Everything you need to know about how the 220-1201/1202 exam is structured — questions, time, scoring, and exactly how the marks are distributed.
A+ requires passing TWO separate exams — Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), in either order. Each has up to 90 questions (multiple choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based) in 90 minutes at Pearson VUE or online proctored. Each is scored on a 100–900 scale: Core 1 passes at 675, Core 2 at 700.
CompTIA publishes how the 90 questions are distributed (CompTIA A+ 220-1201/220-1202 Exam Objectives V15). Weight your preparation to match — this is the single most useful planning fact:
| Area | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Core 1 · Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | 28% | |
| Core 1 · Hardware | 25% | |
| Core 1 · Networking | 23% | |
| Core 1 · Mobile Devices | 13% | |
| Core 1 · Virtualization and Cloud | 11% | |
| Core 2 · Operating Systems | 28% | |
| Core 2 · Security | 28% | |
| Core 2 · Software Troubleshooting | 23% | |
| Core 2 · Operational Procedures | 21% |
Core 1 · Hardware and Network Troubleshooting is the heaviest at 28% — most candidates under-weight it.
We're building an original, expert-validated 220-1201/1202 question bank. Leave your email and you'll be first to know when it's live — one email, no spam.
Two: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), taken in either order. You must pass both to earn A+.
That older V14 series was superseded by the current V15 exams (220-1201/220-1202), released in 2025 with updated content on AI-adjacent tools, IoT and current hardware/security practice.
A+ requires passing TWO separate exams — Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), in either order.
The passing score is Core 1: 675, Core 2: 700 (100–900 scale). Aim for a consistent 80–85% on realistic practice exams before booking.
CompTIA does not publish official pass rates, so any exact percentage quoted online is unverified. The readiness signal that actually predicts passing: consistently holding 80–85% on realistic, full-length practice exams before you book.
No formal prerequisites — anyone can register. CompTIA recommends ~12 months of hands-on IT support experience (or equivalent training).
You need TWO exam vouchers (one per core), each priced separately by CompTIA — so budget roughly double a single-exam cert. Retakes (per exam): no wait between 1st and 2nd attempt; 14 days before any 3rd+ attempt.
For most candidates, commonly reported 2–3 months part-time per core (4–6 months total for beginners). What matters most is practising questions and analysing why each option is right or wrong — not just reading.
Valid 3 years; renew via CompTIA CE (CEUs, CertMaster CE, or a higher-level cert).
No — every question is original, written to test the concepts and reviewed before it ships, with an explanation linked to the source for every option. Dumps are stale, often wrong, and against CompTIA's policies.