Skip to main content
Revy's Tech Journey, powered by Revtek
Exam objectives

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam objectives

RTJ is an IT certification platform that starts with CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+.

The CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam objectives list what the exam covers, in 5 domains. RTJ covers 27 objectives below, each with RTJ's short label, a plain summary, and links to a lesson, flashcards, practice questions and any hands-on lab.

Where is the official CompTIA A+ Core 1 objectives list?

CompTIA publishes the official 220-1201 objectives, in its own wording, on the official CompTIA A+ Core 1 page. That is the source to follow for what the exam covers. The objective labels on this page are RTJ's short names, and the summaries are RTJ's own. The domain names and weights below are CompTIA's, from that page.

Domains, weights and exam facts checked against CompTIA's official exam page on 31 October 2026.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 exam quick facts

Questions
Up to 90
Time
90 minutes
Passing score
675 on a scale of 900

CompTIA: "Core 1 and Core 2 exams must be taken from the same version, no mixing allowed."

CompTIA's figures, from the official CompTIA A+ Core 1 page.

Domain 1.0: Mobile devices (13% of the exam)

1.1 Mobile Device Hardware

You should be able to identify mobile device components, monitor their condition, and choose a safe replacement approach for the exact model. The scope includes the battery, keyboard and keys, RAM, HDD or SSD, wireless card and antennas, camera, microphone, biometric sensors, and near-field scanners.

1.2 Mobile Accessories and Connectivity

You should be able to identify the cables and wireless methods used to connect mobile devices to peripherals and accessories, recognize accessories such as a stylus, headset, speakers, and webcam, and compare the documented capabilities of a docking station and a port replicator.

1.3 Mobile Network and App Support

You should be able to set up and troubleshoot basic mobile device network connectivity, including cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and hotspot service. You should also be able to configure location services and work with corporate-managed devices through MDM. You should be able to help users with mobile device synchronization for mail, calendar, contacts, and cloud storage.

Domain 2.0: Networking (23% of the exam)

2.1 TCP/UDP Ports and Protocols

You should be able to recognize the 14 service and port groupings on CompTIA's 220-1201 list, know which transport each conventionally uses, and explain what each is for. Because this is a compare-and-contrast objective, go past flat memorization: be ready to say why a protocol uses TCP or UDP, and how two similar protocols differ. These pairings reappear in other Core 1 and Core 2 objectives, so the effort carries over.

2.2 Wireless Networking

You should be able to talk about Wi-Fi frequencies and channels and name the 802.11 generations and what each adds. You should also be able to recognize Bluetooth, NFC, and RFID and their use cases.

2.3 Services Provided by Networked Hosts

You should know what each common server role does and which network appliances handle which infrastructure functions. You should also know what legacy systems still live in industrial environments (SCADA) and how IoT devices fit into modern networks.

2.4 Network Configuration Concepts

RTJ's study guide covers four network configuration concepts: DNS records, DHCP address assignment, VLANs, and VPNs. DNS includes common record types and the email-related TXT records SPF, DKIM, and DMARC that are used to fight spoofing. DHCP includes scopes, leases, reservations, and exclusions, while the VLAN and VPN sections explain what each one does.

2.5 Networking Hardware Devices

You should be able to identify and explain the common networking hardware devices found in offices and homes. These include routers, switches, access points, patch panels, firewalls, PoE devices, modems (cable, DSL, fiber ONT), and NICs. The guide covers traffic forwarding and control, local connections, power delivery, and customer-side access devices.

2.6 SOHO Network Configuration

RTJ's study guide covers IPv4 and IPv6 addressing basics, including the difference between private and public addresses and when APIPA happens. It explains how subnet masks and default gateways work. It also compares static and dynamic addressing in a SOHO context.

2.7 Internet Connection and Network Types

You should know the common internet connection types (satellite, fiber, cable, DSL, cellular, WISP) and their typical speed and latency characteristics. You should also know the network type acronyms (LAN, WAN, PAN, MAN, SAN, WLAN) and what each refers to.

2.8 Networking Tools

You should be able to identify the tools used to install, terminate, troubleshoot, and analyze network cabling and wireless networks. These tools are crimpers, cable strippers, Wi-Fi analyzers, toner probes, punchdown tools, cable testers, loopback plugs, and network taps.

Domain 3.0: Hardware (25% of the exam)

3.1 Displays and Display Components

You should be able to tell apart the major display panel types: LCD families, OLED, and Mini-LED. You should be able to recognize the supporting components inside a laptop or all-in-one display assembly: touch screen, digitizer, and inverter. You should be able to explain the attributes that show up on a spec sheet: pixel density, refresh rate, resolution, and color gamut.

3.2 Cables and Connectors

You should be able to recognize the common cable types and connectors used in modern IT work and match each one to its purpose. The guide groups them as network cables (copper and fiber), peripheral cables (USB, Thunderbolt, and serial), video cables (HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, and USB-C), and hard drive cables (SATA and eSATA), along with the connectors on their ends.

