CompTIA 220-1201 Exam Practice Questions to Pass CompTIA A+ Exam

Question 1

Which of the following tools would a technician use to connect wires to an RJ45 connector?

ACrimper

BCable stripper

CPunchdown

DLoopback plug

Answer : A

A crimper is specifically used to attach RJ45 connectors to the ends of network cables. It pressesthe connector pins into the cable's wires, establishing a secure electrical connection. A punchdown tool is used for wiring patch panels or keystone jacks, not for attaching connectors.

Question 2

A technician needs to move a workstation to a different logical network segment. Which of the following technologies should the technician use?

ADHCP

BVLAN

CDNS

DVPN

Answer : B

AVLAN (Virtual LAN)is used to logically segment a network without requiring physical separation. It enables grouping devices based on function or department regardless of their physical location.

Option A (DHCP):Assigns IP addresses dynamically but doesn't create network segments.

Option C (DNS):Resolves domain names to IP addresses, not used for network segmentation.

Option D (VPN):Provides secure remote access but does not relate to logical segmentation within a local network.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam Objective Reference:

Objective 2.3: Explain common logical networking concepts.

Question 3

The display in a conference room has a burn-in get fastestthat does not match the presentation Which of the following would test resolve the issue?

AAdjust the color settings.

BCorrect the keystone.

CIncrease the brightness levels

DReplace the monitor.

Answer : B

B . Correct the keystone:

A keystone correction adjusts the image shape when a projector is angled either up or down. When a projector is not positioned directly perpendicular to the screen, the image becomes distorted or offset. Correcting the keystone will resolve alignment issues, ensuring that the presentation matches the display.

Incorrect Options:

A . Adjust the color settings: This is used for improving color balance and has no impact on ghosting or mismatched images.

C . Increase the brightness levels: Brightness changes the visibility of the image but does not address ghosting or alignment.

D . Replace the monitor: Replacing the monitor is unnecessary unless there is hardware failure, which is not indicated here.

Key Takeaway: Keystone correction is essential to resolve alignment and distortion issues in projected images.

Question 4

Which of the following DHCP components allows a device to be assigned the same IP address anytime it is connected to the network?

AExclusion

BReservation

CLease

DScope

Answer : B

A DHCP reservation ensures a specific device always receives the same IP address from the DHCP server whenever it requests an address. The reservation is typically created by associating the device's MAC address with a chosen IP address inside the DHCP scope. When that device connects and performs the DHCP process, the server recognizes the MAC address and offers the reserved IP instead of assigning the next available dynamic address. This is commonly used for devices that benefit from consistent addressing (for example, printers, servers, or network appliances) while still centrally managing addressing through DHCP rather than configuring a manual static IP on the endpoint.

An exclusion is the opposite idea: it defines a range of IP addresses within a scope that the DHCP server will not hand out (often because those addresses are used for statically assigned devices). A lease is the time period that a dynamically assigned IP address is valid before it must be renewed; it does not guarantee the same IP every time. A scope is the overall pool/range of IP addresses and DHCP options (gateway, DNS, etc.) available for a given subnet. Therefore, the component that guarantees the same IP is a reservation.

Question 5

A technician receives a S.M.A.R.T. error on a PC. When the technician presses the Esc key, the PC continues to turn on without any further issues. Which of the following should the technician do next?

AReplace the HDD.

BUpdate the PC's BIOS.

CClose the ticket.

DChange the NIC.

SM.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology):

SM.A.R.T. is a monitoring system integrated into modern HDDs and SSDs that detects and reports on various indicators of drive health and reliability.
A S.M.A.R.T. error indicates that the drive is showing signs of impending failure, even if the PC continues to boot and work normally for the time being.
Next Steps:
The appropriate action is to replace the hard drive (HDD) because a S.M.A.R.T. error is an early warning of possible hardware failure. Ignoring the warning could result in data loss if the drive fails completely.
The technician should also back up the user's data immediately to avoid losing critical information.
Incorrect Options:
B . Update the PC's BIOS: While keeping the BIOS updated is a good practice, it does not address the S .M.A.R.T. error, which is specific to the HDD.
C . Close the ticket: Closing the ticket without resolving the issue would be improper, as the S.M.A.R.T. error is a hardware problem that needs to be addressed to prevent future data loss or downtime.
D . Change the NIC: The NIC (Network Interface Card) is unrelated to the storage system and would not resolve a S.M.A.R.T. error.
Key Takeaway:
A S.M.A.R.T. error is a critical indicator of HDD health issues, and the drive should be replaced as soon as possible. Backing up data is also essential.

Answer : A

Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step

Question 6

Which of the following allows an internal application to be hosted without managing the underlying OS?

ASaaS

BIaaS

CUCaaS

DPaaS

Answer : D

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is designed to host and run applications while the cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure and operating system. With PaaS, an organization deploys its internal application code (and often configures runtime settings), but does not handle OS installation, patching, hardening, or most server maintenance tasks. This aligns with CompTIA A+ Core 1 cloud concepts that compare service models by responsibility: as you move from IaaS to PaaS to SaaS, the provider manages more of the stack.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) provides virtualized compute, storage, and networking, but the customer still manages the OS, updates, drivers, and the application stack---so it does not meet the ''without managing the underlying OS'' requirement. SaaS (Software as a Service) delivers a complete finished application to users (like email or CRM), which typically doesn't fit hosting a custom internal application you develop. UCaaS focuses on communication services (voice, video, messaging) rather than general application hosting. Therefore, PaaS is the best option for hosting an internal application without managing the underlying OS.

Question 7

A user reports that a network printer has frequent paper jams. The technician examines the printer and finds no obvious obstructions or foreign objects in the paper path. Which of the following should the technician do to resolve the issue?

ACheck for firmware updates specific to the printer model

BInspect and replace the printer rollers

CReseat the fuser assembly

DClean the printer's corona wire

Answer : B

The correct answer is B. Inspect and replace the printer rollers.

According to CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 objectives under Printers:

Frequent paper jams with no visible obstruction are often caused by worn or dirty feed rollers, which fail to grip and feed paper properly.

Inspecting and replacing the rollers ensures smooth paper feeding and prevents repeated jams, particularly in high-use network printers.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A . Check for firmware updates: Firmware updates address software or functionality issues, not mechanical paper feeding problems.

C . Reseat the fuser assembly: Fuser issues typically cause smudging or incomplete toner adhesion, not paper jams.

D . Clean the corona wire: The corona wire affects toner adhesion and print quality, not paper feeding.

CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Exam Objectives -- Printers: ''Given a scenario, troubleshoot printer problems including paper jams, feed issues, and maintenance tasks.''

Mike Meyers' CompTIA A+ Certification Guide, 13th Edition, Chapter on Printer Troubleshooting and Maintenance.

CompTIA A+ Certification Exam: Core 1 (2026) 220-1201 Practice Questions