Free CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Practice Exam - 5 Real Questions, Instant Feedback, No Sign-Up
CompTIA A+ Core 1 is most people's first IT certification. The questions are not hard - the volume of memorisable detail is. The trick is realistic practice that exposes you to every connector type, every storage interface, and every wireless standard before exam day. The five questions in this free preview are pulled from the same item pool as the paid A+ Core 1 mock. Each scores instantly. No credit card. No email required to start.
Why we give the first 5 A+ Core 1 questions away free
The CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam costs $253 USD (or $159 with the CompTIA Academic discount voucher). Most candidates spend another $100 to $400 on practice exams before they sit. That means the question candidates ask first is rarely "is this practice exam comprehensive?" - it's "is this practice exam any good?" You can't answer that from a marketing page. You can answer it by taking five real questions and watching how they're written.
That's why this page exists. The five questions in the free A+ Core 1 practice test below are not throwaway warm-ups. They are pulled from the same item pool as the paid A+ Core 1 220-1201 practice exam. The grader, the explanations, and the question rendering are identical. If you don't like how the first five feel, you've lost six minutes - not the cost of a competing practice product.
What you get in this free A+ Core 1 practice exam
- 5 free A+ Core 1 practice questions drawn from the live 90-question CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) item bank.
- Realistic exam-day format. CompTIA delivers up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, mixing single-answer multiple choice, multiple response, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions (PBQs). Passing score: 675 of 900.
- Instant per-question scoring with full explanations so you see what you got right and wrong as you go.
- Topic spread across all 5 A+ Core 1 exam domains - the preview is representative, not stacked with a single easy topic.
- Zero sign-up to start - the trial loads anonymously. You only create an account if you choose to unlock the full 90-question paid mock after.
Who the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) is for
Entry-level IT candidates with little or no formal experience. Most-pursued first IT certification globally - the gateway from no-IT to helpdesk. Most candidates take 60-100 hours over 6-10 weeks for total beginners; 30-50 hours for candidates with existing helpdesk experience.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam blueprint coverage in this practice test
The full FigigExams A+ Core 1 practice exam mirrors the official blueprint weights so your score gives a realistic readiness signal. The five free questions in this preview rotate across the blueprint so you see questions from every part of it, not just one.
| Domain | Weight | Key concepts you will see |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Devices | 15% | Laptops, smartphones, tablets, accessories. Display types (OLED, IPS), batteries, mobile connectivity (Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, NFC), mobile device sync. |
| Networking | 20% | Cables and connectors (Cat 5e/6/6a, fiber), TCP/IP, ports and protocols, wireless standards (Wi-Fi 6/6E), networking hardware (router, switch, AP, firewall), Internet appliance basics, SOHO networks. |
| Hardware | 25% | Storage devices (HDD, SSD, NVMe), motherboards, CPU, RAM (DDR4/DDR5), power supplies, peripherals, printers (laser, inkjet, thermal, 3D), connector types. |
| Virtualization & Cloud Computing | 11% | Cloud models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), shared vs metered resources, hypervisors (Type 1 / Type 2), client-side virtualisation use cases. |
| Hardware & Network Troubleshooting | 29% | CompTIA 6-step troubleshooting methodology, common hardware failures, common network problems, wireless troubleshooting, printer troubleshooting. |
The full mock has 90 questions calibrated to the live exam difficulty profile, with a passing benchmark of 70% to give you a conservative readiness target.
The A+ Core 1 question formats we mirror
One of the most common reasons candidates fail on the first attempt is unfamiliarity with the exam's specific question formats. This free preview exposes you to every format the live exam uses, so nothing on test day is a surprise.
Performance-based questions (PBQs)
Like Security+, A+ Core 1 places 4-6 PBQs at the start of the exam. These are simulations - configure a SOHO router, identify motherboard components on a labeled diagram, sequence the troubleshooting methodology steps. PBQs eat time. Skip-and-return strategy is essential.
Multiple choice (single + multi-response)
Bulk of items. Multi-response is "select two" or "select three" with no partial credit. Read the count carefully.
Drag-and-drop
Match connector types to ports, troubleshooting steps to their CompTIA 6-step phase, cloud model to definition.
Two exams, not one
A+ certification requires passing both Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). Each is $253. You can take them in either order, and you have 90 days between Core 1 and Core 2 if you want to spread the cost.
Free A+ Core 1 trial vs full FigigExams mock vs Mike Meyers Total Tester (Sybex / McGraw Hill)
If you're shopping for A+ Core 1 practice exams, you've probably already opened a tab for Mike Meyers Total Tester (Sybex / McGraw Hill). Mike Meyers' Total Tester is the dominant paid practice product for A+ and pairs with his All-in-One Guide. The course material is famously friendly for absolute beginners. If you also need a textbook, the bundle is the cleanest path. Here's an honest side-by-side so you can pick the right tool for where you are in your prep.
| Feature | FigigExams A+ Core 1 | Mike Meyers Total Tester (Sybex / McGraw Hill) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 trial, $18 for full mock | $70-95 for Total Tester bundle |
| PBQ-style items in preview | Yes | Yes |
| Aligned to 220-1201 (current) | Yes | Yes (if recent edition) |
| Number of practice exams | 4 versions, 90 questions each | Bundled question pool |
| Concept-level Exam Coach | Yes | No |
| Lifetime access | Yes | Time-limited via publisher portal |
The honest answer: if your budget allows it, candidates often use both - FigigExams to find your weak concepts cheaply, then a final readiness pass with Mike Meyers Total Tester (Sybex / McGraw Hill) if you want the industry-standard item bank. For most candidates, just FigigExams plus the official study guide is sufficient.
