Key Differences Between CompTIA A+ 220-1101 and 220-1201 Exams: A Detailed Comparison
The CompTIA A+ certification is a foundational credential for those seeking to build a career in information technology (IT). It has been a trusted standard in the IT industry for many years, providing professionals with the essential skills required for supporting and managing IT systems. The A+ certification is well-regarded and often mentioned in job postings as a requirement for entry-level IT roles such as technical support specialists, help desk analysts, and field service technicians.
The CompTIA A+ exam series is divided into two main parts: the Core 1 and Core 2 exams. These exams test the candidate’s knowledge and practical skills related to hardware, networking, operating systems, IT security, mobile devices, troubleshooting, and cloud computing. The A+ certification is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in pursuing a career in IT, as it provides a comprehensive foundation in the essential concepts and tools used in the industry.
CompTIA regularly updates its certification exams to reflect the latest technological advancements and industry best practices. As the IT field evolves, new technologies emerge, and older technologies may become obsolete. These changes make it necessary to update the exam objectives to ensure they align with current industry standards.
For example, with the rapid pace of technology innovation, operating systems, hardware components, and networking protocols evolve, and new security threats and solutions are introduced. The regular updating of the CompTIA A+ exam ensures that certified professionals are well-equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge and skills.
CompTIA usually updates the A+ exam objectives every few years. The exam revisions incorporate feedback from industry professionals, employers, and subject matter experts. This continuous process helps to keep the exam relevant and ensures that certified professionals can meet the ever-changing demands of the IT sector.
When preparing for the CompTIA A+ exam, it’s crucial to study the official exam objectives provided by CompTIA. These objectives serve as a detailed roadmap of the topics that will be tested on the exam. By using these objectives as a study guide, candidates can ensure that they cover all necessary material in their preparation. The exam objectives are divided into domains, with each domain focusing on specific knowledge areas, such as hardware, networking, security, and troubleshooting.
The official exam objectives are an essential tool for guiding study efforts, as they help identify the key areas of focus. It is important to note that the questions on the exam are directly derived from the exam objectives, so having a solid understanding of these topics is critical for success. Additionally, the objectives provide a comprehensive list of subtopics, which further break down the material into manageable sections for effective studying.
CompTIA periodically releases new versions of the A+ certification exams to reflect changes in the technology landscape. Each new version of the exam typically introduces new content, removes outdated material, and may adjust the weight given to different topics. Candidates should be aware of the version they are preparing for, as the content covered in the exam can vary slightly between versions.
For example, the 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams, which were released in 2022, are the current versions of the CompTIA A+ exams as of the time of this writing. These exams will retire in September 2025, meaning that candidates who plan to take the exam after that date will need to prepare for the newer versions, such as the 220-1201 and 220-1202 exams. It’s important to check the retirement dates for any version of the A+ exam to ensure that you have enough time to study and pass before the exam is retired.
Once a candidate passes the required exams (both Core 1 and Core 2), they are officially certified. The certification is valid for three years, after which it must be renewed. CompTIA offers several options for certification renewal, including continuing education, higher-level certifications, or other renewal programs. This renewal process allows professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and maintain their certification status.
The CompTIA A+ certification is widely recognized as an entry-level certification in the IT field. However, its importance cannot be overstated, as it lays the groundwork for a successful career in IT. Many IT professionals begin their careers with the A+ certification, as it provides the necessary foundation for understanding hardware, software, networking, and troubleshooting.
Holding an A+ certification is often seen as a requirement for many entry-level positions, and it provides individuals with the credibility they need to secure employment in the IT field. Employers value candidates who have earned the certification because it demonstrates a solid understanding of key IT concepts and practical skills.
In addition to its value in the job market, the CompTIA A+ certification also serves as a stepping stone for pursuing higher-level certifications. After obtaining the A+ certification, professionals can choose to pursue other certifications, such as CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+, which focus on more specialized areas of IT.
For IT professionals, the A+ certification represents a key milestone in their career development. It helps them build their skillset, enhance their employability, and position themselves for future career advancement opportunities.
