Guide to get the Comptia A+ 220 - 901 Certification

Prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification by mastering two exams, 220-901 and 220-902, with 90–100 questions including multiple-choice and performance-based simulations, and understand the testing center environment and 90-minute timing.

Learn how to schedule your CompTIA A+ exam through Pearson VUE, create an account, purchase the exam, choose a testing location and date, and follow step-by-step instructions.

Schedule the exam about a week out to stay focused, and arrive early to relax. Read questions slowly, skip uncertain items, jot memorized info on paper, then review and guess.

Develop hands-on proficiency for the CompTIA A+ 220-901 exam by gaining six to twelve months of experience and practicing with Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux via virtualization.

Understand that the CompTIA A+ 220-901 exam focuses on practical, basic technology knowledge defined by official objectives. Emphasize hands-on practice and studying the objectives, not brain dumps or unrelated history.

Explore how three-letter acronyms shape information technology and how to use the last two pages of the A+ exam objectives to master the acronym list.

Explore the basics of the BIOS, a ROM-based firmware that initializes hardware and runs the POST. Learn how CMOS stores settings and how boot order and UEFI extend boot processes.

Identify the differences between hardware, firmware, and software, and how each type relates to physical devices, ROM-stored firmware, and RAM or disk-based software.

Learn how to safely flash the bios by updating firmware on rom and eprom chips, back up current data, and follow manufacturer instructions.

Enter the bios setup utility during startup to change the boot sequence or set a startup password, noting cmos settings vary by motherboard.

Learn how virtualization lets you run multiple guest operating systems on a single host, enable hardware assisted virtualization in the BIOS, and use free tools for exam prep.

Explore bios monitoring and the monitoring tab to read temperatures, fan speeds, voltages, and clock speeds for troubleshooting. Use intrusion detection and built-in diagnostics to spot overheating and power issues.

Discover the seven main motherboard components and functionalities, including the CPU and socket, RAM slots, chipsets, CMOS battery, and essential connectors that power and link all system parts.

Explore motherboard form factors, including atx, micro atx, and mini itx, and how size and layout improve space, cooling, airflow, and maintenance in pc builds.

Explore expansion slots on motherboards, including PCI, PCI-X, PCIe, and mini PCI, and how these plug-in cards expand functionality via bus connections, speeds, and compatibility.

Master the four-step process for installing expansion cards, including knowledge of compatibility, safe physical installation, updating device drivers, and verifying operation in the device manager.

Manage device drivers via the Windows device manager to install, update, rollback, or uninstall drivers. Understand signed vs unsigned drivers and how digital signatures affect installation.

Discover how chipsets act as the cpu’s personal assistants, coordinating memory, input-output, and devices via northbridge and southbridge, with a platform controller hub handling modern integration.

Explore how bus speeds on the motherboard affect computer performance, from the front side bus to memory, ram, northbridge, and expansion buses like pci and agp.

Learn the central processing unit, its clock speed, cores, cache sizes and types, hyper-threading, virtualization, architecture, and integrated graphics, and explore Intel and AMD cpus.

Explore CPU socket types, including zeff (zero insertion force) sockets for AMD and LGA (land grid array) sockets for Intel, and learn about pin layouts and locking to protect pins.

Explore Intel LGA sockets, including 775, 1150, 1156, 1366, and 2011, and learn which CPUs fit each socket, with pin vs hole conventions and alias names.

Learn AMD sockets and CPU families that fit into them, memorize socket names and pin counts for AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+, G34, and C32.

Explore CPU speeds, hertz and gigahertz, and learn why higher GHz doesn't always mean faster performance due to multitasking per clock cycle.

Explore how CPUs boost performance with cores and the role of multicore designs on servers, including dual, quad, and octa-core configurations, while addressing overhead and motherboard integration.

Explore how caches near the CPU minimize wait states by storing anticipated data in L1, L2, and L3 caches, reducing RAM access and boosting CPU efficiency.

Explore multi-threading as a core software technique that splits code into threads for asynchronous execution, letting data requests run while the processor handles other tasks.

