CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201): 20 Free Practice Questions with Answers (2026)

How to Use These Practice Questions

Each question includes a domain label matching the five 220-1201 exam domains. Read the question, choose your answer, then check the explanation. The questions below reflect the real exam weighting: Hardware and Networking are the heaviest domains at roughly 25% each, with Troubleshooting also at ~24%.

These 20 questions are a small sample from the ReadRoost A+ Core 1 question bank. The complete pack includes over 400 questions and 200 flashcards with spaced repetition that adapts to your weakest areas. Start your free preview at readroo.st/marketplace/comptia-a-plus-core-1-220-1201-v15.

Questions 1-5: Mobile Devices and Networking

Domain: Mobile Devices | Difficulty: Foundation 1. A technician is installing a Bluetooth wireless mouse on a company laptop. The mouse will not pair with the laptop despite multiple attempts. The laptop's Bluetooth adapter was recently updated. What should the technician check first? A) Verify that Bluetooth is enabled in the device settings and the adapter is not in airplane mode B) Reset the BIOS to factory defaults to restore Bluetooth functionality C) Uninstall the Bluetooth driver completely and reinstall the previous version D) Replace the Bluetooth adapter with a USB dongle instead

Correct Answer: A Before assuming hardware failure, basic connectivity checks such as verifying Bluetooth is enabled and airplane mode is off should always be performed first. These settings are frequently the cause of pairing failures and require no hardware replacement or complex troubleshooting.

Domain: Mobile Devices | Difficulty: Moderate 2. A technician is upgrading a laptop's wireless card from 802.11ac to 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6). What should the technician verify before installation? A) The laptop's BIOS supports the new wireless card, the physical slot is compatible, and the antenna connectors match B) The new wireless card uses the same DDR4 memory as the old card C) The laptop's hard drive has sufficient space to store Wi-Fi 6 drivers D) The router is using Wi-Fi 5 to ensure backward compatibility

Correct Answer: A Before installing a new wireless card, verify BIOS compatibility, physical slot compatibility (typically M.2 or mini-PCIe), and antenna connector matching. These factors ensure proper installation and functionality. Wireless cards do not use RAM, and driver storage requirements are minimal.

Domain: Mobile Devices | Difficulty: Foundation 3. A user's smartphone battery is draining rapidly even during standby mode. The user has recently installed several new applications. What is the most efficient troubleshooting approach? A) Review battery usage statistics in settings, identify power-hungry apps, and uninstall or restrict permissions for recently installed applications B) Immediately perform a factory reset to clear all applications and data C) Replace the smartphone battery without investigating the cause D) Disable all background data and location services permanently

Correct Answer: A Modern smartphones provide battery usage statistics that identify power-consuming applications. Reviewing these statistics and managing permissions or uninstalling problematic apps is a non-destructive troubleshooting approach that often resolves battery drain issues without data loss or hardware replacement.

Domain: Networking | Difficulty: Foundation 4. A technician needs to verify that a network switch is functioning correctly before deploying it. Which troubleshooting step should be performed first? A) Verify power is supplied and all indicator lights are functioning normally B) Connect all cables and test with live traffic C) Update the switch firmware immediately D) Configure VLAN settings

Correct Answer: A The first troubleshooting step is always to verify basic hardware functionality, including power and indicator lights. This determines if the device is operational before proceeding with configuration or testing. Connecting live traffic, firmware updates, and VLAN configuration come after basic verification.

Domain: Networking | Difficulty: Foundation 5. A network administrator needs to remotely manage Linux servers securely. Which protocol and port combination should be configured on the firewall to allow this access? A) SSH on port 22 B) Telnet on port 23 C) RDP on port 3389 D) SNMP on port 161

Correct Answer: A SSH (Secure Shell) on port 22 provides encrypted remote access to Linux servers. Telnet (port 23) is unencrypted and deprecated, RDP (port 3389) is for Windows systems, and SNMP (port 161) is for network monitoring.

Questions 6-10: Networking and Hardware

Domain: Networking | Difficulty: Foundation 6. You are deploying a new network and need to automatically assign IP addresses to 200 workstations. Which protocol and ports should you configure on your server? A) DHCP on ports 67 and 68 B) DNS on port 53 C) SMTP on port 25 D) FTP on ports 20 and 21

Correct Answer: A DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) uses ports 67 (server) and 68 (client) to automatically assign IP addresses to network devices. DNS resolves names, SMTP handles email, and FTP transfers files.

Domain: Networking | Difficulty: Moderate 7. A technician is setting up network monitoring and needs to collect performance data from switches and routers. Which protocol should be configured and what are its ports? A) SNMP on ports 161 and 162 B) IMAP on port 143 C) RDP on port 3389 D) LDAP on port 389

Correct Answer: A SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) on ports 161 (queries) and 162 (traps) is specifically designed for monitoring and collecting performance data from network devices. IMAP is for email, RDP for remote desktop, and LDAP for directory services.

