220-1201 CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam (2026) Free Practice Exam Questions (2026 Updated)

PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is required for high-end video cards.

NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) utilizes the M.2 or PCIe interface for the fastest SSD performance.

From CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Official Study Guide, Objective 3.2 – Motherboard expansion slots and storage interfaces:

“High-end video cards require a PCIe slot, while NVMe drives use M.2 (PCIe) slots for the highest data transfer rates.”

Verified Source:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Official Study Guide, Chapter 3: Motherboard and Storage

CompTIA Exam Objectives 220-1101, Domain 3.2

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When a technician encounters a burning smell, it is a critical safety issue. The first response must be to immediately power down and disconnect the device from all power sources to prevent electric shock, fire, or further hardware damage.

From the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Official Study Guide, Objective 4.1 – Troubleshoot common hardware problems:

" Signs of electrical issues such as burning smells, smoke, or sparks require an immediate shutdown of the system and disconnection from any power source. "

After ensuring safety, the technician should inspect the hardware for visible signs of damage:

From the same Objective (4.1):

" Inspect for foreign objects, liquid damage, or burnt components. These can cause short circuits or thermal events that may damage the motherboard or other internal components. "

These steps are standard practice in the industry to ensure safe and accurate diagnosis of faulty devices. Trying a different adapter (Option F) may make the problem worse, and contacting vendors (Option D) comes after initial safety and inspection.

Verified Source:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Official Study Guide, Chapter 4: Troubleshooting Hardware Problems

CompTIA Exam Objectives 220-1101, Domain 4.0 – Hardware and Network Troubleshooting

Excessive heat buildup due to insufficient cooling is a primary cause of unexpected shutdowns. A high-performance heat sink improves thermal transfer, dissipates more heat, and helps maintain CPU temperature within safe limits. When CPU temperatures reach levels like 208°F (98°C), the system may shut down to prevent damage.

Mobile Device Management (MDM) allows IT departments to enforce compliance controls, such as restricting the installation of unapproved software, on laptops and mobile devices.

Why Not A (EDR): Endpoint Detection and Response focuses on detecting and mitigating security threats, not compliance controls.

Why Not B (VPN): Virtual Private Networks provide secure connections but do not enforce software installation policies.

Why Not D (SaaS): Software as a Service refers to software delivery models and does not enforce compliance controls.

CompTIA A+ Exam Reference: Core 2 (220-1102), Section 2.7, device management and security​.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation (From CompTIA A+ 220-1201 Concepts):

A consistent Wi-Fi SSID across all APs allows users to roam throughout the office while maintaining access to local resources without reconnecting manually.

CompTIA Core 1 Study Guide Concept Reference:

Wireless networking configuration

SSID broadcast and roaming

WLAN infrastructure

The study guide explains that a common SSID enables seamless roaming and uninterrupted access to network resources.

The appropriate network type for this scenario is a Local Area Network (LAN), which is designed for small, localized networks, such as within a single building or room. LANs are ideal for gaming because they provide high-speed, low-latency connections.

Option A (SAN): Incorrect. A Storage Area Network is used for data storage, not for gaming or general networking.

Option B (MAN): Incorrect. A Metropolitan Area Network covers a city or campus, far exceeding the scope needed for a gaming setup in a single room.

Option D (PAN): Incorrect. A Personal Area Network is designed for a single user, such as Bluetooth devices, and would not support multiple devices connecting to a game server.

AnMX (Mail Exchange)record defineswhich mail servers are responsible for receiving emailfor a domain. If you want to change or redirect email traffic, theMX recordmust be updated with the correct server information.

Option B (TXT):Stores text-based info used for SPF, DKIM, etc.

Option C (SPF):Part of email authentication stored in a TXT record; doesn’t redirect traffic.

Option D (CNAME):Alias for another domain name not used for email routing.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam Objective Reference:

Objective 2.4: Compare and contrast common networking hardware.