Explore the disable execute bit, also called the no execute or nx bit, which protects processors by marking memory areas as non-executable to prevent buffer overflow attacks.

Explore cpu cooling and overheating problems, including heat sources, dust blocking airflow, and cooling methods like heat sinks, fans, thermal paste, and liquid cooling.

Explore cpu cooling options, from fans and heat sinks to liquid cooling and passive designs, and learn how thermal paste, dust, and leaks affect heat transfer and system operation.

Explore memory fundamentals in personal computers, covering read-only memory and random access memory, volatile versus non-volatile memory, and an overview of ddr memory types for the a+ exam.

Explore the evolution of DDR memory: what DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 mean, how synchronous dynamic RAM ties to the system clock, and MHz to PC ratings and 240-pin module differences.

Explore the differences between simm, dimm, and sodimm memory modules, including their contact designs and why paired, matched modules are needed for speed and functionality.

Explore parity and non-parity memory, learning how parity provides error checking to verify data integrity, the difference between even and odd parity, and why non-parity memory trades checks for speed.

Explore ECC memory: learn how error correction code detects and corrects single-bit memory errors on the fly, and why it's slower and more expensive, requiring compatible motherboard support.

Explore single, dual, and triple channel memory configurations to boost data throughput between RAM and the CPU by using identical DDR sticks in matched slots on a multi-channel motherboard.

Explore storage devices, including magnetic hard drives, solid-state drives, and optical drives, covering rpm speeds, connection types, and formats like cd rom, cd rw, dvd, blu-ray, and flash memory.

Memorize optical storage capacities: cd 700 megabytes, dvd 4.7 gigabytes, dual-layer dvd 15 gigabytes, single-layer blu-ray 25 gigabytes, and dual-layer blu-ray 50 gigabytes; note hard drives vary by device.

Explore magnetic hard drives, their mechanical components, data formatting into sectors and clusters, and how rpm and cooling influence performance and longevity.

Learn how solid state drives replace magnetic hard disks, delivering faster boot times, lower power, less heat, and compact forms across desktops, laptops, and mobile devices, including hybrids.

Explore solid state drives and recognizable formats from compact flash to sd cards (sdlc, sdhc, sdxc), micro and mini variants, xd cards, and emmc used in mobile devices.

Explore raid types, including raid 0 striping for speed, raid 1 mirroring for fault tolerance, raid 5 parity, and raid 10, plus hot-swappable rebuild.

Explore LCD, plasma, projector, and OLED display technologies, including TN vs IPS color and viewing angles, plasma burn-in and overscan, projector lumens and throw, and OLED benefits in smartphones.

Identify the nine display connectors for the A+ exam and distinguish digital and analog types, including display port, dvi variants, vga, hdmi, mini hdmi, mini dvi, rca, and bnc.

Discover display characteristics for the a plus exam, including native resolution, LCD performance, and brightness. Compare response rate and refresh rate, and understand how these affect image clarity.

Explore the difference between analog and digital signals in modern computing. See how RAM DAC converts digital to analog for displays and how LCDs handle analog and digital inputs.

Explore configuring multiple displays with the Windows display applet, learning to extend or duplicate across two monitors, and test with a laptop’s HDMI connection as Windows detects and arranges displays.

Protect data from shoulder surfing by using privacy screens on LCD displays, which narrow the viewing angle and are commonly tested on the A-plus exam.

Discover the four standard display resolutions for the a+ exam: XGA 1024x768 (4:3), SXGA 1280x1024 (5:4), UXGA 1600x1200 (4:3), and WUXGA 1920x1200 (16:10).

Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between width and height, shown as two numbers such as 4:3 or 16:9. It does not describe size, only proportions across displays.

Master network cabling basics for the CompTIA A+ exam by examining twisted pair, coax, and fiber optic cables, factors: length, speed, interference, cost, and installation; include NICs, switches, routers.

Explore twisted pair cabling, the most common and cost-effective network cable, and learn how twisting reduces EMI and crosstalk in UTP and STP varieties.