3.3 RAM

You should be able to look at a laptop or desktop and answer four questions about its RAM: what physical form factor it uses, what DDR generation the platform accepts, whether it requires ECC or non-ECC, and how its memory channels should be populated. Unsupported combinations may fail memory training, disable a feature, or operate at a negotiated fallback, depending on the platform.

3.4 Storage Devices

You should be able to tell the difference between a hard drive and a solid-state drive. You should be able to name the common SSD interfaces and form factors and identify the standard RAID levels and what each one trades for what. You should also know where flash drives, memory cards, and optical drives still fit into real-world IT work.

3.5 Motherboards, CPUs, Add-on Cards

You should be able to select a motherboard for a stated case and component set and match a CPU to a supported socket and firmware.

3.6 Power Supply

You should be able to look at a PC build and pick or evaluate a power supply that fits: enough total wattage, the right connectors, the right input voltage for the region, and the right efficiency rating. You also need to recognize the difference between modular and non-modular and know when redundant power supplies belong.

3.7 Multifunction Devices and Printers

You should be able to physically set up and configure a printer or multifunction device (MFD): follow the installation procedure, choose compatible connectivity and drivers, set up sharing or networked printing, configure supported scan destinations, and apply the organization's security settings. Maintenance is covered separately in 3.8.

3.8 Printer Maintenance

You should be able to recognize four common printer technologies (laser, inkjet, thermal, impact) and perform the maintenance each one requires. Each technology has its own consumables, its own typical failures, and its own standard care procedure.

Domain 4.0: Virtualization and cloud computing (11% of the exam)

4.1 Virtualization Concepts

You should be able to explain how sandboxes, test and development VMs, application virtualization, desktop virtualization, and containers are used. You should also be able to distinguish Type 1 from Type 2 hypervisors. The supporting infrastructure requirements are security, network, and storage.

4.2 Cloud Computing Concepts

You should be able to describe the four common cloud deployment models (private, public, hybrid, community), the three service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), and the key characteristics of cloud computing (shared vs dedicated resources, metered utilization including ingress/egress, elasticity, availability, file synchronization, multitenancy).

Domain 5.0: Hardware and network troubleshooting (28% of the exam)

5.1 Troubleshoot Motherboards, RAM, CPUs, Power

You should recognize the common symptoms of motherboard, RAM, CPU, and power failures and know the standard diagnostic and remediation steps. This pairs with 3.4 (install motherboards/CPUs) and 3.5 (install PSU).

5.2 Troubleshoot Drives and RAID

You should recognize storage symptoms (LED indicators, audible signs of failure, performance and capacity errors, RAID-specific alerts) and know the right next steps for each.

5.3 Troubleshoot Video, Projector, Display

You should recognize the common video and projector symptoms and know what each one points to. This pairs with 3.1 (display components and attributes).

5.4 Troubleshoot Mobile Device Issues

You should recognize the typical mobile device symptoms (battery, screen, charging, connectivity, environmental damage, calibration) and apply the right diagnostic and remediation steps. This pairs with 1.1 (mobile device hardware).

5.5 Troubleshoot Network Issues

You should recognize common network problems: intermittent wireless, slow speeds, jitter, VoIP quality, latency, authentication failures, port flapping, and intermittent internet. You should also know how to isolate and resolve them.

5.6 Troubleshoot Printer Issues

You should recognize the common printer problems and know the right next step for each. RTJ's study guide groups them into four areas: physical print quality, paper handling, queue/spooler issues, and connectivity.

Is there a lesson on troubleshooting methodology?

Yes. RTJ has a troubleshooting methodology lesson that supports the troubleshooting domain. It is a study aid, not a separate CompTIA objective, so it is not in the list above.

Questions

Are these CompTIA's official CompTIA A+ Core 1 objective titles?

No. The objective labels on this page are RTJ's short names for each objective, and the summaries are RTJ's own. The domain names and weights are CompTIA's. CompTIA publishes the official 220-1201 objectives on its own site.

Is the practice on this page free?

The lessons, flashcards and practice questions open in RTJ's study mode. Free labs need no account. The other labs are included with Academy, Lifetime, and the teacher and school plans.

Does working through every objective mean I will pass?

No. Covering the objectives is preparation, not a prediction. RTJ does not predict exam results.

Where can I get the official CompTIA A+ Core 1 exam objectives?

From CompTIA, on its official CompTIA A+ Core 1 exam page (https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/a/core-1-v15/).

Do I need to pass Core 1 and Core 2 from the same version?

Yes. CompTIA's exam page says: "Core 1 and Core 2 exams must be taken from the same version, no mixing allowed."

Keep going

Revy's Tech Journey is an independent study platform and is not endorsed by or affiliated with CompTIA. CompTIA names identify the public exam objectives each RTJ track covers.

Start free, no credit card.

A free account keeps your progress and adds one full-length timed practice exam per certification track.

Create a free accountSee what is included