COMPTIA
CERTIFICATION STUDY
GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
32-bit - ANS-In reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize up to
4 GB of address space.
64-bit - ANS-In reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize more
than 4 GB of address space. Depending on the version, 64-bit Windows can address a
maximum of from 8 to 192 GB.
802.11a - ANS-A wireless network standard that uses the 5 GHz band.
802.11b - ANS-A wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of
up to 10 Mbps.
802.11g - ANS-A wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of
up to 54 Mbps. It is downward-compatible with 802.11b.
802.11n - ANS-A wireless network standard that defines speeds of up to 600 Mbps. It
is downward-compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g.
8-bit high color - ANS-Describes the VGA mode color setting that, although it can
produce around 16 million different colors, can only display up to 256 different colors
at a time.
,AC adapter - ANS-A type of power supply that converts AC power to voltages needed
for a device. AC adapters are generally used for portable PC systems and other devices.
accelerated graphics port - ANS-A local bus designed for video only, it provides a direct
link between the processor and the video card, giving the video card direct access to
main memory.
access control - ANS-Managing access to resources. _______ to computers and network
resources involves authentication and authorization.
access control entry - ANS-In an access control list, a record containing just one user or
group account name and the permissions assigned to that account.
access control list - ANS-A table on each file and folder in the NTFS file system that
contains one or more access control entries.
accessory bay - ANS-In a laptop, a compartment that holds a single media device that is
switchable with another.
ACT - ANS-The "activity" status light on a NIC that indicates data is being transmitted.
activation - ANS-A method used by several software manufacturers to combat software
piracy.
active communication - ANS-A set of behaviors including active listening and active
speaking that shows you are fully engaged in the conversation and encourages the
other person to also communicate in a positive manner.
active listening - ANS-A set of skills, behaviors, and attitudes to use when listening to
another person.
,active matrix display - ANS-An LCD technology based on thin-film transistor (TFT)
technology. It has a transistor at every pixel, which enables much quicker display
changes
active partition - ANS-A primary partition that is marked for use by the system during
startup. Windows operating systems can only be booted from this
active speaking - ANS-The appropriate responses that you make during a conversation.
ad hoc mode - ANS-In a Wi-Fi network, the networking mode that allows peer-to-peer
communications without the use of a centralized wireless hub, called a wireless access
point (WAP).
adapter card - ANS-A printed circuit card that you add to the motherboard to enhance
functionality. Also called an expansion card. Video adapters and network interface
cards (NICs) are examples of this
address bus - ANS-A group of wires used to identify addresses in main system memory
in a computer. The number of wires in an address bus is called the width of the bus
and determines the number of unique memory locations that can be addressed using
binary math with the two raised to the power of the number of wires in the bus. A 32-
bit bus can address up to 4 GB of memory, whereas a 36-bit address bus can address
up to 64 GB of memory.
Address Resolution Protocol - ANS-A protocol used to resolve an IP address to a MAC
address.
Advanced Communications Riser - ANS-A riser card standard that AMD, 3Com, and
others introduced in 2000 to supersede AMR. It uses one PCI slot, provides accelerated
audio and modem functions as well as networking, and supports multiple Ethernet
NICs.
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface - ANS-A power management standard
that includes all the power states of APM, plus two more. It also supports soft power.
, Advanced Micro Devices - ANS-AMD manufactures CPUs and other products, and its
chief rival is Intel Corporation.
Advanced Power Management - ANS-A power management standard, introduced by
Intel in 1992, that defines four power-usage operating levels.
Advanced Technology - ANS-A type of motherboard used in older PC systems; also
refers to the 1984 IBM PC AT model.
Advanced Technology Attachment - ANS-The former name of the Parallel AT
Attachment (PATA) interface standard.
Advanced Technology eXtended - ANS-A type of motherboard and its variants most
commonly used in recent PC systems.
adware - ANS-Software installed on a computer without permission that collects
information about a user in order to display targeted advertisements, in the form of
either inline banners or pop-ups. Inline banners are advertisements that run within the
context of the current page, taking up screen real estate.
alternating current - ANS-The delivery of electricity (as from a wall outlet) in which the
flow of electrons reverses periodically and has alternating positive and negative values.
amperes (amps) - ANS-A measurement of the volume of electrons, also called current.
It is calculated with the formula amps = watts / volts.
analog LCD display - ANS-An LCD display that uses a DB-15 connector, which means
that it accepts analog signals that it converts to digital.
analog modem - ANS-A modulator/demodulator device that allows computers to
communicate with one another over existing phone lines.
