CompTIA

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201)
exam objectives

The hardware, mobile device, networking, and virtualization/cloud half of CompTIA's industry-standard help desk and technical support baseline -- validates hands-on skill installing, configuring, and troubleshooting PCs, mobile devices, and peripherals. Pair with A+ Core 2 (220-1202) to complete the full CompTIA A+ certification.

Questions
90
Duration
90 min
Passing score
675
Domains
5

340 practice questions available for 220-1201 on CertPilot AI, mapped to the domains below.

220-1201 exam domains and weightings

The 220-1201 exam is split into 5 domains. The percentage next to each is the share of the exam it accounts for — study time is best spent proportionally.

1.0Mobile Devices

13%

44 practice questions in this domain

  • 1.1Given a scenario, monitor mobile device hardware and use appropriate replacement techniques (battery, keyboard/keys, RAM, HDD/SSD, wireless cards, physical privacy and security components, Wi-Fi antenna, camera/webcam, microphone)
  • 1.2Compare and contrast accessories and connectivity options for mobile devices (connection methods, accessories, docking station, port replicator, trackpad)
  • 1.3Given a scenario, configure basic mobile device network connectivity and provide application support (wireless/cellular, Bluetooth, location services, MDM, synchronization)

2.0Networking

23%

78 practice questions in this domain

  • 2.1Compare and contrast TCP and UDP ports, protocols, and their purposes
  • 2.2Explain wireless networking technologies (frequencies, channels, Bluetooth, 802.11 standards, NFC, RFID)
  • 2.3Summarize services provided by networked hosts (server roles, internet appliances, legacy/embedded systems, IoT)
  • 2.4Explain common network configuration concepts (DNS, DHCP, VLAN, VPN)
  • 2.5Compare and contrast common networking hardware devices (routers, switches, access points, patch panel, firewall, PoE, cable modem, DSL, ONT, NIC)
  • 2.6Given a scenario, configure basic wired/wireless SOHO networks (IP addressing: IPv4/IPv6/APIPA/static/dynamic/subnet mask/gateway)
  • 2.7Compare and contrast internet connection types, network types, and their characteristics
  • 2.8Explain networking tools and their purposes (crimper, cable stripper, Wi-Fi analyzer, toner probe, punchdown tool, cable tester, loopback plug, network tap)

3.0Hardware

25%

86 practice questions in this domain

  • 3.1Compare and contrast display components and attributes (LCD/OLED/Mini-LED types, touch screen, inverter, pixel density/refresh rate/resolution/color gamut)
  • 3.2Summarize basic cable types and their connectors, features, and purposes (network, peripheral, video, hard drive cables, adapters, connector types)
  • 3.3Compare and contrast RAM characteristics (form factors, DDR iterations, ECC vs. non-ECC, channel configurations)
  • 3.4Compare and contrast storage devices (hard drives, SSDs, drive configurations/RAID, removable storage, optical drives)
  • 3.5Given a scenario, install and configure motherboards, CPUs, and add-on cards (form factors, connector types, compatibility, BIOS/UEFI settings, virtualization support, encryption, CPU architecture, expansion cards, cooling)
  • 3.6Given a scenario, install the appropriate power supply
  • 3.7Given a scenario, deploy and configure multifunction devices/printers and settings
  • 3.8Given a scenario, perform appropriate printer maintenance (laser, inkjet, thermal, impact)

4.0Virtualization and Cloud Computing

11%

37 practice questions in this domain

  • 4.1Explain virtualization concepts (purpose of VMs, requirements, desktop virtualization, containers, hypervisors)
  • 4.2Summarize cloud computing concepts (common cloud models, cloud characteristics)

5.0Hardware and Network Troubleshooting

28%

95 practice questions in this domain

  • 5.1Given a scenario, troubleshoot motherboards, RAM, CPUs, and power
  • 5.2Given a scenario, troubleshoot drive and RAID issues
  • 5.3Given a scenario, troubleshoot video, projector, and display issues
  • 5.4Given a scenario, troubleshoot common mobile device issues
  • 5.5Given a scenario, troubleshoot network issues
  • 5.6Given a scenario, troubleshoot printer issues

How to prepare for CompTIA A+ Core 1

Most candidates fail 220-1201 not because they didn't know the material, but because they couldn't tell which material they were weakest on. Reading the objectives end to end treats every domain as equally important — the exam doesn't. On 220-1201, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting alone is 28% of your score.

CertPilot AI works the other way around. It tracks your accuracy per domain, weights each domain by its real exam share, and pulls most of each practice session from wherever you're currently weakest. The result is a single readiness score — at 90% you're in the range where candidates typically pass, so you book the exam on evidence instead of a hunch.

Every question comes with an AI explanation of why the right answer is right and why each distractor is wrong. The Exam Decoder goes further and breaks down how to read a question — the qualifiers, the scenario framing, and the trap options — which is the skill that separates a 740 from a 675.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) FAQ

How many questions are on the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam?

The 220-1201 exam has up to 90 questions and you get 90 minutes to complete it.

What score do you need to pass CompTIA A+ Core 1?

CompTIA A+ Core 1 requires a scaled score of 675. Scaled scoring means the raw number of correct answers is adjusted for the difficulty of the specific question set you were served, so there is no fixed percentage that guarantees a pass.

What domains does the 220-1201 exam cover?

CompTIA A+ Core 1 is divided into 5 domains: Mobile Devices (13%), Networking (23%), Hardware (25%), Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%), Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%). The heaviest weighted domain is Hardware and Network Troubleshooting at 28% of the exam.

How do I know when I'm ready to book the 220-1201 exam?

CertPilot AI calculates a readiness score by weighting your accuracy in each domain by that domain's share of the real exam, then scaling it by how many questions you've actually answered — so a domain you've barely touched can't inflate the number. At 90% you're in the range where candidates typically pass.

How much does the 220-1201 exam cost?

The CompTIA A+ Core 1 exam voucher typically costs around $246 USD. Pricing varies by region and vendors periodically adjust it, so confirm on the official vendor site before booking.

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