The CompTIA A+ 220-1202 exam covers the software, security, troubleshooting, and operational skills used in entry-level IT support roles.
It is detailed, but it becomes more manageable when you study from the official objectives, practice with realistic questions, and spend time working through hands-on scenarios.
A strong plan should help you understand the exam format, identify weaker domains, choose reliable resources, and build confidence with performance-based questions.
The strategies below can help you prepare in a focused, practical way before test day.
What Topics Are Covered?
The official Core 2 objectives are divided into four domains:
Operating Systems: 28%
This domain covers Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile operating systems. You should understand installation, configuration, file systems, updates, upgrades, and built-in tools such as Task Manager, Command Prompt, and Disk Management.
Security: 28%
Security is another major part of the exam. You need to understand encryption, access controls, wireless security protocols, malware prevention, malware removal, social engineering, and safe security practices for users and devices.
Software Troubleshooting: 23%
This domain tests your ability to diagnose and resolve operating system, application, mobile device, and security-related issues. Expect scenarios involving connectivity problems, failed applications, unauthorized access, and malware symptoms.
Operational Procedures: 21%
This section covers documentation, change management, backup and recovery, safety procedures, environmental impact, communication, professionalism, scripting basics, remote access, and concepts related to AI use in IT operations.
Operating Systems and Security together account for more than half the exam, so they should receive a large share of your study time.
Performance-Based vs. Multiple-Choice Questions
Performance-based questions, often called PBQs, test whether you can apply knowledge in a simulated task. A multiple-choice question might ask which tool is best for a situation.
A PBQ may ask you to use a simulated interface, arrange troubleshooting steps, match security controls to threats, or complete a configuration task.
These questions can take longer than standard multiple-choice items, so pacing matters. Many candidates prefer to quickly review the PBQs at the start, answer the ones they understand, flag anything time-consuming, and return later if needed.
The key is to practice the skills behind the questions. You should be comfortable using command-line tools, reviewing Windows settings, identifying malware response steps, and thinking through support scenarios with incomplete information.
Passing Score and Time Limits
You have 90 minutes to complete the exam. Since the test can include up to 90 questions, a simple one-minute-per-question pace sounds reasonable at first. In practice, PBQs can take several minutes each, which leaves less time for the remaining questions.
A useful target is to answer standard multiple-choice questions efficiently and avoid spending too long on any single item. If a question is unclear, mark it for review and move on. You can return once you have completed the questions you know.
Results are usually available after the exam process is complete. Your score report can also show which objective areas need more work, which is helpful if you need to retake the exam or continue studying for the other A+ core exam.
Start with the Official CompTIA Exam Objectives
CompTIA publishes the exam objectives for a reason. They show what the test is designed to measure and should act as your main study roadmap.
Before you buy books, watch videos, or take practice tests, review the current CompTIA A+ Core 2 exam information. Pay attention to the version number, exam code, domains, question types, and objective summaries.
Download and Review the Objectives Document
Read the objectives carefully instead of skimming them. Each bullet point represents a skill or concept that may appear on the exam.
For example, if an objective mentions Windows tools, you should know what each tool does and when to use it. If an objective covers mobile device security, you should understand screen locks, remote wipe, encryption, authentication, and safe configuration practices.
Keep the objectives open while you study. After finishing a video lesson, chapter, or lab, compare what you learned against the official list. This helps you avoid spending too much time on interesting but low-priority topics.
Create a Personal Study Checklist
Turn the exam objectives into a checklist. A simple system works well:
- Not started
- In progress
- Needs review
- Mastered
For example, an objective about comparing operating systems can become a checklist item such as: “Explain the main differences between Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS from a support perspective.”
A security objective can become: “Identify common malware symptoms and list the proper removal steps.”
This approach keeps your progress visible. It also prevents false confidence. A topic may feel familiar when you read it, but the real test is whether you can explain it, apply it, and answer questions about it without notes.
Identify Your Weak Areas Early
Take a diagnostic test before building your full study schedule. The goal is not to get a high score right away. The goal is to find out where your time should go.
Review results by domain, not just by total score. You may perform well on operating system questions but struggle with malware removal, Linux commands, or operational procedures. That information should shape your study plan.
Rate your confidence in each domain from 1 to 5. Be honest. If you rarely use Linux commands, mark that area low. If you troubleshoot Windows issues every day, mark it higher, but still test yourself against the objectives.
After every practice test, review missed questions and connect them back to specific objective areas. Then study those topics before taking another full test.
Choose Your Core Study Resources
Good study resources should match the current 220-1202 objectives, explain topics clearly, and help you practice both knowledge and application. Avoid relying on outdated materials created for older A+ exam versions unless you are using them only for general background.
Video Training Courses
Video courses are useful when you need explanations, demonstrations, and a structured path through the objectives. Professor Messer offers free CompTIA A+ 220-1202 training videos that follow the exam domains and are widely used by certification candidates.
Paid platforms can also be helpful when they include quizzes, labs, notes, and structured review features.
The best choice depends on your learning style. Some learners prefer short, objective-based videos, while others benefit from longer guided lessons and instructor-led demonstrations.
