CompTIA A+ Â· Core 1 (220-1201)

A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Practice Exam: 500 Questions with Explanations

Preparing for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) certification? CertCrack gives you 500 original practice questions mapped to the official Core 1 objectives — mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization, and hardware/network troubleshooting. Every question includes a detailed explanation so you learn the why, not just the answer.

What's inside

500 original questions — written fresh for 220-1201, never copied from real exams
Detailed explanations on every question, including why wrong answers are wrong
Full PDF included — download the complete question bank for offline study
3 months (90 days) of access to the interactive online question bank
Free 30-question sample quiz and free sample PDF — no account needed to try

Try 3 sample questions

These are real samples from the Core 1 bank — the full version has 500 like these.

1. A technician is upgrading the memory in a modern laptop. Which RAM form factor should be ordered?

DIMM
SO-DIMM
RIMM
SIMM

Correct answer: B. SO-DIMM (Small Outline DIMM) is the compact memory form factor used in laptops and small-form-factor PCs — roughly half the length of a desktop DIMM. Standard DIMMs fit desktop motherboards, while RIMM (Rambus) and SIMM are obsolete form factors you will not find in modern systems.

2. During boot, a PC displays an error and stops before the operating system loads. The technician suspects a hardware problem. Which built-in diagnostic runs first to test core components?

CHKDSK
POST
Disk Defragmenter
System File Checker

Correct answer: B. POST (Power-On Self-Test) runs immediately at startup, before the OS loads, checking the CPU, RAM, video, and other essential hardware — failures surface as beep codes or on-screen errors. CHKDSK, Defragmenter, and System File Checker are all OS-level tools that can only run after the system has booted, so they cannot diagnose a no-boot hardware fault.

3. A user needs a single cable that carries both high-definition digital video and audio from a PC to a monitor. Which connector should be used?

VGA
DVI-D
HDMI
PS/2

Correct answer: C. HDMI carries uncompressed digital video plus multi-channel audio on one cable. VGA is analog video only, DVI-D is digital video only (no audio), and PS/2 is an old keyboard/mouse connector. DisplayPort is the other common combined A/V standard — knowing which connectors carry audio is a frequent Core 1 exam trap.

Studying for both A+ exams? Get Core 1 + Core 2 together for $15 (save $5) at certcrack.com.

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One payment unlocks the online question bank and the full PDF.

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Exam facts: CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201)

Exam: CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201)
Cost: $274 USD (exam voucher)
Duration: 90 minutes
Questions: Maximum of 90 — multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based
Passing score: 675 (on a scale of 100–900)
Validity: 3 years — renewable through CompTIA's Continuing Education program

Frequently asked questions

How long do I get access?

Three months (90 days) from purchase, covering both the interactive online bank and the full PDF download. Access can be extended.

Is there a free trial?

Yes — a free 30-question sample quiz and a free sample PDF are available with no account required, so you can judge the quality before paying.

Are these questions like the real A+ Core 1 exam?

All 500 questions are 100% original and mapped to the official 220-1201 objectives, written in the same style and difficulty as the real exam. They are not copied from actual CompTIA exams.

Can I study offline?

Yes. Your purchase includes the complete question bank as a downloadable PDF for offline study.

What is the refund policy?

Full access is refundable within 15 days, or before 25% of the questions have been attempted — whichever comes first. Downloaded PDFs are non-refundable.

How much does the A+ Core 1 exam cost?

The A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam costs $274 USD.

How many questions are on the A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam?

Up to 90 questions, and you get 90 minutes to answer them. The exam mixes multiple-choice questions with drag-and-drop and performance-based questions — hands-on tasks in a simulated environment.

What is the passing score for A+ Core 1?

675 on CompTIA's scaled score range of 100 to 900.

Do I need to pass both A+ exams to get certified?

Yes. CompTIA A+ is two exams — Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) — and you must pass both, from the same exam series, to earn the certification.

How long is the A+ certification valid?

Three years from the date you pass. You can renew it through CompTIA's Continuing Education (CE) program instead of retaking the exams.

Where can I practice for the A+ Core 1 exam for free?

Right here on CertCrack. Start with the free 30-question sample quiz and the free sample PDF on this page — no account needed — and read the free A+ Core 1 study guidebook. When you're ready for the full bank, this page gives you every practice question with detailed explanations for $10.