Detailed Exam Domain Coverage

If you are planning to take the CompTIA A+ certification, understanding exactly what the exam covers is the first step to passing. This practice test course is directly mapped to the latest V15 exam objectives for Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). I have designed these practice questions to mirror the actual exam environment, helping you validate your foundational knowledge for entry-level IT support roles.

Here is exactly what you will be tested on across the practice exams:

Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%): You will encounter scenarios asking you to identify problems, establish theories of cause, test those theories, implement solutions, verify system functionality, and document your findings using industry best practices.
Hardware (25%): Questions will test your ability to identify and replace desktop components, test and replace power supplies, install peripheral devices, and troubleshoot motherboards and CPUs.
Networking (23%): This domain covers network cabling and connector types, Wi‑Fi standards and configuration, TCP/IP fundamentals, and standard network troubleshooting methodology.
Mobile Devices (13%): You will practice scenarios involving installing and configuring laptop hardware components, handling battery and keyboard replacements, performing RAM installations, executing HDD/SSD migrations, and managing device privacy features like biometrics.
Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%): This section tests your grasp of virtual machine basics, cloud service models (IaaS, SaaS, PaaS), resource allocation in virtual environments, and security considerations for virtualization.

To give you a clear idea of how I structure the practice material, here is a preview of the types of questions and the level of detailed feedback you will receive for every single question in the course.

Practice Questions Preview

Question 1: A user is experiencing intermittent network connectivity on their desktop computer. You suspect the physical Ethernet cable connecting the PC to the wall jack is faulty. Which of the following tools should you use to verify the integrity of the cable's internal wiring?

Options:
- A) Multimeter
- B) Tone generator and probe
- C) Cable tester
- D) Loopback plug
- E) Wi-Fi analyzer
- F) Punch-down tool
Correct Answer: C) Cable tester
Explanations:
- Why A is incorrect: While a multimeter can test continuity, it is not the standard or efficient tool for testing all the pins and internal wiring pairs of an Ethernet cable simultaneously.
- Why B is incorrect: A tone generator and probe are used to trace a specific cable through walls or wiring closets to find its opposite end, not to verify the internal wire integrity.
- Why C is correct: A cable tester is specifically designed to check for continuity, open circuits, short circuits, and crossed wires within a network cable, making it the exact tool needed to verify internal wiring.
- Why D is incorrect: A loopback plug is used to test the physical port on a network interface card (NIC) or switch, not the cable itself.
- Why E is incorrect: A Wi-Fi analyzer is used to map wireless signals, detect interference, and optimize wireless channels. It cannot test a physical copper Ethernet cable.
- Why F is incorrect: A punch-down tool is used to attach solid copper wires to a patch panel or keystone jack, not to test the cable's functionality.

Question 2: You are replacing a swollen battery inside a corporate laptop. Which of the following is the most important safety precaution you must take before and during this replacement process?

Options:
- A) Discharge the battery completely to 0% before removal
- B) Wear an anti-static wrist strap connected directly to the battery
- C) Use a sharp metal pry tool to detach the battery's adhesive strips
- D) Place the laptop on a grounded anti-static mat and wear protective eyewear
- E) Puncture the battery shell slightly to relieve built-up gas pressure
- F) Keep the laptop plugged into AC power to maintain a continuous ground
Correct Answer: D) Place the laptop on a grounded anti-static mat and wear protective eyewear
Explanations:
- Why A is incorrect: While discharging a battery below 25% is recommended to reduce fire risk, discharging it completely to 0% is not strictly required and sometimes impossible if the device won't power on.
- Why B is incorrect: You should never connect an anti-static wrist strap to the battery itself. Wrist straps connect to an unpainted metal part of the chassis or an ESD mat.
- Why C is incorrect: Using sharp metal tools near a swollen lithium-ion battery is highly dangerous, as a puncture can cause thermal runaway and a severe fire.
- Why D is correct: Using an ESD mat protects the system board from static damage, while protective eyewear protects the technician from potential chemical leaks or fires associated with swollen lithium-ion batteries.
- Why E is incorrect: Puncturing a swollen lithium-ion battery is extremely dangerous, will expose toxic chemicals, and is highly likely to cause an immediate fire or explosion.
- Why F is incorrect: A laptop should be completely disconnected from all AC power sources before opening the case to replace internal components to prevent electrical shock and short circuits.

Question 3: A local business wants to utilize a third-party service to host their employee email and document collaboration software. The business owners do not want to manage underlying operating systems, server hardware, or software updates. Which cloud service model represents this solution?

Options:
- A) Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- B) Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- C) Software as a Service (SaaS)
- D) Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
- E) Anything as a Service (XaaS)
- F) On-premises Virtualization
Correct Answer: C) Software as a Service (SaaS)
Explanations:
- Why A is incorrect: IaaS provides the raw virtual hardware (servers, storage, networking), but the customer is still responsible for installing and managing the operating system and applications.
- Why B is incorrect: PaaS provides a platform for software developers to build and deploy applications without managing the underlying servers, but it is not a finished end-user product like email.
- Why C is correct: SaaS provides a fully managed, complete software application delivered over the internet (like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace). The provider handles everything from the hardware to the software updates.
- Why D is incorrect: DaaS provides virtual desktop environments to users, not specific hosted applications like email and document collaboration tools.
- Why E is incorrect: XaaS is a broad, catch-all term for delivering various services over the internet, but SaaS is the specific and correct term for delivering fully managed software applications.
- Why F is incorrect: On-premises virtualization means the business would host the servers in their own building, directly contradicting the requirement to use a third-party provider and avoid managing hardware.

Welcome to the Mock Exam Practice Tests Academy to help you prepare for your CompTIA A+ Certification.
You can retake the exams as many times as you want
This is a huge original question bank
You get support from instructors if you have questions
Each question has a detailed explanation
Mobile-compatible with the Udemy app

I hope that by now you're convinced! And there are a lot more questions inside the course.