The Personal Exam Coach (after you finish the full A+ Core 1 exam)
Most A+ Core 1 practice exams give you a score and a domain breakdown - "you scored 48% on Domain 3" - and call that a result page. That's not actionable. Each domain has many topics. You need to know which topic specifically.
When you finish the full 90-question A+ Core 1 practice exam (not the 5-question free preview), the FigigExams Personal Exam Coach analyses your answers at the concept level:
- Concept-level miss patterns instead of broad domain percentages.
- A prioritised study plan ordered by estimated score impact.
- A pass-confidence score based on item difficulty and your error pattern - a real readiness number, not vibes.
- A follow-up chat where you can ask things like "explain why option C was wrong on question 23" and get a tailored answer.
It's the part of FigigExams that passing candidates mention most.
A+ Core 1 exam day tips that actually move your score
- Memorize every cable connector visually. CompTIA tests on shape recognition aggressively - especially USB-C vs Thunderbolt vs Mini DisplayPort, RJ-45 vs RJ-11, SATA vs eSATA.
- For PBQs, read the entire prompt before placing anything. About 40% of PBQ losses are from candidates who started dragging before they understood what was being asked.
- The CompTIA 6-step troubleshooting methodology shows up on every exam: identify, theorize, test, plan/implement, verify, document. Memorize the order cold.
- Wireless standards (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) including frequency bands and theoretical speeds are reliable easy points if you memorize them; reliable lost points if you don't.
- Take the free preview cold - it tells you whether your weakness is hardware identification (visual) or process/troubleshooting (reasoning). Different study fixes.
Free A+ Core 1 Practice Exam - Frequently Asked Questions
Is this A+ Core 1 practice exam really free?
Yes. Five real CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) questions, instant scoring, no credit card, no email required to start. You only create an account if you decide to unlock the full 90-question paid mock after.
How many free A+ Core 1 practice questions can I take?
Five on this trial page. You can refresh the trial as many times as you like - each session reshuffles the answer order. To get a larger question set, take the full 90-question paid exam, which draws from a much larger item pool.
Are these questions the same difficulty as the real A+ Core 1 exam?
The questions are written to match the cognitive level of the live CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam. The average item is calibrated slightly above the live exam mean - so a 75% on our practice exam typically corresponds to a comfortable pass on the real exam, not a marginal one.
What's the difference between 220-1101 and 220-1201?
220-1201 (Core 1) replaced 220-1101 with a refreshed objective list. Major changes: more emphasis on Wi-Fi 6/6E, NVMe storage, USB-C / Thunderbolt, modern mobile device security, and cloud-virtualisation concepts. Old 220-1101 practice material is partially valid but under-weights modern hardware - prefer 220-1201-specific practice.
Can I get a job with just A+ Core 1?
No - A+ certification requires passing both Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). Most employers list "CompTIA A+" as a requirement, which means both exams. Some helpdesk roles will hire candidates who have only passed one with the expectation that the second is completed within 90 days.
Should I take A+ before Network+ and Security+?
For total beginners, yes. A+ is the broadest first cert and builds the vocabulary you need for the others. For candidates with 1+ year of IT experience, you can often skip A+ and go straight to Network+ - which is the path most career switchers take.
How long is A+ valid?
Three years from the date you complete BOTH Core 1 and Core 2. Renew via 20 CEUs over 3 years, or by earning Network+ (which automatically renews A+), or by retaking the current A+ exams.
Is A+ worth $506 (both exams) in 2026?
For candidates with no IT background trying to land a first helpdesk role, yes - A+ remains the most common entry-level filter on job postings. For candidates with existing IT exposure (any hands-on work), the ROI is weaker; consider going straight to Network+ or Security+ instead.
How is FigigExams different from Mike Meyers Total Tester (Sybex / McGraw Hill)?
Two practical differences: price ($18 per exam vs $70-95 for the bundled book + question pool for Mike Meyers Total Tester (Sybex / McGraw Hill)) and the Personal Exam Coach - concept-level diagnosis with a follow-up chat that no major competing A+ Core 1 practice tool currently offers. Mike Meyers Total Tester (Sybex / McGraw Hill) remains a strong choice if you want the industry-standard item bank.
What does the full A+ Core 1 practice exam cost?
$18 per exam. That includes lifetime access to the 90-question mock, full per-question explanations, the Personal Exam Coach analysis, and the follow-up Coach chat.
Will this A+ Core 1 practice exam work on my phone?
Yes. The exam UI is fully responsive. All interactive question formats also support tap-to-place on touch devices, so phone and tablet candidates get the same experience as desktop.
Do you offer practice exams for other certifications?
Yes. Browse all FigigExams practice exams for the full list - including CCNA, CompTIA Security+, AWS Solutions Architect Associate, CISSP, PMP, and CompTIA A+ Core 1.
Ready? Start your free A+ Core 1 practice exam
Five real CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) questions. Instant feedback. About six minutes. No credit card. If the format clicks, the full 90-question mock plus Personal Exam Coach is $18.