CompTIA · 220-1102
CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102) Practice Test
CompTIA A+ Core 2 validates foundational IT support skills in operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. It is the second of two exams required to earn the CompTIA A+ certification, the industry-standard credential for entry-level IT support roles.
Exam Details
Questions
700
Duration
90 minutes
Passing Score
700/900
Difficulty
FoundationalLast Updated
Mar 2026
Topics Covered
Operating Systems (Windows, macOS, Linux)SecuritySoftware TroubleshootingOperational ProceduresMobile Device ManagementBackup and RecoveryDocumentation and Change Management
CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102) Practice Exam Preparation
Use this 220-1102 practice exam to prepare for CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102) with realistic questions, detailed explanations, and focused study modes. The practice bank includes 700 questions for CompTIA 220-1102, so you can review the exam steadily instead of relying on one long cram session.
As you practice, pay extra attention to recurring topics such as Operating Systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), Security, Software Troubleshooting, Operational Procedures, and Mobile Device Management. Start with short sessions to identify weak areas, then move into timed quizzes once your accuracy is consistent.
The explanations are especially useful when you want to connect exam wording to the responsibilities and scenarios described in the official certification guidance. Use the free preview first, then unlock the full question bank when you are ready to build a complete study routine.
Exam Domain Breakdown
Operating Systems31%
Security25%
Software Troubleshooting22%
Operational Procedures22%
Exam Overview
CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102) is the second exam required to earn the CompTIA A+ certification, the industry standard credential for entry-level IT professionals. This exam validates essential skills in operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), security practices, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Core 2 focuses on the software and management aspects of IT support, complementing Core 1's hardware and networking emphasis. Together, these two exams demonstrate foundational competency in supporting end-users and maintaining IT infrastructure, making this certification a critical credential for anyone pursuing a career as an IT support specialist or help desk technician.
Who Should Take This Exam
The CompTIA A+ Core 2 exam targets entry-level IT professionals seeking to validate their foundational support skills. Ideal candidates include help desk technicians, IT support specialists, junior system administrators, and field service technicians with hands-on experience in IT support roles. CompTIA recommends candidates have 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist role before attempting the exam. This certification is also valuable for IT career changers, individuals transitioning from related technical fields, and professionals looking to advance into network administration, systems administration, or information security roles.
Prerequisites
CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on experience working as an IT support specialist or in a similar IT support role before attempting the Core 2 exam. While there are no formal prerequisites to register for the exam, CompTIA suggests candidates should be comfortable with troubleshooting common PC hardware and software issues. Many organizations recommend passing Core 1 (220-1101) first, as the two exams together provide comprehensive coverage of foundational IT competencies. Candidates should be familiar with major operating systems, basic security concepts, and IT service management principles to maximize their chances of success.
Exam Format
CompTIA A+ Core 2 is delivered as a 90-minute computer-based exam with a maximum of 90 questions. The exam includes multiple-choice questions (both single and multiple response), drag-and-drop questions, and performance-based questions that simulate real-world IT scenarios. Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 700 on a scale of 100-900 to pass. The exam can be taken online or at Pearson VUE testing centers. There may be unscored survey questions included as CompTIA gathers data for exam development, but these do not affect the final score.
Skills Measured
- 1.Operating Systems (31%): Covers installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, including system administration, user management, file systems, boot processes, and operating system security settings.
- 2.Security (25%): Focuses on security concepts, authentication methods, encryption, malware protection, secure access practices, physical security, and compliance with security policies and procedures.
- 3.Software Troubleshooting (22%): Addresses diagnosis and resolution of software-related issues including application installation, updating, removal, compatibility problems, and common software failures.
- 4.Operational Procedures (22%): Covers IT support documentation, change management, backup and recovery procedures, disaster recovery planning, mobile device management, and best practices for IT service delivery.
Study Tips
- Review the official CompTIA A+ exam objectives thoroughly and mark topics where you have strong knowledge versus areas needing improvement. Use this assessment to prioritize your study time on weaker domains, especially Operating Systems which carries the highest weight at 31%.
- Practice with CompTIA CertMaster Practice, the official practice platform that includes timed practice tests with performance-based scenario questions that mirror the actual exam format and pressure.
- Study using the Official CompTIA A+ Core 2 Student Guide or equivalent study materials like CompTIA A+ Certification Study Guide (Eleventh Edition), and work through all hands-on exercises and accompanying videos to gain practical understanding.
- Set up a home lab or utilize virtual machines to gain hands-on experience with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, security configurations, and troubleshooting scenarios. Real-world practice is essential for mastering software troubleshooting and operational procedures.
- Take multiple full-length practice exams under timed conditions to build test-taking endurance and familiarity with question types. Analyze incorrect answers to identify knowledge gaps and focus your final review on those areas.
- Create a study schedule spanning 9-12 months with consistent hands-on IT support work or lab practice, as CompTIA recommends this level of practical experience before sitting for the exam.
- Join CompTIA A+ study groups or forums to discuss difficult concepts, clarify misconceptions, and learn troubleshooting approaches from others preparing for the same exam.
Career Benefits
The CompTIA A+ certification, earned by passing both Core 1 and Core 2, is recognized as the industry-standard entry-level credential for IT support professionals and is required or preferred by many employers and government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense. A+ certified professionals typically earn between $49,000 and $80,500 annually, with top earners exceeding $100,000 depending on experience, location, and specialization. The certification serves as an excellent launching pad for career advancement, with A+ holders frequently advancing to junior system administrator, network administrator, IT technician specialist, or information security positions. Stacking additional certifications such as CompTIA Network+ or Security+ alongside A+ significantly increases market value, with potential salary increases of $10,000-$15,000 annually when combined with cloud certifications.
