CompTIA doesn't publish pass rates, but independent instructor data and forum surveys consistently show 30–40% of candidates fail at least one A+ exam on the first attempt. The failure isn't usually intelligence — it's structure. Most people start studying without a plan, bounce between YouTube videos and a textbook, and walk into the exam having never seen a performance-based question format before. This guide is a structured CompTIA A+ study plan that actually reflects how the exam works in 2026.
What the CompTIA A+ Study Process Actually Covers
The A+ now runs on two exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202). CompTIA updated the exam series in early 2025 from the 220-1101/1102 series, so make sure any course or book you buy explicitly covers the 1201/1202 objectives, not the older series.
Core 1 (220-1201) is hardware-heavy: mobile devices, networking fundamentals, hardware components, virtualization, cloud basics, and troubleshooting hardware. Core 2 (220-1202) shifts toward software and security: operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), security fundamentals, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
Each exam allows up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, with a mix of multiple-choice (single and multiple response) and performance-based questions (PBQs). PBQs are simulations — drag-and-drop network diagrams, configuring settings in a fake OS, connecting cables. They appear at the start of the exam and are where unprepared candidates waste time and panic.
How Long Should Your CompTIA A+ Study Take?
Realistic timelines depend on your starting point:
- Zero IT background: 3–4 months studying 1–1.5 hours per day across both exams
- Some hands-on experience (help desk, retail tech support): 6–8 weeks per exam
- Already working in IT: 3–4 weeks of focused review per exam
Cramming both exams into a single month with no background is how candidates fail. The hardware concepts in Core 1 take time to sink in if you've never physically swapped RAM or traced a POST error. Give yourself margin.
How to Structure Your CompTIA A+ Study Plan
The most effective structure for A+ study runs in three phases: intake, active recall, and exam simulation. Most candidates skip the middle phase and go straight from watching videos to taking practice tests — and then wonder why their score stalls at 65% when passing requires 675–700 out of 900.
Phase 1: Intake (Weeks 1–3 per exam)
Work through a structured video course or textbook, section by section, aligned to the official exam objectives. Don't try to memorize as you go — focus on building a mental map of where each topic fits. CompTIA publishes the full exam objectives PDF on their site for free. Download it and use it as your checklist.
For Core 1, pay extra attention to networking ports and protocols (you'll need to recall specific port numbers), RAM types (DDR4 vs DDR5), and storage interfaces (NVMe, SATA). For Core 2, the Windows command-line tools section trips up more candidates than any other — sfc /scannow, diskpart, ipconfig /flushdns, and similar commands appear repeatedly.
Phase 2: Active Recall (Weeks 4–5 per exam)
Stop watching videos. Close the textbook. Use flashcards, write out definitions from memory, and quiz yourself on the objectives checklist. This is where most study time should actually be concentrated, but it's uncomfortable so people avoid it.
For PBQ preparation specifically: find a PBQ simulator or look for the performance-based question walkthroughs included in quality practice test courses. You need to know how to physically wire a network diagram, configure a SOHO router, and identify connector types from images — not just read about them.
Phase 3: Practice Exams and Gap Analysis (Weeks 6–8 per exam)
Take full timed practice exams under real conditions. Score yourself, then do not look up what you got wrong immediately. Wait. Take the exam again. Then review wrong answers systematically and map them back to the objective they belong to. If you're consistently missing networking questions, that's a week of targeted review, not another full practice exam.
Target 80%+ on practice exams before booking the real thing. The real exam is harder than most practice sets, so padding your score gives you a buffer.
Top Courses for CompTIA A+ Study in 2026
The courses below are the most relevant currently available for the updated 220-1201/1202 exam series. Ratings reflect current learner reviews.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Full Course & Practice Exam
Covers the full 220-1201 objective list with video instruction plus integrated practice exams — the combination of both in one package removes the need to buy separately. Rated 9.4 on Udemy. Start here if you're building your study plan from scratch.
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) 6 Practice Tests [2026]
Six full-length timed practice exams specifically written for the 2026 exam objectives. Use this in Phase 3 of your study plan — after you've completed the video course, not before. Rated 9.4 and currently one of the only practice test sets explicitly covering 220-1201. Six full exams gives you enough variation to avoid memorizing answer patterns.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Prep 2026
Not A+ content, but relevant if you're planning your certification path: Security+ is the most common next cert after A+, and starting to think about it during A+ study helps you recognize which A+ security concepts will carry forward. Rated 9.5 and beginner-accessible. Worth bookmarking now, not buying until you've passed both A+ exams.
