Am I Ready for the CompTIA A+? Take a Free 220-1201 / 220-1202 Readiness Test
Stop guessing whether you're ready. Readiness is a measurement problem, not a vibe - and because A+ is two exams, you have to measure each core separately. The way to settle it is a full-length, timed practice exam per core that returns a concept-level readiness map, not just a score. This page gives you the rubric for what "ready" actually means on Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), and a free full practice exam for each to measure yourself against it.
Stop guessing. Get a concept-level answer for each core.
A full-length A+ practice exam for each core, mixed across every domain with performance-based questions. At the end you get a readiness map - a domain-by-domain, concept-by-concept breakdown of what's strong, what's shaky, and what to study next. No credit card.
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In this guide
Why "am I ready?" is harder to answer than it looks
Most people answer it with a feeling - "I've watched Professor Messer, I think I'm good" - or a single number from one practice test. Both are unreliable. A feeling ignores your actual weak spots, and a single score is noisy: take the same exam twice and you might swing 8 points just on which questions show up.
The honest answer is that readiness is a measurement problem. There's a specific, repeatable way to find out, and once you've done it you stop having to ask. This page is that way: the rubric below plus one full timed exam per core that maps your readiness at the concept level.
A+ is two exams: readiness is per-core
This is the part people forget. CompTIA A+ isn't one test - you must pass both Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), and they cover completely different material. Core 1 is hardware, networking, mobile, cloud, and troubleshooting. Core 2 is operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
So "am I ready for the A+?" is really two questions. It's common to be solid on Core 1 (concrete, hands-on) and shaky on Core 2 (the best-practice and procedures judgment calls that are easy to half-know). Measure each core on its own - being ready for one tells you almost nothing about the other.
Score vs. readiness: not the same thing
The mistake almost everyone makes is treating their practice-exam score as a readiness number. It isn't. Two candidates can both score 76% and have completely different readiness:
- Candidate A misses questions scattered randomly across all domains. Their next attempt could land anywhere - they're not reliably anything.
- Candidate B has two concentrated weak concepts (say, common ports and the 6-step troubleshooting order) and is solid everywhere else. They're a focused few hours from a comfortable pass.
Same score, very different distance from passing. A readiness map measures the second thing - where your points are leaking - which is the only view that tells you what to do next.
The 4 readiness signals you should actually track
A score is one input. Real readiness (per core) is the combination of these four:
Consistent score across 2+ attempts
One good run can be luck. Two timed full-length exams at 85%+ is a real signal. A single 85% sandwiched between two 72%s is not ready.
Concept distribution
Scattered misses across all domains are riskier than a few concentrated weak concepts. Concentrated gaps are fixable in hours; scattered gaps mean shaky fundamentals.
PBQ comfort
Can you actually work a connector-matching, ordering, or command-output PBQ - not just multiple choice? PBQs are weighted and come early. If they rattle you, you're not ready yet.
Timing
Finishing comfortably within 90 minutes - with the PBQs not eating the clock - matters as much as the score. Running out of time is its own failure mode.
The honest score thresholds (with A+ cut scores)
The A+ cut scores are 675 for Core 1 (220-1201) and 700 for Core 2 (220-1202) on a 100-900 scale - roughly 75% and 78%, though CompTIA scales it. On a well-calibrated practice exam (which usually runs slightly easier than the real thing), here's the honest read for either core:
| Consistent practice score | Readiness | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 70% | Not yet | Fundamentals aren't solid for this core. Keep studying its domains; don't book the exam. |
| 70-79% | Close, targeted work | You know the material but have real gaps. Fix the concentrated weak concepts before testing. |
| 80-84% | Nearly there | One or two weak areas left. A few focused hours and a clean second attempt and you're ready. |
| 85%+ (twice) | Go | Consistent 85%+ across two timed attempts with comfortable PBQs and timing: book that core's exam. |
The 85% target builds a deliberate margin above the cut score, because practice exams run a touch easier and exam-day nerves cost points. Apply it to each core separately - you might be "Go" on Core 1 and "targeted work" on Core 2.
What your readiness map looks like
This is the difference between a score and a readiness map. Below is an example Exam Coach report for a candidate who scored 55% on Core 1 - not ready, but with a clear, short path to ready. Everything is concept-level.
Solid. Just firm up RAID levels (0, 1, 5, 10) and their trade-offs, plus PSU and connector types.
Ports and wireless standards are pure memorization - the fastest single-topic win on Core 1. Build a port table and drill it.
Biggest domain and your lowest score - attack it first. Memorize the 6-step methodology cold; it's tested directly and lives in the PBQs. See the troubleshooting guide.
This is an example. Your own readiness test produces a map tailored to your specific answers, your weakest concepts, and a study plan ordered by impact - for whichever core you take. Take the free readiness test to see your own map →
What to do based on your result
Below 70%: keep building, don't book yet
Work through the A+ material domain by domain - Professor Messer's free videos pair well - then retest. Booking now risks a fail and a retake fee. Use the readiness map to see whether it's fundamentals (scattered misses) or specific gaps.
70-84%: targeted study, then a clean retest
Take your readiness map and study only the high-priority weak concepts it names - don't re-review what's already strong. Drill the PBQ formats, then sit a second full exam for that core. Most people move 8-12 points with a few focused hours.
85%+ twice with comfortable PBQs: book it
You have a consistent score, a clean concept distribution, PBQ comfort, and time to spare for that core. That's the full readiness picture. Schedule the exam and do a light review the day before - then repeat the whole process for the other core.
What a real candidate said
Posted on r/ccna in April 2026 about our CCNA exam - but it's praising the exact thing that makes this a readiness test and not just a quiz, and it's identical across every FigigExams cert including A+: a free full test that shows you what you got wrong at the end.
"the free test is way better than boson imo and its free and 105 questions and it shows you the result and what you had wrong in the end, you can use a mock email to create the account idk why you guys hate so much, I have my ccna on tuesday and got 96% on this practice test which really boosted my confidence"
Take the free A+ readiness test now
90 minutes per core to a concept-level answer. No credit card. Stop guessing whether you're ready.
Start Free A+ Readiness TestA free try of the full practice exam for each core, no credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What practice exam score means I'm ready for the CompTIA A+?
The A+ cut scores are 675 for Core 1 and 700 for Core 2 on a 100-900 scale - roughly 75% and 78%. On a well-calibrated practice exam, a consistent 85%+ across at least two attempts per core is the conservative readiness threshold, giving you margin above the cut score. But the score is only part of readiness; concept distribution, PBQ comfort, and timing matter too, and you need to clear both cores.
Do I have to be ready for both Core 1 and Core 2?
Why isn't a score enough to measure readiness?
Two candidates can both score 76% and have completely different readiness - one with scattered misses (unpredictable), one with two concentrated weak concepts (a few hours from passing). Same score, different distance from passing. The Exam Coach measures concept-level distribution, not just total points.
How long does the free readiness test take?
About 90 minutes for a full-length core exam under timed conditions, plus 10-15 minutes to read the Exam Coach report. Each core is a separate test. The most accurate readiness signal comes from doing each in one timed sitting, including the performance-based questions.