CompTIA A+ Core 1 Cheat Sheet

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The CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam is an updated foundational certification for IT professionals. Here’s a cheat sheet based on the latest exam objectives:

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Cheat Sheet

Exam Details:

  • Number of questions: Maximum of 90
  • Types of questions: Multiple-choice and performance-based
  • Length of test: 90 minutes
  • Passing Score: 675 (on a scale of 100-900)

Exam Domains & Weight:

  • 1.0 Mobile Devices: 13%
  • 2.0 Networking: 23%
  • 3.0 Hardware: 25%
  • 4.0 Virtualization and Cloud Computing: 11%
  • 5.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting: 28%

1.0 Mobile Devices (13%)

  • Mobile Device Hardware & Replacement/Upgrade:
    • Battery
    • Keyboard/keys
    • Random-access memory (RAM)
    • Hard disk drive (HDD)/solid-state drive (SSD)
    • Wireless cards
    • Physical privacy and security components: Biometrics, Near-field scanner features
    • Wi-Fi antenna connector/placement
    • Camera/webcam
    • Microphone
  • Accessories and Connectivity Options:
    • Connection Methods: Universal Serial Bus (USB)/USB-C/microUSB/miniUSB, Lightning
    • Connectivity: Docking station, Port replicator
    • Input: Trackpad/drawing pad/track points
    • Wireless: Near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, Tethering/hotspot
    • Accessories: Stylus, Headsets, Speakers, Webcam
  • Basic Mobile Device Network Connectivity and Application Support:
    • Wireless/Cellular Data Network (enable/disable): 3G/4G/5G, Hotspot, Wi-Fi, Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)/eSIM
    • Bluetooth: Enable Bluetooth, Enable pairing, Find a device for pairing, Enter PIN, Test connectivity
    • Location Services: Global positioning system (GPS) services, Cellular location services
    • Mobile Device Management (MDM): Device configurations (Corporate, BYOD), Policy enforcement, Corporate applications
    • Mobile Device Synchronization: Recognizing data caps, Calendar, Contacts, Business applications (Mail, Cloud storage)

2.0 Networking (23%)

  • TCP/UDP Ports, Protocols, and Their Purposes:
    • FTP: 20-21
    • SSH: 22
    • Telnet: 23
    • SMTP: 25
    • DNS: 53
    • DHCP: 67/68
    • HTTP: 80
    • POP3: 110
    • IMAP: 143
    • NetBIOS/NetBT: 137-139
    • LDAP: 389
    • HTTPS: 443
    • SMB/CIFS: 445
    • RDP: 3389
    • TCP vs. UDP
  • Wireless Networking Technologies:
    • Frequencies: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
    • Channels: Regulations, Channel selection, Widths, Frequencies, Bands
    • Technologies: Bluetooth, 802.11 standards, NFC, Radio-frequency identification (RFID)
  • Services Provided by Networked Hosts:
    • Server Roles: DNS, DHCP, Fileshare, Print servers, Mail servers, Syslog, Web servers, Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA), Database servers, Network Time Protocol (NTP)
    • Internet Appliances: Spam gateways, Unified threat management (UTM), Load balancers, Proxy servers
    • Legacy/Embedded Systems: Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), Internet of Things (IoT) devices
  • Common Network Configuration Concepts:
    • DNS: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, Spam management (DKIM, SPF, DMARC)
    • DHCP: Leases, Reservations, Scope, Exclusions
  • Common Networking Hardware Devices:
    • Routers
    • Switches (Managed, Unmanaged)
    • Access points
    • Patch panel
    • Firewall
    • Power over Ethernet (PoE): Injectors, Switch, PoE standards
    • Cable modem
    • Digital subscriber line (DSL)
    • Optical network terminal (ONT)
    • Network interface card (NIC) (Physical media access control (MAC) address)
    • Virtual LAN (VLAN)
    • Virtual private network (VPN)
  • Basic Wired/Wireless SOHO Networks Configuration:
    • IP Addressing: IPv4 (Private, Public), IPv6, Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA), Static, Dynamic, Subnet mask, Gateway
  • Internet Connection Types and Network Types:
    • Internet Connection Types: Satellite, Fiber, Cable, DSL, Cellular, Wireless internet service provider (WISP)
    • Network Types: LAN, WAN, PAN, MAN, SAN, WLAN
  • Networking Tools:
    • Crimper
    • Cable stripper
    • Wi-Fi analyzer
    • Toner probe
    • Punchdown tool
    • Cable tester
    • Loopback plug
    • Network tap

