What the CompTIA A+ 220-1202 is and who it is for
The CompTIA A+ is the industry standard entry level IT certification, required or preferred for IT support, help desk and desktop support roles, and it is DoD 8140 approved. You earn it by passing two exams. Core 1 (220-1201) covers hardware and networking fundamentals. Core 2 (220-1202), the subject of this guide, covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting and operational procedures. Both belong to the current V15 version, which launched on 25 March 2025.
It is for you if you are starting out in IT support, moving into a help desk or desktop role, or you already do the job and need the certificate to prove it. CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands on IT support work. You can pass without it, but you will have to work harder on the scenario questions, because they assume you have sat in front of a broken machine and a frustrated user.
CompTIA A+ 220-1202 at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam code | 220-1202 |
| Questions | Up to 90, including multiple choice, drag and drop and performance based questions |
| Time allowed | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 700 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
Four domains, fairly evenly weighted. Operating systems and security are joint largest and together make up 56% of the exam.
Operating systems (28%). Windows gets the most attention: editions and their features, installation and upgrade options, the Control Panel and Settings, command line tools, system utilities and file systems. The domain also reaches across macOS, Linux, Android and Chrome OS, so you need enough of each to recognise its tools, its file system and how common tasks are done on it.
Security (28%). Physical and logical security, wireless security settings, malware types and the removal procedure in the correct order, social engineering, BitLocker, UAC, account and password policy, and workstation and mobile device hardening. Expect questions that describe a symptom and ask which threat it points to, or which step of the malware removal process comes next.
Software troubleshooting (23%). Diagnosing and fixing problems with the operating system, applications, mobile devices and security issues on an endpoint. This is the most scenario heavy domain. The question tells you what the user sees, and you pick the likely cause or the next action.
Operational procedures (21%). How a support professional works: documentation and ticketing, change management, backup and recovery, safety and environmental controls, licensing and privacy, remote access tools, scripting basics and professional communication with users. It sounds soft, but it is worth nearly as much as troubleshooting.
Why people fail it
Core 2 is where candidates get caught out after already clearing Core 1. Having passed one A+ exam, they assume the second will feel similar. It does not. Core 1 is heavy on hardware facts you can memorise. Core 2 asks you to choose between tools, procedures and settings across several operating systems, and to put steps in the right order.
The operating systems domain is wider than people expect. Windows is only part of it: macOS, Linux, Android and Chrome OS all appear, and candidates who only use Windows get caught by questions on commands or settings they have never touched. The security domain is just as big, at 28%, and the malware removal procedure, BitLocker, UAC and hardening questions reward precise knowledge rather than general awareness.
Then there is the format. On top of the multiple choice questions, the performance based questions put you in a simulated environment and ask you to solve a real problem. Up to 90 questions in 90 minutes leaves no slack, and a slow PBQ at the start can squeeze the rest of the exam. Candidates who have only read about the format, rather than practised it against a clock, lose time they needed at the end.
A study plan that fits the exam
Six weeks: one week for each domain in order of weight, a second pass on the two largest, and a week of timed practice.
- Week 1: operating systems. Windows editions, installation, tools, command line and file systems, then the main features and tools of macOS, Linux, Android and Chrome OS. At the end of the week, try the free 220-1202 practice questions to see the question styles.
- Week 2: security. Threats, social engineering, malware removal steps in order, BitLocker, UAC, account policy and hardening. Work the security questions in the 220-1202 practice question pack and read every explanation, including the wrong options.
- Week 3: software troubleshooting. Work from symptoms to causes for Windows, applications, mobile devices and security problems. Practise the PBQs in this domain until the simulated environment feels routine.
- Week 4: operational procedures. Documentation, change management, backups, safety, licensing, remote access, scripting basics and communication. Do not skip it because it feels like common sense.
- Week 5: second pass on operating systems and security. These two domains carry the most marks. Focus on the non Windows systems and on any security topics you got wrong in week 2.
- Week 6: timed runs. Use the questions only PDF for full sittings against the 90 minute limit, score yourself by domain, and spend the last days on whatever came out lowest.
On exam day
You sit 220-1202 at a Pearson VUE testing centre or online with a proctor. For online delivery, check the room and webcam requirements in advance and run the system test on the computer you will use. For a centre, bring the identification your booking confirmation asks for and arrive early.
You have the same number of minutes as the maximum number of questions, so pace matters from the first screen. If a PBQ looks long, flag it if the interface allows, answer the multiple choice items, and come back to it with the time you have saved. Read troubleshooting questions for the word that sets the task, such as first, next or best. The passing score is 700 on a scale of 900, and the scale is not a straight percentage, so do not try to count your marks while you sit it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take Core 1 before Core 2?
You need to pass both 220-1201 and 220-1202 to earn the A+. Many people sit Core 1 first because hardware and networking make a good foundation for the troubleshooting in Core 2, but check CompTIA’s site for any rules on order and timing between the two exams.
What happens if I fail? Can I retake it?
You can, but each attempt needs a new voucher at the full US$274, with the rest of the A+ still waiting on the other side. CompTIA publishes its retake policy, including any waiting period, on its website. 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 414 practice questions, MCQs and PBQs, mapped to the 220-1202 objectives, with an explanation for every answer and every wrong option. It will show you CompTIA’s framing and your weak areas. It is not a course, and it does not replace a study guide or hands on time with the operating systems. Use it alongside your learning material.
When you are ready to practise under exam conditions, get the 414 question 220-1202 pack for US$39, pass or your money back.