- Core 1 (220-1201) has five domains; Core 2 (220-1202) has four - nine total across the certification.
- Hardware and Network Troubleshooting is the single heaviest domain at 28% of Core 1.
- Operating Systems and Security tie as the heaviest Core 2 domains, each worth 28%.
- Both exams max out at 90 questions in 90 minutes, mixing multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions.
Overview: Nine Domains, Two Exams
The CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) exams, part of the current V15 series that launched March 25, 2025, are organized into nine content domains - five on Core 1 and four on Core 2. Each domain carries a specific weight that tells you exactly how much of the 90-question, 90-minute exam it represents. Understanding these weights isn't academic trivia; it's the single most useful piece of information for building a study plan that doesn't waste time on low-yield topics.
This guide breaks down all nine domains with their official weights, explains what each one actually tests, and shows how to translate those percentages into a realistic study schedule. If you're just starting to map out your prep, pair this with the A Plus Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt for a full walkthrough of the exam process, and check A Plus Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify if you're wondering whether you're ready to sit for it.
Core 1 (220-1201) Domains Explained
Core 1 focuses on the physical and networked world of IT support: devices, networking hardware, cloud basics, and the troubleshooting process that ties them together. It has five domains.
Domain 1: Mobile Devices (13%)
Covers laptop and mobile hardware installation, display types, and mobile device connectivity and synchronization.
- Laptop component replacement and disassembly processes
- Mobile display technologies and touch digitizers
- Accessories, ports, and mobile connectivity methods (Bluetooth, NFC, cellular)
Domain 2: Networking (23%)
Tests your grasp of network hardware, protocols, addressing, and wireless technologies used in SOHO and enterprise environments.
- TCP/IP concepts, common ports, and protocols
- Wired and wireless networking hardware (routers, switches, access points)
- Network configuration concepts including IP addressing schemes
Domain 3: Hardware (25%)
The largest standalone knowledge domain on Core 1, covering internal PC components, peripherals, and power.
- Motherboards, CPUs, RAM, and expansion cards
- Storage devices - HDDs, SSDs, and NVMe drives
- Power supplies, cabling, and peripheral devices
Domain 4: Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%)
The smallest Core 1 domain but increasingly relevant given how many IT environments run on hybrid infrastructure.
- Client-side virtualization and hypervisor basics
- Cloud computing concepts: shared resources, IaaS/PaaS/SaaS models
- Cloud storage and virtual desktop concepts
Domain 5: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%)
The heaviest domain on the entire Core 1 exam. It applies structured troubleshooting logic to the hardware and networking content from the earlier domains.
- Systematic troubleshooting methodology applied to real symptoms
- Diagnosing hardware failures (POST codes, boot issues, component failures)
- Diagnosing connectivity and network performance problems
Key Takeaway
Because Hardware and Hardware/Network Troubleshooting together make up more than half of Core 1's weight (53%), candidates who deeply understand PC components before tackling troubleshooting scenarios move faster through practice questions.
Core 2 (220-1202) Domains Explained
Core 2 shifts focus to software: operating systems, security, troubleshooting software issues, and the operational procedures that professional technicians follow on the job.
Domain 6: Operating Systems (28%)
Tied for the heaviest domain on Core 2. Covers OS installation, configuration, and administration across major platforms.
- Windows administration: command line tools, control panel utilities, and OS features
- macOS, Linux, and mobile OS basics and comparisons
- OS installation methods and imaging concepts
Domain 7: Security (28%)
Also tied at the top of Core 2. Covers threats, mitigation techniques, and security best practices technicians apply daily.
- Malware types, attack vectors, and social engineering tactics
- Wireless and workstation security configurations
- Physical security, authentication, and access control concepts
Domain 8: Software Troubleshooting (23%)
Applies the troubleshooting mindset from Core 1 to OS and application-level problems.
- Diagnosing OS boot and performance issues
- Resolving application and security-related symptoms
- Mobile OS and application troubleshooting
Domain 9: Operational Procedures (21%)
Covers the professional and procedural side of IT support work - documentation, safety, and communication.
- Change management and documentation best practices
- Safety procedures and environmental controls
- Professionalism, communication techniques, and scripting basics
Notice that Operating Systems and Security are tied at the top of Core 2, each worth 28% - a detail candidates often overlook when they assume Security is the "smaller" topic. For a deeper dive into how difficult these domains feel in practice compared to their raw weight, see How Hard Is the A Plus Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Domain Weight Comparison Table
| Domain | Exam | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Devices | Core 1 (220-1201) | 13% |
| Networking | Core 1 (220-1201) | 23% |
| Hardware | Core 1 (220-1201) | 25% |
| Virtualization and Cloud Computing | Core 1 (220-1201) | 11% |
| Hardware and Network Troubleshooting | Core 1 (220-1201) | 28% |
| Operating Systems | Core 2 (220-1202) | 28% |
| Security | Core 2 (220-1202) | 28% |
| Software Troubleshooting | Core 2 (220-1202) | 23% |
| Operational Procedures | Core 2 (220-1202) | 21% |
How to Allocate Study Time by Domain
A common mistake is spending equal time on all nine domains. Since the exam questions are weighted, your study hours should roughly mirror those weights - with extra time reserved for troubleshooting domains, which require synthesizing knowledge from earlier sections rather than pure memorization.