The availability of different exam versions is a key factor in planning your study schedule. The A+ exams are released at specific intervals, and each version is available for a limited time before being retired. Candidates should be aware of the current exam version to ensure they are preparing for the right one.
For example, the 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams were released on April 20, 2022, and are scheduled to retire on September 25, 2025. Candidates who plan to take the A+ exams before this date should focus their studies on the 220-1101 and 220-1102 versions. These exams test knowledge related to hardware, networking, mobile devices, operating systems, security, and troubleshooting.
Starting in March 2025, the 220-1201 and 220-1202 exams will be available. These exams will include updated objectives that reflect new technologies and industry trends. The 220-1201 and 220-1202 exams are expected to be available until September 2028, at which point they will be retired, and new versions will be released.
Candidates who plan to take the A+ exam should make sure they are preparing for the correct version, as each version of the exam has distinct objectives. If you plan to take the 220-1201 exam, be sure to study the objectives for that version to ensure you are covering all the necessary material.
When CompTIA releases a new version of its A+ exam, candidates must understand the updates and adjustments to the exam objectives. These updates typically reflect new technologies, industry trends, and feedback from professionals working in the IT field. For the 220-1201 exam, which is set to replace the 220-1101 exam, CompTIA has made several changes, adding new topics, removing outdated ones, and refining the focus of various sections.
The 220-1201 exam, released in March 2025, comes with a new set of objectives that aim to align with the current demands in the IT industry. Although the overall structure of the exam remains similar, some notable changes have been made to reflect advances in technology and shifts in the way businesses utilize IT systems. To understand the scale of these changes, it is helpful to compare the exam objectives of the 220-1101 version with the 220-1201 version.
One of the first things to note when comparing these two versions is the number of objectives. The 220-1101 exam has 396 objectives, while the 220-1201 exam includes about 391 objectives. This minor difference in the total number of objectives signifies a slight reduction in content, with some topics removed and others refined for greater clarity.
Although the number of objectives is almost identical, it is important to focus on the specific topics that have been changed. With 87% of the objectives being the same between the two versions, candidates who studied for the 220-1101 exam will find that their preparation is still largely relevant for the 220-1201 exam. However, the remaining 13% consists of new topics that require focused study.
When updating an exam, CompTIA often removes topics that are no longer considered critical or that have been replaced by newer technologies. This ensures that the exam stays relevant to the current job market and provides candidates with the most up-to-date knowledge needed for success in IT roles.
In the transition from the 220-1101 to the 220-1201 exam, several topics have been dropped, particularly in areas where certain technologies have seen reduced usage or have become outdated. Below are some of the most significant topics that are no longer included in the 220-1201 exam objectives.
While mobile devices remain an important area in IT, some topics related to older technologies have been removed. For example, the 220-1101 exam included details on serial interfaces and older wireless technologies like GSM and CDMA, but these have been dropped in the new version. Topics related to mobile display components and mail synchronization are still part of the 220-1201 exam, but updates related to newer mobile technologies and device management have been emphasized.
The networking domain in the 220-1201 exam retains most of its original content from the 220-1101 exam, but a few topics have been removed. The 220-1101 exam covered specific 802.11 standards in detail, including older wireless standards that have become less relevant. As wireless technology continues to evolve, the 220-1201 exam shifts focus to more current wireless technologies and broader concepts related to networking.
The 220-1201 exam also no longer includes detailed information about software-defined networking (SDN), which was present in the earlier version. While SDN remains an important topic for IT professionals, it may be covered in more specialized certifications, such as CompTIA Network+.
Several hardware-related topics from the 220-1101 exam have been omitted in the newer version. For example, the 220-1101 exam included specific details about different types of cables, including SCSI, PATA, and various DDR memory configurations. These topics have been removed because they have become less relevant as newer technologies, such as SATA and solid-state drives (SSDs), have replaced older hardware components in most environments.
