CompTIA A+ guideStart here
CompTIA A+ Study Guide: How to Prepare for 220-1201 and 220-1202
Plan A+ as two exams: choose which core to take first, turn each objective into a task you can perform, and keep dump sites out of your prep.
Short answer
Study for A+ as two separate projects. You must pass Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), in any order, from the same version, so pick one core, book it, and finish it before you start the other. Start with Core 1 if hardware and networking are new to you, or with Core 2 if you already support Windows users. For each core, turn the official objectives into tasks you can actually perform, spend the most time on the heaviest domains, and use only legitimate practice material. CompTIA revokes certifications earned with brain dumps.
Two exams, one version, any order
To earn CompTIA A+, you pass two exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). CompTIA lets you take them in any order, but both must come from the same version. As of October 17, 2026, CompTIA's A+ pages list V15, which launched on March 25, 2025, with retirement estimated for 2028. A pass on one V15 core counts only alongside a pass on the other V15 core, so plan both sittings inside that window instead of leaving the second core open-ended.
CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on work in an IT support role. It presents that as recommended experience, not as a condition for booking. If you have less, the method below still works. Budget more lab time.
The practical consequence is simple: study one core at a time. Book it, finish it, then switch. Preparing nine domains at once spreads your attention across two blueprints with two different passing scores. The Core 1 vs Core 2 comparison shows what each exam covers.
Which core to take first
| If this sounds like you | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You have never installed RAM or set up a home router | Core 1 | Core 2's security and Windows networking tasks assume you can read an IP address, a port number, and a router screen. Those are Core 1 networking skills |
| You already reset passwords, fix email profiles, or clean up infected laptops at work | Core 2 | Operating Systems (28%) and Software Troubleshooting (23%) will look like your ticket queue |
| You are comfortable with both | The one you can book soonest | Order has no effect on scoring. A real date on the calendar matters more than the sequence |
| Your course teaches the cores in a fixed order | Follow the course | Switching halfway costs more than either order |
Whichever you choose, pencil in a date for the second core when you book the first. Core 2 reuses Core 1 ideas such as addressing, ports, and wireless bands, so a short gap keeps them fresh.
Once you know your order, build a week-by-week plan for the A+ core you booked first. If you want an outline in the browser before that, the free A+ study plan generates one.
Turn each objective into a check you can pass
Download both objectives PDFs from CompTIA's Core 1 and Core 2 pages. Each objective starts with a verb, and the verb tells you what kind of preparation it needs.
- "Given a scenario" objectives ask you to act: configure, install, troubleshoot, or pick the right tool. Practice them with your hands or on a realistic screen.
- "Compare and contrast" objectives ask you to tell similar things apart, such as two RAM form factors or two wireless security protocols. Practice with side-by-side notes.
- "Explain," "Summarize," and "Identify" objectives ask what something is and what it is for. Practice by explaining it out loud in two sentences.
Then rewrite each objective as a task with a clear pass or fail. These examples were written for this guide:
| Objective (paraphrased) | Your check | You pass when |
|---|---|---|
| Core 1 2.1, TCP and UDP ports | A user can open a website by its IP address but not by its name. Which service and port do you suspect? | You say DNS on port 53 without looking it up |
| Core 1 2.2, wireless networking | A small office's 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi is crowded by neighbors. Which channels avoid overlap? | You name 1, 6, and 11, and can say when moving to 5 GHz helps more |
| Core 2 1.5, Windows command-line tools | A new Group Policy setting has not reached a PC. How do you apply it now, then confirm it? | You run gpupdate /force, then read gpresult /r |
| Core 2 1.9, Linux features and tools | One Linux PC reaches the wrong server by name while every other PC is fine. Which file do you open first? | You check /etc/hosts for a stale entry |
Mark each objective "can do," "can explain," or "not yet." The "not yet" rows are your next study sessions. CompTIA notes that the bulleted examples under each objective are not exhaustive, so learn the idea behind a bullet rather than the bullet alone.
Spend the most time where the weight is
| Exam | Largest domains | Smallest domain |
|---|---|---|
| Core 1 (220-1201) | Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 28%, Hardware 25% | Virtualization and Cloud Computing 11% |
| Core 2 (220-1202) | Operating Systems 28%, Security 28% | Operational Procedures 21% |
A weight is a share of the exam blueprint, not a promised number of questions. It still tells you where a weak domain costs the most. On Core 1, hardware and hardware-and-network troubleshooting make up more than half of the blueprint. On Core 2, operating systems and security together are 56%.
Troubleshooting is a large part of that weight, 28% of Core 1 and 23% of Core 2, but the six-step troubleshooting methodology itself is not a formal V15 objective. Spend your troubleshooting hours on symptoms and next steps, and use the steps as a habit rather than a list to recite. The troubleshooting methodology guide quotes CompTIA's note and shows the habit on scenario questions.
A small lab from CompTIA's own list
Each objectives PDF ends with a sample list of hardware and software CompTIA suggests for preparation, from SOHO routers and printers to spare parts and Linux. You do not need all of it. A workable minimum looks like this:
- An old desktop you can open, plus an ESD strap. Find the RAM, storage, power connectors, and expansion slots, and name each one.
- A Windows computer where you can run the Core 2 command-line tools. Start with commands that only report, such as ipconfig, ping, and hostname, before you touch anything that changes a disk.
- A Linux virtual machine on your own computer for the Linux commands and features in Core 2.
- Your own home router's admin page. Find each security setting the Core 2 objectives name before you change any of them.
- A smartphone, for pairing, hotspot, and mobile security settings.
Ports and Windows commands are two areas where short daily repetition pays off. The ports and protocols guide groups the 220-1201 list by job.
Acronyms in context, not in alphabetical order
Both objectives PDFs include an acronym list, and CompTIA encourages a working knowledge of it. Drilling it alphabetically is the slow way. Learn each acronym inside the objective where it appears: APIPA with IP addressing, TPM with BIOS and UEFI settings, TKIP with wireless security protocols. When you can use the acronym correctly in a sentence about a support ticket, you know it.
Practice that helps, and material that can cost you the certification
Test yourself early with mixed questions and record the domain of every miss. The free A+ practice questions are multiple choice, so they check recognition and judgment, not hands-on simulation work. When your misses cluster in one place, drill one A+ domain at a time with original questions.
Avoid any site that sells "real exam questions," "actual test" items, or recalled questions. CompTIA's objectives documents say candidates who use brain-dump material will have their certifications revoked and be suspended from future testing. If you are unsure whether a resource is legitimate, CompTIA asks you to contact its exam security team before you rely on it.
Trust the source
Official sources
Exam policies can change. Use these primary sources for the most current details.