CompTIA · 220-1202
CompTIA A+ Core 2 practice exams
CompTIA's entry-level software and security exam — the second half of the A+ pair, covering operating systems and the day-to-day of IT support.
Or read 15 sample questions with answers.
Try a real 220-1202 question
A workstation fails during startup, but only when a certain third-party service loads. A technician wants to hide all Microsoft services, disable all remaining third-party services, and then re-enable them one at a time across restarts until the problem returns. Which tool is designed for this approach?
About the 220-1202 exam
CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) validates the operating-system, security, software-troubleshooting, and operational-procedures skills expected of a working IT support technician — the software-and-process half of the A+ pair, complementing Core 1's hardware focus.
Both Core 1 and Core 2 must be passed to earn the A+ certification. Core 2 leans more heavily on Windows administration and baseline security practice than Core 1 does, and its Operational Procedures domain covers the soft-skill and documentation expectations of a professional support technician — safety, communication, and change-management basics that don't fit neatly under 'hardware' or 'software' but come up constantly on the job.
The real exam
Public information published by CompTIA. A CertRidge practice exam matches this format — it is not a copy of the exam's contents.
- Format
- Up to 90 questions (multiple choice and performance-based) in 90 minutes. Delivered at a Pearson VUE test centre or online with a proctor.
- Cost
- Approximately 265 USD per exam — both Core 1 and Core 2 must be passed for the full certification — before regional pricing and taxes.
- Scoring
- Scored on a 100–900 scale; 700 is the passing mark for Core 2. CompTIA does not publish the exact question-to-scale conversion.
- Validity
- Valid for 3 years; renewed through CompTIA's continuing-education programme or by passing a higher-level exam.
Practice by exam domain
CertRidge practice exams draw questions in these same proportions, from a bank of 560 220-1202 questions. Open a domain for what it covers and free questions with answers.
Who it's for
- People completing the A+ pair after Core 1, on the way to the full certification
- Help-desk and desktop-support staff who spend most of their time in Windows, not inside a chassis
- Anyone whose role includes basic security hygiene for end-user devices — malware removal, permissions, safe disposal — without a dedicated security team
How to prepare
- Operating Systems and Security are tied for the largest share of the exam at 28% each — over half the exam between them.
- Know the Windows tools by name and purpose: Task Manager, Device Manager, Disk Management, Services, Event Viewer, msconfig, and the differences between Control Panel and Settings.
- Be fluent in the malware-removal process order (quarantine, disable System Restore, remediate, update and scan, re-enable System Restore, educate the user) — it's tested as a sequence, not just a definition.
- Practise the operational-procedures material even though it feels 'soft' — safety data sheets, proper disposal, change-management documentation, and professional communication all show up as scored questions.
See the free 220-1202 cheat sheet for a one-page domain summary, the 220-1202 study guide for how to plan your preparation, and the content policy for how these questions are written.
Free 220-1202 practice resources
- 15 free 220-1202 practice questionsSpread across every domain, each with the answer and an explanation for every option.
- Free 10-question diagnosticA quick, scored check of where you stand, with no account needed.
- 220-1202 cheat sheetThe domains and the facts that come up most, on one page.
- 220-1202 study guideHow to plan your preparation, week by week.
220-1202 questions, answered
- How much does the 220-1202 exam cost?
- Approximately 265 USD per exam — both Core 1 and Core 2 must be passed for the full certification — before regional pricing and taxes.
- What is the 220-1202 passing score?
- Scored on a 100–900 scale; 700 is the passing mark for Core 2. CompTIA does not publish the exact question-to-scale conversion.
- How many questions are on the 220-1202 exam?
- Up to 90 questions (multiple choice and performance-based) in 90 minutes. Delivered at a Pearson VUE test centre or online with a proctor.
- How long is the 220-1202 certification valid?
- Valid for 3 years; renewed through CompTIA's continuing-education programme or by passing a higher-level exam.
- Where can I practise 220-1202 questions for free?
- CertRidge has a free 10-question 220-1202 diagnostic with every answer explained, no account needed, and 15 free sample questions with answers at certridge.com/certifications/comptia-a-plus-core-2/practice-questions. All questions are original, written to the published exam objectives.