Additionally, the 220-1201 exam does not require knowledge of certain hardware configurations, such as specific multi-channel memory setups, which were included in the previous version. Instead, the focus has shifted more toward energy-efficient hardware solutions, as energy consumption and environmental concerns continue to play a significant role in hardware design.
In this domain, the biggest change is the removal of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) in the cloud. The 220-1101 exam covered VDI in some depth, but with the increasing focus on cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, VDI has become less central to the A+ certification. The 220-1201 exam focuses on newer concepts such as containers and hypervisor types, which are more reflective of current trends in virtualization and cloud computing.
Most of the topics related to troubleshooting have been retained, but some older diagnostic procedures have been dropped. For instance, the 220-1101 exam contained detailed procedures for diagnosing older hardware issues, such as malfunctioning PATA hard drives, which have been replaced by more advanced storage technologies. In the 220-1201 exam, troubleshooting content now focuses more on modern issues, such as drive array failures and problems related to cloud-based services.
With the 220-1201 exam, CompTIA has introduced new topics that reflect current technological trends and emerging IT needs. These additions provide candidates with a more comprehensive understanding of the IT field, ensuring that they are prepared for the latest challenges in IT support and management. Below are some of the key new topics introduced in the 220-1201 exam.
The mobile devices section has been updated to reflect the latest trends in mobile technology. One of the significant additions is the inclusion of Wi-Fi data networks, which are becoming increasingly important as mobile devices continue to rely on Wi-Fi for high-speed internet access. Additionally, the 220-1201 exam includes new content on mobile device management (MDM) solutions, device configurations, and MDM policy enforcement. As businesses continue to adopt mobile device management practices, these topics are crucial for IT professionals who manage mobile devices in corporate environments.
The networking domain in the 220-1201 exam introduces several new topics, including the 6 GHz wireless band, which has become important with the rise of Wi-Fi 6E technology. The exam also adds content related to database servers and network time protocol (NTP), both of which are vital for ensuring reliable network performance and synchronization in modern IT environments.
Another new addition is the concept of DHCP exclusions, which deals with excluding specific IP addresses from being assigned dynamically by the DHCP server. This is essential knowledge for managing network resources in larger or more complex networks.
In the hardware domain, the 220-1201 exam includes new content on mini LED technology, which is becoming increasingly popular in display devices. This new section covers the differences between mini LED and traditional LED displays, including topics related to pixel density, refresh rates, screen resolution, and color gamut. These are important concepts for IT professionals who manage or troubleshoot displays in both consumer and business environments.
Additionally, the 220-1201 exam introduces USB-C video cables, which are becoming the standard for connecting modern displays to laptops, smartphones, and other devices. This shift reflects the growing adoption of USB-C as a versatile connector for both power and data transfer.
New topics in the virtualization and cloud computing domain include containers, which have gained significant popularity in recent years for their efficiency and scalability in cloud environments. The exam also introduces hypervisor types, including Type 1 and Type 2 hypervisors, which are essential for understanding how virtualization works in modern data centers.
Another new addition is the concept of ingress/egress metering, which is important for managing data flow and bandwidth usage in cloud-based environments. These topics reflect the growing importance of cloud computing and virtualization in the IT industry.
The troubleshooting domain in the 220-1201 exam includes several new topics related to modern diagnostic tools and techniques. For example, the exam now covers proprietary crash screens, which are often displayed when a device encounters a critical error. Understanding how to diagnose and resolve these issues is crucial for IT professionals who deal with a wide range of devices.
Additionally, the 220-1201 exam introduces troubleshooting steps for issues like drive array failures, display sizing problems, and intermittent internet connectivity issues. These are common problems that IT professionals are likely to encounter in the workplace.
As the CompTIA A+ certification evolves with each new version of the exam, candidates who have already studied for the 220-1101 exam may wonder how to transition their study efforts to the 220-1201 exam. Fortunately, the updates between the two versions are relatively minor, and most of the material remains consistent. However, there are still enough changes to warrant some adjustments in study strategies.