Common CompTIA A+ Study Mistakes
Studying Both Exams Simultaneously
Some candidates try to study Core 1 and Core 2 at the same time to "save time." It doesn't. The exams cover different enough domains that mixing them creates confusion and dilutes focus. Finish Core 1, take the exam, then start Core 2.
Relying Exclusively on Free YouTube Content
There's solid free A+ content on YouTube, but free videos have no accountability structure. You can watch 40 hours of content and still fail if you never practice retrieval. Free content works best as a supplement to a structured course, not a replacement.
Skipping Performance-Based Questions in Practice
PBQs are worth more points than standard multiple-choice questions and appear at the start of the exam. Candidates who freeze on PBQs and skip them to "come back later" often run out of time. Any practice resource you use should include PBQ simulations, not just multiple-choice.
Booking the Exam Before You're Ready
A+ exam vouchers cost around $246 each. Retakes cost the same. There's no discount for urgency. Book the exam when your practice test average is consistently above 80%, not when you've "studied enough."
What the A+ Certification Actually Gets You
The CompTIA A+ is a hiring signal, not a skills validator. Employers — particularly for help desk, desktop support, and IT support roles — use A+ certification as a baseline screen. It tells them you can speak the vocabulary and have at least covered the fundamentals systematically.
Entry-level roles requiring A+ typically pay $40,000–$55,000 depending on location and employer. The bigger ROI isn't the immediate salary — it's the door it opens: most employers who require A+ for entry-level roles also offer tuition reimbursement for Network+ and Security+. The A+ is the first rung of the CompTIA pathway, and candidates who continue to Network+ and Security+ within 18–24 months typically move into roles paying $65,000–$85,000.
If salary uplift is your primary goal, plan from the beginning for the full trifecta: A+ → Network+ → Security+. Don't treat A+ as a destination.
FAQ: CompTIA A+ Study
How many hours should I study for the CompTIA A+?
Most candidates with no IT background need 150–200 total hours of study time across both exams. That's roughly 10–15 hours per week for 3 months. Candidates with existing IT experience typically need 60–80 hours. These are averages — use your practice test scores, not hours logged, as the actual readiness signal.
Should I study for Core 1 or Core 2 first?
Core 1 first, always. CompTIA designed the exams to build sequentially — Core 1's hardware and networking fundamentals underpin the OS and security concepts in Core 2. Studying them out of order creates gaps.
Is the CompTIA A+ hard to pass?
It's harder than most candidates expect from an "entry-level" credential. The breadth of content is significant — you're expected to know hardware, networking, operating systems, security, and troubleshooting across multiple platforms. The PBQs specifically catch under-prepared candidates. With a structured study plan and proper practice exam volume, it's very passable, but it requires genuine preparation.
Can I pass the A+ without any prior IT experience?
Yes, and many candidates do. CompTIA explicitly positions it as an entry-level credential. The key is that "entry-level" describes the job role, not the difficulty of the exam. You'll need to study hands-on concepts (hardware installation, command-line tools) that you haven't experienced in practice, which takes longer but is definitely achievable.
How long are A+ exam results valid?
CompTIA A+ certifications are valid for 3 years. After that, you need to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or retake the exam to renew. In practice, most A+ holders have moved up the certification ladder well before the 3-year mark, and higher certs like Security+ or CySA+ automatically renew the A+ as well.
What's the passing score for the CompTIA A+ exams?
Core 1 (220-1201): 675 out of 900. Core 2 (220-1202): 700 out of 900. Scores are scaled, meaning question difficulty is factored in — you can't directly calculate your percentage from questions answered correctly.
Bottom Line
The candidates who pass the CompTIA A+ on the first attempt share one trait: they treat it as a structured study project, not a cram session. That means following the official exam objectives, using a current course that covers the 220-1201/1202 series specifically, and logging serious time with timed practice exams before booking the real thing.
Start with the CompTIA A+ Core 1 Full Course for structured video content, then move into the 6 Practice Tests course once you've covered the material. Pass Core 1, then repeat the process for Core 2. Don't rush the timeline to save money on study materials — a retake voucher costs more than any course on this page.