CredenTrek For CompTIA A+
Choose It Right. Pass It Smart. Turn It into a Career.
A+ is two exams, not one. Plan both before you spend a single hour.
Candidates study one big course and discover two exams with different pass marks. They spend weeks on hardware while troubleshooting and security carry more weight, pause between the cores, or arrive with an expired ID. This book shows you both exams on one map and every decision around them.
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Edition 2026.2 · Verified 9 October 2026. All 63 objectives (27 in Core 1, 36 in Core 2) verified against CompTIA's 220-1201 exam objectives and the 220-1202 objectives, with numbering cross-checked.
Where candidates go wrong
A+ is the most common first credential in IT support, so many candidates have nobody to ask. They study one big course from start to finish, then discover that A+ is two separate exams with different pass marks. They spend weeks on hardware they enjoy and little on troubleshooting, the largest domain in Core 1.
The logistics catch people too. Some pass Core 1, take a long break and find that they must finish Core 2 in the same version. Others arrive with an identity document from another country and are turned away. Many pass and then apply for jobs without any proof that they can fix a real computer.
The gap this book fills
A+ books usually teach the content in depth, often across more than a thousand pages, and video courses teach it topic by topic. Few show you both exams on one map and then help with every decision around them. This book does both, and checks every changeable fact against CompTIA's own documents.
CompTIA A+ at a glance
These facts were checked against CompTIA's A+ V15 pages, the 220-1201 and 220-1202 exam objectives and CompTIA's test policies in October 2026. Confirm them on comptia.org before you act.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Credential | CompTIA A+ |
| Issuing body | CompTIA |
| Level | Entry-level IT support credential |
| Exams | Two: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), from the same version |
| Current version | V15, launched 25 March 2025; V14 retired on 25 September 2025 |
| Format | Each exam: up to 90 questions, multiple choice and performance-based, 90 minutes |
| Passing score | Core 1: 675; Core 2: 700; both on a scale of 100 to 900 |
| Recommended experience | About 12 months of hands-on IT support work |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE test centre or online with OnVUE |
| Languages | English, German and Japanese |
| Renewal | Three-year cycle; 20 continuing education units |
What changed with V15
CompTIA launched V15 on 25 March 2025, and V14 retired on 25 September 2025. Only V15 exams can be booked now: 220-1201 and 220-1202. Material labelled 220-1101 or 220-1102 is for the retired version.
V15 adds new objectives that older material does not cover. Core 2 now includes the basics of artificial intelligence (4.10) and cloud-based productivity tools (1.11). Security now carries the same weight as operating systems in Core 2, at 28 per cent each.
| Exam and domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Core 1 · 1 Mobile Devices | 13% |
| Core 1 · 2 Networking | 23% |
| Core 1 · 3 Hardware | 25% |
| Core 1 · 4 Virtualization and Cloud Computing | 11% |
| Core 1 · 5 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | 28% |
| Core 2 · 1 Operating Systems | 28% |
| Core 2 · 2 Security | 28% |
| Core 2 · 3 Software Troubleshooting | 23% |
| Core 2 · 4 Operational Procedures | 21% |
Table 5.1 · Domain weights for Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), from CompTIA's V15 exam objectives.
What you will learn
You will learn what A+ tests in full: both exams, Core 1 and Core 2, with their nine domains and all 63 objectives explained in plain English. You will see how each exam is built and scored, why the two must come from the same version and what is new in the current V15. You will test yourself with 18 practice questions, nine for each core.
Around that content, you will learn how to decide whether A+ is your right first step, which core to take first and how to plan your hours. You will also learn how to book, meet the identity rules, budget, contact CompTIA and turn the credential into your first IT support job.
What you will have at the end
| Output | Where you build it |
|---|---|
| A written go or no-go decision and your core order | Chapter 3 |
| An identity and booking readiness checklist | Chapter 4 |
| A self-rating on all 63 objectives | Chapter 5 |
| A weekly study and lab plan for both cores | Chapter 7 and Appendix B |
| A three-level budget | Chapter 9 and Appendix C |
| Six message templates for CompTIA and Pearson VUE | Chapter 10 and Appendix D |
| A job search, salary and service plan | Chapters 11 to 13 |
| CV lines, a home lab and interview stories | Chapter 14 and Appendix F |
| A renewal plan for your three-year cycle | Chapter 15 |
| Your score on 18 practice questions | Appendix G |
Sixteen chapters in six stages
- 1What A+ Really Is
- 2The Professional Picture
- 3Is It Right for You Now?
- 4Eligibility and Requirements
- 5The Exam Map
- 6Choosing Your Study Route
- 7Your Adaptive Study Plan
- 8Scheduling and Exam Day
- 9Costs and Budget
- 10Official Communication
- 11Where It Is Valued Most
- 12Reading Salaries by Region
- 13Freelancing and Consulting
- 14Turning It into Career Proof
- 15Keeping It Active
- 16What Comes Next
Appendices. A. Official Sources Map · B. Weekly Plan Template · C. Budget Template · D. Message Templates · E. Exam-Day Checklist · F. CV and LinkedIn Template · G. Practice Questions · H. Glossary
Try three practice questions
Three of the book's 18 questions, written for the book in the style of the exam. They are not CompTIA questions.
A laptop battery drains within an hour and the case is bulging. What should the technician do first?
- ACharge it overnight to recalibrate it
- BStop using it and replace the battery safely
- CUpdate the operating system
- DLower the screen brightness
Show answer
A user needs secure remote command-line access to a Linux server. Which port is used by default?
- A21
- B22
- C23
- D3389
Show answer
Which service automatically gives computers an IP address when they join the network?
- ADNS
- BDHCP
- CSMTP
- DLDAP
Show answer
Paperback and Kindle
For school leavers, graduates, career changers and help desk staff starting a career in IT support.
In publication on Amazon. The buttons appear here as soon as the listing is live.
Companion reading and kit
Search links on Amazon for items candidates often use alongside this book. We do not review them; check that any edition matches your exam version.
- A+ Core 1 and Core 2 exam guidesSearch on Amazon ↗
- A computer repair tool kitSearch on Amazon ↗
Frequently asked
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Independent publication. Not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by CompTIA. CompTIA and A+ are trademarks of CompTIA, Inc.