3.0 Hardware (25%)

  • Display Components and Attributes:
    • Types: Liquid crystal display (LCD), In-plane switching (IPS), Twisted nematic (TN), Vertical alignment (VA), Organic light-emitting diode (OLED), Touch screen/digitizer, Inverter
    • Attributes: Pixel density, Refresh rates, Screen resolution, Mini light-emitting diode (Mini-LED), Color gamut
  • Basic Cable Types and Their Connectors, Features, and Purposes:
    • Network Cables: Copper (Categories, T568A/T568B standards, Coaxial, Shielded twisted pair, Direct burial, Unshielded twisted pair, Plenum-rated), Optical (Single-mode, Multimode)
    • Peripheral Cables: USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Serial, Thunderbolt
    • Video Cables: HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, USB-C
    • Hard Drive Cables: SATA, eSATA
    • Adapters
    • Connector Types: RJ11, RJ45, F-type, ST, SC, LC, Punchdown block, MicroUSB, MiniUSB, USB-C, Molex, Lightning, DB9
  • RAM Characteristics:
    • Form Factors: SODIMM, DIMM
    • Double Data Rate (DDR) iterations
    • Error-correcting code (ECC) vs. non-ECC RAM
    • Channel configurations
  • Storage Devices:
    • Hard Drives: Spindle speeds, Form factors (2.5-inch, 3.5-inch)
    • Solid-State Drives: Communications interfaces (NVMe, SATA, PCIe, SAS), Form factors (M.2, mSATA)
    • Drive Configurations: RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10
    • Removable Storage: Flash drives, Memory cards
    • Optical Drives
  • Install and Configure Motherboards, CPUs, and Add-on Cards:
    • Motherboard Form Factors: ATX, microATX, ITX
    • Motherboard Connector Types: PCI, PCIe, Power connectors, SATA, eSATA, Headers, M.2
    • Motherboard Compatibility: CPU socket types (AMD, Intel, Multisocket)
    • BIOS/UEFI Settings: Boot options, USB permissions, TPM security features, Fan considerations, Secure Boot, Boot password, BIOS password, Temperature monitoring, Virtualization support, Encryption (TPM, HSM)
    • CPU Architecture: x86/x64, ARM, Core configurations
    • Expansion Cards: Sound card, Video card, Capture card, Network interface card
    • Cooling: Fans, Heat sink, Thermal paste/pads, Liquid
  • Appropriate Power Supply Installation:
    • Input 110-120 VAC vs. 220-240 VAC
    • Output 3.3V vs. 5V vs. 12V
    • 20+4 pin motherboard connector
    • Redundant power supply
    • Modular power supply
    • Wattage rating
    • Energy efficiency
  • Deploy and Configure Multifunction Devices/Printers and Settings:
    • Unbox device and consider set-up location
    • Use appropriate drivers for a given operating system (PCL vs. Postscript)
    • Firmware
    • Device Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, Wireless1
    • Public/Shared Devices: Printer share, Print server2
    • Configuration Settings: Duplex, Orientation, Tray settings, Quality3
    • Security: User authentication, Badging, Audit logs, Secured prints4
    • Network Scan Services: Email, SMB, Cloud services5
    • Automatic document feeder (ADF)/flatbed s6canner
  • Appropriate Printer Maintenance:
    • Laser: Replace toner, apply maintenance kit, calibrate, clean
    • Inkjet: Ink cartridge, printhead, roller, feeder. Clean printheads, replace cartridges, calibrate, clear jams
    • Thermal: Feed assembly, Special thermal paper. Replace paper, clean heating element, remove debris
    • Impact: Multipart paper. Replace ribbon, printhead, paper

4.0 Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%)

  • Virtualization Concepts:
    • Purpose of Virtual Machines: Sandbox, Test development, Application virtualization (Legacy software/OS, Cross-platform virtualization)
    • Requirements: Security, Network, Storage
    • Desktop Virtualization: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
    • Containers
    • Hypervisors: Type 1 (bare-metal), Type 2 (hosted)
  • Cloud Computing Concepts:
    • Common Cloud Models: Private cloud, Public cloud, Hybrid cloud, Community cloud, Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Software as a service (SaaS), Platform as a service (PaaS)
    • Cloud Characteristics: Shared resources vs. dedicated resources, Metered utilization (Ingress/egress), Elasticity, Availability, File synchronization, Multitenancy

5.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%)

  • Troubleshooting Methodology:
    1. Identify the problem
    2. Establish a theory of probable cause (question the obvious) – Research knowledge base/internet, if applicable
    3. Test the theory to determine the cause
    4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution
    5. Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures
    6. Document findings/lessons learned, actions, and outcomes
  • Troubleshoot Motherboards, RAM, CPUs, and Power (Common Symptoms):
    • POST beeps, Proprietary crash screens, Blank screen, No power, Sluggish performance, Overheating, Burning smell, Random shutdown, Application crashes, Unusual noise, Capacitor swelling, Inaccurate system date/time
  • Troubleshoot Drive and RAID Issues (Common Symptoms):
    • LED status indicators, Grinding noises, Clicking sounds, Bootable device not found, Data loss/corruption, RAID failure, S.M.A.R.T. failure, Extended read/write times, Low performance IOPS, Missing drives in OS, Array missing, Audible alarms
  • Troubleshoot Video, Projector, and Display Issues (Common Symptoms):
    • Incorrect input source, Physical cabling issues, Burnt-out bulb, Fuzzy image, Display burn-in, Dead pixels, Flashing screen, Incorrect color display, Audio issues, Dim image, Intermittent projector shutdown, Sizing issues, Distorted image
  • Troubleshoot Common Mobile Device Issues (Common Symptoms):
    • Poor battery health, Swollen battery, Broken screen, Improper charging, Poor/no connectivity, Liquid damage, Overheating, Digitizer issues, Physically damaged ports, Malware, Cursor drift/touch calibration, Unable to install new applications, Stylus does not work, Degraded performance
  • Troubleshoot Network Issues (Common Symptoms):
    • Intermittent wireless connectivity, Slow network speeds, Limited connectivity, Jitter, Poor VoIP quality, Port flapping, High latency, External interference, Authentication failures, Intermittent internet connectivity
  • Troubleshoot Printer Issues:
    • Lines down the printed pages, Garbled print, Paper jams, Faded prints, Paper not feeding, Multipage misfeed, Multiple prints pending in queue, Speckling on printed pages, Double/echo images on the print, Grinding noise, Finishing issues (staple jams, hole punch), Incorrect page orientation, Tray not recognized, Connectivity issues, Frozen print queue

Good luck with your CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam!