CompTIA A+ Study Guide 2026: Core 1 (220-1201) & Core 2 Plan

CompTIA A+ is the starting line for IT careers. Two exams, up to 180 questions in total, and a $548 investment stand between you and CompTIA’s entry-level IT certification. This guide covers Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202): the week-by-week plan, the books written for those exam codes, and what you can get free.

Core 1 vs Core 2: What Each Exam Covers

Core 1 (220-1201) — Hardware & Networking

• Mobile Devices (13%): Laptop hardware, mobile device connectivity, mobile OS features
• Networking (23%): TCP/IP, ports, protocols, networking hardware, wireless standards
• Hardware (25%): Motherboards, RAM, CPUs, storage, printers, peripherals
• Virtualization & Cloud (11%): Virtual machines, cloud concepts, cloud services
• Troubleshooting (28%): Hardware, networking, mobile, and printer troubleshooting

Core 2 (220-1202) — Software & Security

• Operating Systems (28%): Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile OS installation and configuration
• Security (28%): Malware, social engineering, physical security, encryption basics
• Software Troubleshooting (23%): OS, application, and security troubleshooting
• Operational Procedures (21%): Documentation, change management, disaster recovery, scripting basics

Realistic Study Timeline

• Complete IT beginners: 10-14 weeks total (5-7 per exam), 2 hours/day
• Some IT experience (home lab, help desk, self-taught): 8-10 weeks total (4-5 per exam), 1.5-2 hours/day
• Working IT professionals: 4-6 weeks total (2-3 per exam), 1-2 hours/day

Critical rule: Study and pass Core 1 before starting Core 2. Studying both simultaneously splits your focus and delays both exams. Core 1 hardware knowledge also helps with Core 2 troubleshooting scenarios. Once you pass A+, see our guide on A+ vs Network+: which to get next.

The A+ Study Plan

Core 1 Phase (Weeks 1-5)

Weeks 1-2: Networking and Hardware (Domains 2 and 3). These are the two largest domains and overlap significantly. Learn them together. Use battle mode to practice recall as you learn each topic.

Weeks 3-4: Mobile Devices, Virtualization, and Cloud (Domains 1 and 4). These are smaller domains but often tested with scenario-based questions. Practice connecting concepts across domains.

Week 5: Troubleshooting (Domain 5) and practice exams. Troubleshooting questions draw from all other domains — this is where your combined knowledge gets tested.

Core 2 Phase (Weeks 6-10)

Weeks 6-7: Operating Systems (Domain 1 — 28% of the exam). It ties with Security as the largest domain on Core 2. Know Windows command-line tools, Control Panel vs Settings, Linux commands, and macOS basics.

Weeks 8-9: Security and Software Troubleshooting (Domains 2 and 3). Security content previews Security+ — if you plan to get Security+ next, invest extra time here. Use flashcards for malware types and security best practices.

Week 10: Operational Procedures, review, and practice exams. Use PvP mode to test under exam-like pressure. Book the exam once you pass full-length practice tests you have not seen before and can explain every wrong answer.

Which CompTIA A+ study guide is best?

For most first-timers, Mike Meyers’ CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Twelfth Edition is the best single book. It is written to the 220-1201 and 220-1202 objectives and puts both cores in one volume. If you want more depth per topic, Sybex’s CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide, 6th Edition by Quentin Docter and Jon Buhagiar is the heavier alternative: two volumes, 1,920 pages. Either book works best next to Professor Messer’s free videos.

Check the exam code on the cover before you buy. The Meyers Eleventh Edition is still widely listed, and it teaches the retired 220-1101/1102 objectives, not the V15 exams you will sit.

Best A+ Study Resources, Ranked

Ranked by how much of the V15 exams each one covers for the money. Read the “Exam codes” column first: anything that says 220-1101 or 220-1102 was written for the retired version. Links go to the publisher or the official page (checked September 25, 2026).

Is there a free A+ study guide?

Yes. Professor Messer’s 220-1201 and 220-1202 video courses are free and walk through every objective. Add CompTIA’s free V15 exam objectives as your checklist and you have a complete free study guide. The one thing you will not get free is a full textbook; both books in the table are paid.

For practice questions, SecuSpark has 3 practice exams per certification included on the free tier, with no credit card needed. Know this before you use it for A+: SecuSpark's A+ practice bank covers the retired 220-1101 Core 1 objectives; Core 2 is not in the bank. Plenty of Core 1 hardware and networking content carries over between versions, but treat it as Core 1 recall practice, not as a V15 mock exam.

A+ Study Tips That Actually Matter

1. Do not memorize — understand. A+ tests scenarios, not definitions. "What port does HTTPS use?" is easy. "A user reports they cannot access a secure website after a network change — what should you check first?" requires understanding.
2. Practice troubleshooting methodology. CompTIA loves their troubleshooting model: Identify the problem, establish a theory, test the theory, establish a plan, implement the solution, verify, document. Know this cold.
3. Use active recall from day one. Read a chapter, then immediately test yourself with battle mode. If you cannot answer questions about what you just read, you did not learn it — you just read it.
4. Do not skip performance-based questions practice. PBQs appear on both exams and take longer than multiple choice. Practice drag-and-drop, simulation, and ordering questions.

Related Guides

• A+ vs Network+: which cert next? — plan your path after A+
• CompTIA certification path guide — the full roadmap from A+ to SecurityX
• CompTIA exam costs in 2026 — pricing, bundles, and how to save on vouchers

SecuSpark is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by CompTIA. CompTIA and A+ are trademarks of CompTIA, Inc.