A+ Core 1 Exam Objectives (220-1201): All Five Domains, Weighted
This is the full 220-1201 objectives list with CompTIA's official weights, plus the part a plain copy of the objectives leaves out: what each one actually asks of you, and where the marks concentrate. Two things to act on. Hardware and Troubleshooting together are 53% of the exam, and every single sub-objective in the 28% Troubleshooting domain is phrased "Given a scenario" - so the largest part of Core 1 cannot be passed by memorising anything.
See your score broken down by these exact domains
The objectives tell you what is testable. A full-length practice exam tells you which parts of it you cannot do yet. The first one is free, with an explanation and an Exam Tip on every item. Create an account on the next screen and the code applies itself.
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Where the marks are
The weights alone are not the whole story, because the domains are not the same size in content. Divide the weight by the number of sub-objectives and a much more useful ranking appears:
| Domain | Weight | Sub-objectives | Marks per objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 Virtualization and Cloud Computing | 11% | 2 | 5.5 |
| 5.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | 28% | 6 | 4.7 |
| 1.0 Mobile Devices | 13% | 3 | 4.3 |
| 3.0 Hardware | 25% | 8 | 3.1 |
| 2.0 Networking | 23% | 8 | 2.9 |
Two conclusions most Core 1 study plans get wrong:
- Virtualization and Cloud is the best-value content on the exam. It looks skippable at 11% and it is routinely skipped. It is two sub-objectives, both pure recall, worth more per objective than anything else on the paper. This is the cheapest 11% in A+.
- Networking is the worst value per hour, and it is still 23%. Eight sub-objectives covering TCP and UDP ports, wireless standards, networked host services, configuration concepts, hardware devices, SOHO setup, internet connection types and tools. It is a lot of surface for the marks, so it needs the most time in absolute terms even though each individual objective pays least.
How to read the objectives
CompTIA prefixes each sub-objective with a verb phrase that tells you the depth expected. On Core 1 this is the single most useful signal available, because 13 of the 27 sub-objectives - 48% - begin with "Given a scenario".
- "Given a scenario…" - you will have to apply it to a situation, and these are the sub-objectives most likely to appear as a performance-based question. Reading about them is close to useless; they need practice.
- "Explain…" / "Summarize…" / "Identify…" - understanding and recall. Solid reading genuinely is enough.
- "Compare and contrast…" - you need the boundaries between similar things, which is exactly where distractors are built. Expect four options that are all real terms from the same family.
The five domains, objective by objective
1.0 Mobile Devices3 sub-objectives. Small, and two of the three are scenario-based.
- 1.1Given a scenario, monitor mobile device hardware and use appropriate replacementLaptop and mobile hardware components and the physical replacement work: batteries, keyboards, RAM, storage, displays and their assemblies. The verb is "monitor and replace", so expect symptom-to-component reasoning rather than a parts list.
- 1.2Compare and contrast accessories and connectivity options for mobile devicesConnection types, docking stations, port replicators, and the accessory ecosystem. Recall-heavy and the most learnable objective in the domain. Learn the connector shapes and what each one can and cannot carry.
- 1.3Given a scenario, configure basic mobile device network connectivity and provide supportWireless and cellular data, Bluetooth pairing, corporate email configuration, and mobile device management concepts. A frequent scenario source: given a user who cannot receive corporate mail, identify the setting at fault.
2.0 Networking8 sub-objectives, the joint-largest content load. Mostly recall, and mostly memorisable.
- 2.1Compare and contrast TCP and UDP ports, protocols and their purposesThe ports table. This is the single most reliably tested objective in the whole of Core 1 and it is pure memorisation, which makes it free marks. Learn the port, the protocol, the transport and whether it is the secure variant. A ports cheat sheet with a quiz - written for Security+, and the port numbers are identical.
- 2.2Explain wireless networking technologies802.11 standards and their frequencies, channels and throughput, plus the wider wireless landscape - Bluetooth, NFC, RFID and long-range fixed wireless. Know which standards use 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz, because that distinction is what most questions actually turn on.
- 2.3Summarize services provided by networked hostsServer roles - DNS, DHCP, file, print, mail, web, proxy - plus internet appliances and legacy or embedded systems. Definitional, and quick to learn.
