CompTIA A+ 220-1101 vs 220-1201: What's New

The A+ exam series turned over: if you are starting your A+ journey today, the only exams that matter are 220-1201 (Core 1) and 220-1202 (Core 2). Here is exactly what changed between the 1100 and 1200 series — and why there is no decision to make.

Core 1: Mostly Familiar, Meaningfully Updated

Core 1 (hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualization, and troubleshooting) is roughly 87% unchanged from 1101 — the fundamentals of how computers work did not get reinvented. But the 13% that changed reflects how the job actually looks now:

New topics in 220-1201

• Mobile device management (MDM) — enrolling and managing fleets of phones and tablets is now core knowledge, not a bonus topic
• SIM and eSIM — provisioning and troubleshooting modern cellular connectivity
• 6 GHz Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6E/7 territory) — the newest wireless spectrum joins the objectives
• Containers and hypervisors — virtualization concepts expanded to include containerization basics
• DHCP exclusions — finer-grained DHCP server configuration

Dropped from 220-1201

• GSM/CDMA cellular distinctions — the industry consolidated, and so did the exam
• Serial ports — legacy connectivity finally aged out
• SCSI and PATA storage interfaces — modern storage is SATA/NVMe, and the exam agrees

Core 2: The Bigger Refresh

Core 2 (operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures) got the deeper overhaul — which makes sense, because the threat landscape and the modern desktop changed more than the hardware did:

New topics in 220-1202

• Zero trust concepts — the "never trust, always verify" model enters the A+ for the first time
• Passwordless authentication — biometrics, security keys, and passkeys
• EDR / MDR / XDR — modern endpoint detection and response, and the managed/extended variants
• BEC and QR-code phishing — business email compromise and the newest social-engineering vectors
• Windows 11 — the current desktop OS takes its full place in the objectives
• TPM and UEFI — hardware-rooted security and modern firmware get deeper coverage
• Expanded Linux CLI — more command-line competence expected

Dropped from 220-1202

• xcopy and shutdown command-line utilities — retired from the objectives
• ext3 filesystem — the Linux world moved on
• Optical media — CDs and DVDs are history, and now they are exam history too

Is the 1200 Series Harder?

Honestly: marginally, and mostly in Core 2. Core 1's 87% continuity means anyone prepared for 1101 is nearly prepared for 1201 — the new topics are learnable additions, not a difficulty spike. Core 2's security refresh asks for genuinely current knowledge (zero trust, EDR, modern phishing), which rewards candidates who follow real-world IT rather than memorizing old guides. Neither exam is a different beast; the 1200 series is the 1100 series brought up to date.

The Verdict: Take the 1200 Series, Period

There is no strategic choice here — the 1100 series is retired, so 1201/1202 is the only path to the A+. The practical advice is about materials: if you own 1101/1102 study guides, they are still ~85% useful, but you must supplement the new topics (MDM, zero trust, EDR/XDR, Windows 11, expanded Linux CLI) from current sources. Do not walk into the exam having only studied the retired objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still take the 220-1101 or 220-1102 exams?

No. Both exams were retired on September 25, 2025, and are no longer available at testing centers. New candidates take 220-1201 and 220-1202.

I studied for the 1100 series before it retired. Is that wasted?

Mostly not — Core 1 is about 87% unchanged, and the underlying concepts carry straight over. Focus your remaining study on the new topics: MDM, SIM/eSIM, 6 GHz Wi-Fi, zero trust, passwordless auth, EDR/MDR/XDR, and Windows 11.

Is the 1200 series harder than the 1100 series?

Slightly, mainly in Core 2, which absorbed a meaningful security refresh. Core 1 is largely familiar. Candidates with current, real-world IT knowledge will find the new topics intuitive.

Do A+ certifications earned under the 1100 series stay valid?

Yes. A certification you already earned does not disappear when its exam retires — retirement only affects new test-takers. Your credential stands as earned.

Which study materials should I buy?

Only materials written for the 220-1201/1202 objectives. Older 1101/1102 books miss the new topics and include dropped ones (GSM/CDMA, serial, optical media) that will not be tested.