CompTIA A+ 1201 Practice Test Free: Questions, Answers & Exam Prep Guide

1. What Is the CompTIA A+ 220-1201 Exam?

CompTIA A+ is the certification most people use to break into IT. Help desk, desktop support, field tech, junior sysadmin — A+ is usually the first thing recruiters look for when you have no experience.

To earn the full A+ certification you must pass two exams:

• 220-1201 — Core 1 (hardware, networking, mobile, virtualization, troubleshooting)
• 220-1202 — Core 2 (operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, procedures)

This practice test covers Core 1 only. If you’ve been studying 220-1101 material, know that 1201 is the newer refresh of that exam, so make sure your study resources are current. Always double-check the live objectives PDF on CompTIA’s official site before test day, since CompTIA updates them periodically.

2. Core 1 (1201) Exam Domains and Weights

This table matters more than people realize. The weights tell you exactly where to spend your study hours.

Notice something? Troubleshooting alone is 28%. Add Hardware (25%) and Networking (23%) and you’re looking at 76% of the entire exam sitting in three domains. If you’re short on time, that’s where you live.

3. Exam Format at a Glance

Ninety questions in ninety minutes sounds generous until PBQs eat 8 minutes each. Time management is a real skill here.

4. Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) Explained

“CompTIA A 1201 PBQ” is one of the most searched related terms, and honestly, PBQs scare people more than they should.

A PBQ is a simulation.

• Drag the correct cable type to the correct port
• Configure IP address, subnet mask and default gateway in a simulated settings window
• Identify faulty components in a diagram of a PC
• Order the six troubleshooting methodology steps correctly
• Match wireless standards to their frequency bands and speeds

They almost always appear at the start of the exam. Here’s the strategy nobody tells beginners: flag them and skip them. Do all the multiple-choice questions first, bank those easy points, then come back with your remaining time.

5. Practice Test Dumps vs Legitimate Practice — Read This First

You’ll see “CompTIA A+ 1201 exam dumps” in the search suggestions. I’d skip them, and not just for moral reasons.

Dumps are stolen live exam questions. CompTIA actively monitors for them, and if you’re flagged, your certification can be revoked and you can be banned from future exams. Beyond that, dumps are often wrong, outdated, or mislabeled — and they teach you to recognize a question rather than solve a problem. PBQs will destroy you if that’s all you’ve done.

Legitimate practice questions, like the ones below, are written to match the objectives, not the actual exam. That’s the version that makes you a better technician.

6. CompTIA A+ 1201 Practice Test (25 Questions)

Choose the best answer. Don’t peek at the key. Write your answers on paper.