- 2.4Explain common network configuration conceptsIP addressing, subnet masks, gateways, static versus dynamic assignment, DNS records, VLANs and VPNs. The conceptual backbone the rest of the domain assumes. If subnetting is shaky, fix it here rather than in the troubleshooting domain.
- 2.5Compare and contrast common networking hardware devicesRouters, switches, access points, firewalls, patch panels, PoE and cable modems. Know what layer each operates at and what problem each solves - that framing answers most questions here directly.
- 2.6Given a scenario, configure basic wired and wireless SOHO networksThe domain's one scenario objective, and a strong PBQ candidate. Expect to be handed a small-office requirement and asked to pick IP ranges, wireless settings and device placement.
- 2.7Compare and contrast internet connection types, network types and their featuresFibre, cable, DSL, cellular, satellite and WISP, plus LAN, WAN, PAN, MAN and SAN. Learn the trade-offs - latency, symmetry, availability - because questions are usually framed as "which fits this site".
- 2.8Explain networking tools and their purposesCable and crimp tools, punchdown, tone generator and probe, loopback plug, network tap, Wi-Fi analyser. Match tool to fault; that is the entire question format.
3.0 Hardware8 sub-objectives. Half recall, half hands-on - and the printer content is larger than people expect.
- 3.1Compare and contrast display components and attributesPanel technologies, backlighting, resolution, refresh rate and the physical components of a laptop display assembly including webcams, microphones and antennas.
- 3.2Summarize basic cable types, connectors, features and purposesNetwork, peripheral, video and storage cabling with their connectors and the practical limits - length, speed, power delivery. High recall load, entirely learnable, and it feeds directly into the troubleshooting domain.
- 3.3Compare and contrast RAM characteristicsDDR generations, form factors, channels, ECC and the compatibility rules. Questions usually give you a board and a module and ask whether they fit.
- 3.4Compare and contrast storage devicesDrive types and interfaces, form factors, and RAID levels with their fault tolerance and capacity trade-offs. Know RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 cold - what survives a disk loss, and how much usable capacity remains.
- 3.5Given a scenario, install and configure motherboards, CPUs and add-on cardsForm factors, socket and chipset compatibility, expansion buses, BIOS and UEFI settings, cooling. The most physically hands-on objective on the exam and a strong PBQ candidate.
- 3.6Given a scenario, install the appropriate power supplyWattage and rail calculation, connector types, input voltage, redundancy and modularity. The arithmetic here is simple and it is genuinely tested - be able to size a PSU from a component list.
- 3.7Given a scenario, deploy and configure multifunction devices and printersPrint technologies, connectivity, sharing, security settings and configuration. Printers get two of the eight objectives in this domain and a sixth of the troubleshooting domain - far more of the exam than of most technicians' actual jobs.
- 3.8Given a scenario, perform appropriate printer maintenanceMaintenance procedures by print technology - laser, inkjet, thermal, impact - and the consumables each uses. Learn the laser imaging process in order; it is asked directly and repeatedly.
4.0 Virtualization and Cloud Computing2 sub-objectives for 11% of the exam. The best marks-per-hour on Core 1.
- 4.1Explain virtualization conceptsHypervisor types, virtual machines and their resource requirements, containers, and the purposes virtualization serves - sandboxing, test environments, legacy application support, cross-platform virtualization. Definitional, and short.
- 4.2Summarize cloud computing conceptsService models, deployment models, shared resources, measured service, rapid elasticity, high availability and file synchronisation. Learn the model definitions precisely - questions here are almost always "which model is this describing".
5.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting6 sub-objectives, the largest weight - and every single one is "Given a scenario".
- 5.1Given a scenario, troubleshoot motherboards, RAM, CPUs and powerPOST behaviour, boot failures, intermittent shutdowns, overheating, capacitor swelling, unexpected reboots. Symptom to cause, under time pressure.
- 5.2Given a scenario, troubleshoot drive and RAID issuesFailure symptoms, RAID degradation and rebuild, SMART indicators, boot device not found. Depends heavily on knowing 3.4's RAID levels well enough to reason about what a lost disk means.
