Free CompTIA A+ Core 2 Practice Test 2026 (220-1202)
Most candidates find Core 2 deceptively harder than Core 1 - it's the security, operating-systems, and best-practice half, where a lot of questions are easy to half-know. The 5 questions below were written by a certified engineer for the current Core 2 (220-1202) objectives, with a full explanation and an exam tip on each, and there are well over 100 free A+ questions across this site, including a full-length practice exam with no credit card. Start here.
On this page
Why Core 2 catches people out
Core 1 is concrete - a port is a port, a RAID level is a RAID level. Core 2 is where A+ gets slippery: security best practices, the malware-removal order, Windows settings and command-line tools, and operational procedures like change management and safety. A lot of these questions have two answers that look right, and the exam wants the best one, in the right order.
Ten random free questions won't prepare you for that. The questions on this page are a genuine sample - explained, one per Core 2 domain - but the real value is warming up here, then taking the free full-length 220-1202 practice exam that simulates the real thing (PBQs included) and ends with a concept-level Exam Coach report telling you exactly which best-practice topics are still costing you points.
Try 5 free A+ Core 2 questions right now
Covering all four Core 2 (220-1202) domains, with a detailed explanation on each. No signup needed.
The four Core 2 (220-1202) domains
Core 2 is the software, security, and procedures half of A+. Here's what each domain covers and where candidates tend to lose points:
Operating Systems
Windows editions, file systems, command-line tools, settings, macOS and Linux basics
Security
Malware, social engineering, authentication, wireless security, best practices
Software Troubleshooting
The malware-removal process, OS and app issues, mobile OS symptoms
Operational Procedures
Safety and ESD, documentation, change management, backups, communication
What you get after the full exam: a personalized Exam Coach
Free questions show you a right/wrong. The free full exam goes further - when you finish, the Exam Coach analyzes your answers at the concept level:
Weak concept diagnosis
Not "50% on Security" but "you miss the malware-removal order and social-engineering terms specifically."
Readiness score
A calibrated read on how close you are to a pass-confident Core 2 attempt.
Targeted study plan
Your weak concepts, ordered by impact on your score.
Follow-up chat
Ask the Coach to explain any concept you missed, in plain language.
Done with the samples? Take the full free Core 2 exam
A full-length 220-1202 practice exam, every domain and every question type including PBQs, with Explanations and Exam Tips on each item and the concept-level Exam Coach when you finish. Create an account on the next screen, the code auto-applies.
APLUS2-EXAM-FULL
Start the free full Core 2 exam
Already have an account? Log in to start · Still need Core 1? Free Core 1 (220-1201) practice test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this A+ Core 2 practice test really free?
Yes. The 5 questions on this page are free with no signup. The full-length Core 2 (220-1202) practice exam is also free with no credit card - you create an account and the code APLUS2-EXAM-FULL applies automatically. There are well over 100 free A+ practice questions across the site.
Is this updated for the 2026 A+ exam (220-1202)?
Yes. These questions target the current CompTIA A+ Core 2 exam, 220-1202, which replaced 220-1102. They cover all four Core 2 domains: operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
Why do people say Core 2 is harder than Core 1?
Core 2 has a lot of security and operational-procedures "best practice" judgment questions that are easy to half-know, plus Windows command-line and settings detail. The material feels less concrete than Core 1's hardware, so candidates who breeze through Core 1 often underestimate Core 2. Full timed practice with a concept-level breakdown is the fix - and the PBQ practice guide covers the trickier formats.
Do I need to pass Core 1 and Core 2 separately?
Yes. CompTIA A+ requires passing both Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). They cover different domains, so prepare and test for each separately. This page is the Core 2 free practice test; there's a separate free Core 1 practice test. Not sure where you stand? Try Am I Ready for the A+?