Practice questions to help you prepare for the CompTIA® A+® Core 1 (220-1201) exam
Full practice exams run on the real exam's 90 minute limit. CompTIA states a maximum of 90 questions, and a full practice exam on the site serves 90. The practice exams use multiple-choice and matching questions and leave out performance-based questions. Every question is original and every option is explained. The site scores you on each domain CompTIA publishes, so you see what to study next. The question bank holds hundreds of practice questions.
Exam facts
- Questions: Maximum of 90 per exam, including multiple-choice (single and multiple response), drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions [1]
- Time limit: 90 minutes [1]
- Passing score: 675 on a scale of 900 [1]
- Exam version: V15 [1]
- Recommended experience: 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist job role [1]
- Exam languages (real exam): English, German, Japanese [1]
- Taking both exams: You take CompTIA A+ Core 1 and CompTIA A+ Core 2 from the same version [1]
Tokens: 1 for $4.99, 5 for $14.99, 10 for $24.99 or 25 for $49.99. One token runs a full timed practice exam, and every shorter session on that exam is then free. The Unlimited pass is $149.99 for a year of every practice session on every exam.
Exam domains and weights
These are CompTIA's domains and objectives for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam, word for word. [1] [2]
Domain 1: Mobile Devices, 13% of the exam
- "Given a scenario, monitor mobile device hardware and use appropriate replacement techniques."
- "Compare and contrast accessories and connectivity options for mobile devices."
- "Given a scenario, configure basic mobile device network connectivity and provide application support."
Domain 2: Networking, 23% of the exam
- "Compare and contrast Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) ports, protocols, and their purposes."
- "Explain wireless networking technologies."
- "Summarize services provided by networked hosts."
- "Explain common network configuration concepts."
- "Compare and contrast common networking hardware devices."
- "Given a scenario, configure basic wired/wireless small office/home office (SOHO) networks."
- "Compare and contrast internet connection types, network types, and their characteristics."
- "Explain networking tools and their purposes."
Domain 3: Hardware, 25% of the exam
- "Compare and contrast display components and attributes."
- "Summarize basic cable types and their connectors, features, and purposes."
- "Compare and contrast RAM characteristics."
- "Compare and contrast storage devices."
- "Given a scenario, install and configure motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and add-on cards."
- "Given a scenario, install the appropriate power supply."
- "Given a scenario, deploy and configure multifunction devices/printers and settings."
- "Given a scenario, perform appropriate printer maintenance."
Domain 4: Virtualization and Cloud Computing, 11% of the exam
- "Explain virtualization concepts."
- "Summarize cloud computing concepts."
Domain 5: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting, 28% of the exam
- "Given a scenario, troubleshoot motherboards, RAM, CPUs, and power."
- "Given a scenario, troubleshoot drive and RAID issues."
- "Given a scenario, troubleshoot video, projector, and display issues."
- "Given a scenario, troubleshoot common mobile device issues."
- "Given a scenario, troubleshoot network issues."
- "Given a scenario, troubleshoot printer issues."
Sample questions
Three questions from our practice bank for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam, with the answer and why each option is right or wrong.
Question 1
An iPhone 15 runs out of charge well before the end of the day. Its Battery Health screen shows the message that the battery's health is degraded, and the user wants full capacity back. Which of the following should the technician recommend?
- A. Recalibrate battery health reporting.
- B. Turn off performance management.
- C. Store the phone half charged overnight.
- D. Replace the battery.
Answer: D. Battery capacity falls as a lithium-ion battery chemically ages, which leaves less time between charges. When Battery Health reports significant degradation, a new battery restores full performance and capacity. [3]
- A. Wrong. The battery health recalibration in iOS 14.5 covers iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The stem's phone is an iPhone 15, and a recalibration corrects an estimate, not the charge the battery holds.
- B. Wrong. Performance management dynamically manages maximum performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns. The user's problem is runtime, and the charge a lithium-ion battery holds falls as the battery chemically ages.
- C. Wrong. Keeping an iPhone half charged is advice for long term storage. The stem's phone is in daily use with capacity already lost to chemical aging.
- D. Right. A lithium-ion battery holds less charge as it chemically ages, and the degraded health message points to a replacement battery to restore full performance and capacity. That is the only option that gives the user the capacity back.
Question 2
A help desk analyst connects from the support subnet to staff PCs with Remote Desktop, and every PC still uses its default listening port. A technician is adding an allow rule on the firewall between the subnets. Which of the following ports should the rule allow?
- A. 3389
- B. 443
- C. 22
- D. 445
Answer: A. Windows accepts Remote Desktop connections over RDP on port 3389 until an administrator changes the listening port. Any firewall between the client and the PC has to allow that port. [4]
- A. Right. Remote Desktop listens on port 3389 by default, and nobody has changed the PCs, so a rule for 3389 lets the analyst's sessions through.
- B. Wrong. An unchanged PC doesn't wait for Remote Desktop sessions on 443, so the rule opens a port nothing in this connection uses.
- C. Wrong. Opening 22 leaves the default Remote Desktop port closed, and the analyst's connections keep timing out at the firewall.
- D. Wrong. The sessions are aimed at the Remote Desktop listener, and 445 isn't its default port. With only 445 open, the analyst still can't connect.
Question 3
A photo retoucher works in a brightly lit studio, and clients often watch the screen from beside the desk. The retoucher needs the most accurate color a mid-priced monitor can give. Which of the following panel types should the technician recommend?
- A. In-plane switching (IPS)
- B. Organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
- C. Vertical alignment (VA)
- D. Twisted nematic (TN)
Answer: A. Among LCD panels, IPS gives the best color accuracy along with wide viewing angles. OLED matches it on color, yet it costs the most and its whites can look dim in bright rooms. [5]
- A. Right. IPS panels are known for superior color accuracy and wide viewing angles, so the retoucher gets accurate color and the clients beside the desk see it too, at a price below OLED.
- B. Wrong. OLED color is accurate, but whites can look dimmer in a well-lit room like this studio, and OLED is the most expensive panel type, beyond a mid-priced budget.
- C. Wrong. VA color accuracy is good, but IPS is the panel known for superior accuracy, and accuracy is the retoucher's first need.
- D. Wrong. TN color accuracy is limited next to IPS and OLED, and accurate color is the retoucher's first need.
Practice on ExamSens.ai for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam
- Set up a timed practice exam to prepare for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam.
- Study our flashcards for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam, one card for each rule in the question bank.
- Practice tests on Udemy: Part 1 | Part 2
- Token packs and the Unlimited pass.
ExamSens.ai is not authorized, endorsed or sponsored by CompTIA.
CompTIA and CompTIA A+ are registered trademarks of CompTIA. [6]
References
[1] https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/a/core-1-v15/
[2] https://lecbyo.files.cmp.optimizely.com/download/34be017cb73211ef8985a6f347fbf652
[3] https://support.apple.com/en-us/101575
[5] https://www.samsung.com/au/monitors/monitor-buying-guide/ip-va-tn-oled/