Sam belongs to the Sales group, which has NTFS Read on the Quotes folder, and the Managers group, which has NTFS Modify. The folder is shared with Everyone: Read. What access does Sam have when he opens the folder through a mapped drive from his PC?

Read, because the stricter share permission applies over the network

Modify, because NTFS permissions from both groups add up

Full control, because he is in two groups with access

No access, because the two groups give different permissions

A ticket will be handed to the night shift before the fault is fixed. Which of the following progress notes BEST supports the handover?

18:05 reseated RAM, fault remains; memory test shows errors; spare DIMM ordered, fit on arrival

Still looking at this one, the user is quite frustrated with how long it is taking us

Probably a hardware fault of some kind, so the night shift should take a look at it

Did a lot of testing on the PC today with no luck, will need more work done on it

Do I need to pass both Core 1 and Core 2?

Yes. The A+ certification needs both 220-1201 and 220-1202, from the same version. You can take them in either order, and each is a separate exam with its own voucher.

How much does it cost?

CompTIA lists each exam at US$274 in its US and global stores. Prices vary by region: its emerging-market store, which covers Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria and Kenya, charges US$192 per exam. You need two vouchers, one per core.

Which version should I study?

V15, exam 220-1202. It launched in March 2025, and the previous version, 220-1102, retired in September 2025. V15 adds topics such as AI concepts and newer security tools, so older material is not enough.

Which Windows versions are on the exam?

CompTIA's objectives say versions of Windows that have not reached the end of mainstream support, up to and including Windows 11, are in scope. Learn Windows 10 and Windows 11.

How long is A+ valid?

Three years from the date you pass your second exam. You renew through CompTIA's continuing education programme.

All certifications

CompTIA · 220-1202 · Entry

CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202)

Proves you can install, secure and support Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile systems, remove malware, troubleshoot software and follow the operational procedures of an IT support team.

Free practice: 216 questions written to the official exam guide, with the diagnostic, practice papers, timed mocks, a study plan and an explanation on every answer.

Official exam page

Find out where you stand on 220-1202

20 questions drawn in the exam’s own domain weights. You get a report straight away: your score against the pass mark, where the points went, and what to study first.

Questions: 20
Time: about 20 minutes
Cost: free

Your email

Your answers save as you go, and the report stays in your record. A new email needs no code.

· your answers stay on this device and you can save the report at the end.

The course

The diagnostic shows where you stand. Then you learn the syllabus chapter by chapter, answer that chapter’s questions, and move on. When every chapter is mastered, you sit full timed mocks in the real exam’s shape.

17 chapters, about 13 hours in all. Each is a 45-minute study session with quick checks, then a 10-question quiz on that chapter.

Operating Systems28% of the exam

OS types, filesystems, installations and upgrades45 min
Windows editions and Windows tools45 min
Windows command-line tools and settings45 min
Windows networking on the client, and macOS45 min
Linux, installing applications and cloud productivity tools45 min

Security28% of the exam

Physical and logical security measures45 min
Windows security settings, wireless security and authentication45 min
Malware, social engineering, threats and vulnerabilities45 min
Malware removal steps and workstation hardening45 min
Securing mobile devices, data destruction, SOHO networks and browsers45 min

Software Troubleshooting23% of the exam

Troubleshooting Windows45 min
Troubleshooting mobile OS, applications and mobile security45 min
Troubleshooting PC security issues45 min

Operational Procedures21% of the exam

Documentation, ticketing, asset and change management45 min
Backup and recovery, safety and environmental controls45 min
Prohibited content, privacy, licensing and professionalism45 min
Scripting basics, remote access and AI concepts45 min

About the CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) (220-1202) exam

CompTIA A+ is the entry-level IT support certification employers ask for most: help desk technician, desktop support, field service technician and junior systems roles. You earn it by passing two exams, Core 1 and Core 2, in either order. This page is Core 2, exam 220-1202, which covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting and the way a support team works.

The current version, V15, launched in March 2025, and the old 220-1102 exam retired in September 2025. Core 2 tests Windows 10 and 11, macOS and Linux tools and settings, security from physical controls to malware removal and wireless security, troubleshooting Windows, mobile and PC security problems, and operational procedures: ticketing, change management, backups, safety, privacy, professionalism, scripting, remote access and the basics of AI.

Nothing is formally required. CompTIA recommends about a year of hands-on IT support experience. Plan on six to ten weeks for Core 2 if Windows administration and security are new to you.

