CompTIA A+ Exam (220-1201 and 220-1202): Cost, Format, Questions and Passing Score
Skip the fact sheet - sit a full A+ paper free
A complete A+ Core 1 practice exam: 90 questions in 90 minutes with interactive PBQs, an Exam Tip on every item and an Exam Coach report at the end.
APLUS1-EXAM-FULL
Try a free A+ Core 1 exam
Already have an account? Log in to redeem
Troubleshooting
Service the laser printer.
Use the failure evidence to choose the right part.
Networking
Connect the new access switch.
Three connections need three different interfaces.
Security
Remove the confirmed infection through the approved recovery gates.
Isolation, trusted remediation and verified return are separate stages.
PBQs from the A+ Core 1 and Core 2 packs, each graded outcome by outcome. Each free A+ exam includes PBQs like these, where the real exam puts them.
CompTIA A+ is two exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), taken in either order. Each costs $274 ($548 for both), has up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, and mixes multiple choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based questions. Core 1 passes at 675 and Core 2 at 700 on a 100-900 scale. There is no wait before a second attempt and 14 days before a third. The certification is valid for three years.Checked against CompTIA's exam pages on 12 October 2026.
In this guide
CompTIA A+ exam facts at a glance
A+ is two exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). You need both to certify, in either order.
$548 for both cores, before any retake. CompTIA list price, checked October 2026.
Multiple choice (single and multiple response), drag-and-drop and performance-based questions.
One 90-minute sitting per core.
Core 1 passes at 675, Core 2 at 700, on a scale of 100 to 900.
No wait before a second attempt; 14 calendar days before a third or later.
Renew with 20 continuing education units, or by passing a higher CompTIA exam.
Question types and exam rules
- Performance-based questions (PBQs) are short simulations: drag a cable to the right port, configure a setting, order the steps of a procedure, pick the faulty part from the evidence. They usually come first and are worth more than a single multiple-choice item.
- You can flag and return. Unlike Cisco exams, CompTIA lets you mark a question for review. A common tactic is to skip the PBQs, answer the multiple choice, then come back with the time left.
- The score is scaled. 675 or 700 out of 900 is not a percentage of questions. CompTIA does not publish how individual items are weighted.
- Delivered by Pearson VUE, at a test centre or online with a remote proctor.
What the PBQs look like and how to practise them: A+ performance-based questions.
What each core covers
Core 1 is hardware and networking: mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization and cloud, and hardware and network troubleshooting. Core 2 is software and process: operating systems, security, software troubleshooting and operational procedures. Every domain, weight and objective: Core 1 exam objectives and Core 2 exam objectives.
What A+ really costs
| Budget | What it includes | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Exams only | Core 1 + Core 2 vouchers at list price | $548 |
| Exams + one retake | Both cores, one core sat twice | $822 |
| Free study stack + exams | Professor Messer's free course, CompTIA's objectives PDFs, a free full-length practice exam per core | $548 |
| FigigExams packs + exams | 4 Core 1 exams and 3 Core 2 exams with 34 interactive PBQs, $39 once per core | $626 |
The cheapest saving is not failing: one retake costs $274, more than every paid practice resource on this site's A+ study resources list. Vouchers bought through CompTIA partners or academic programmes are often discounted; buy only from CompTIA or an authorised partner.
Retakes, score report and renewal
- Score report: pass or fail, your scaled score, and the objectives where you missed questions.
- Retakes: no waiting period before a second attempt; 14 calendar days before any later attempt. Each attempt needs a new voucher. Every vendor's rules side by side: exam retake rules.
- Renewal: A+ is valid for three years. Renew with 20 CEUs and the CE fee ($75 for the three years), with CompTIA's CertMaster CE course, or by earning a higher certification such as Network+ or Security+, which renews A+ with it.
Which version you are taking
The current exams are 220-1201 and 220-1202 (A+ V15), launched on 25 March 2025, with retirement estimated by CompTIA for 2028. Study materials written for 220-1101/1102 cover a retired version; check the exam codes on the cover before you buy a book. CompTIA recommends about 12 months of hands-on IT support experience, but there is no formal prerequisite.
Free full-length exams for both cores: Core 1 with the code above, Core 2 with APLUS2-EXAM-FULL.
Find out if you would pass today
A full-length Core 1 paper with PBQs and an Exam Coach report that ranks your weakest objectives. Free, no credit card.
Try a free A+ Core 1 examA+ packs are $39 once per core: 4 Core 1 exams (354 questions, 19 PBQs) and 3 Core 2 exams (262 questions, 15 PBQs), lifetime.
Frequently asked questions about the A+ exam
How much does the CompTIA A+ exam cost?
$274 per exam at CompTIA's list price, checked October 2026. A+ needs two exams, Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202), so the certification costs $548 before any retake.
How many questions are on the A+ exam?
A maximum of 90 questions per exam, with 90 minutes for each. Questions are multiple choice (single and multiple response), drag-and-drop and performance-based questions.
What is the passing score for A+?
675 for Core 1 (220-1201) and 700 for Core 2 (220-1202), on a scale of 100 to 900. The score is scaled, so it is not a simple percentage of questions answered correctly.
Do I have to take Core 1 before Core 2?
No. CompTIA lets you take the two A+ exams in either order. You must pass both to earn the certification.
Can I take the A+ exam online?
Yes. A+ is delivered by Pearson VUE, either at a test centre or online with a remote proctor.
How long is CompTIA A+ valid?
Three years. You can renew it with 20 continuing education units and the CE fee, with CompTIA CertMaster CE, or by earning a higher CompTIA certification such as Network+ or Security+.