comptia a+ study guide Study Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2025
Also covers: comptia a study guide, comptia a+ certification study guide, comptia a+ study material
Your complete roadmap to passing the 220-1101 & 220-1102 certification exam. This comprehensive study guide covers all 5 exam domains with detailed explanations, study tips, and practice resources.
Quick Start
Essential steps to begin your preparation
Review Exam Objectives
View all domains →Take Assessment Quiz
Free practice test →Follow Study Plan
8-week roadmap →Full Practice Exams
Start practicing →Exam Domains & Objectives
Master these 5 domains to pass the 220-1101 & 220-1102 exam
Mobile Devices
Networking
Hardware
Virtualization and Cloud Computing
Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
8-Week Study Plan
Follow this structured plan to prepare for your CompTIA A+ exam
Foundation
Understand core concepts and exam objectives
Focus Areas:
- Mobile Devices
- Networking
Deep Dive
Master advanced topics and practical applications
Focus Areas:
- Hardware
- Virtualization and Cloud Computing
Practice & Review
Take practice exams and review weak areas
Focus Areas:
- Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
Final Prep
Full practice exams and last-minute review
Focus Areas:
- Full-length practice tests
- Review all domains
Curated Study Resources
AI-curated resources with real links to help you prepare for the CompTIA A+ exam
Complete Study Guide for CompTIA A+ (220-1101 & 220-1102)
The CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard for establishing a career in IT. This dual-exam certification validates foundational skills in hardware, networking, mobile devices, operating systems, security, and troubleshooting. It's recognized globally and opens doors to help desk, technical support, and field service technician roles.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Entry-level IT professionals starting their career
- Help desk technicians seeking certification
- Career changers moving into IT support roles
- Students pursuing IT degrees
- Military personnel transitioning to civilian IT careers
Prerequisites
- Basic computer literacy and navigation skills
- 6-12 months of hands-on IT experience (recommended but not required)
- Familiarity with Windows and basic networking concepts
- No formal prerequisites required
Official Resources
CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Objectives
Official exam objectives for both 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams with detailed breakdown of all domains
View ResourceCompTIA CertMaster Learn for A+
Official interactive e-learning platform with assessments and performance tracking
View ResourceCompTIA CertMaster Practice for A+
Official practice questions with adaptive learning technology
View ResourceCompTIA Store - Official Study Materials
Official study guides, practice tests, and training bundles
View ResourceRecommended Courses
Professor Messer's CompTIA A+ Training Course (220-1101 & 220-1102)
Professor Messer (YouTube) • 50+ hours
View CourseCompTIA A+ Certification Full Video Course for Beginners
YouTube - freeCodeCamp • 6 hours
View CourseRecommended Books
CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Eleventh Edition (Exams 220-1101 & 220-1102)
by Mike Meyers
Comprehensive coverage of both exams with practice questions and hands-on labs. The gold standard A+ study guide with over 1,300 pages of content.
View on AmazonCompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide: Exam Core 1 220-1101 and Exam Core 2 220-1102
by Quentin Docter
Detailed coverage of all exam objectives with review questions and online practice exams. Published by Sybex, a trusted IT certification publisher.
View on AmazonCompTIA A+ Complete Practice Tests: Exam Core 1 220-1101 and Exam Core 2 220-1102
by Jeff T. Parker, Quentin Docter
Over 1,000 practice questions with detailed explanations. Essential companion to the study guide for test preparation.
View on AmazonCompTIA A+ Certification Exam Cram Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102)
by David L. Prowse
Focused on exam preparation with concise coverage and practice questions. Includes cram sheets for last-minute review.
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
CompTIA A+ Practice Tests by Jason Dion
6 full-length practice exams (3 for each test) with detailed explanations. Highly rated for accuracy and exam simulation.
View ResourceProfessor Messer's A+ Practice Exams
Official practice exams with performance-based questions similar to the real exam format.
View ResourceCompTIA CertMaster Practice
Official CompTIA adaptive practice platform that identifies knowledge gaps and provides targeted questions.
View ResourceExamCompass Free A+ Practice Tests
Free online practice questions for both 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams with instant feedback.
View ResourceVirtualBox Hands-on Labs
Free virtualization software to practice creating VMs, configuring operating systems, and troubleshooting.
View ResourceMike Meyers' CompTIA A+ Simulations
Performance-based simulations that mirror actual exam scenarios for hands-on practice.
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
r/CompTIA Subreddit
Active community with exam tips, study resources, success stories, and support. Search for A+ specific threads and ask questions.
