The second of two exams you need for the A+ credential. Core 2 is the software half: operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and the day-to-day procedures of a working IT support tech.
One exam does not earn you the A+. To get certified you must pass both the Core 1 exam (220-1101) and the Core 2 exam (220-1102). They are separate sittings with separate fees, and you can take them in either order. This page covers Core 2 (220-1102) only.
Core 1 leans toward hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualization, and hardware troubleshooting. Core 2 is the software-focused exam: operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Many candidates find Core 2 the heavier reading load because security and procedures cover a lot of terminology.
Honestly, it depends on where you are in your career. The A+ is an entry-level certification. It is not going to land you a senior engineering role on its own, and people already working in IT often skip it. What it does well is open the first door.
If you are trying to break into IT with little or no professional experience, the A+ is one of the most widely requested credentials for help desk, desktop support, and field technician roles. It signals to a hiring manager that you understand how computers, operating systems, and basic security actually work, which is exactly what those first jobs need. CompTIA recommends roughly 9 to 12 months of hands-on experience before sitting the exams, but plenty of people pass while studying their way in.
Where it is probably not worth it: if you already have a year or more of real IT support experience, or you are aiming straight at a specialization like security or cloud, your time may be better spent on a higher-level cert. Be honest with yourself about your starting point.
CompTIA splits 220-1102 into four domains. The percentages below are the official exam weights, so they tell you exactly where to spend your study hours.
The single largest domain. Windows editions and features, installation and upgrade methods, the command line, Control Panel and Settings, system utilities, plus working knowledge of macOS, Linux, and the major mobile operating systems and their file systems.
Physical and logical security measures, wireless security protocols and authentication, malware types and removal, social engineering and common threats, secure workstation configuration, and basic data destruction and disposal.
Diagnosing and resolving Windows OS problems, PC and mobile OS application issues, malware symptoms and remediation steps in the correct order, and mobile device security concerns.
Documentation and change management, backup and recovery methods, safety and environmental procedures, privacy and licensing concepts, communication and professionalism, and basic scripting concepts. People often underestimate this domain.
Expect a mix of standard multiple-choice questions and performance-based questions (PBQs), where you complete a task or work through a simulated scenario rather than just picking an answer. PBQs usually appear at the start of the exam, so do not let them eat all your time.
| Exam code | 220-1102 (Core 2) |
| Number of questions | Maximum of 90 |
| Question types | Multiple choice (single and multiple response) and performance-based questions |
| Time limit | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 700 on a scale of 100 to 900 |
| Recommended experience | About 9 to 12 months of hands-on IT support experience |
| Required for A+ | Yes, alongside Core 1 (220-1101) |
| Vendor | CompTIA |
Always confirm current pricing, scheduling, and policy details on CompTIA's official site before you register.
Reading a study guide builds recognition. You see a term, it looks familiar, and you feel ready. The exam asks for something harder: recall under time pressure, applied to a scenario you have not seen before. Practice questions are how you find the difference between "I have read this" and "I can answer this."
Good practice does three things. It surfaces the topics you only think you know. It trains you to read questions the way CompTIA writes them, including the "choose the best answer" wording where several options look correct. And the explanations turn a wrong answer into a lesson instead of just a red X.
That is what GetMyCert focuses on: original practice questions with written explanations for why the right answer is right and why each distractor is wrong, so each attempt actually teaches you something.
Go straight to the source for objectives, pricing, and registration:
You need 700 on a scale of 100 to 900. The exam is scaled, so it is not a simple percentage of questions correct.
A maximum of 90 questions, a mix of multiple-choice and performance-based questions, with a 90-minute time limit.
Yes. The A+ credential requires passing both Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102). Passing only one does not certify you. You can take them in either order.
Four domains: Operating Systems (31%), Security (25%), Software Troubleshooting (22%), and Operational Procedures (22%).
PBQs ask you to complete a task or work through a simulated scenario instead of just selecting an answer. They typically appear early in the exam, so manage your time so they do not consume the whole session.
It varies with your background. CompTIA suggests around 9 to 12 months of hands-on IT support experience overall. With consistent daily study, many candidates prepare for Core 2 specifically over several weeks to a few months.
It is subjective. Core 1 is more hardware and networking; Core 2 is more software, security, and procedures with a lot of terminology to memorize. Many candidates find Core 2 a heavier reading load, but difficulty depends on your strengths.
No. GetMyCert offers original practice questions written to match the 220-1102 objectives. They are study material, not actual exam content, and GetMyCert is not affiliated with CompTIA.
Work through original 220-1102 practice questions with explanations, then go back to the objectives you missed.
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