CompTIA A+ in the UK: 2026 Study Guide & Free Practice

CompTIA A+ is the most widely recognised entry-level IT certification in the UK. Most help-desk and first-line support job adverts list it either as essential or as a strong nice-to-have, and unlike many vendor-specific qualifications it stays useful as you move into networking, security or cloud roles. This guide covers what's actually tested in the 2026 exams (Core 1 — 220-1101 and Core 2 — 220-1102), how to plan your study time, what it costs in the UK, and how to use free practice mocks to know when you're ready to book. UK Test Hub is independent and not affiliated with CompTIA.

Two exams, one certification

You must pass both Core 1 and Core 2 — typically taken a few weeks apart — to be awarded CompTIA A+. Each exam is up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, and each is scored on a scale of 100 to 900 with a pass mark of 675 for Core 1 and 700 for Core 2. Question types include traditional multiple choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based items where you complete a task in a simulated environment.

Domain weightings (220-1101)

• Mobile devices — 15%
• Networking — 20%
• Hardware — 25%
• Virtualisation and cloud computing — 11%
• Hardware and network troubleshooting — 29%

Domain weightings (220-1102)

• Operating systems — 31%
• Security — 25%
• Software troubleshooting — 22%
• Operational procedures — 22%

Realistic UK costs

Each exam voucher is around £230 at full price; CompTIA frequently sells discounted bundles that include both vouchers, an official study guide and access to the CertMaster Practice question bank for £400–£550. Pearson VUE testing centres exist in every major UK city, and online proctored sittings are available 24/7 if your home setup meets the requirements.

How long does it take?

Most candidates without prior IT experience need 200–250 hours total — roughly 12–16 weeks of focused evening study. Candidates already working a service desk role typically halve that. The most efficient order is to study and pass Core 1 first, then move straight to Core 2 while the troubleshooting habits are still fresh.

Study materials worth paying for

• The official CompTIA A+ Study Guide — the spine of your revision.
• Professor Messer's free video series — the unofficial standard for visual learners.
• CertMaster Labs or TestOut LabSim — practical hands-on labs for the performance-based questions.
• UK Test Hub mocks — to verify readiness in exam-style timed conditions.

How to know when you're ready

Aim to score 85% or better on three different practice mocks in a row before booking the real exam. If you can hit that consistently — including on the troubleshooting domains — you have a comfortable margin above the pass mark. Don't rush to book just to "get it over with"; a £230 fail costs you more than a fortnight of extra study.

What's tested most often

The exam authors love networking commands (ipconfig, ping, tracert, nslookup), Wi-Fi standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Windows OS troubleshooting, mobile device security and the basics of virtualisation. If you're confident on those topics you're already over half-way to a pass.

Where to keep practising

Visit the IT & Tech practice hub for free mocks across CompTIA A+, ITIL 4 and Cyber Security Awareness. Related reading: our cyber security awareness guide.

Quick study plan

If you only have a fortnight to prepare, split your time into three blocks. Spend the first few days reading any official handbook or syllabus straight through — don't try to memorise yet, the goal is familiarity. Move on to topic-by-topic revision, focusing on the areas you found least intuitive on the first read. In the final week, switch to timed mock tests under exam conditions; mark every paper ruthlessly and read every explanation, including for questions you got right by guessing. Most candidates improve by 8–12 marks between their first and third mock simply by closing knowledge gaps this way.

Common myths to ignore

Three myths trip up more candidates than any single topic. The first is that "if I sit enough mocks, I'll spot the real questions on test day" — modern UK exam banks contain hundreds of items and the question you see on the day will probably be brand new to you. The second is that you can cram the night before; most assessments reward calm focus more than recent recall, and tired candidates make basic mistakes. The third is that the pass mark is the only thing that matters: aiming for a comfortable buffer of 5–10 marks above the threshold is the single best insurance against an unlucky paper.

What to do on test day

Plan to arrive 15–20 minutes early with valid photo ID — usually a UK driving licence or passport — and any booking confirmation you've been emailed. Eat something light beforehand, drink water but not so much that you'll need a comfort break mid-paper, and silence your phone before you walk through the door. Read every question twice, flag anything you're unsure of, and never leave a blank — there's no negative marking on the assessments most readers of this site sit, so a considered guess is always better than no answer at all.

CompTIA A+ is the most widely recognised entry-level IT certification in the UK. Most help-desk and first-line support job adverts list it either as essential or as a strong nice-to-have, and unlike many vendor-specific qualifications it stays useful as you move into networking, security or cloud roles. This guide covers what's actually tested in the 2026 exams (Core 1 — 220-1101 and Core 2 — 220-1102), how to plan your study time, what it costs in the UK, and how to use free practice mocks to know when you're ready to book. UK Test Hub is independent and not affiliated with CompTIA.

Two exams, one certification

You must pass both Core 1 and Core 2 — typically taken a few weeks apart — to be awarded CompTIA A+. Each exam is up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, and each is scored on a scale of 100 to 900 with a pass mark of 675 for Core 1 and 700 for Core 2. Question types include traditional multiple choice, drag-and-drop and performance-based items where you complete a task in a simulated environment.

Domain weightings (220-1101)

• Mobile devices — 15%
• Networking — 20%
• Hardware — 25%
• Virtualisation and cloud computing — 11%
• Hardware and network troubleshooting — 29%

Domain weightings (220-1102)

• Operating systems — 31%
• Security — 25%
• Software troubleshooting — 22%
• Operational procedures — 22%

Realistic UK costs

Each exam voucher is around £230 at full price; CompTIA frequently sells discounted bundles that include both vouchers, an official study guide and access to the CertMaster Practice question bank for £400–£550. Pearson VUE testing centres exist in every major UK city, and online proctored sittings are available 24/7 if your home setup meets the requirements.

How long does it take?

Most candidates without prior IT experience need 200–250 hours total — roughly 12–16 weeks of focused evening study. Candidates already working a service desk role typically halve that. The most efficient order is to study and pass Core 1 first, then move straight to Core 2 while the troubleshooting habits are still fresh.

Study materials worth paying for

• The official CompTIA A+ Study Guide — the spine of your revision.
• Professor Messer's free video series — the unofficial standard for visual learners.
• CertMaster Labs or TestOut LabSim — practical hands-on labs for the performance-based questions.
• UK Test Hub mocks — to verify readiness in exam-style timed conditions.

How to know when you're ready

Aim to score 85% or better on three different practice mocks in a row before booking the real exam. If you can hit that consistently — including on the troubleshooting domains — you have a comfortable margin above the pass mark. Don't rush to book just to "get it over with"; a £230 fail costs you more than a fortnight of extra study.

What's tested most often

The exam authors love networking commands (ipconfig, ping, tracert, nslookup), Wi-Fi standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Windows OS troubleshooting, mobile device security and the basics of virtualisation. If you're confident on those topics you're already over half-way to a pass.

Where to keep practising

Visit the IT & Tech practice hub for free mocks across CompTIA A+, ITIL 4 and Cyber Security Awareness. Related reading: our cyber security awareness guide.