CompTIA A+ (220-1201 and 220-1202) Study Plan¶

10-Week Schedule for Both Exams¶

This plan takes Core 1 at the end of week 5 and Core 2 at the end of week 10. Book both exams on day one: a date on the calendar keeps the plan honest. Both exams must come from the same series (V15), so do not leave a long gap between them. CompTIA estimates V15 retirement in 2028, so this is only a risk if you stall for years, but a Core 1 pass does not carry over to a new series.

Budget about 10-12 hours a week. Increase it if you are new to IT, shorten it if you already work in support.

Week 1: Mobile Devices and Networking Foundations¶

Day 1-2: Mobile Devices¶

• Laptop replaceable parts: battery, keyboard, SODIMM, SSD, wireless card, antenna, webcam
• Connection methods: USB-C, microUSB, Lightning, NFC, Bluetooth, tethering, hotspot
• Docking station vs port replicator
• Review Notes: 01-mobile-devices.md

Day 3-4: Mobile Connectivity and MDM¶

• Cellular data, SIM vs eSIM, hotspot
• Bluetooth pairing steps in order
• Location services, MDM, BYOD vs corporate-owned, synchronization and data caps
• Review Notes: 01-mobile-devices.md

Day 5-6: Ports and Protocols¶

• Memorize the 14 ports in objective 2.1 both directions
• TCP vs UDP
• POP3 vs IMAP, Telnet vs SSH, HTTP vs HTTPS
• Review Notes: 02-networking.md

Day 7: Week 1 Review¶

• Port flashcards until 100% from memory
• 20 practice questions on mobile and ports (target: 70%+)

Week 2: Networking¶

Day 8-9: Wireless and Services¶

• 2.4, 5, 6 GHz trade-offs, channels ⅙/11, channel widths
• 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be table
• Server roles, spam gateway, UTM, load balancer, proxy, SCADA, IoT
• Review Notes: 02-networking.md

Day 10-11: Configuration and Hardware¶

• DNS records: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, and SPF/DKIM/DMARC
• DHCP scope, lease, reservation, exclusion
• Routers, managed vs unmanaged switches, AP, patch panel, firewall, PoE standards, ONT, cable modem, DSL
• Review Notes: 02-networking.md

Day 12-13: SOHO and Connection Types¶

• Private ranges, APIPA, loopback, IPv6 basics
• Configure a SOHO router in a lab (DHCP reservation, WPA3, guest network)
• Internet connection types and network types
• Networking tools: crimper, punchdown, toner probe, cable tester, loopback, tap
• Review Notes: 02-networking.md

Day 14: Week 2 Review¶

• 30 networking practice questions (target: 70%+)
• Draw the SOHO network from memory

Week 3: Hardware¶

Day 15-16: Displays and Cables¶

• LCD types (IPS, TN, VA), OLED, Mini-LED, attributes
• Cat 5e to Cat 8 table, T568A/B, plenum, direct burial
• Fiber: single-mode vs multimode, ST/SC/LC
• Video: HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, USB-C. Peripheral: USB versions, Thunderbolt, serial
• Review Notes: 03-hardware.md

Day 17-18: RAM, Storage, RAID¶

• DIMM vs SODIMM, DDR generations, ECC, channels
• HDD speeds and sizes, SATA vs NVMe vs SAS, M.2 keying, mSATA
• RAID 0/⅕/6/10: minimum drives, fault tolerance, usable capacity
• Review Notes: 03-hardware.md

Day 19-20: Motherboards, CPUs, Power¶

• ATX, microATX, ITX. PCIe lanes, headers, M.2
• Sockets, x64 vs ARM, cores, virtualization support
• UEFI settings: boot options, Secure Boot, TPM, passwords, USB permissions
• PSU: input voltage, rails, 20+4, modular, redundant, wattage, efficiency
• Hands-on: take apart and rebuild a PC
• Review Notes: 03-hardware.md

Day 21: Week 3 Review¶

• 30 hardware practice questions (target: 70%+)
• Drill the RAID and cable tables from memory

Week 4: Printers, Virtualization, Cloud¶

Day 22-23: Printers¶

• MFD deployment: drivers (PCL vs PostScript), connectivity, sharing, security, scan services
• Laser 7 steps in order
• Maintenance for laser, inkjet, thermal, impact
• Review Notes: 03-hardware.md

Day 24-25: Virtualization and Cloud¶

• VM purposes, Type 1 vs Type 2, containers, VDI, requirements
• Cloud models: public, private, hybrid, community. IaaS, PaaS, SaaS
• Characteristics: metered, ingress/egress, elasticity, multitenancy
• Hands-on: build a VM in VirtualBox or Hyper-V
• Review Notes: 04-virtualization-cloud.md

Day 26-27: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting¶

• Troubleshooting methodology (competency, not tested as an objective)
• Symptom tables for 5.1 to 5.6
• Review Notes: 05-hardware-network-troubleshooting.md

