CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202)

Buy V15 (220-1202) materials only. V14 (220-1102) retired September 25, 2025 (English) / December 19, 2025 (other languages) — anything published before March 2025 will be missing AI fundamentals in IT support, Zero Trust, modern auth (FIDO2/passkeys), Windows 11 specifics, and refreshed filesystem coverage (ReFS/XFS). Check the cover/intro page for the 220-1202 code before paying.

Core 2's pass mark is 700/900 — that's 25 points higher than Core 1's 675. The exam interface still shows your scaled score immediately after submission, so candidates who barely passed Core 1 should aim for a margin on Core 2 rather than studying to the minimum.

Security and Operating Systems together are 56% of the exam. If you have only one weekend before exam day, drill those two — specifically NTFS permissions, command-line tools (Windows + Linux), Windows 11 paths, MFA/Zero Trust, malware-to-symptom mapping, and the social-engineering vocabulary list.

Linux and macOS questions trip up Windows-only candidates. Even though you may never touch them at work, the exam treats them as first-class. Memorize the top-20 Linux commands, the chmod numeric-to-symbolic mapping, and the macOS feature names (FileVault = encryption, Time Machine = backup, Mission Control = window switcher, Spotlight = search, Boot Camp = Windows dual-boot).

The CompTIA troubleshooting methodology is testable on Core 2 in scenario form (the same six-step order as on Core 1: identify the problem → establish a theory → test the theory → plan and implement the solution → verify functionality → document findings). On Core 2 it most often appears wrapped around malware-removal scenarios — the 220-1202 malware-removal procedure proceeds: investigate and verify malware symptoms → quarantine infected systems → disable System Restore → update anti-malware software → use scan and removal techniques → reimage/reinstall if needed → schedule scans and run updates → re-enable System Restore and create a clean restore point → educate the end user. Memorize the ORDER, not a step number — V15 expanded the procedure from the V14 form most older study guides print.

Performance-based questions on Core 2 most often test command-line use, permission assignment, account-policy configuration, and security-setting screens. CompTIA's official guidance: simulation PBQs can be skipped and returned to; virtual-environment PBQs cannot be navigated away from. Treat PBQ scoring details as confidential — focus on completing every PBQ fully rather than optimizing time spent on each.

The Operational Procedures domain (21%) is the highest-yield easy-points block on the exam. It covers change management, documentation, safety (ESD, MSDS, lifting technique), environmental controls (humidity, temperature), incident response, communication and professionalism, and the change-management workflow. Most of it is reading comprehension — drill the change-control sequence and the troubleshooting methodology order verbatim.

Memorize file paths and command flags exactly. The exam regularly tests subtle distractors like %systemroot% vs %windir% vs %systemdrive%, sfc /scannow vs /verifyonly, gpresult /r vs /v vs /z, robocopy /MIR vs /MOV vs /MOVE. These are pure memorization questions — no shortcut.

Both Cores must be from the same version. If you pass 220-1201 you must pair it with 220-1202 — you cannot mix 220-1102 (the retired Core 2) with 220-1201. CompTIA does not let you carry credit across versions. Plan to sit both within the V15 lifetime (estimated 2025-2028).

Communication and professionalism questions are softer than the rest of the exam but unforgiving on tone. The 'correct' answer is always: be calm, set realistic expectations, do not minimize the customer's problem, do not use jargon, do not interrupt, follow up, and never blame the user. When in doubt, pick the most empathetic and least-disclosing option.