The exam at a glance

Questions: Up to 90 questions: multiple choice, drag and drop, and performance-based
Time: 90 minutes
Pass mark: 700 on a scale of 100 to 900
Exam fee: US$274 per exam at CompTIA's list price, US$192 in its emerging-market store; A+ needs both Core 1 and Core 2
Valid for: 3 years from passing your second A+ exam, renewable through CompTIA's continuing education programme
Where you sit it: Pearson VUE test centre or online proctored
Prerequisites: None required; CompTIA recommends 12 months of hands-on IT support experience

As published in the vendor’s exam guide at the time of writing. Fees vary by country and change; the vendor’s page is the source of truth.

What is on the exam, domain by domain

Operating Systems
OS types and filesystems, installs and upgrades, Windows editions, Windows tools, command-line tools and settings, client networking, macOS and Linux features and commands, installing applications and cloud productivity tools.
28% of the paper
Security
Physical and logical security, Windows security settings, wireless security and authentication, malware and social engineering, the malware removal steps, workstation and mobile hardening, data destruction, small office network security and browser security.
28% of the paper
Software Troubleshooting
Working from symptoms to fixes for Windows problems, mobile OS and app problems, mobile security issues and PC security issues such as pop-ups, redirects and certificate warnings.
23% of the paper
Operational Procedures
Ticketing and documentation, asset and change management, backup and recovery, safety and environmental controls, privacy, licensing and incident response, professionalism with customers, scripting basics, remote access tools and AI concepts.
21% of the paper

How to prepare

Read CompTIA's 220-1202 objectives and study to every bullet. Windows tools and commands are asked about by name, so learn what each one is for.
Use Windows hands on: Task Manager, Event Viewer, Disk Management, Device Manager, gpedit and the command line (ipconfig, sfc, diskpart, robocopy, gpupdate). Try a Linux virtual machine for the basic commands.
Learn the malware removal steps in CompTIA's order. Questions often ask what to do first or next.
Learn the security trade-offs that decide most questions: which wireless security to choose, NTFS against share permissions, which destruction method fits a drive, and which backup type fits a schedule.
Take two timed practice papers above 80 percent before you book.

Sample questions

Three questions in the exam’s style, written by Square 1 against the published domains. They are ours, not the vendor's. The answer and the reasoning are under each one; the practice papers on this page draw from a bank written the same way, with an explanation on every question.

Question 1 · Operating Systems
A user says a desktop restriction set by Group Policy is not affecting them, while colleagues have it. The technician needs to see which Group Policy Objects actually applied to this user without changing anything. Which of the following should the technician run?
1. gpupdate /force
2. gpresult /r
3. net user /domain
4. sfc /scannow
Answer: B. gpresult /r reports the Resultant Set of Policy, including the applied GPOs and the user's security groups, and makes no changes. gpupdate /force reapplies policy, which changes the system and does not show what was applied.
Question 2 · Security
Sam belongs to the Sales group, which has NTFS Read on the Quotes folder, and the Managers group, which has NTFS Modify. The folder is shared with Everyone: Read. What access does Sam have when he opens the folder through a mapped drive from his PC?
1. Modify, because NTFS permissions from both groups add up
2. Read, because the stricter share permission applies over the network
3. Full control, because he is in two groups with access
4. No access, because the two groups give different permissions
Answer: B. His NTFS permissions combine to Modify, but over the network the result is compared with the share permission of Read and the more restrictive one wins. Modify would be correct only if he signed in at the server itself, where share permissions do not apply.
Question 3 · Operational Procedures
A ticket will be handed to the night shift before the fault is fixed. Which of the following progress notes BEST supports the handover?
1. 18:05 reseated RAM, fault remains; memory test shows errors; spare DIMM ordered, fit on arrival
2. Still looking at this one, the user is quite frustrated with how long it is taking us
3. Probably a hardware fault of some kind, so the night shift should take a look at it
4. Did a lot of testing on the PC today with no luck, will need more work done on it
Answer: A. A good progress note is dated and states what was checked, the result and the next step, so the next technician can carry on. The other notes give no actions or results, and comments about the user's mood do not belong in a ticket.

Questions people ask before they book

Do I need to pass both Core 1 and Core 2?: Yes. The A+ certification needs both 220-1201 and 220-1202, from the same version. You can take them in either order, and each is a separate exam with its own voucher.
How much does it cost?: CompTIA lists each exam at US$274 in its US and global stores. Prices vary by region: its emerging-market store, which covers Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria and Kenya, charges US$192 per exam. You need two vouchers, one per core.
Which version should I study?: V15, exam 220-1202. It launched in March 2025, and the previous version, 220-1102, retired in September 2025. V15 adds topics such as AI concepts and newer security tools, so older material is not enough.
Which Windows versions are on the exam?: CompTIA's objectives say versions of Windows that have not reached the end of mainstream support, up to and including Windows 11, are in scope. Learn Windows 10 and Windows 11.
How long is A+ valid?: Three years from the date you pass your second exam. You renew through CompTIA's continuing education programme.