CompTIA A+ 220-1102 (Core 2): What's Actually Tested

CompTIA A+ 220-1102 (Core 2) is the software, operating systems, and security half of the A+ certification. The exam costs about $253, runs 90 minutes, has up to 90 questions, and requires 700 out of 900 to pass. One important fact up front: the A+ credential requires passing BOTH Core 1 (220-1101) AND Core 2 (220-1102). You can take them in either order, but you must pass both within three years of each other to earn the full certification. Core 2 is where Windows, malware removal, security, and professional procedures live. If Core 1 is about what hardware is, Core 2 is about what you actually do with it on the job.

A note on versions: CompTIA refreshes A+ every few years. The 220-1101 and 220-1102 pair is the widely taken and fully recognized version at the time of writing. Before you schedule your exam, confirm the currently active exam objectives on comptia.org, since CompTIA periodically releases a newer version and retires older ones.

The 90-second answer

Take A+ Core 2 if you are finishing the A+ certification after Core 1, or if you are starting with Core 2 because software and security topics are your stronger side. Core 2 is the half that maps most directly to help desk, desktop support, and IT support work. Malware removal, Windows troubleshooting, and professionalism topics show up in day-one job tasks more than you might expect from an exam.

Skip A+ Core 2 if you already have 2 or more years of hands-on IT experience and want a more advanced credential. If your goal is networking, jump to Network+. If your goal is security, Security+ is achievable with some IT experience and covers security in far more depth than Core 2 does. A+ Core 2 alone, without Core 1, does not earn you the A+ credential, so there is no partial credit for passing one exam.

What does the 220-1102 actually test?

220-1102 covers four domains. Operating Systems and Security each take 28% of the exam, making them the two heaviest areas. The other 44% splits evenly between Software Troubleshooting and Operational Procedures.

Domain	Weight	What it covers
Operating Systems	28%	Windows editions, install and upgrade paths, command-line tools, Control Panel and Settings, networking config; plus macOS, Linux, and mobile OS basics
Security	28%	Physical and logical security, malware types and removal, social engineering, authentication, securing workstations and mobile devices, data destruction
Software Troubleshooting	22%	Troubleshooting Windows OS problems, PC and mobile OS security issues, malware removal steps, app and mobile troubleshooting
Operational Procedures	22%	Documentation and change management, backup and recovery, safety and environmental controls, communication and professionalism, scripting basics, remote access technologies

The exam blends multiple choice with performance-based questions (PBQs) that drop you into a simulated Windows environment and ask you to configure settings, navigate the registry, or run the right command-line tool. Unlike Core 1, which rewards broad hardware recognition, Core 2 rewards process knowledge. The exam will ask for the exact seven steps of the malware removal procedure in order. It will ask which Windows edition includes BitLocker. It will ask what command outputs active TCP connections. Those questions are not conceptual. Either you know the answer or you don't, and the only fix is drilling specifics.

If you've heard that Core 2 is the "easier" half of A+, that's only true if you study Windows and security topics the same way you would study hardware. Many candidates underestimate Core 2 because the subject matter feels familiar, then get tripped up by the procedure-level precision the exam expects.

How hard is the 220-1102?

A+ Core 2 is a difficulty 2.5 out of 5. Slightly harder than Core 1 in practice, because the breadth is similar but the questions expect exact procedural knowledge, not just recognition. CompTIA does not publish pass rates, but community surveys suggest first-attempt pass rates in the 65 to 75% range for candidates who studied 6 or more weeks.