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For a gaming PC with multiple GPUs, the power supply must safely deliver high current on the 12V rails, since GPUs and CPUs draw most of their power from 12V. A multiple-rail power supply divides the 12V output into separate rails protected by overcurrent protection (OCP). This configuration helps prevent a single rail from being overloaded and can provide safer distribution when several high-draw components (multiple GPUs, high-end CPU) are installed. From a CompTIA A+ Core 1 perspective, selecting PSU characteristics that match system load and expansion needs is key, and multi-rail designs are directly related to supporting multiple high-power devices with better protection controls.

The other options do not meet the goal. Redundant PSUs are typically used in servers for uptime, not consumer gaming builds, and they don’t inherently address GPU power distribution. Non-modular only affects cable management and airflow, not power capability or scalability. Low wattage directly conflicts with the requirement for multi-GPU performance and future upgrades. Therefore, the best choice given is multiple-rail.

CompTIA A+ explains that Wi-Fi issues at the edges of a building are typically caused by weak signal coverage, not client configuration. The recommended solution is to add additional wireless access points (APs) or mesh extenders to expand coverage and eliminate dead zones.

Enabling 5GHz would worsen the problem because 5GHz has shorter range and penetrates walls less effectively than 2.4GHz. Flushing DNS affects name resolution, not wireless signal strength. Upgrading the NIC to Wi-Fi 6 improves maximum throughput but still depends on sufficient signal, which the user does not have.

Additional APs ensure strong signal-to-noise ratio, consistent throughput, and stable roaming all solutions emphasized in the A+ wireless troubleshooting section. Therefore, option D is the correct and CompTIA-aligned fix.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (Aligned With CompTIA A+ 220-1201 Official Study Guide)

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is the technology used by organizations to centrally configure, secure, and control mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

The CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) objectives specify that MDM solutions allow administrators to implement and enforce security and usage policies, including:

Application control (whitelisting and blacklisting)

Restricting installation of unapproved applications

Enforcing corporate compliance requirements

Remotely managing mobile device configurations

This directly applies to the scenario: the company wants to prevent users from installing unapproved apps on corporate tablets.

MDM enforces this through:

App whitelisting → only approved apps can be installed

App blacklisting → specific apps are blocked

Locked-down app stores → only corporate-approved app stores or catalogs

This is exactly the function MDM is designed for in enterprise mobile security and management.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

B. ACL (Access Control List)

ACLs control network or file-system access, such as allowing or denying IP addresses, ports, or file permissions.

They cannot control app installation behavior on mobile devices.

C. DRM (Digital Rights Management)

DRM protects digital content from unauthorized copying or distribution.

It does not restrict which applications can be installed on a mobile device.

D. PAM (Privileged Access Management)

PAM controls administrative or privileged accounts in enterprise environments.

It is unrelated to app-installation restrictions on tablets.

A Lightning cable provides the best connectivity performance when you want strong, stable connectivity while keeping required accessories to a minimum. In a mobile troubleshooting and connectivity context, this refers to USB tethering from an iPhone to another device (such as a laptop). Wired tethering typically offers higher throughput, lower latency, and better stability than wireless tethering methods because it avoids Wi-Fi interference, signal loss, and radio congestion. It also reduces configuration variables—once the cable is connected and tethering is enabled, the connection is generally consistent and less prone to dropouts than wireless options.

A hotspot can provide good performance, but it relies on Wi-Fi and is more susceptible to interference and distance, and it also increases battery drain. Bluetooth tethering works with minimal setup but is usually the slowest option and is best suited for low-bandwidth needs. NFC is used for short-range pairing or tap-to-connect actions and does not provide an internet data connection by itself. Therefore, the best option for performance with limited accessories is using a Lightning cable.

Elasticity in cloud computing refers to the ability of a system to automatically allocate and release resources (such as CPU, RAM, or virtual machines) as workload demands change. This feature is key to ensuring that resources are used efficiently without manual intervention.

When a newly built computer successfully passes POST, it indicates that the CPU, RAM, motherboard, video output, and other essential components are functioning at a hardware level. POST will typically fail or display error codes if there are problems with the CPU, RAM, GPU, or power delivery. Therefore, the fact that POST succeeds allows us to eliminate those components from suspicion.

