CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) is the hardware-and-networking half of the A+ certification. Drill original, exam-style practice questions with plain-English explanations so the real 90-minute test holds no surprises.
Here is the part a lot of first-timers miss: passing 220-1101 does not, on its own, earn you the CompTIA A+ certification. A+ requires you to pass two separate exams — Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102). They are scheduled, paid for, and sat individually, and you can take them in either order. You are only "A+ certified" once both are done. This page focuses on Core 1; budget time and money for Core 2 as well before you start.
The A+ is an entry-level credential. Its sweet spot is help desk, desktop support, field service, and junior IT roles — the jobs where you install and configure devices, connect them to networks, run basic security hygiene, and troubleshoot whatever breaks. If that is the door you are trying to open, A+ is a sensible, employer-recognized way to show you have the fundamentals.
It is the right fit if you are switching into IT from another field, you are early in your career, or a job posting you want lists A+ as preferred. It is probably not the best use of your time if you already have a few years of hands-on IT experience or you are aiming straight at networking, security, or cloud roles — in those cases credentials like Network+, Security+, or a cloud cert tend to move the needle more. A+ proves you can do the groundwork; it is a starting line, not a finish line.
CompTIA publishes five domains for Core 1, each weighted by how much of the exam it represents. Troubleshooting and hardware together make up over half the test, so that is where your study hours pay off most.
| Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | 29% — the largest domain. Diagnosing and resolving faults across components, displays, storage, mobile devices, printers, and network connectivity. |
| Hardware | 25% — cables and connectors, RAM, storage, motherboards, CPUs, power supplies, peripherals, and printer/multifunction devices. |
| Networking | 20% — ports and protocols, networking hardware, wireless standards, network types, and configuring a basic SOHO network. |
| Mobile Devices | 15% — laptop hardware and components, display types, accessories and ports, and mobile device connectivity and configuration. |
| Virtualization and Cloud Computing | 11% — cloud computing concepts and the basics of client-side virtualization. |
Expect a mix of single- and multiple-response multiple-choice questions, drag-and-drop items, and performance-based questions (PBQs) that drop you into a simulated environment and ask you to actually solve something. PBQs usually appear at the start of the exam, so do not let them eat all your time — flag and return if one is fighting you.
Domain weights and exam format are from CompTIA's published A+ Core 1 (220-1101) objectives. Always confirm current details on the official exam objectives before you book.
Download CompTIA's official 220-1101 objectives and treat them as your checklist. If a bullet point is on there, it can be tested. Tick off each sub-objective as you can explain it out loud.
A+ rewards real exposure. Open a desktop, swap RAM, crimp a cable, log into a home router, spin up a free virtual machine. The PBQs assume you have actually done the thing, not just read about it.
Troubleshooting (29%) and Hardware (25%) are over half the exam. Give them the bulk of your hours, then shore up Networking, Mobile Devices, and the smaller Virtualization and Cloud domain.
Do timed question sets, read every explanation (right or wrong), and track which domains keep tripping you. Knowing why an answer is wrong sticks far better than memorizing which letter is right.
Reading a study guide builds recognition; answering questions builds recall. They are not the same skill, and the exam tests the second one. Practice questions surface the gap between "I've seen this" and "I can answer this under a clock" while you still have time to close it.
Good practice does three things: it gets you used to how CompTIA phrases scenarios, it trains the pacing you need to clear up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, and — when each item comes with an explanation — it teaches you the reasoning, not just the answer. Every GetMyCert item explains why the correct option is right and why the tempting distractors are wrong, so a wrong answer becomes a lesson instead of a guess. These are original practice questions written to mirror the style and difficulty of the real objectives; they are not copies of live exam content.
Go straight to the source for objectives, current pricing, and official training:
Yes. The CompTIA A+ certification requires passing two exams: Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102). Passing only 220-1101 does not earn the certification. You can take the two exams in either order, and each is scheduled and paid for separately.
The 220-1101 exam contains a maximum of 90 questions, including single- and multiple-response multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions.
The passing score for CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) is 675 on a scale of 900.
You have 90 minutes to complete the 220-1101 exam. This does not include testing-center check-in, so plan to arrive early.
Core 1 covers five domains: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (29%), Hardware (25%), Networking (20%), Mobile Devices (15%), and Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%).
PBQs place you in a simulated environment and ask you to solve a task rather than pick a letter. They usually appear at the beginning of the exam, so manage your time and move on if one is taking too long.
A+ is an entry-level credential aimed at help desk, desktop support, field service, and junior IT roles. It is a strong fit for career changers and people early in IT, and less useful if you already have significant experience or are targeting networking, security, or cloud roles directly.
Exam voucher pricing changes over time and by region, so check the current price on CompTIA's official Core 1 page before booking. Remember you will pay for Core 1 and Core 2 separately to complete the full A+.
Work through original 220-1101 practice questions with explanations, then come back and do Core 2. Free to start — no pass promised, just better preparation.
Practice Core 1 Questions