Understanding how to approach the transition between the two versions of the exam will help you prepare more effectively and avoid unnecessary confusion or overlap. In this section, we will explore the strategies that will help you smoothly move from studying for the 220-1101 exam to preparing for the 220-1201 version, ensuring that you are fully prepared for the updated objectives.
Before diving into specific study strategies, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the key differences between the 220-1101 and 220-1201 exams. While the overall structure and number of objectives are nearly identical, the 220-1201 exam introduces new topics and removes some outdated ones. As we have discussed in the previous sections, these changes include:
With these changes in mind, candidates who studied for the 220-1101 exam will find that much of their preparation remains relevant for the 220-1201 exam. However, they will need to focus on learning the new topics, understanding any refined content, and familiarizing themselves with the areas that have been removed.
The first and most important strategy is to use the official CompTIA exam objectives as a checklist when preparing for the 220-1201 exam. These objectives serve as a map of what you need to study and provide detailed descriptions of each topic that will appear on the exam.
For candidates transitioning from the 220-1101 exam to the 220-1201 exam, the official objectives are invaluable for identifying areas where your previous studies still apply and where new material needs to be covered. Here’s how you can use the exam objectives to guide your preparation:
If you have already used study materials for the 220-1101 exam, it’s important to transition to materials tailored for the 220-1201 exam. Even though there is significant overlap between the two versions, there are key differences that must be addressed.
Look for resources that have been specifically updated for the 220-1201 exam. These resources should cover the new topics introduced in the latest exam version and omit the outdated content. Some study materials to consider include:
By using the right study materials, you will ensure that your efforts are aligned with the specific demands of the 220-1201 exam.
In addition to using study materials, it is crucial to gain hands-on experience with the technologies and concepts that will appear on the exam. IT support professionals are expected to troubleshoot, configure, and manage real-world systems, so hands-on practice is an essential part of the preparation process.
Hands-on experience with real-world systems and technologies is one of the most effective ways to reinforce theoretical knowledge and prepare for the practical aspects of the exam.
The troubleshooting domain of the CompTIA A+ exam tests candidates’ ability to diagnose and resolve various IT issues. Given the significant changes in the troubleshooting section of the 220-1201 exam, it is crucial to practice solving real-world problems.
To improve your troubleshooting skills, consider the following:
By regularly practicing troubleshooting scenarios, you will enhance your ability to quickly diagnose and resolve issues, an essential skill for IT professionals in the field.
As you approach the final stages of your preparation for the CompTIA A+ 220-1201 exam, it’s essential to have a clear and focused strategy to ensure that you are well-prepared for exam day. While the previous parts of this article have focused on understanding the changes between the 220-1101 and 220-1201 exams, as well as offering strategies for adjusting your study plan, this section will focus on finalizing your preparation.
In this part, we will explore how to maximize your remaining study time, incorporate practical hands-on experience, make the most of practice exams, and create a final review plan that ensures you are ready for success. We will also discuss some important tips for approaching the exam itself, including time management and dealing with exam anxiety.
At this stage of your preparation, it’s essential to optimize your study time and ensure that you’re using your remaining study sessions effectively. Here’s how to make the most of your study time:
By now, you should have a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses regarding the exam objectives. Take a moment to assess your progress and identify areas where you still feel uncertain or need additional practice. These areas should become your primary focus during the final stages of your preparation.
If you’ve been using practice exams, go through your incorrect answers and review the corresponding topics in your study materials. This targeted review will help reinforce the concepts that need further clarification and will ensure that you aren’t wasting time on topics you already know well.
One of the most effective ways to study during this period is to use time-blocking. This technique involves setting aside specific blocks of time to focus on particular topics. For example, you could dedicate one hour to reviewing networking topics, followed by an hour of hands-on practice with hardware troubleshooting. After each session, take a short break to refresh your mind.
By dividing your study time into focused sessions, you can prevent burnout and stay on track to cover all the necessary topics before the exam. Remember to include review sessions in your schedule as well, where you can go over previously studied material to reinforce your knowledge.
