How long does it take to pass CompTIA A+ (220-1101 / 220-1102)?

Based on 1 study blueprint, the most common study duration is 1-2 months.

What resources do I need for CompTIA A+ (220-1101 / 220-1102)?

The most commonly used resources are: Udemy, Professor Messer, ExamCompass. See the full breakdown above.

How hard is the 220-1101/1102 exam?

The average difficulty rating is 6/10 based on 1 report.

How to Pass CompTIA A+ (220-1101 / 220-1102) (220-1101/1102) — Study Blueprint

At a Glance

Average Difficulty

6/10

Study Time

1-2 months

Blueprints

1

Most Used Resources

Udemy300%

Mike Meyers' TOTAL CompTIA A+ Course (Core 1 + Core 2), Jason Dion's CompTIA A+ Practice Exams (six 90-question exams per cert) +1 more

Professor Messer200%

Professor Messer's CompTIA A+ Course (YouTube, free), Professor Messer's Practice Exams (~$25 each, 3 exams per cert)

ExamCompass100%

ExamCompass — Free A+ practice tests

Textbook100%

Mike Meyers' CompTIA A+ All-in-One Exam Guide, 11th Ed. (~1500 pages)

Official Docs100%

CompTIA A+ Exam Objectives (free PDF)

Study Blueprint

ReadRoost ResearchEditorial

1-2 monthsDifficulty: 6/10No IT experience

Based on 13 pass reports

Study time range: 1 week to 6 months
Most common: 2-4 months part-time (8-10 hours/week)
Consensus: Challenging but achievable — Core 2 slightly harder than Core 1

Resources Used

Free

Professor Messer's CompTIA A+ Course (YouTube, free)Video Course

Absolute must — 11/13 passers

Paid

Mike Meyers' TOTAL CompTIA A+ Course (Core 1 + Core 2)Video Course

Entertaining + real demonstrations — 9/13 passers, ~$12-15 each on sale

Paid

Jason Dion's CompTIA A+ Practice Exams (six 90-question exams per cert)Practice Exam

'Questions similar if not identical to real exam' — 10/13 passers

Paid

Jason Dion's CompTIA A+ CourseVideo Course

Domain-organized structure + PBQ walkthroughs — 7/13 passers

Paid

Professor Messer's Practice Exams (~$25 each, 3 exams per cert)Practice Exam

'Closest practice test to the real exam' — 6/13 passers

Free

ExamCompass — Free A+ practice testsPractice Exam

Best free option — 4/13 passers

Paid

Mike Meyers' CompTIA A+ All-in-One Exam Guide, 11th Ed. (~1500 pages)Book

Comprehensive reference — 5/13 passers

Free

CompTIA A+ Exam Objectives (free PDF)Official Training

Study checklist — 5/13 passers

Tips

Use multiple study resources — everyone who's passed advises varying your sources. Skip PBQs first, do multiple-choice, then return. Create cheat sheets for port numbers, connector types, Windows commands, and cable speeds. Take notes by hand for retention. Study Core 1 and Core 2 separately. Note: 220-1101/1102 retired Sep 2025 — new 220-1201/1202 launched Mar 2025.

At a Glance

Most Used Resources

Study Blueprint

Resources Used

Tips

Passed CompTIA A+ (220-1101 / 220-1102)?