CERTIFICATION STUDY
GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
32-bit - ANS-In reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize up to
4 GB of address space.
64-bit - ANS-In reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize more
than 4 GB of address space. Depending on the version, 64-bit Windows can address a
maximum of from 8 to 192 GB.
802.11a - ANS-A wireless network standard that uses the 5 GHz band.
802.11b - ANS-A wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of
up to 10 Mbps.
802.11g - ANS-A wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of
up to 54 Mbps. It is downward-compatible with 802.11b.
802.11n - ANS-A wireless network standard that defines speeds of up to 600 Mbps. It
is downward-compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g.
8-bit high color - ANS-Describes the VGA mode color setting that, although it can
produce around 16 million different colors, can only display up to 256 different colors
at a time.
,AC adapter - ANS-A type of power supply that converts AC power to voltages needed
for a device. AC adapters are generally used for portable PC systems and other devices.
accelerated graphics port - ANS-A local bus designed for video only, it provides a direct
link between the processor and the video card, giving the video card direct access to
main memory.
access control - ANS-Managing access to resources. _______ to computers and network
resources involves authentication and authorization.
access control entry - ANS-In an access control list, a record containing just one user or
group account name and the permissions assigned to that account.
access control list - ANS-A table on each file and folder in the NTFS file system that
contains one or more access control entries.
accessory bay - ANS-In a laptop, a compartment that holds a single media device that is
switchable with another.
ACT - ANS-The "activity" status light on a NIC that indicates data is being transmitted.
activation - ANS-A method used by several software manufacturers to combat software
piracy.
active communication - ANS-A set of behaviors including active listening and active
speaking that shows you are fully engaged in the conversation and encourages the
other person to also communicate in a positive manner.
active listening - ANS-A set of skills, behaviors, and attitudes to use when listening to
another person.
,active matrix display - ANS-An LCD technology based on thin-film transistor (TFT)
technology. It has a transistor at every pixel, which enables much quicker display
changes
active partition - ANS-A primary partition that is marked for use by the system during
startup. Windows operating systems can only be booted from this
active speaking - ANS-The appropriate responses that you make during a conversation.
ad hoc mode - ANS-In a Wi-Fi network, the networking mode that allows peer-to-peer
communications without the use of a centralized wireless hub, called a wireless access
point (WAP).
adapter card - ANS-A printed circuit card that you add to the motherboard to enhance
functionality. Also called an expansion card. Video adapters and network interface
cards (NICs) are examples of this
address bus - ANS-A group of wires used to identify addresses in main system memory
in a computer. The number of wires in an address bus is called the width of the bus
and determines the number of unique memory locations that can be addressed using
binary math with the two raised to the power of the number of wires in the bus. A 32-
bit bus can address up to 4 GB of memory, whereas a 36-bit address bus can address
up to 64 GB of memory.
Address Resolution Protocol - ANS-A protocol used to resolve an IP address to a MAC
address.
Advanced Communications Riser - ANS-A riser card standard that AMD, 3Com, and
others introduced in 2000 to supersede AMR. It uses one PCI slot, provides accelerated
audio and modem functions as well as networking, and supports multiple Ethernet
NICs.
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface - ANS-A power management standard
that includes all the power states of APM, plus two more. It also supports soft power.
, Advanced Micro Devices - ANS-AMD manufactures CPUs and other products, and its
chief rival is Intel Corporation.
Advanced Power Management - ANS-A power management standard, introduced by
Intel in 1992, that defines four power-usage operating levels.
Advanced Technology - ANS-A type of motherboard used in older PC systems; also
refers to the 1984 IBM PC AT model.
Advanced Technology Attachment - ANS-The former name of the Parallel AT
Attachment (PATA) interface standard.
Advanced Technology eXtended - ANS-A type of motherboard and its variants most
commonly used in recent PC systems.
adware - ANS-Software installed on a computer without permission that collects
information about a user in order to display targeted advertisements, in the form of
either inline banners or pop-ups. Inline banners are advertisements that run within the
context of the current page, taking up screen real estate.
alternating current - ANS-The delivery of electricity (as from a wall outlet) in which the
flow of electrons reverses periodically and has alternating positive and negative values.
amperes (amps) - ANS-A measurement of the volume of electrons, also called current.
It is calculated with the formula amps = watts / volts.
analog LCD display - ANS-An LCD display that uses a DB-15 connector, which means
that it accepts analog signals that it converts to digital.
analog modem - ANS-A modulator/demodulator device that allows computers to
communicate with one another over existing phone lines.
