CompTIA A+ (220-1101 / 220-1102) Study Guide — From Zero to Pass in 2026

CompTIA A+ is the cert almost everyone in IT starts with — and the one most people fail at least once. The reason isn't that A+ is hard; it's that candidates assume "entry level" means "easy" and walk in unprepared for the breadth.

Here's the truth: A+ tests you on hardware, networking, operating systems, security, mobile devices, virtualization, cloud, and printer troubleshooting in two separate exams. You need 75% in one breath and 70% in the other, on a body of knowledge wider than Security+. It rewards methodical study and punishes shortcuts.

This is the guide for someone starting cold.

The two-exam structure

A+ requires you to pass both Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102). They're separate vouchers, separate exams, separate scaling. You can pass one and have up to three years to pass the other. Most people take them 2–6 weeks apart.

Exam	What it covers	Passing score
Core 1 (220-1101)	Hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualization, cloud, hardware/network troubleshooting	675 / 900
Core 2 (220-1102)	Operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, operational procedures	700 / 900

Each exam has up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, and a mix of multiple choice + performance-based questions (PBQs). The PBQs typically involve identifying ports/connectors, ordering troubleshooting steps, configuring a Windows feature, or matching a symptom to a malware type.

Core 1 domain weights

1.0 Mobile Devices — 9%
2.0 Networking — 20%
3.0 Hardware — 25%
4.0 Virtualization & Cloud Computing — 11%
5.0 Hardware & Network Troubleshooting — 35%

Note the troubleshooting section is over a third of the exam. Memorizing connector pinouts is fine; what gets you through is being able to read a scenario ("user reports printer prints garbled output") and pick the right next step.

Core 2 domain weights

1.0 Operating Systems — 31%
2.0 Security — 25%
3.0 Software Troubleshooting — 22%
4.0 Operational Procedures — 22%

If you only have time for two domains on Core 2, make it OS and Security. Operational procedures (documentation, change management, environmental impacts, communication) is the easiest to skim because it's mostly common-sense IT-policy stuff.

What to memorize cold

A+ is one of the few certs where straight memorization actually pays off. Make flashcards for:

All common port numbers — 20/21 FTP, 22 SSH, 23 Telnet, 25 SMTP, 53 DNS, 67/68 DHCP, 80 HTTP, 110 POP3, 143 IMAP, 161 SNMP, 389 LDAP, 443 HTTPS, 445 SMB, 587 SMTP submission, 636 LDAPS, 993 IMAPS, 995 POP3S, 3389 RDP. Yes, you need all of these.
RAM types — DDR3 (1.5V, 240-pin), DDR4 (1.2V, 288-pin), DDR5 (1.1V, 288-pin but not interchangeable). SODIMMs are the laptop variants.
Cable categories — Cat 5e (1 Gbps to 100m), Cat 6 (10 Gbps to 55m), Cat 6a (10 Gbps to 100m), Cat 7 (10 Gbps + shielding), Cat 8 (40 Gbps to 30m).
Wireless standards — 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax. Know the band (2.4 vs 5 vs 6 GHz) and the marketing name (Wi-Fi 4/5/6/6E).
Storage — HDD spin speeds (5400 vs 7200 vs 10K vs 15K RPM), SSD form factors (2.5", mSATA, M.2 SATA, M.2 NVMe), RAID levels (0, 1, 5, 6, 10).
Common malware — virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, rootkit, spyware, keylogger, cryptominer. Know the behavior of each so you can match symptoms.
Windows versions — Home vs Pro vs Pro for Workstations vs Enterprise. Which features (BitLocker, Group Policy, Hyper-V) require which edition.

The CompTIA Six-Step Troubleshooting Method

Memorize this exactly. CompTIA tests it directly and uses the order in PBQs:

Identify the problem.
Establish a theory of probable cause. (Question the obvious.)
Test the theory. If it fails, re-establish a new one or escalate.
Establish a plan of action and implement the solution.
Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures.
Document findings, actions, and outcomes.

The "question the obvious" line shows up in distractor answers. The exam likes step 6 — document — as the answer when the question describes a fix that just shipped.

An 8-week study plan

This assumes ~8 hours/week and zero IT background. Cut to 5–6 weeks if you're already a help-desk tech.

Weeks 1–2: Core 1 hardware + networking

Watch the Professor Messer free A+ series, build a parts list of every connector and cable, and start practicing port numbers daily. Build a PC virtually using PCPartPicker — it forces you to think about compatibility.

Week 3: Core 1 mobile, virtualization, cloud

Lighter content. Spend extra hours on troubleshooting practice. Take a 30-question Core 1 practice quiz at the end of the week.

Week 4: Core 1 troubleshooting + first practice exam

Drill scenario questions. Take a full-length Core 1 practice. If you score 80%+ comfortably, schedule the real exam. If not, give yourself one more week.

Week 5: Take Core 1, start Core 2 OS

Book Core 1. The week after, transition to Windows administration: command prompt (ipconfig, ping, tracert, netstat, nslookup), Control Panel applets, MMC snap-ins, file system permissions.

Week 6: Core 2 security

Malware, social engineering, MFA, encryption basics, AD authentication. This will feel familiar if you've started Security+ research.

Week 7: Core 2 software troubleshooting + operational procedures

The lightest week. Documentation, ticketing, change management, environmental disposal, customer communication. Take a full-length Core 2 practice.

Week 8: Core 2 mixed review + book the exam

Two timed practice exams. Review wrong answers obsessively. Schedule the real exam for the end of the week.

Common A+ pitfalls

Skipping printers. Yes, printers are still 8–10% of Core 1. They feel obsolete but the exam still tests them.
Memorizing without scenarios. You'll know what RAID 5 is and still miss "company needs storage with parity that survives one drive failure" because the question phrasing throws you.
Ignoring command-line tools. A real PBQ will dump you into a simulated cmd.exe and ask you to find the gateway. Practice in a real terminal.
Treating Core 1 and Core 2 as one exam. They scale separately. Pass Core 1 first, then refocus.

After A+, what's next?

A+ is the trunk of the IT certification tree. The natural next step depends on direction:

Networking → CompTIA Network+. The single most logical follow-on.
Security → CompTIA Security+. Skip Network+ only if you already know networking cold.
Help-desk → systems admin → Microsoft AZ-900 (cloud), Windows Server, then a specialty.
Quick stack for a job hunt → A+ → Network+ → Security+ ("the CompTIA trifecta"). Three certs, six months, a working resume.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to study for A+?

8–12 weeks for someone with no IT background, 4–6 weeks if you've worked help desk for six months, 2–3 weeks if you're already in IT and just need the credential.

Do I need to take Core 1 before Core 2?

No, you can take them in any order. Most people do Core 1 first because it's the more concrete, hardware-heavy material.

How much does A+ cost in 2026?

Each voucher is around $269 USD from CompTIA, so the full A+ is ~$538 unbundled. Education partners and bundled training packages can drop it to ~$400 total. Re-takes are full price.

Is A+ worth it if I already work in IT?

If you have less than two years of experience and don't have any other certs on your resume — yes. If you've been in IT five years and have other certs — skip A+ and go straight to Network+ or a domain-specific cert.

Can I self-study A+ or do I need a class?

Self-study works for the majority. Professor Messer's free YouTube series + Mike Meyers' All-in-One book + Cert Climb practice questions is the gold-standard combo. A bootcamp helps if you have zero discipline.

Want a free trial? Run 30 questions on CompTIA A+ Core 1 right now and see where you actually stand.