Day 28: Week 4 Review¶

• 40 troubleshooting practice questions (target: 75%+)

Week 5: Core 1 Exam Week¶

Day 29-31: Full Practice Exams¶

• Full-length Core 1 practice exam #1 (target: 80%+)
• Review every wrong answer and the objective behind it
• Full-length Core 1 practice exam #2 (target: 85%+)
• PBQ practice: cable to port matching, RAID selection, printer fault ordering

Day 32-34: Final Core 1 Review¶

• Reread the fact sheet tables
• Final pass through 05-hardware-network-troubleshooting.md
• Rest the day before

Day 35: Sit Core 1 (220-1201), passing score 675¶

Week 6: Operating Systems¶

Day 36-37: OS Types and Installation¶

• Filesystems: NTFS, ReFS, FAT32, exFAT, ext4, XFS, APFS
• Boot methods, install types, GPT vs MBR, upgrade considerations
• Windows editions and Windows 11 requirements
• Review Notes: 06-operating-systems.md

Day 38-39: Windows Tools and Commands¶

• Task Manager tabs, every MMC snap-in by .msc name
• msinfo32, resmon, msconfig, cleanmgr, dfrgui, regedit
• Every command in objective 1.5, run in a VM
• Review Notes: 06-operating-systems.md

Day 40-41: Settings and Networking¶

• Control Panel and Settings items, power options, File Explorer options
• Domain vs workgroup, mapped drives, firewall, proxy, public vs private, metered
• Review Notes: 06-operating-systems.md

Day 42: Week 6 Review¶

• 30 OS practice questions (target: 70%+)

Week 7: macOS, Linux, Apps, Cloud Tools¶

Day 43-44: macOS¶

• .dmg, .pkg, .app, system folders, Time Machine, FileVault, Keychain, Spotlight, Force Quit, Disk Utility
• Review Notes: 06-operating-systems.md

Day 45-46: Linux¶

• Every command in objective 1.9, practiced in a VM or WSL
• chmod numbers, config files, systemd, sudo vs su
• Review Notes: 06-operating-systems.md

Day 47-48: Applications and Cloud Productivity¶

• App requirements, distribution methods, impact considerations
• Email, storage sync, collaboration, identity sync, licensing
• Review Notes: 06-operating-systems.md

Day 49: Week 7 Review¶

• 30 OS practice questions including macOS and Linux (target: 75%+)

Week 8: Security¶

Day 50-51: Controls and Windows Security¶

• Physical and logical controls, MFA methods
• Defender, firewall, users and groups, UAC, BitLocker, EFS
• NTFS vs share permissions, inheritance, move vs copy
• Active Directory tasks
• Review Notes: 07-security.md

Day 52-53: Wireless, Malware, Social Engineering¶

• WPA2 vs WPA3, TKIP vs AES, RADIUS vs TACACS+ vs Kerberos
• Malware types and tools (EDR, MDR, XDR)
• Social engineering, threats, vulnerabilities
• Malware removal 10 steps in order
• Review Notes: 07-security.md

Day 54-55: Hardening and Disposal¶

• Workstation and mobile hardening
• Data destruction methods and when each works
• SOHO router and browser security
• Review Notes: 07-security.md

Day 56: Week 8 Review¶

• 40 security practice questions (target: 75%+)

Week 9: Software Troubleshooting and Operational Procedures¶

Day 57-58: Software Troubleshooting¶

• Windows symptoms and the repair ladder
• Mobile OS, app, and mobile security symptoms
• PC and browser security symptoms
• Review Notes: 08-software-troubleshooting.md

Day 59-61: Operational Procedures¶

• Ticketing, asset management, documents
• Change management elements and change types
• Backup types, GFS, 3-2-1, recovery options
• Safety, environment, MSDS, power protection
• Incident response, licensing, regulated data
• Professionalism, scripting file types, remote access, AI basics
• Review Notes: 09-operational-procedures.md

Day 62-63: Week 9 Review¶

• 40 practice questions on troubleshooting and procedures (target: 75%+)

Week 10: Core 2 Exam Week¶

Day 64-66: Full Practice Exams¶

• Full-length Core 2 practice exam #1 (target: 80%+)
• Review every wrong answer
• Full-length Core 2 practice exam #2 (target: 85%+)
• PBQ practice: command selection, malware removal ordering, permissions

Day 67-69: Final Core 2 Review¶

• Fact sheet command and tool tables
• Scenarios end to end
• Rest the day before

Day 70: Sit Core 2 (220-1202), passing score 700¶

Compressed Plan (Experienced Technicians)¶

If you already work in desktop support, try four to six weeks:

Tracking Progress¶

Aim for 85% or better on practice exams before booking the real one. Practice banks vary in difficulty, but consistent 85%+ across two different sources is a good sign.

Related Pages¶

• README - Exam overview and domains
• Fact Sheet - Tables to memorize
• Strategy - Exam-day tactics
• Practice Questions - 20 original questions