How to Pass the CompTIA A+
A study plan from the guy who wrote the book
The real exam, the right study order, and the one rule that tells you you're ready. No fluff.
First, who's talking. I'm Mike Meyers. I've been writing the McGraw-Hill All-in-One A+ guides and teaching this since 1995 — long enough to know the A+ isn't hard because you're not smart enough. It's hard because most people study the wrong things in the wrong order. This plan fixes that.
What the A+ actually is
The A+ is the front door to IT — the cert that proves you can actually do the job, not just talk about it. It assumes roughly a year of hands-on experience (don't panic if you don't have it — that's what studying is for). And here's the part nobody tells first-timers: the A+ is two exams. You're not certified until you pass both.
- Core 1 (220-1201) — the hardware half: the box itself, how it's built, how it talks to a network.
- Core 2 (220-1202) — the software half: operating systems, security, and the day-to-day that makes the box useful.
You can take them in either order, but take them one at a time. Nobody sits both in one day.
What's on each exam
Each exam is up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, a mix of multiple choice and performance-based questions (PBQs — where you do a task: put steps in order, match cables to connectors). Scored 100–900; you pass at 675 — which, as I like to say: Gee, Mr. Obvious — you can get a few questions wrong and still pass. You don't have to be perfect.
Core 1 (220-1201)
| Domain | ~Share | What it's really about |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | 25% | CPUs, RAM, storage, motherboards, power, printers |
| Hardware & network troubleshooting | 28% | Diagnosing real problems — the biggest slice |
| Networking | 23% | Ports/protocols, Wi-Fi, SOHO networks, tools |
| Mobile devices | 13% | Phones, laptops, accessories, MDM |
| Virtualization & cloud | 11% | VMs, hypervisors, cloud models |
Core 2 (220-1202)
| Domain | ~Share | What it's really about |
|---|---|---|
| Operating systems | 28% | Windows/Mac/Linux, install, config, command line |
| Security | 28% | Malware, social engineering, securing devices & data |
| Software troubleshooting | 23% | Fixing OS, mobile, and app/security issues |
| Operational procedures | 21% | Safety, documentation, change management, basic AI |
The study plan that works
- Pick your first exam and get the objectives. Highlight what's unfamiliar — that's your study list.
- Read for understanding, not memorization. Learn what a thing does and the details stick on their own.
- Drill practice questions — a lot of them. My rule: you can't take too many practice tests. Use ones with performance-based questions, because the real exam ramps up the PBQ difficulty as you get them right.
- Practice against the clock. 90 questions in 90 minutes goes fast under pressure. Rehearse the time, not just the content.
- Watch for your signal (next section).
The one rule that tells you you're ready
When you're consistently scoring 85% or higher on practice tests, schedule the exam. Not before — you'll just rattle yourself. Not way after — you'll go stale. 85% is the green light. And remember: you can miss a handful and still pass.
Exam day: how it actually works
Your voucher is the exam fee — you redeem it at Pearson VUE (CompTIA's testing partner) to book. You choose a test center (bring two forms of ID) or online-proctored from home (clear the room, government-ID scan, give yourself ~15 extra minutes for setup). The hand-off to Pearson is normal — that's just where CompTIA exams are booked.
What comes after A+
A+ gets you in the door. The well-worn next step is Network+ (prove you can connect the box to everything else), then Security+ — the CompTIA trifecta, and where the better-paying jobs start looking. One rung at a time.
Read it, drill it til it's boring, walk in ready. And when you pass — because you will — let us be the first to congratulate you on your A+. — Mike