The CompTIA A+ 220-1202 exam is a key step for anyone building a career in IT support. It focuses on the software, security, troubleshooting, and operational skills that help desk technicians and support specialists use every day.
Passing Core 2, along with Core 1, shows employers you can work through common technical issues in a structured and practical way.
This guide explains the current 220-1202 exam format, the domains you need to study, the question types you will see, and how to prepare in a way that builds confidence before test day.
Understanding the CompTIA A+ 220-1202 (V15) Exam
CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) is the second of the two exams required to earn the A+ certification. It covers four main areas: operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures.
CompTIA launched version V15 on March 25, 2025, and notes that A+ exam versions usually retire about three years after launch, with V15 estimated to retire in 2028.
Exam Structure And Format
The 220-1202 exam includes a maximum of 90 questions and gives you 90 minutes to finish. Question types include multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions. CompTIA also states that Core 1 and Core 2 must be taken from the same version, so candidates who choose V15 for one exam must use V15 for the other as well.
Recommended experience is 12 months in an IT support role, but that is guidance rather than a strict requirement. The exam is currently listed in English.
Core Domains Covered
The exam is divided into four weighted domains:
- Operating Systems: 28%
- Security: 28%
- Software Troubleshooting: 23%
- Operational Procedures: 21%
Because Operating Systems and Security make up more than half of the exam, many candidates give those areas extra attention. That said, the lower-weighted domains still matter. A balanced study plan is usually the best approach because questions can come from any objective area.
The official Core 2 outline emphasizes skills such as managing Windows, macOS, and Linux environments, applying security controls, troubleshooting software problems, and following documentation, backup, and change-management procedures.
Passing Score Requirements
To pass 220-1202, you need a score of 700 on a scale of 100 to 900. CompTIA publishes the passing score, but it does not state a simple percentage threshold because scaled scoring is used.
That means it is better to focus on mastering the objectives and handling simulations well than trying to convert the score into an exact percentage target.
Question Types You Will Encounter
CompTIA lists three main question formats on the current A+ exams: multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions. The performance-based items are especially important because they test how you apply knowledge in realistic support scenarios rather than just recalling facts.
Strong preparation should include both concept review and hands-on practice so you are comfortable moving between straightforward questions and scenario-based tasks.
Creating Your Study Plan
A clear study plan helps you cover the full exam without rushing through major topics at the end. The current 220-1202 exam includes up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, so your preparation should build both knowledge and pacing.
CompTIA also recommends 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist role, although that is guidance rather than a strict requirement.
How Long to Study for the Exam
The right timeline depends on your background. Candidates who are new to IT usually need a longer runway because they are learning both the exam content and the practical context behind it. Those with some support experience can often move faster because many of the troubleshooting steps and operating system concepts already feel familiar.
Instead of relying on broad pass-rate claims or generic study-hour estimates, it is more useful to build your timeline around consistency. A steady schedule of 7 to 10 focused hours per week is often easier to maintain than occasional long sessions. That gives you room to review objectives, practice questions, and hands-on tasks without burning out.
CompTIA’s current A+ pages are the best starting point for setting expectations because they confirm the version, domain weights, question types, and score requirements for V15. Reviewing those details first helps you avoid outdated advice.
Setting Realistic Study Goals
Start by downloading the official 220-1202 exam objectives and using them as your checklist.
The Core 2 blueprint is divided into four domains:
- Operating Systems: 28%
- Security: 28%
- Software Troubleshooting: 23%
- Operational Procedures: 21%
Because Operating Systems and Security make up more than half of the exam, they deserve extra time in your schedule. Still, it is a mistake to ignore the other two domains. A realistic plan should break your study into weekly goals tied to those objectives, with time set aside for review, practice questions, and hands-on troubleshooting.
Daily sessions of one to two hours are often enough when the work is focused. The main goal is to keep moving through the objectives in a structured way and revisit weaker topics before they pile up.
Building a Week-by-Week Schedule
A simple week-by-week structure can make the exam feel more manageable.
- Week 1: Review the official objectives, build your calendar, and gather your study materials.
- Week 2: Focus on operating systems, including installation methods, tools, updates, and basic administration tasks.
- Week 3: Move into security topics such as authentication, access control, malware prevention, and wireless security.
- Week 4: Study software troubleshooting and start working through short, timed practice sets.
- Week 5: Cover operational procedures, including documentation, backups, safety, and communication.
- Week 6: Take full practice exams, review weak areas, and spend more time on PBQ-style tasks.
This type of schedule lines up better with the actual Core 2 domains than a mixed plan that drifts into Core 1 topics like hardware and networking. It also keeps your time aligned with what the 220-1202 exam actually tests.
Hands-on work should be part of the schedule from the beginning. Virtual machines are useful for practicing common operating system tasks, updating issues, user management, command-line tools, permissions, and troubleshooting steps without risking your main device.
What Is Tested In The 220-1202 Exam
Each domain in the 220-1202 exam covers a different part of day-to-day IT support work. Understanding those categories makes it easier to divide your study time and spot weak areas early.
Operating Systems (28%)
This domain covers desktop and mobile operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile platforms. You should be ready to work with common tools, installation methods, updates, partitions, file systems, and basic administration tasks. A practical understanding of how operating systems behave in real support environments is more useful than memorizing isolated facts.
Security (28%)
Security focuses on protecting systems and users through proper controls, access management, wireless security, malware prevention, and safe support practices. Core 2 expects candidates to understand both technical measures, such as authentication and endpoint protection, and support decisions, such as when to apply least privilege or escalate a security issue. Because security shares the highest weighting on the exam, it deserves steady attention throughout your study plan.
Software Troubleshooting (23%)
Software Troubleshooting measures how well you diagnose and resolve common operating system, application, and mobile device problems. This includes boot failures, crashes, slow performance, update issues, connectivity problems, and malware-related symptoms. The best way to prepare for this section is to practice troubleshooting in steps, not just memorize fixes.
Operational Procedures (21%)
Operational Procedures covers the standards that make support work consistent and professional. That includes documentation, ticket handling, safety practices, backup methods, recovery planning, communication, and change management. These topics may look less technical at first glance, but they matter because they reflect how support teams actually work in production environments.
How To Prepare More Effectively
A good study plan for 220-1202 should combine objective review, timed question practice, and hands-on work. Start by learning the official exam areas, then spend extra time on the domains where your scores are weakest. As your exam date approaches, shift toward timed practice to build pacing and confidence under pressure.
Practice resources also matter. The official CompTIA exam page is useful for confirming current exam details and objectives, while practice platforms can help you apply what you learn in exam-style scenarios.
For candidates who want targeted Core 2 prep, Crucial Exams offers 220-1202 study materials, including practice tests, question banks, flashcards, and performance-based questions aligned with the current V15 objectives.
The page currently lists 1,000 questions, 174 flashcards, and 7 PBQs, along with a free no-signup test option.
It also helps to keep one official source in your routine. CompTIA’s current A+ pages confirm the latest version, exam length, score requirements, and version rules, which can help you avoid outdated study advice.
Conclusion
The CompTIA A+ 220-1202 exam tests practical knowledge that matters in real IT support roles. If you understand the exam structure, focus on the four domains, and spend time with both objective review and realistic practice, you will be in a much stronger position on exam day.
Operating Systems and Security deserve extra attention because of their weighting, but the best results usually come from steady preparation across the full blueprint.
For candidates looking for structured Core 2 practice, Crucial Exams stands out for its broad question bank, PBQ coverage, and flexible study options tied to the current V15 exam.