The issue arises after POST, when the system attempts to load an operating system. For the OS to load, the BIOS/UEFI must detect a working storage device—such as an HDD, SSD, or NVMe drive—containing a bootable OS. If the computer cannot locate or read the drive, the system will halt at a boot error, such as “No boot device found,” “Insert boot media,” or similar messages. This is consistent with a failed or improperly connected HDD.

A failed HDD prevents access to boot files, even though the rest of the system hardware functions normally. Audio cards are irrelevant to booting. A failed CPU would cause a POST failure, not an OS loading issue. A faulty power supply would affect system stability during POST, not specifically OS boot failure unless the system is not powering at all.

Thus, the failed component is the HDD.

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:

LC Connector (Lucent Connector):

LC is a type of fiber optic connector commonly used in optical networking cables. It is small, compact, and widely used for high-speed data transfer over fiber optic networks.

LC connectors are specifically designed for fiber optic cables, making them the correct answer.

Incorrect Options:

A. RJ45: RJ45 connectors are used for Ethernet cables (twisted-pair copper cabling) and are not compatible with optical networking cables.

C. USB-C: USB-C is a connector type used for general-purpose data transfer, charging, and video output, not for optical networking.

D. Lightning: Lightning connectors are proprietary to Apple devices and are not used in optical networking.

Key Takeaway:

The LC connector is specifically designed for fiber optic cables, making it the correct answer for optical networking.

The scan-to-SMB feature allows the printer to send scanned documents to a shared folder (SMB share) on the network. Setting up a network share enables the device to securely and conveniently save files for user access.

An eSIM (embedded SIM) allows users to change carriers and provision new cellular service without installing any physical hardware. It is managed via software and is ideal for international travelers who need to switch providers quickly.

From the CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Official Study Guide, Objective 3.3 – Install and configure mobile device network connectivity:

" eSIMs provide carrier flexibility by enabling remote provisioning and profile switching, making it possible to connect to different networks without a physical SIM card. "

Verified Source:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Official Study Guide, Chapter 3: Mobile Devices

CompTIA Exam Objectives 220-1101, Domain 3.3

Older motherboards use 20-pin connectors, while newer power supplies use 24-pin connectors. An adapter resolves the compatibility issue cost-effectively.

Why Not A (Adjust the input voltage): Input voltage adjustment is unrelated to connector compatibility.

Why Not B (Install a modular power supply): While modular supplies are versatile, this doesn’t address the connector issue directly.

Why Not C (Rebuild the failed power supply): Rebuilding is costly and complex compared to using an adapter.

CompTIA A+ Exam Reference: Core 1 (220-1201), Section 3.4, power supply compatibility​.

When both charging and dock-connected peripherals fail at the same time, the problem is most likely with the dock itself or its internal controller circuitry rather than the laptop’s operating system or a single peripheral device. The technician has already verified key prerequisites: the dock has power, the laptop ports show no physical damage, and system firmware (BIOS/UEFI) is current. Those checks reduce the likelihood of a simple firmware incompatibility or a damaged laptop connector.

In CompTIA A+ troubleshooting methodology, the next step is to substitute with a known-good component to isolate the fault quickly. Replacing (or testing with) another dock confirms whether the original docking station has failed. If the replacement dock restores charging and peripherals immediately, the root cause is confirmed without unnecessary invasive actions.

Switching the power supply could be a valid step if power was questionable, but the prompt states the dock already has power and still provides no function—pointing to dock failure. Reinstalling the OS is excessive and unlikely because charging through a dock is not primarily OS-dependent. Rolling back BIOS updates is also not indicated because the issue persists despite current firmware and there is no evidence the BIOS update caused it.

D. Crimper:

A crimper is used to terminate an RJ45 cable properly by attaching the connector to the twisted-pair wires.

If the termination is not done correctly, the connection will be intermittent or fail entirely.

Incorrect Options:

A. Toner probe: Used to locate cables or trace their path, not for terminating RJ45 connectors.

B. Cable tester: Useful for testing connectivity but does not fix termination issues.

C. Punchdown: Used to connect wires to a patch panel or keystone jack, not for RJ45 connectors.

Key Takeaway: A crimper is the proper tool for fixing an improperly terminated RJ45 connection.