When using video content, take active notes. Pause often, write down commands, and summarize each lesson in your own words. Passive watching is not enough for a practical exam.
Study Guides and Books
Books can add depth that videos sometimes skip. A good study guide should explain concepts clearly, follow the current objectives, include review questions, and cover both Core 1 and Core 2 if you are preparing for the full A+ certification.
Use books for slower, more focused study. Read a section, write a summary, and then answer questions on that topic. If you miss questions, return to the relevant section and review the concept again.
Exam cram books and quick-reference sheets can also help near the end of your preparation. They should not replace a full study, but they are useful for reviewing commands, security terms, troubleshooting steps, and operational procedures during the final week.
Practice Questions and Exam Simulations
Practice questions help you test recall, pacing, and decision-making. They also show whether you can apply concepts in realistic situations.
For Core 2 practice, Crucial Exams provides CompTIA A+ 220-1202 study materials with practice tests, practice questions, flashcards, and performance-based questions aligned to the V15 objectives.
Use practice questions in stages. Start with study mode while learning the material. Then move into timed tests once you understand the domains. Near the end of your preparation, take full-length practice exams to build stamina and pacing.
Do not memorize answer letters. Focus on why the correct answer is right and why the other options are wrong. That habit prepares you for new wording on the live exam.
Interactive Labs and Simulations
The 220-1202 exam rewards hands-on familiarity. Reading about a tool is helpful, but using it is better.
Practice in a safe environment whenever possible. You can use a spare computer, virtual machines, or browser-based labs. Work with Windows settings, command-line tools, user accounts, permissions, wireless settings, backup options, and malware response workflows.
For Linux, practice basic commands such as ls, cd, pwd, cp, mv, rm, chmod, chown, grep, and man. For Windows, spend time with Command Prompt, PowerShell basics, Task Manager, Event Viewer, Disk Management, Device Manager, and Windows Security.
Hands-on work helps PBQs feel less intimidating because the interface and troubleshooting logic are already familiar.
Build a Realistic Study Schedule
A study plan should match your available time. Studying two or three focused hours per day can work well for some candidates, but not everyone has that schedule. The important point is consistency.
A four-to-six-week plan might look like this:
- Week 1: Review the exam objectives and study Operating Systems
- Week 2: Study Security
- Week 3: Study Software Troubleshooting
- Week 4: Study Operational Procedures and begin mixed review
- Week 5: Take timed practice tests and focus on weak areas
- Week 6: Review PBQs, commands, missed questions, and exam strategy
If you have less time each day, extend the plan. If you already work in IT support, you may move faster through familiar domains, but you should still test yourself objectively.
Use Active Recall Instead of Passive Review
Rereading notes can feel productive, but active recall is more effective. Close the book or video and ask yourself questions.
For example:
- What are the steps in a malware removal process?
- Which Windows tool would you use to manage partitions?
- How does WPA3 improve wireless security?
- What symptoms suggest a corrupt user profile?
- Which Linux command changes file permissions?
Answer from memory, then check your notes. This exposes weak areas quickly.
Flashcards can help with acronyms, commands, ports, file extensions, malware terms, and security concepts. Keep sessions short and repeat them often.
Review Missed Questions the Right Way
A missed question is useful only if you learn from it. Do not just read the correct answer and move on.
For each missed question, ask:
- Did I misunderstand the concept?
- Did I miss a keyword in the question?
- Did I confuse two similar tools or terms?
- Was I rushing?
- Can I explain the correct answer without reading the explanation?
Keep a small error log. Write the topic, why you missed it, and what you need to review. Over time, patterns will appear. Those patterns should guide your final review.
Prepare for Test-Day Pacing
Before the real exam, practice with a timer. You need to know how it feels to answer questions under pressure.
During the exam, read each question carefully and look for details such as operating system, user role, security requirement, error message, or business constraint. These details often point to the correct answer.
For PBQs, do not panic if one looks unfamiliar. Complete what you can, flag it if needed, and return later. For multiple-choice questions, eliminate clearly wrong answers first. That improves your odds and reduces confusion.
Understanding the CompTIA A+ 220-1202 Exam Format
A smart study plan starts with the structure of the exam. The 220-1202 exam, also called Core 2, is one of two exams required for CompTIA A+ certification.
According to CompTIA, the current V15 version launched on March 25, 2025, includes a maximum of 90 questions, lasts 90 minutes, and requires a passing score of 700 on a 900-point scale.
The exam includes multiple-choice questions, multiple-response questions, drag-and-drop items, and performance-based questions. It focuses on practical support skills rather than memorized definitions alone.
Conclusion
Preparing for the CompTIA A+ 220-1202 exam is easier when you work from the official objectives and study in a structured way. Start by understanding the exam format, then build a checklist, identify weak areas, and choose resources that match the current V15 version.
Combine videos, books, practice questions, and hands-on labs so you are ready for both standard questions and performance-based tasks.
Consistent review matters more than cramming. With steady practice, clear pacing, and careful review of missed questions, you can approach the Core 2 exam with stronger confidence and better preparation.