The hard parts are specific:

• The malware removal procedure. CompTIA publishes a seven-step best practice: identify and research malware symptoms, quarantine infected systems, disable system restore in Windows, remediate the infection, schedule scans and run updates, enable system restore and create a restore point, then educate the end user. The exam tests the order, not just the steps.
• Windows command-line tools. You need to know what ipconfig, netstat, sfc, chkdsk, diskpart, tasklist, gpupdate, and regedit do, and when to use each one. PBQs may put you in a CMD prompt and ask you to run the right command.
• Edition-specific features. BitLocker is Pro and Enterprise. Group Policy is Pro and above. Windows Home does not have Remote Desktop host capability. These distinctions show up repeatedly.
• The CompTIA troubleshooting methodology. Identify the problem, establish a theory of probable cause, test the theory, establish a plan of action and implement, verify full system functionality, and document findings. The exam tests the order of these steps the way a recipe tests ingredients.
• PBQs at the start. Performance-based questions usually appear early. They can burn five to ten minutes each. Flag them, work through the multiple-choice first, then come back. The pacing math is unforgiving: 90 questions in 90 minutes leaves no buffer for getting stuck.

People who fail Core 2 usually fail because they studied concepts rather than procedures. Knowing that malware is bad does not help you when the question asks for step four of seven.

How long should you study for 220-1102?

CompTIA recommends 9 to 12 months of IT experience before A+. Most candidates study for Core 2 right after Core 1, which means the OS and networking fundamentals are already fresh. That helps. A realistic study plan:

• Coming straight from Core 1 or with IT experience: 4 to 6 weeks at 8 to 10 hours per week
• With general computer comfort, no Core 1 background: 6 to 8 weeks at 8 to 10 hours per week
• Complete beginner taking Core 2 first: 8 to 10 weeks, and plan to study Core 1 topics in parallel to build context
• Studying Core 1 and Core 2 back to back: plan 10 to 16 weeks total and consider sitting Core 2 within four to eight weeks of Core 1

The biggest waste of study time on Core 2 is treating it like Core 1 and drilling acronyms instead of procedures. Core 2 rewards active recall of process steps: what order, what command, what edition, what setting. Flashcards work well. Walking through simulated Windows configurations in practice questions works better.

A realistic week-by-week pace for a 6-week plan looks like:

1. Week 1: Windows editions and features, install and upgrade paths, command-line tools (ipconfig, netstat, sfc, chkdsk, diskpart, tasklist, regedit)
2. Week 2: Windows Settings and Control Panel, networking configuration in Windows, macOS and Linux basics
3. Week 3: Security fundamentals (physical and logical security, authentication, BitLocker, mobile device security, data destruction methods)
4. Week 4: Malware types, the seven-step malware removal procedure cold, social engineering, securing workstations
5. Week 5: Operational procedures (change management, documentation, backups, scripting basics, remote access: RDP, SSH, VPN, MDM)
6. Week 6: Software troubleshooting methodology, PBQ drills, timed practice exams, procedures review

Most failures trace back to skipping week 4. Security is 28% of the exam and the malware removal steps are tested repeatedly and in exact order. Knowing the concept is not enough.

What does the 220-1102 cost?

The exam itself is about $253 USD per attempt (2026 US price). The full A+ requires two exams, so the combined cost for both Core 1 and Core 2 is roughly $506 before any voucher discounts. Total cost depends on your study path:

Component	Range	Notes
Exam fee (Core 2)	~$253	One attempt. Retake is another ~$253 if you fail. Full A+ needs Core 1 too.
Study course	$0 to $130	Professor Messer's A+ Core 2 videos are free; CompTIA CertMaster Learn is the paid official path
Practice questions	$0 to $50	NerdExam has 859 220-1102 questions if you want a free option
Lab software	$0	Windows virtual machines (free trial ISOs from Microsoft) cover most PBQ scenarios
Books	$0 to $50	Mike Meyers' All-in-One covers both cores; optional if you use video plus questions
Total realistic spend	$253 to $480	Cheapest viable path: ~$253 (exam only) plus free videos

CompTIA sells bundle vouchers covering both Core 1 and Core 2 at a slight discount, and academic pricing is available through qualifying schools. There is no free retake, so do not schedule until your practice scores sit above 700 consistently. A failed attempt costs the full fee again.

What salary can you expect after passing?

