CompTIA A+ Exam Prep 2026 Updated Practice
Questions Comprehensive Certification Review |
Detailed Explanations | Verified Answers | Complete
Success Workbook
Exam Reference: CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) & Core 2 (220-1102) — 1100
Series
Question Format: Multiple-choice questions covering all exam domains with
detailed rationales for each answer.
CORE 1 (220-1101) — Hardware & Networking Foundation
Domain 1.0: Mobile Devices (15%)
Question 1
A technician is replacing a laptop display that has cracked. The replacement screen
uses an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel. Which of the following is the primary
advantage of IPS over Twisted Nematic (TN) technology?
A) Lower power consumption
B) Better color accuracy and wider viewing angles
C) Faster response time for gaming
D) Lower manufacturing cost
Answer: B
Rationale: IPS panels are known for superior color reproduction and significantly
wider viewing angles compared to TN panels. While TN panels typically offer
faster response times and are cheaper to manufacture, IPS technology provides
better image quality, making it the preferred choice for professional and creative
work. Power consumption is generally higher in IPS panels, not lower.
,Question 2
A user reports that their laptop battery is not holding a charge and the system shuts
down immediately when unplugged. The technician has already run Windows
battery diagnostics and confirmed the battery is degraded. Which of the following
is the MOST appropriate next step?
A) Replace the laptop's CMOS battery
B) Calibrate the battery by fully draining and recharging it
C) Replace the laptop's main battery
D) Update the laptop's BIOS
Answer: C
Rationale: When a laptop battery no longer holds a charge and diagnostic tools
confirm degradation, the battery has reached the end of its useful life and must be
physically replaced. Calibration (B) only helps with inaccurate charge reporting,
not physical degradation. The CMOS battery (A) maintains BIOS settings, not
system power. A BIOS update (D) would not resolve a hardware battery failure.
Question 3
Which of the following laptop components is MOST commonly field-replaceable
without requiring specialized tools or soldering?
A) CPU
B) RAM module
C) System board
D) Display panel
Answer: B
Rationale: SO-DIMM RAM modules in laptops are designed to be user-
serviceable and field-replaceable, typically accessible through a compartment on
the bottom of the laptop. CPUs (A) are often soldered in modern ultrabooks.
System boards (C) require extensive disassembly. Display panels (D) typically
require careful handling and adhesive removal.
Question 4
A technician is configuring mobile device synchronization for a user who wants
,contacts, calendars, and email to sync automatically between their Android phone
and their corporate Exchange server. Which of the following protocols is used for
this synchronization?
A) IMAP
B) POP3
C) Exchange ActiveSync
D) LDAP
Answer: C
Rationale: Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) is the protocol that enables
synchronization of emails, contacts, calendars, and tasks between mobile devices
and Microsoft Exchange servers. IMAP (A) and POP3 (B) are email retrieval
protocols only and do not handle calendar or contact sync. LDAP (D) is used for
directory services authentication, not synchronization.
Question 5
A laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD) is experiencing very slow boot times. The
technician checks the drive's health using the manufacturer's diagnostic tool.
Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the slowdown?
A) The SSD is nearing its maximum read/write capacity
B) The drive is fragmented
C) The SATA cable is loose
D) The drive needs to be defragmented
Answer: A
Rationale: SSDs have a limited number of program/erase cycles. As an SSD
approaches its maximum write endurance, performance can degrade significantly.
Fragmentation (B and D) does not affect SSDs the same way it affects HDDs—in
fact, defragmenting an SSD is unnecessary and reduces its lifespan. Loose SATA
cables (C) would cause intermittent connection issues or failure to detect, not
gradual slowdown.
Domain 2.0: Networking (20%)
, Question 6
A technician is terminating a Cat6 Ethernet cable with an RJ45 connector. Which
of the following tools is required to complete this task?
A) Punchdown tool
B) Crimper
C) Wire stripper
D) Loopback adapter
Answer: B
Rationale: A crimper is specifically designed to attach RJ45 connectors to the
ends of network cables by pressing the connector pins into the cable's wires. A
punchdown tool (A) is used for wiring patch panels or keystone jacks. A wire
stripper (C) prepares the cable but doesn't attach the connector. A loopback adapter
(D) is a testing tool, not a termination tool.
Question 7
Which of the following TCP/IP ports is used by HTTPS for secure web traffic?
A) 80
B) 110
C) 443
D) 3389
Answer: C
Rationale: Port 443 is the standard port for HTTPS (HTTP over SSL/TLS), which
encrypts web traffic for secure communication. Port 80 (A) is for unencrypted
HTTP. Port 110 (B) is for POP3 email retrieval. Port 3389 (D) is for RDP (Remote
Desktop Protocol).
Question 8
A small business needs to connect multiple computers in a single office without
purchasing additional networking equipment. The computers are already connected
to a switch. Which of the following IP addresses is a private IPv4 address that can
be used internally?