Join CommunityCompTIA A+ LinkedIn Community
Professional networking group for A+ certified professionals and candidates. Share experiences and career advice.
Join CommunityProfessor Messer's Study Groups
Free monthly live study sessions covering A+ topics with Q&A. Archived sessions available on YouTube.
Join CommunityCompTIA Official Community
Official forums with moderated discussions, exam tips from CompTIA staff, and certification pathway guidance.
Join CommunityTechExams Community A+ Forum
Long-standing IT certification forum with extensive A+ discussion threads, study tips, and exam experiences.
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Memorization Techniques
- Create acronyms for the laser printer imaging process: Processing, Charging, Exposing, Developing, Transferring, Fusing, Cleaning (PC-EDTFC)
- Use flashcards for port numbers - focus on the most common: 21(FTP), 22(SSH), 23(Telnet), 25(SMTP), 53(DNS), 80(HTTP), 110(POP3), 143(IMAP), 443(HTTPS), 3389(RDP)
- Draw physical diagrams of motherboard components and label them repeatedly
- Create a troubleshooting flowchart poster and review it daily
Hands-On Practice
- Disassemble and reassemble an old laptop or desktop at least twice
- Install Windows in a virtual machine and practice command-line tools daily
- Set up a home lab with different cable types and practice identification
- Configure RAID in VirtualBox or physical hardware to understand the differences
- Practice mobile device screen replacement by watching videos and handling actual devices
Exam-Specific Strategies
- Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) appear first - skip them initially and return after completing multiple choice
- Flag questions for review - don't spend more than 90 seconds on any single question initially
- Eliminate obviously wrong answers first using process of elimination
- The troubleshooting methodology is KEY - know all 6 steps in order and apply them to scenario questions
- Watch for questions asking for 'BEST' answer vs 'correct' answer - multiple may be correct but only one is optimal
Practice Test Strategy
- Take your first practice test after 3 weeks of study to identify weak areas
- Aim for consistent 85%+ scores on practice tests before scheduling the real exam
- Review every incorrect answer thoroughly and understand why you got it wrong
- Simulate real exam conditions: 90 minutes, no notes, no distractions
- Take at least 3 different practice exams from different providers to avoid memorization
Priority Topics to Master
- Hardware components and installation (25% of first exam) - spend the most time here
- Troubleshooting methodology - memorize the 6 steps as they appear in multiple scenarios
- Port numbers and protocols - create a complete reference sheet and memorize it
- RAID levels - know the differences between 0, 1, 5, and 10 including minimum drives required
- Printer maintenance - understand all phases of laser printer imaging process in exact order
- Command-line tools - practice using ping, ipconfig/ifconfig, tracert/traceroute, nslookup, netstat
Exam Day Tips
- 1Arrive 15-30 minutes early to the testing center or log in early for online proctoring
- 2Bring two forms of ID (one must be government-issued with photo)
- 3Use the whiteboard/notepad provided immediately to write down memorized information (port numbers, troubleshooting steps, RAID configurations)
- 4Read each question twice before answering - CompTIA is known for tricky wording
- 5Skip the Performance-Based Questions initially - complete multiple choice first, then return to PBQs
- 6Don't panic if you encounter unfamiliar topics - some questions are experimental and unscored
- 7Manage your time: 90 questions in 90 minutes = 1 minute per question average
- 8Use the flag feature liberally for questions you want to review
- 9If taking both exams, schedule them 1-2 weeks apart (not same day) to allow focused preparation
- 10Remember that 675/900 is passing - you don't need perfection, just 75% correct
Study guide generated on November 30, 2025
Pro Study Tips
Expert advice to maximize your study effectiveness
Active Learning Strategies
- Hands-on practice: Apply concepts in real scenarios
- Teach others: Explain concepts to reinforce learning
- Take notes: Write summaries in your own words
Exam Day Preparation
- Get enough sleep: Rest well the night before
- Review key points: Go through your notes and cheat sheets
- Time management: Practice pacing with timed exams
Continue Your Preparation
More resources to help you succeed
Complete CompTIA A+ Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide will help you prepare for the 220-1101 & 220-1102 certification exam offered by CompTIA. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this guide covers everything you need to know to pass on your first attempt.
What You Will Learn
Our study guide covers all 5 exam domains in detail:
- Mobile Devices (15%)
- Networking (20%)
- Hardware (25%)
- Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%)
- Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (29%)
Recommended Timeline
Most candidates need 6-8 weeks of dedicated study to pass the CompTIA A+ exam. We recommend studying 1-2 hours daily and taking practice exams weekly to track your progress.
Next Step: Start with our free practice test to assess your current knowledge level.