Core 1 Foundations
- Study Mobile Devices and Virtualization/Cloud Computing (lower weight, faster to complete)
- Begin Hardware domain - the largest standalone Core 1 knowledge area at 25%
Networking and Troubleshooting
- Complete Networking (23%)
- Spend extra time on Hardware and Network Troubleshooting since it's 28% of Core 1 and draws on everything before it
Core 2 Heavy Hitters
- Study Operating Systems and Security in parallel - both are 28% of Core 2
- Use hands-on OS command line practice, not just flashcards
Software Troubleshooting and Wrap-Up
- Cover Software Troubleshooting (23%) and Operational Procedures (21%)
- Run full-length practice exams under timed conditions on ../
For a condensed version of this plan with day-by-day detail, the A Plus Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt walks through pacing in more depth. If you just need a fast reference the week before your exam, the A Plus Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts condenses the highest-yield facts from all nine domains onto one page.
Question Formats You'll See in Each Domain
Regardless of which domain a question falls into, both Core 1 and Core 2 use the same mix of question types, delivered in English through Pearson VUE test centers or OnVUE online proctoring:
- Single-response multiple choice - the most common format, testing recall and single-concept application
- Multiple-response multiple choice - requires selecting more than one correct answer, common in Security and Networking domains
- Drag-and-drop - frequently used in Hardware and Operating Systems domains to test matching components, ports, or commands to their function
- Performance-based questions (PBQs) - simulate real troubleshooting scenarios, most heavily concentrated in the Hardware and Network Troubleshooting and Software Troubleshooting domains
Each exam allows up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, and scores are reported immediately at the test center on a 100-900 scale. You need 675 on Core 1 and 700 on Core 2 to pass - details worth reviewing in full at A Plus Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Who Hires for These Skills
The nine domains map directly onto real job functions. CompTIA A+ exams are ANSI-accredited to ISO 17024 and align with DoD 8140 approved work roles, including technical support specialist, system administrator, and cyber defense infrastructure support specialist. Employers hiring for help desk, desktop support, and junior sysadmin roles expect familiarity with exactly the content in these nine domains - from mobile device repair to OS administration to baseline security practices.
CompTIA recommends roughly 12 months of hands-on IT support experience before attempting the exams, though there are no formal prerequisites. If you're mapping domain knowledge to actual career paths, A Plus Jobs outlines common entry points, and A Plus Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis covers how this credential factors into compensation conversations. For a broader look at return on the time and money invested, see Is the A Plus Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026.
Key Takeaway
Because troubleshooting domains sit at the top of both exams' weighting, employers reading your resume assume you can diagnose problems methodically - not just recite specs. Practice scenario-based PBQs on ../ to build that muscle before test day.
Certification Validity and What Happens After You Pass
Once you pass both Core 1 and Core 2, the certification is valid for three years. Renewal happens through CompTIA's Continuing Education program - 20 CEUs plus a $25 annual CE fee ($75 per three-year cycle) - or by completing CertMaster CE, or automatically if you earn a qualifying higher-level CompTIA certification, which waives the CE fees entirely. The current V15 series launched March 25, 2025 and is estimated to retire in 2028, so anyone certifying now is working within a fairly long runway before the next version cycle.
If you're still deciding whether this credential fits your goals at all, start with What Is A Plus Certification? or the broader A Plus Certification overview before committing to a study timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
There's no mandated order, but many candidates start with Mobile Devices and Virtualization and Cloud Computing on Core 1 since they're lower-weight and conceptually contained, then build toward Hardware and Hardware/Network Troubleshooting, which require more integrated knowledge.
Yes. Both domains are weighted at 28% of Core 2, making them the two heaviest domains on that exam and together representing more than half of the questions you'll see.
No. Since passing is based on overall scaled score (675 for Core 1, 700 for Core 2) rather than domain-by-domain minimums, you can offset a weaker low-weight domain with strong performance in a heavier one - though it's risky to skip any domain entirely.
No. Certification requires both Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202) to come from the same V15 series. Mixing a retired 220-1101 or 220-1102 pass with a V15 exam is not permitted.
Practicing with domain-tagged questions on ../ lets you see exactly how your accuracy breaks down by domain weight, so you can spend remaining study time where it will move your score the most.
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