Is CompTIA A+ Hard? 220-1201 & 220-1202 Difficulty Guide (2026)

CompTIA A+ has a reputation problem in both directions. Career changers hear "entry-level" and assume it's a weekend of flashcards; working technicians hear "the easy CompTIA" and walk in cold. Both underestimate it. A+ is genuinely passable from zero IT experience — thousands of people do it every year — but it's two exams, it's broad, and the performance-based questions catch people who only memorized.

Here's an honest look at how hard the A+ actually is in 2026, who breezes through, who struggles, and how to know when you're ready.

A+ exam logistics (verified for 2026)

A+ is not one exam — it's two, and you need to pass both (in either order) to earn the certification. The current version is the V15 series: 220-1201 (Core 1) and 220-1202 (Core 2), which launched March 25, 2025 and replaced the retiring 220-1101/1102 pair.

| Detail | Core 1 (220-1201) | Core 2 (220-1202) |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | Up to 90 | Up to 90 |
| Format | Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, performance-based (PBQs) | Same |
| Duration | 90 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 675 on a 100–900 scale | 700 on a 100–900 scale |
| Cost | $246 USD per exam (store.comptia.org list) | $246 USD per exam |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE test center or online proctored | Same |
| Prerequisites | None (CompTIA recommends ~12 months of hands-on IT support experience) | Same |
| Validity | 3 years (renewable via CE program) | 3 years |

Two numbers people miss: you're paying twice (two ~$246 vouchers, roughly $492 for the full cert at list price, before any partner discount), and the passing bars differ — Core 2 is set slightly higher at 700 versus Core 1's 675.

On pass rates: CompTIA does not publish pass rates for the A+ or any of its exams. Any article quoting "the A+ pass rate is 84%" is citing a training vendor's own marketing sample, not an official figure. Treat every specific percentage you see as invented.

Core 1 vs. Core 2: which is harder?

Most people who take both rate Core 2 (220-1202) as the harder of the two. Core 1 leans on hardware, mobile devices, networking basics, and cloud/virtualization concepts — a lot of it is recognition and spec memorization. Core 2 covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures, which demand more scenario judgment: given these symptoms, what do you do first?

The conventional order is Core 1 first, then Core 2, and it's a reasonable default. But there's no rule enforcing it — if your background is stronger on the software/security side, taking Core 2 first is defensible. What you shouldn't do is let months lapse between them; the content overlaps enough that studying them close together is more efficient.

Who finds it easy

• People who already fix computers. Helpdesk staff, PC repair hobbyists, and anyone who's built a machine or reimaged a laptop will recognize half of Core 1 immediately. Your risk area is the formal vocabulary and the operational-procedures content, not the tech.
• Career changers who actually put in the hours. A+ rewards steady, structured study more than raw talent. People with no IT background pass constantly — they just budget months, not weeks.
• Anyone comfortable with breadth. A+ is a mile wide and an inch deep. If you'd rather learn a little about many topics than go deep on one, the format suits you.

Who finds it hard

• Complete beginners who treat it like trivia. A+ assumes you can reason about why a device behaves a certain way, not just recall a definition. Flashcard-only prep hits a wall at the PBQs.
• Experienced techs who skip the "boring" domains. Operational procedures — safety, documentation, change management, communication, environmental controls — feel like filler to hands-on people, so they under-study it and lose easy points.
• Slow or anxious test-takers. Up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, twice, with PBQs that can eat several minutes each. It's not brutal time pressure, but it punishes people who freeze on the simulations.

What actually trips people up

• PBQs, and their placement. The performance-based questions — drag-and-drop, ordering troubleshooting steps, configuring a simulated setting — often appear at the start of the exam. Hitting them cold at question one burns time and rattles confidence. Standard tactic: flag the heavy PBQs, clear the multiple choice, come back.
• The CompTIA troubleshooting methodology. Core 1 and Core 2 both test the six-step troubleshooting process (identify the problem → establish a theory → test it → plan of action → verify → document). "What do you do FIRST?" questions grade you against that order, not your instinct.
• Ports, protocols, and connector specs. Core 1 wants you to recognize common ports, cable types, RAM/storage form factors, and connector standards on sight. Pure memorization, heavily tested.
• Windows-heavy OS content. Core 2 leans hard on Windows features, editions, command-line tools, and settings locations — more than many self-taught Linux/Mac users expect.
• Security in Core 2. Malware types and removal steps, social-engineering attacks, and basic hardening show up more than beginners anticipate. It's a preview of why so many A+ holders go on to Network+ and Security+.