1. A user says their laptop battery drains unusually fast. Which is the MOST likely cause?
   1. Airplane mode is enabled
   2. Background processes and high screen brightness
   3. The keyboard backlight is off
   4. The laptop is docked via Ethernet
2. Which laptop component is typically the easiest for a technician to replace without full disassembly?
   1. CPU
   2. Integrated GPU
   3. SO-DIMM memory
   4. Motherboard chipset
3. A company needs wireless authentication tied to individual user credentials through a RADIUS server. Which should be configured?
   1. WEP
   2. WPA2-Personal
   3. WPA3-Enterprise
   4. WPA2-PSK
4. What port does HTTPS run on by default?
   1. 80
   2. 143
   3. 443
   4. 3389
5. Which RAID level provides disk mirroring with no striping?
   1. RAID 0
   2. RAID 1
   3. RAID 5
   4. RAID 10
6. Which slot would an NVMe SSD most commonly use?
   1. SATA
   2. PCIe M.2
   3. AGP
   4. IDE
7. A laser printer produces faded, light print across the entire page. What should the technician check FIRST?
   1. Fuser assembly
   2. Toner cartridge level and density setting
   3. Paper tray alignment
   4. Duplexing unit
8. Which protocol automatically assigns IP addresses to clients on a network?
   1. DNS
   2. DHCP
   3. SMTP
   4. SNMP
9. A workstation shows an IP of 169.254.12.44. What does this indicate?
   1. Static IP misconfiguration
   2. The client could not reach a DHCP server
   3. The NIC is disabled
   4. DNS resolution failure
10. What is the FIRST step of CompTIA’s troubleshooting methodology?
    1. Establish a theory of probable cause
    2. Identify the problem
    3. Test the theory
    4. Document findings
11. A business wants virtual servers where they manage the OS and applications, but not the physical hardware. Which cloud model is this?
    1. SaaS
    2. PaaS
    3. IaaS
    4. DaaS
12. Which best describes a Type 1 hypervisor?
    1. Runs inside a host operating system
    2. Runs directly on the bare-metal hardware
    3. Runs only inside a web browser
    4. Requires a mobile device to operate
13. A user hosts a game server at home and external players cannot connect. What should be configured on the SOHO router?
    1. MAC filtering
    2. Port forwarding
    3. WPS
    4. Guest network
14. Which cable standard supports 10 Gbps over 100 meters?
    1. Cat 5
    2. Cat 5e
    3. Cat 6a
    4. Cat 3
15. The laptop screen will dim automatically only when it is not connected to the AC power source. What is the MOST likely cause?
    1. Failing backlight
    2. Damaged display cable
    3. Power plan / adaptive brightness setting
    4. GPU failure
16. A desktop shuts down randomly during gaming but runs fine when idle. What should be checked FIRST?
    1. Keyboard drivers
    2. CPU/GPU cooling and PSU wattage
    3. Monitor refresh rate
    4. BIOS boot order
17. Which connector types are commonly used with fiber optic cabling?
    1. RJ45 and RJ11
    2. LC and SC
    3. DB9 and DB25
    4. USB-C and Lightning
18. A PC powers on, fans spin, no display, and it emits repeating beep codes. What is the MOST likely cause?
    1. Dead CMOS battery
    2. Improperly seated or faulty RAM
    3. Faulty keyboard
    4. Corrupt user profile
19. Which should be configured on a router to prioritize VoIP traffic?
    1. DMZ
    2. QoS
    3. UPnP
    4. NAT
20. A mechanical hard drive makes a repetitive clicking sound. What should the technician do FIRST?
    1. Defragment the drive
    2. Run disk cleanup
    3. Back up the user’s data immediately
    4. Update the chipset driver
21. Which is a primary advantage of an SSD over an HDD?
    1. Lower cost per terabyte
    2. Higher capacity ceiling
    3. Faster access times and no moving parts
    4. Louder operation
22. A smartphone will not charge with a known-good cable and charger. What should be checked next?
    1. Screen brightness
    2. Charging port for debris or damage
    3. Bluetooth settings
    4. App permissions
23. Which wireless frequency band generally offers greater range but lower throughput?
    1. 2.4 GHz
    2. 5 GHz
    3. 6 GHz
    4. 60 GHz
24. Which component converts AC from the wall outlet into DC for internal PC components?
    1. Motherboard
    2. Power supply unit
    3. Voltage regulator module
    4. UPS
25. A technician resolves an issue. According to methodology, what is the FINAL step?
    1. Verify full system functionality
    2. Document findings, actions, and outcomes
    3. Establish a plan of action
    4. Escalate to tier 2

7. Answer Key

1-B · 2-C · 3-C · 4-C · 5-B · 6-B · 7-B · 8-B · 9-B · 10-B · 11-C · 12-B · 13-B · 14-C · 15-C · 16-B · 17-B · 18-B · 19-B · 20-C · 21-C · 22-B · 23-A · 24-B · 25-B