Questions Comprehensive Certification Review |
Detailed Explanations | Verified Answers | Complete
Success Workbook
Exam Reference: CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) & Core 2 (220-1102) — 1100
Series
Question Format: Multiple-choice questions covering all exam domains with
detailed rationales for each answer.
CORE 1 (220-1101) — Hardware & Networking Foundation
Domain 1.0: Mobile Devices (15%)
Question 1
A technician is replacing a laptop display that has cracked. The replacement screen
uses an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel. Which of the following is the primary
advantage of IPS over Twisted Nematic (TN) technology?
A) Lower power consumption
B) Better color accuracy and wider viewing angles
C) Faster response time for gaming
D) Lower manufacturing cost
Answer: B
Rationale: IPS panels are known for superior color reproduction and significantly
wider viewing angles compared to TN panels. While TN panels typically offer
faster response times and are cheaper to manufacture, IPS technology provides
better image quality, making it the preferred choice for professional and creative
work. Power consumption is generally higher in IPS panels, not lower.
,Question 2
A user reports that their laptop battery is not holding a charge and the system shuts
down immediately when unplugged. The technician has already run Windows
battery diagnostics and confirmed the battery is degraded. Which of the following
is the MOST appropriate next step?
A) Replace the laptop's CMOS battery
B) Calibrate the battery by fully draining and recharging it
C) Replace the laptop's main battery
D) Update the laptop's BIOS
Answer: C
Rationale: When a laptop battery no longer holds a charge and diagnostic tools
confirm degradation, the battery has reached the end of its useful life and must be
physically replaced. Calibration (B) only helps with inaccurate charge reporting,
not physical degradation. The CMOS battery (A) maintains BIOS settings, not
system power. A BIOS update (D) would not resolve a hardware battery failure.
Question 3
Which of the following laptop components is MOST commonly field-replaceable
without requiring specialized tools or soldering?
A) CPU
B) RAM module
C) System board
D) Display panel
Answer: B
Rationale: SO-DIMM RAM modules in laptops are designed to be user-
serviceable and field-replaceable, typically accessible through a compartment on
the bottom of the laptop. CPUs (A) are often soldered in modern ultrabooks.
System boards (C) require extensive disassembly. Display panels (D) typically
require careful handling and adhesive removal.
Question 4
A technician is configuring mobile device synchronization for a user who wants
,contacts, calendars, and email to sync automatically between their Android phone
and their corporate Exchange server. Which of the following protocols is used for
this synchronization?
A) IMAP
B) POP3
C) Exchange ActiveSync
D) LDAP
Answer: C
Rationale: Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) is the protocol that enables
synchronization of emails, contacts, calendars, and tasks between mobile devices
and Microsoft Exchange servers. IMAP (A) and POP3 (B) are email retrieval
protocols only and do not handle calendar or contact sync. LDAP (D) is used for
directory services authentication, not synchronization.
Question 5
A laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD) is experiencing very slow boot times. The
technician checks the drive's health using the manufacturer's diagnostic tool.
Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the slowdown?
A) The SSD is nearing its maximum read/write capacity
B) The drive is fragmented
C) The SATA cable is loose
D) The drive needs to be defragmented
Answer: A
Rationale: SSDs have a limited number of program/erase cycles. As an SSD
approaches its maximum write endurance, performance can degrade significantly.
Fragmentation (B and D) does not affect SSDs the same way it affects HDDs—in
fact, defragmenting an SSD is unnecessary and reduces its lifespan. Loose SATA
cables (C) would cause intermittent connection issues or failure to detect, not
gradual slowdown.
Domain 2.0: Networking (20%)
, Question 6
A technician is terminating a Cat6 Ethernet cable with an RJ45 connector. Which
of the following tools is required to complete this task?
A) Punchdown tool
B) Crimper
C) Wire stripper
D) Loopback adapter
Answer: B
Rationale: A crimper is specifically designed to attach RJ45 connectors to the
ends of network cables by pressing the connector pins into the cable's wires. A
punchdown tool (A) is used for wiring patch panels or keystone jacks. A wire
stripper (C) prepares the cable but doesn't attach the connector. A loopback adapter
(D) is a testing tool, not a termination tool.
Question 7
Which of the following TCP/IP ports is used by HTTPS for secure web traffic?
A) 80
B) 110
C) 443
D) 3389
Answer: C
Rationale: Port 443 is the standard port for HTTPS (HTTP over SSL/TLS), which
encrypts web traffic for secure communication. Port 80 (A) is for unencrypted
HTTP. Port 110 (B) is for POP3 email retrieval. Port 3389 (D) is for RDP (Remote
Desktop Protocol).
Question 8
A small business needs to connect multiple computers in a single office without
purchasing additional networking equipment. The computers are already connected
to a switch. Which of the following IP addresses is a private IPv4 address that can
be used internally?