Realistic study hours by background

• Working IT/helpdesk experience: 40–80 hours total across both exams over 4–8 weeks. Focus on the domains you don't touch daily — usually operational procedures and the security content.
• Some tech comfort, no professional IT: 80–150 hours over 2–3 months. A structured video course plus heavy practice-question reps is the standard path.
• No IT background at all: 150–250+ hours over 3–6 months, both exams included. This is the most common A+ candidate, and the honest timeline is months of consistent study, not a bootcamp weekend.

These ranges assume focused study. "Zero to A+ in two weeks" plans exist mostly to sell you something.

How to know you're ready

Practice-exam scores are your most reliable readiness signal, since CompTIA won't tell you a pass rate.

• Consistently scoring 85%+ on fresh, full-length practice exams for each Core. The passing bars (675 and 700 on a 100–900 scale) work out to roughly the mid-70s in percentage terms, so an 85% cushion on questions you haven't seen absorbs exam-day nerves and odd wording.
• You can explain the troubleshooting steps in order without thinking. If "establish a theory of probable cause" isn't automatic, the FIRST/NEXT questions will get you.
• PBQs don't spike your heart rate. Do at least two timed runs per Core where you flag the simulations, finish the multiple choice, and return. Pacing is a trained skill.
• No domain sitting below 70%. A 90% overall built on a 55% in operational procedures is shakier than a flat 80% everywhere.

If you're hitting those marks a week out, book it. Waiting for a perfect 95% is procrastination in a costume.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Forgetting it's two exams and two fees. Budget for both ~$246 vouchers up front so a surprise cost doesn't stall your Core 2 attempt.
2. Studying only multiple-choice. The PBQs are where unprepared candidates bleed points. Practice the simulation format specifically.
3. Skipping operational procedures. It feels like filler and it's free points if you study it — a bad domain to punt on.
4. Using braindumps. Beyond the ethics and the ban risk, CompTIA rotates its item pool; dump-memorizers fail on new phrasings of the same concept.
5. Letting a rough PBQ set your mood. A shaky first ten minutes is normal and recoverable. Most of your points live in the multiple choice.

Practice with realistic A+ questions

The gap between "I watched the course" and "I can pass" closes with volume on realistic questions that explain the why. CertBase's CompTIA A+ practice exam covers both cores with nearly 500 independently verified questions — fully rebuilt to the 220-1201/1202 objectives in July 2026 — each with a detailed explanation of the correct choice and why the distractors fail, exactly the reasoning the PBQs and FIRST/NEXT questions test. One-time purchase, lifetime access, free sample questions on the exam page, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Compared to a ~$246 retake, it's cheap insurance.

FAQ

Is CompTIA A+ harder than Network+ or Security+?

For most people, no — A+ is the broadest but shallowest of the three, and it's designed as the entry point. Network+ and Security+ go deeper on their subjects and assume more foundational knowledge. That said, A+ covers more surface area than either, so "easier" doesn't mean "small."

Can I pass A+ in two weeks?

With solid hands-on IT experience and full-time study, passing both exams in two weeks is possible but aggressive. From no IT background, it's not a realistic plan — budget two to six months. The honest fast lane for working IT folks is four to eight weeks.

Do I have to take Core 1 before Core 2?

No. You need to pass both, but the order is up to you and there's no time requirement between them. Core 1 first is the common default; Core 2 first can make sense if your strengths are on the OS/security side. Just don't let a long gap open between them.

What is the CompTIA A+ pass rate?

CompTIA doesn't publish one, and never has. Any specific figure online comes from a vendor's own sample or is simply invented. The useful proxy is your own performance: consistent 85%+ on quality practice exams predicts a pass far better than any internet statistic.