8. Full Answer Explanations

1. (B) Background processes and high brightness are the two biggest battery drains. Airplane mode actually saves power, so A is backwards.
2. (C) SO-DIMM memory sits under a small access panel on most laptops. CPUs and GPUs are usually soldered in modern laptops.
3. (C) “Individual user credentials” plus “RADIUS” points to Enterprise mode. Personal/PSK modes use one shared password for everyone.
4. (C) HTTP is 80, HTTPS is 443. Memorize the common ports.
5. (B) RAID 1 = mirroring. RAID 0 = striping, no redundancy. RAID 5 = striping with parity.
6. (B) NVMe drives use the PCIe bus through an M.2 slot. SATA M.2 exists too, but NVMe specifically means PCIe.
7. (B) Faded print across the whole page often points to low toner or a low density setting. Fuser problems cause smudging that rubs off.
8. (B) DHCP hands out IP, subnet mask, gateway and DNS server information automatically.
9. (B) 169.254.x.x is APIPA. The client gave up waiting for DHCP and assigned itself an address.
10. (B) Identify the problem → Establish a theory → Test the theory → Establish a plan of action → Verify functionality → Document.
11. (C) IaaS gives you virtual hardware; you handle the OS and apps. PaaS gives you a development platform, SaaS gives you finished software.
12. (B) Type 1 = bare metal (ESXi, Hyper-V). Type 2 = hosted on an OS (VirtualBox, VMware Workstation).
13. (B) Port forwarding tells the router where to send inbound traffic on a specific port.
14. (C) Cat 6a supports 10 Gbps at the full 100 meters.
15. (C) Behaviour that changes based on power source is likely a power plan setting, not a hardware fault.
16. (B) Load-dependent shutdowns can indicate a thermal issue or an underpowered PSU.
17. (B) LC and SC are common fiber connectors. RJ45 is copper Ethernet.
18. (B) Beep codes with no video can indicate a memory problem. Reseat first, then test sticks individually.
19. (B) Quality of Service prioritizes latency-sensitive traffic like voice and video.
20. (C) Clicking can indicate mechanical drive failure. Prioritize backing up important data.
21. (C) No moving parts means faster access times, better durability and silent operation.
22. (B) Debris packed into a charging port is one possible cause. Inspect the port carefully before replacing anything.
23. (A) 2.4 GHz generally travels farther and penetrates walls better but is slower and more congested.
24. (B) The PSU converts AC to DC and distributes the various voltage rails.
25. (B) Documentation is the final troubleshooting step. Verification comes before it.

9. Score Yourself: Are You Ready?

Write down only the numbers you missed. That short list is your real study guide.

10. 6 Mistakes That Fail People on Core 1

1. Memorizing instead of understanding. PBQs don’t have four options to guess from.
2. Ignoring the troubleshooting methodology order.
3. Skipping port numbers. 20/21, 22, 25, 53, 80, 110, 143, 443, 3389 — know them.
4. Getting zero hands-on practice. Open an old PC, install VirtualBox, or configure a router.
5. Burning too much time on PBQs before completing easier questions.
6. Studying outdated 1101 material without checking the 1201 objectives.

11. 7-Day Study Plan

12. Test-Day Strategy

Arrive early. Read every question twice — CompTIA uses words like FIRST, BEST, and MOST LIKELY that can change the correct answer. Eliminate incorrect options before choosing. Never leave a blank if there is no penalty for guessing. If a question looks unfamiliar, flag it and move on rather than losing four minutes.

13. FAQs

Is this CompTIA A+ 1201 practice test free?

Yes. No signup, no payment, unlimited attempts.

Can I get this as a PDF?

You can print this page directly to PDF from your browser for offline study.

What’s the passing score for 220-1201?

675 out of 900.

How many questions are on the exam?

Up to 90 questions in 90 minutes.

Are exam dumps safe to use?

No. They risk certification revocation and they don’t prepare you for PBQs.

How long should I study?

Many learners need several weeks of part-time study. The time depends on prior IT knowledge and hands-on experience.

14. Final Thoughts

Passing Core 1 isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about recognizing patterns — which symptom points to which component, which step comes next, which protocol fits the scenario.

Take this test today. Take it again in five days. If your score climbs and you can explain why each answer is right without reading the explanation, you’re ready to book.

Good luck.