Sample Questions
5 sample questions with answers and explanations. Start a practice session to test yourself across all 700 questions.
Preview — answers shown1. A technician at Fabrikam Inc. is writing a script to automate the creation of user accounts on 30 Windows workstations. The script needs to leverage Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), access the Windows Registry, and support advanced error handling with try/catch blocks. Which scripting language should the technician use? (Select one!)
ABatch (.bat)
BPowerShell (.ps1)
CVBScript (.vbs)
DBash (.sh)
Explanation
PowerShell (.ps1) is the most powerful Windows scripting language and fully supports WMI access through cmdlets like Get-WmiObject and Get-CimInstance, Windows Registry manipulation via the Registry provider, and structured error handling with try/catch/finally blocks. Batch files (.bat) are the simplest Windows scripting format and lack native WMI access, Registry provider support, and structured error handling. VBScript (.vbs) can access WMI and the Registry but has limited error handling compared to PowerShell and is considered a legacy technology. Bash (.sh) is a Linux/Unix shell scripting language that does not natively interact with Windows Management Instrumentation or the Windows Registry.
2. A technician at Tailspin Toys receives a ticket from an employee who reports that after clicking a QR code posted on a flyer in the break room, their browser redirected to a page that looked like the company's Microsoft 365 login portal. The employee entered their credentials before realizing the URL was incorrect. Which type of attack did the employee fall victim to, and what should the technician do FIRST? (Select one!)
AThis is a vishing attack; the technician should block the employee's phone number
BThis is a standard phishing attack; the technician should update the email spam filter rules
CThis is a smishing attack; the technician should scan the employee's phone for malware
DThis is a quishing attack; the technician should immediately reset the employee's credentials and enable MFA
Explanation
QR code phishing, also known as quishing, uses malicious QR codes to redirect victims to fake login pages designed to harvest credentials. Since the employee entered their Microsoft 365 credentials on a fraudulent site, the technician's first priority is to reset the compromised credentials and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to prevent unauthorized access to the employee's account. Vishing involves fraudulent phone calls, not QR codes. Smishing involves malicious text messages, not QR codes. While this is a form of phishing, the specific delivery mechanism through QR codes classifies it as quishing, and updating email spam filters would not address a QR code-based attack delivered via a physical flyer.
3. A security administrator at Northwind Traders is training employees to recognize different types of social engineering attacks. During a recent incident, several employees received text messages on their personal phones claiming to be from the company's IT department, asking them to click a link to verify their corporate credentials. Which type of social engineering attack does this scenario describe? (Select one!)
ASmishing
BPhishing
CWhaling
DVishing
Explanation
Smishing (SMS phishing) is a social engineering attack delivered via text messages (SMS). The scenario describes employees receiving fraudulent text messages impersonating the IT department and requesting credentials through a malicious link, which is the defining characteristic of smishing. Vishing is voice phishing conducted through phone calls, not text messages. Phishing typically refers to attacks delivered via email, not SMS. Whaling is a targeted phishing attack directed specifically at high-level executives such as C-suite officers, often involving wire transfer requests or sensitive business decisions.
4. A technician at Fabrikam Inc. is helping a user configure backups for a server that processes critical daily transactions. The backup window is short, so nightly backups must complete quickly, but the company also needs to be able to restore data rapidly if a failure occurs on Wednesday. Which of the following backup strategies provides the FASTEST restore while using a full backup on Sunday nights? (Select one!)
AFull backup Sunday, incremental backups Monday through Saturday
BIncremental backups every night with no full backup
CFull backup Sunday, differential backups Monday through Saturday
DFull backups every night
Explanation
Differential backups capture all changes since the last full backup, so restoring Wednesday's data requires only two backup sets: Sunday's full backup plus Wednesday's differential. This provides faster restore than incremental while still maintaining reasonable backup speed and storage. Incremental backups capture only changes since the last backup of any type, so restoring Wednesday would require Sunday's full plus Monday's, Tuesday's, and Wednesday's incrementals (four backup sets), which is slower. Full backups every night would provide the fastest restore but require the most time and storage for each backup, violating the short backup window requirement. Incremental backups without a full backup cannot function because incrementals depend on a full backup as the base.
5. An IT manager at Northwind Traders is evaluating scripting options for automating administrative tasks across the company's Windows environment. The scripts need to manage Active Directory accounts, configure Windows services, and interact with Microsoft 365 cloud resources. Which scripting language is BEST suited for this requirement? (Select one!)
ABash (.sh)
BBatch (.bat)
CPowerShell (.ps1)
DVBScript (.vbs)
Explanation
PowerShell (.ps1) is the most powerful Windows scripting language and is specifically designed for system administration tasks. It provides native cmdlets for managing Active Directory, Windows services, and Microsoft 365 through dedicated modules. PowerShell supports object-oriented pipeline processing and remote management capabilities. Batch files (.bat) are the simplest Windows scripting option and lack the advanced capabilities needed for Active Directory and cloud resource management. VBScript (.vbs) is a legacy scripting language with limited modern functionality and no native Microsoft 365 integration. Bash (.sh) is designed for Linux, Unix, and macOS environments and cannot natively manage Windows Active Directory or services.
More CompTIA Practice Exams
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101)
220-1101 · 700 questions
CompTIA Cloud+ (CV0-004)
CV0-004 · 700 questions
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst+ (CySA+) (CS0-003)
CS0-003 · 700 questions
CompTIA Data+ (DA0-001)
DA0-001 · 700 questions
CompTIA DataSys+ (DS0-001)
DS0-001 · 700 questions
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
SY0-701 · 700 questions
$17.99
One-time access to this exam
Full access to all 700 questions
Or $15/mo for all 253 exams
Detailed explanations
Free preview stays available