Domain: Networking | Difficulty: Moderate 8. A company experiences intermittent network connectivity issues affecting multiple departments. The technician suspects a faulty network switch. What should be the first diagnostic step using the troubleshooting methodology? A) Identify the problem by gathering information about when and where issues occur B) Replace the switch immediately C) Reboot all affected workstations D) Check all network cables for damage

Correct Answer: A The CompTIA troubleshooting methodology begins with identifying and gathering information about the problem. Understanding when, where, and which devices are affected helps isolate the issue. Replacing hardware, rebooting, or checking cables without proper diagnosis may not solve the problem.

Domain: Hardware | Difficulty: Moderate 9. An organization requires ECC memory for their server infrastructure. Which of the following scenarios would make ECC memory mandatory rather than optional? A) Running a web server with 99.9% uptime requirement and financial transaction processing B) Operating a gaming PC for entertainment purposes C) Running a home media server with non-critical data D) Operating a basic office workstation for email and documents

Correct Answer: A ECC memory is mandatory for mission-critical systems handling financial transactions where data corruption could cause significant losses, requiring error detection and correction capabilities.

Domain: Hardware | Difficulty: Foundation 10. A server administrator is selecting RAM for a critical database server that requires error detection and correction. Which RAM type should be specified? A) Non-ECC DDR5 SDRAM B) ECC DDR4 SDRAM C) Unbuffered DDR4 SDRAM D) Non-ECC DDR4 SODIMM

Correct Answer: B ECC (Error-Correcting Code) RAM detects and corrects single-bit errors, making it essential for servers and workstations where data integrity is critical.

Questions 11-15: Hardware and Virtualization

Domain: Hardware | Difficulty: Challenging 11. A data center manager needs to select motherboards for servers that will run 24/7 with mission-critical applications. Which socket would provide better long-term support and compatibility? A) LGA 1700 (Intel 12th Gen+) B) AM4 (AMD Ryzen 1000-5000 series) C) AM5 (AMD Ryzen 7000+) D) LGA 1150 (Intel 4th-6th Gen)

Correct Answer: C AM5 socket was designed for long-term support with roadmap extending through 2025+, supporting multiple processor generations, making it ideal for future-proof server deployments.

Domain: Hardware | Difficulty: Moderate 12. A technician is upgrading a mATX motherboard system from DDR4-3200 to DDR5-6000. What additional consideration must be verified before installation? A) The motherboard must support DDR5 and have compatible DIMM slots; the power supply must provide sufficient power for higher frequency operation B) The case must be replaced with a larger form factor C) The CPU must be upgraded to 12th Gen or newer D) The BIOS must be downgraded to legacy mode

Correct Answer: A DDR5 requires a compatible motherboard with DDR5 DIMM slots and adequate power delivery; DDR5 memory has higher power requirements than DDR4.

Domain: Hardware | Difficulty: Moderate 13. A user reports that their system with DDR5 RAM is running slower than expected. Upon investigation, the technician discovers the RAM is installed in slots 1 and 3 instead of slots 1 and 2. What is the likely issue? A) The system is running in single-channel mode instead of dual-channel mode B) DDR5 requires all four DIMM slots to be populated C) The BIOS automatically disables dual-channel for non-consecutive slots D) The RAM voltage has increased to 1.4V, causing throttling

Correct Answer: A Dual-channel memory requires modules to be installed in matching slots (typically slots 1 and 2, or 3 and 4); installing them in non-consecutive slots forces single-channel operation.

Domain: Virtualization and Cloud Computing | Difficulty: Moderate 14. You are setting up cloud file storage for a company with 500 employees. The service must support rapid elasticity to handle growth from 500 to 5000 employees within 6 months without infrastructure changes. Which cloud characteristic enables this requirement? A) Metered usage and pay-per-use billing model B) Rapid elasticity allowing automatic scaling without manual intervention C) Shared resources across multiple tenants D) On-demand self-service provisioning

Correct Answer: B Rapid elasticity is the cloud characteristic that enables automatic scaling of resources to accommodate sudden growth without requiring infrastructure changes or manual intervention. Metered usage is billing-related, shared resources enable cost efficiency, and on-demand provisioning enables user control.

Domain: Virtualization and Cloud Computing | Difficulty: Foundation 15. A company is evaluating whether to use public cloud or private cloud for their new database server. The database will store non-sensitive operational data with moderate traffic. Cost is a primary concern. Which deployment model is most appropriate? A) Private cloud for maximum control and security B) Public cloud with pay-per-use billing for cost efficiency C) Hybrid cloud to balance control and cost D) Community cloud with other companies

Correct Answer: B Public cloud is most cost-effective for non-sensitive data with moderate traffic, offering pay-per-use billing without upfront infrastructure investment. Private cloud requires capital expenditure, hybrid adds unnecessary complexity, and community cloud doesn't provide cost advantages.