- 5.3Given a scenario, troubleshoot video, projector and display issuesNo image, incorrect colour, flickering, dead pixels, burn-in, physical damage, resolution and refresh problems.
- 5.4Given a scenario, troubleshoot common mobile device issuesBattery, charging, connectivity, display and physical damage on phones, tablets and laptops. Pairs with 1.1 - the same components, from the other direction.
- 5.5Given a scenario, troubleshoot network issuesIntermittent connectivity, no connectivity, limited or slow performance, IP conflicts, DNS failures, and wireless-specific problems. This is where 2.4's configuration concepts are actually examined.
- 5.6Given a scenario, troubleshoot printer issuesPrint quality faults tied to the technology, paper handling, connectivity and queue problems. Printers appear a third time here - budget for them properly.
Turn the objectives into a priority list
A checklist tells you everything matters. One full-length attempt tells you which three sub-objectives are actually costing you marks - which matters most on an exam that is half scenarios. Free, no credit card.
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What to study first
Weights tell you what the exam values; they do not tell you what to learn first, because some domains are load-bearing for others and some are far cheaper per hour. A sequence that works on Core 1:
- Virtualization and Cloud, in an evening. Two recall objectives for 11% of the exam. Nothing else on the paper pays this well, and starting with a domain you can finish is worth something on its own.
- The ports table (2.1), also mostly memorisation. The most reliably tested single objective on Core 1. Learn it early so it has time to stick, and revisit it weekly.
- Networking concepts (2.4, 2.5, 2.7), because Domain 5 depends on them. You cannot troubleshoot a network fault you cannot describe. This is prerequisite work, not parallel work.
- Hardware (3.1 to 3.6), including the RAID levels and PSU sizing. Both feed straight into 5.1 and 5.2, so learning them properly costs you nothing later.
- Printers, all three objectives at once (3.7, 3.8, 5.6). Deployment, maintenance and troubleshooting are one subject split across two domains. Studying them together is far more efficient than meeting them separately, and together they are a meaningful slice of the exam.
- Then Domain 5, as practice rather than reading. 28% of the exam, six scenario objectives, no recall content. Work through faults; do not read about them.
Frequently asked questions
What are the A+ Core 1 domains and their weights?
Five domains: Mobile Devices 13%, Networking 23%, Hardware 25%, Virtualization and Cloud Computing 11%, and Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 28%. Troubleshooting is the largest single domain, and together with Hardware it is 53% of the exam.
How many questions are on A+ Core 1?
A maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes, mixing multiple choice with drag-and-drop and performance-based questions. The pass mark is 675 on a 100 to 900 scale. That is not a simple percentage - the exam is scaled, so you cannot convert 675 into a number of correct answers.
Which domain should I study first?
Virtualization and Cloud Computing. It is the smallest domain at 11% but contains only two sub-objectives, both pure recall, which makes it the highest weight per objective on the exam. Then the ports table in 2.1, then networking concepts, and leave Domain 5 until you have the underlying hardware and networking knowledge it troubleshoots.
How much of Core 1 is scenario based?
Thirteen of 27 sub-objectives, about 48%, begin with "Given a scenario". More importantly, all six sub-objectives in the 28% Troubleshooting domain carry that phrasing, so the largest domain on the exam contains no recall content at all and has to be practised rather than read.
Is 220-1201 the current A+ exam?
Yes. The 220-1201 and 220-1202 pair, marketed as A+ V15, launched on 25 March 2025, replacing 220-1101 and 220-1102. CompTIA estimates retirement around 2028, roughly three years after launch. Material still built on 1101 or 1102 is out of date - check the exam code on anything you buy.
Do I need both Core 1 and Core 2?
Yes. A+ is CompTIA's only two-exam certification and you must pass both. They can be taken in either order and the content barely overlaps - Core 1 is hardware, networking and troubleshooting, Core 2 is operating systems, security, software troubleshooting and procedures. Neither exam alone certifies you.
Are the objectives the same as the syllabus or blueprint?
Yes. CompTIA publishes the document as "exam objectives"; candidates and training providers often say syllabus or blueprint. All three refer to the same numbered list of domains and sub-objectives, and it is the authoritative statement of what the exam can test. Download the current PDF from CompTIA's own A+ certification page.