diagnosing problems with motherboards, RAM, CPUs and power, storage, displays, mobile devices, printers and wired or wireless networks. Expect scenario questions that describe a symptom and ask for the most likely cause or the next step.
Why people fail it
Core 1 is heavier on hardware and networking than most candidates expect. Mobile devices, networking protocols, virtualisation, cloud computing and hardware troubleshooting are all tested, and the performance based questions put you in scenario simulations you cannot bluff through. The candidates who struggle are usually the ones who memorised component specifications and skipped the troubleshooting and cloud sections. Troubleshooting alone is 28% of the exam, and it rewards a method, not a memory.
The exam also mixes formats. Alongside multiple choice there are drag and drop items and PBQs, and each takes longer than a standard question. With up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, that is an average of a minute each, so an unfamiliar PBQ early on can put you behind for the rest of the sitting.
Then there is the cost of failing. A failed 220-1201 attempt means another US$274 voucher before you have even started Core 2, and a delay while you resit. Passing first time carries momentum straight into the second exam. That is a strong reason to practise the formats and the timing before your first attempt rather than learning them in the exam room.
A study plan that fits the exam
Six weeks, weighted by domain. Hardware and troubleshooting get the most time, virtualisation and cloud the least, and nothing is left out.
- Week 1: mobile devices. Laptop hardware, displays, ports and accessories, and mobile connectivity. Try the free A+ Core 1 practice questions at the end of the week to see the question style.
- Week 2: networking. Ports and protocols, networking hardware, wireless standards, network services and IP addressing basics. Make a table of ports and protocols and test yourself on it daily.
- Week 3: hardware. Cables and connectors, RAM, storage, motherboards, CPUs, power supplies and printers. Start working the hardware questions in the 220-1201 practice question pack and read every explanation, including why the other options are wrong.
- Week 4: virtualisation and cloud, then hardware again. Cover the whole cloud and virtualisation domain in the first half of the week. Use the second half for a mixed set of hardware and networking questions.
- Week 5: hardware and network troubleshooting. A full week on the largest domain. Learn the methodology first, then work through the fault categories one by one. Do the troubleshooting questions in the pack more than once.
- Week 6: timed runs. Use the questions only PDF for full sittings against the 90 minute limit. Score by domain, then spend the remaining days on whichever came out lowest.
On exam day
You sit 220-1201 at a Pearson VUE testing centre or online with a proctor. If you test online, check the room, desk and webcam rules on the vendor page in advance and run the system check on the computer you will use. At a centre, bring the identification your booking confirmation asks for and arrive early.
You have 90 minutes for up to 90 questions, including multiple choice, drag and drop and PBQs. Set your pace before you start. Move through the multiple choice items steadily, and if a PBQ or drag and drop item is going to take a long time, flag it if the interface allows and return to it with the time you have banked. The passing score is 675 on a scale of 900, and the scale is not a straight percentage, so do not try to work out your mark during the exam. Answer everything and keep going.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pass both A+ exams?
Yes. A+ certification requires Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). Core 1 covers mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualisation and cloud, and hardware troubleshooting. Core 2 covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting and operational procedures. Core 1 costs US$274 per voucher, and you book each exam separately.
What happens if I fail Core 1? Can I retake it?
You can retake it, but each attempt needs a new voucher at the full fee, currently US$274, and you cannot certify until both exams are passed. CompTIA publishes its retake policy, including any waiting period between attempts, on its website, so check it before you rebook. The practice pack is refunded if you fail, but the voucher is not, so do your timed practice before the first attempt.
Is the practice question pack enough on its own?
No. It is 512 practice questions, MCQs and PBQs, with an explanation for every answer and every wrong option, mapped to the 220-1201 objectives. It is practice, not a course. It will show you the formats, find your gaps and teach you how CompTIA phrases a scenario, but you still need a study guide, a video course or hands on time with real hardware for the material itself. Use the pack to test yourself and direct your study.
How long does A+ stay valid?
Three years. Check the vendor page for the current renewal options before it expires.
When you are ready to practise, get the 512 question 220-1201 pack for US$39, pass or your money back.