A+ is an entry-level credential and Core 2 topics (help desk, OS support, security basics) map directly to the roles it opens. 2026 US salary estimates from job boards show:

• Help desk / IT support technician: $40,000 to $60,000
• Desktop support specialist: $50,000 to $70,000
• Field service technician: $45,000 to $65,000
• Junior system administrator: $55,000 to $75,000

The honest framing: A+ earns you the entry IT job. The salary growth comes from what that job teaches you, plus the next cert. People at the top of these ranges hold A+ plus Network+ or Security+, with a year or two of hands-on experience behind them. The A+ itself is the door, not the destination. Pay climbs fast once Network+ and Security+ are added and you have real tickets closed and systems managed.

What study resources actually work?

The candidates who pass Core 2 on the first attempt use a focused stack:

1. Professor Messer's free A+ Core 2 video series. The community default. Complete, current, and free. Watch at 1.5x and take notes on procedures, not just concepts.
2. Mike Meyers' All-in-One A+ book or CompTIA CertMaster Learn for structured depth if videos alone don't make the procedures stick. Pick one, not both.
3. Heavy practice questions focused on procedures. Core 2 is won or lost on exact-step knowledge. A strong question bank with full explanations is the single highest-leverage study tool here.
4. PBQ-specific practice. The simulations favor candidates who have actually navigated Windows Settings, run command-line tools, and configured remote access. Do as many simulated tasks as you can find.
5. Procedure cheat sheets memorized cold: the seven malware removal steps, the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology in order, Windows edition feature differences, and the key command-line tools and what they output.

Skip the brain-dump sites. They are against CompTIA policy, frequently inaccurate, and they teach you to recognize leaked questions rather than understand procedures, which is exactly what the PBQs expose. The r/CompTIA subreddit has the most current crowd-sourced advice on which resources are working this quarter.

For the practice question portion, NerdExam has 859 enriched 220-1102 questions with full explanations. Start practicing 220-1102 questions to see the question style before you commit to a study plan. The free explanations show you the procedure-level reasoning the exam expects, which is far harder to absorb from video walkthroughs alone.

Who should NOT take 220-1102?

The cert is wrong for these candidates:

You are	Take instead
Already 2+ years into an IT role	CompTIA Network+ or Security+ (skip the entry credential)
Targeting networking specifically	CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)
Targeting cybersecurity with some experience	CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701)
A cloud-focused developer or engineer	A cloud foundation cert (AWS CLF-C02 or AZ-900)
Taking Core 2 without Core 1 and expecting A+	You need both cores; plan to sit Core 1 too
Only studying the software concepts but not certifying	Skip the exam fee; just study the material

The path matters more than the badge. Core 2 is valuable when you are completing the A+ certification and moving into a help desk or desktop support role. It is a poor use of time and money if you are already working in IT at a level above entry, or if your career is headed toward cloud or software engineering. Hiring managers do not expect experienced candidates to hold A+; they penalize entry candidates who cannot walk through a basic troubleshooting call.

What's next after 220-1102?

Passing Core 2 completes the A+ certification, assuming Core 1 is also done. Here is the standard path forward:

• Finish A+ with Core 1: If you haven't yet, pass Core 1 (220-1101) to earn the full A+ credential. Most people sit both exams within one to two months of each other.
• CompTIA Network+ (N10-009): The natural next step for anyone leaning toward infrastructure, network admin, or IT operations work. Builds directly on the networking concepts from both A+ cores.
• CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701): The highest-value follow-on for most A+ holders. DoD-approved, widely required for government and contractor roles, and the cert that moves you from "support" pay to "security" pay.
• Land the job first. A+ plus a help desk role for 6 to 12 months beats collecting three certs with no experience. Hiring managers want both the credential and the tickets-closed history behind it.

The cert ladder pays off when each rung sits on top of real job experience. A+ opens the door. Network+ and Security+, earned while working an IT role, are what push salaries into the $70K to $90K range.

Ready to start? Practice with real 220-1102 questions on NerdExam or jump straight into the free per-question explanations. The official A+ objectives are worth reviewing before you build a study plan: see CompTIA's A+ certification page for the current exam blueprint and any version updates.