Learn about the RJ-45 eight-wire connector for twisted pair cabling, how the clip and a crimping tool establish reliable UDP cables, and the T568A/B wiring standards.

explain the twisted pair categories cat 3, cat 5, cat 6, cat 6a, and cat 7, highlighting their bandwidths and 100 meter length limits, plus memorize tips for exam readiness.

Explore coax cable basics, including coaxial structure, RG-6 and RG-59 with 75-ohm impedance, and connectors like BNC and F-Type, plus its use in cable modems, satellite dishes, and legacy LAN.

Explore fiber optic cable for high-speed data over long distances using light pulses, immune to electromagnetic interference, with single mode and multimode types and SC, ST, and LC connectors.

Compare plenum and PVC cabling, noting that plenum jackets reduce toxic smoke in fires, while PVC emits dangerous fumes; recognize cost differences and code requirements for plenum spaces and areas.

Explore hubs, switches, and routers in a local area network, explaining broadcast domains, layer 2 and 3 operations, and how these devices manage traffic and interconnect networks.

Identify LAN, WAN, MAN, and PAN as geographical network types and understand their typical coverage from a single building to global networks.

Learn the fundamentals of IP addressing, including unique host and network IDs, how routers locate networks, and using mail-like addressing to identify a specific device on a network.

Explore how the subnet mask reveals which parts of an IP address are the network ID and which parts identify the host, using 255.255.255.0 as an example.

Explore how the default gateway directs traffic between networks in a tcap ip address configuration, using router addresses and subnet masks to forward packets to non-local destinations.

Learn the three ip address classes a, b, and c and their default subnet masks 255.0.0.0, 255.255.0.0, 255.255.255.0. Memorize the first-octet ranges 1–126, 128–191, and 192–223.

Explore advanced TCP/IP topics beyond the A+ exam, including subnetting basics, binary concepts, and IPv6, to build foundational understanding and practical hands-on skills.

Explore subnetting fundamentals by transforming a single IP network into two subnets using a 255.255.255.128 mask, giving 126 hosts per subnet and improved traffic and security.

Discover how subnetting splits a single ip network into two subnets with a borrowed host bit and 255.255.255.128, improving traffic, security, and department separation.

Identify public versus private IP addresses: public IPs are globally unique and routable, while private IPs stay non-routable within local networks. Private blocks include 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0-172.31.255.254, and 192.168.0.0-192.168.255.254.

Configure static addressing by manually assigning IPv4 information, including IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS, and compare with automatic DHCP, highlighting potential management challenges.

Learn how DHCP automates IP address management with a DHCP server and clients, solving manual IP provisioning by using discover, offer, request, and ack to assign network settings.

Identify and troubleshoot apipa addresses when a dhcp server is unreachable by checking for 169.254.x.x self-assigned addresses on a local subnet.

Discover why IP version 6 replaces IP version 4, expanding from a 32-bit to a 128-bit address space to prevent exhaustion and highlight NAT and PAT workarounds.

Explain IP version 6 addressing: 128-bit addresses in eight 16-bit blocks, shown in four-digit hexadecimal, and how to compress by removing leading zeros and zero blocks with a double colon.

Explore how tcp and udp, within the ip suite, manage data with connection oriented and connectionless delivery, and how port numbers and sockets route traffic for http, ftp, and pop.

Explore network address translation and port address translation, showing how a firewall maps private IPs to a single public IP to share Internet access.

Explains port address translation as a smarter nat approach, using unique ports on a firewall to share a single public ip for multiple internal requests.

Learn to use essential cable tools—cable testers, line testers, time-domain reflectometers, OTDRs, and multi-meters—to test, certify, and troubleshoot network cables, saving time and avoiding shorts.

Learn to use a toner probe (Fox and Hound) to identify which cable runs from floor to switch, saving hours on unlabeled networks and avoiding mislabeling.

Master crimpers and snips to build, test, and customize network cables by stripping, cutting, and crimping connectors, while recognizing these tools for the CompTIA A+ exam.