Questions 16-20: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting

Domain: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | Difficulty: Moderate 16. A server's RAID 1 mirror array shows that one disk has failed. The array is still fully operational because of the mirrored redundancy. What is the correct action to take? A) Continue normal operation indefinitely since the array is still functional B) Plan and execute replacement of the failed disk to restore full redundancy C) Shut down the server immediately to prevent data loss D) Convert to RAID 5 for better performance

Correct Answer: B Although RAID 1 is still operational with one disk, it has lost its redundancy protection. If the remaining disk fails, all data is lost. Prompt replacement is essential to restore the protective mirror before another failure occurs.

Domain: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | Difficulty: Foundation 17. A smartphone user reports that GPS location services are inaccurate and the device shows incorrect coordinates. Which troubleshooting step should be performed first? A) Enable Wi-Fi and allow location services to use Wi-Fi triangulation B) Disable and re-enable GPS, then wait for a location lock in an open area C) Replace the GPS antenna D) Perform a factory reset immediately

Correct Answer: B Disabling and re-enabling GPS in an open area allows the device to obtain a fresh satellite lock, which resolves most GPS accuracy issues. This is a basic troubleshooting step before hardware replacement.

Domain: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | Difficulty: Challenging 18. You have replaced a failed disk in a RAID 5 array and initiated the rebuild process. The rebuild is estimated to take 8 hours. During this time, the array is operating with no fault tolerance. What should you do according to CompTIA best practices? A) Monitor the rebuild progress and ensure no additional disk failures occur during this critical window B) Shut down the server immediately to prevent further damage C) Ignore the rebuild and continue normal operations without monitoring D) Cancel the rebuild and convert to RAID 1 instead

Correct Answer: A During RAID rebuild, the array is vulnerable to complete failure if another disk fails. Active monitoring is essential to catch any issues early. This is part of the verification and documentation step in troubleshooting methodology.

Domain: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | Difficulty: Moderate 19. A technician receives a support ticket about a hard drive making grinding noises and the computer frequently freezing. The user reports this started after a power outage. Which of the following is the best first action in the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology? A) Identify the problem by asking clarifying questions about when the issue started and backing up user data immediately B) Replace the hard drive immediately without further investigation C) Blame the power outage and tell the user to purchase a UPS D) Run a defragmentation utility to repair the drive

Correct Answer: A Step 1 of CompTIA troubleshooting methodology is to identify the problem. Gathering information about symptoms and timeline, plus backing up data before hardware failure, is critical. Grinding noises indicate mechanical failure that could result in data loss.

Domain: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | Difficulty: Challenging 20. A technician is called to a workstation that will not boot. The BIOS POST (Power-On Self-Test) completes successfully, but the operating system fails to load with an error 'BOOTMGR is missing'. Following the troubleshooting methodology, which step should the technician perform after establishing this as a boot sector corruption theory? A) Test the theory by attempting boot from Windows recovery media B) Replace the hard drive immediately without testing C) Reseat all internal cables and RAM modules D) Document the error and order a new motherboard

Correct Answer: A Testing the theory involves attempting to boot from recovery media. If the system boots from external media, this confirms the boot sector issue rather than hardware failure. This test will guide your plan for repair or recovery.

How Did You Score?

The CompTIA A+ passing score is 675/900, roughly 75%. If you scored 15/20 or higher on these practice questions, you are in a strong position. Share your result and challenge a classmate or colleague to beat it. 15-20 correct: Exam-ready. You have a strong command of hardware, networking, and troubleshooting fundamentals. Book your exam with confidence and review the official CompTIA A+ exam objectives one final time before test day. 10-14 correct: Solid foundation, but review the domains where you dropped questions. Hardware and Troubleshooting carry the most weight at roughly 25% and 24% respectively. Professor Messer's free A+ video series and the ReadRoost spaced repetition flashcards are the fastest way to close those gaps. Under 10 correct: Start with a structured study plan. Watch Professor Messer's A+ Core 1 video course (free on YouTube), then work through ReadRoost practice questions daily until you consistently score above 80%. Hands-on lab practice with virtual machines or old hardware will cement the concepts.

These 20 questions are a sample from the ReadRoost A+ Core 1 pack. The full pack includes 400+ exam-style questions and 200 flashcards with spaced repetition tracking. Get the full A+ Core 1 pack at readroo.st/marketplace/comptia-a-plus-core-1-220-1201-v15. After earning your A+, the CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 is the most popular next step for IT professionals. Get the ReadRoost Security+ pack at readroo.st/marketplace/comptia-security-plus-sy0-701. Browse all CompTIA certifications at readroo.st/marketplace.