Active learning is a proven method for retaining information more effectively. Rather than passively reading through study guides or watching videos, engage with the material by actively applying the concepts. Here are some active learning techniques that can help solidify your understanding:
Practice exams are one of the most valuable resources during the final stages of your preparation. They help you become familiar with the exam format, assess your readiness, and identify areas that need further review. Here’s how to use practice exams effectively:
Taking full-length practice exams simulates the real exam experience and helps you gauge your endurance and time management. Try to replicate exam conditions as closely as possible by taking the test in one sitting, with no distractions, and under timed conditions. This will help you become more comfortable with the time constraints and format of the actual exam.
After completing the practice test, review your answers carefully. Focus not only on the questions you got wrong but also on the ones you got right. Ask yourself why certain answers were correct, and make sure you understand the reasoning behind them.
Once you have completed a practice exam, take time to analyze your results. Look at the questions that you missed and identify any patterns. Are you struggling with specific domains, such as hardware or networking? Do you consistently get questions wrong in certain areas, like troubleshooting or mobile devices? This analysis will help you pinpoint weak areas in your knowledge and focus your final review efforts on those topics.
Some practice exam platforms also provide detailed explanations for each question, which can help clarify any misunderstandings and give you insight into the exam’s focus.
One of the biggest challenges in any certification exam is managing your time effectively. On exam day, you’ll have a limited amount of time to answer all of the questions, so practicing time management during practice exams is crucial. Aim to answer each question within the allotted time and move on if you’re unsure about a particular question. This will help you avoid spending too much time on any single question and ensure that you have enough time to complete the entire exam.
If you struggle with time management during practice exams, try adjusting your pace or developing strategies to quickly eliminate incorrect answers. The more you practice under timed conditions, the more comfortable you’ll become with managing your time on exam day.
In the final days before the exam, focus on reviewing and reinforcing the key concepts. The goal at this stage is to ensure that all of the foundational knowledge is solid and that you’re able to recall important facts and procedures quickly. Here are some tips for an effective review:
As you review the material, create a final review sheet with a condensed version of the most important topics. This sheet should include key definitions, troubleshooting steps, and any concepts that you find particularly challenging. It will serve as a quick reference guide during your final study sessions and help you quickly refresh your memory.
Studying for the A+ exam can be intense, especially in the final days before the test. However, it’s important to maintain balance and take regular breaks to avoid burnout. Studies have shown that taking short breaks during study sessions can improve focus and retention.
In addition to breaks, ensure that you get enough sleep and eat healthy meals to maintain your energy levels. Staying hydrated and exercising regularly will also help keep your mind sharp and alert as you prepare for the exam.
As you approach exam day, it’s important to have a clear strategy for managing your time and reducing any potential stress or anxiety. Here are some tips for making sure you’re fully prepared on exam day:
It’s normal to feel anxious before a big exam, but you can reduce anxiety by practicing relaxation techniques. Take deep breaths, visualize your success, and remind yourself that you have prepared thoroughly. Positive thinking and staying calm will help you approach the exam with confidence.
Make sure you know the exact location of the exam center (if taking the exam in person) or the technical requirements (if taking the exam online). Arrive at least 30 minutes early to give yourself time to settle in and get comfortable. Bring the necessary identification, any required documents, and any materials allowed by the exam provider.
During the exam, take your time to read each question carefully. Avoid rushing through the questions, and make sure you understand what is being asked before selecting your answer. If you’re unsure about a question, skip it and return to it later if you have time.
Finally, stay positive throughout the exam. Trust in your preparation, and don’t let difficult questions throw you off. Maintain your focus, manage your time wisely, and you will increase your chances of success.
Preparing for the CompTIA A+ 220-1201 exam requires a well-organized study plan and focused effort in the final stages of preparation. By maximizing your study time, using practice exams, reinforcing key concepts, and focusing on time management, you will increase your chances of passing the exam with confidence. On exam day, remain calm, read the questions carefully, and apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout your studies. With the right preparation and mindset, you’ll be well on your way to earning your CompTIA A+ certification and advancing your career in IT.
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