CompTIA · 220-1102
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.
Practice Questions
700
≈ 7 practice exams
Duration
90 minutes
Passing Score
700/900
Difficulty
FoundationalLast Updated
Mar 2026
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
5 sample questions with answers and explanations. The full bank has 700 questions, enough for 7 full-length practice exams.
Preview — answers shown1. A technician at Adatum Corp. needs to prepare a USB flash drive that will be used to transfer video files larger than 4 GB between Windows, macOS, and Linux computers. Which filesystem should the technician format the drive with? (Select one!)
Explanation
exFAT is the correct filesystem for cross-platform USB drives that need to store files larger than 4 GB. FAT32 has excellent cross-platform compatibility but has a 4 GB maximum file size limit, which would prevent storing the large video files. NTFS is read-only on macOS without third-party software and is not natively supported on Linux without ntfs-3g. ext4 is the default Linux filesystem but is not natively readable on Windows or macOS without third-party tools.
2. A network administrator at Fabrikam Inc. needs to identify which process on a Windows workstation is actively using port 443 for outbound connections. Which command should the administrator run? (Select one!)
Explanation
The netstat command with the -ano switches displays all active connections and listening ports (-a), shows addresses and port numbers in numerical form (-n), and displays the owning process ID (-o) for each connection. This allows the administrator to identify which process ID is using port 443 and then cross-reference it in Task Manager. Ipconfig /all displays IP configuration details such as IP address, subnet mask, and DNS servers but does not show active connections or port usage. Nslookup performs DNS lookups and cannot identify processes or port usage. Tracert traces the route packets take to a destination and does not provide information about local port usage or processes.
3. A technician at Northwind Traders is formatting a USB flash drive that will be used to transfer large video files between Windows, macOS, and Linux workstations. Some video files exceed 8 GB in size. Which filesystem should the technician choose? (Select one!)
Explanation
exFAT is the correct choice because it supports files larger than 4 GB (up to 16 EB) and provides excellent cross-platform compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux. FAT32 has a maximum file size of 4 GB, which cannot accommodate the 8 GB video files. NTFS is only partially compatible with macOS (read-only natively) and requires third-party tools on Linux. ext4 is a Linux filesystem that is not natively readable on Windows or macOS without third-party software. exFAT was specifically designed for flash media and removable storage requiring cross-platform use with large files.
4. A technician at Contoso Ltd. is tasked with formatting a 128 GB USB flash drive that will be used to transfer video files between Windows and macOS computers. Some of the video files are 15 GB in size. Which filesystem should the technician choose? (Select one!)
Explanation
exFAT is the ideal filesystem for this scenario because it provides excellent cross-platform compatibility between Windows and macOS while supporting files larger than 4 GB. Since the video files are 15 GB each, FAT32 cannot be used because it has a maximum individual file size limit of 4 GB. NTFS is natively read-write on Windows but is only read-only on macOS without third-party software, which would prevent macOS users from writing files to the drive. APFS is the native macOS filesystem and is not natively readable on Windows without third-party tools. exFAT supports file sizes up to 16 EB and volume sizes up to 128 PB, making it the standard choice for cross-platform removable media with large files.
5. A technician at Tailspin Toys needs to identify the process ID associated with a network connection on a Windows workstation that is communicating with a suspicious external IP address. Which command should the technician use? (Select one!)
Explanation
The netstat -ano command displays all active network connections (-a), shows addresses and port numbers in numeric form (-n), and includes the owning process ID (-o) for each connection. This allows the technician to identify which process is responsible for the suspicious communication. The ipconfig /all command displays IP configuration details but does not show active network connections or associated processes. The nslookup command performs DNS lookups to resolve domain names to IP addresses. Pathping combines ping and tracert to diagnose network path issues but does not show process-level connection information.
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