50 Free CompTIA A+ Practice Questions (220-1101 & 220-1102)

Answer: b) Hard drive (HDD)

Explanation: HDDs have moving parts (spinning platters, read/write heads) that wear out over time. SSDs have no moving parts and are more durable. Regular backups are essential.

Answer: a) DDR5 is faster and has higher capacity per module

Explanation: DDR5 offers higher speeds, larger capacities per module, and better power efficiency than DDR4. They're not interchangeable (different slot designs and voltage requirements).

Answer: b) LCD (IPS)

Explanation: IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD panels offer good color reproduction and viewing angles. OLED provides better contrast but is more expensive. CRT and Plasma are obsolete.

Answer: b) USB

Explanation: USB is the most common external connector for storage drives (USB flash drives, external HDDs/SSDs). SATA is internal. Display connectors include VGA, HDMI, and DisplayPort.

Answer: b) A laptop that can convert to a tablet (detachable or convertible)

Explanation: 2-in-1 devices function as both laptop and tablet. Convertible models have screens that fold 360°, while detachables have removable keyboards.

Answer: c) Lithium-ion (Li-ion)

Explanation: Li-ion batteries are standard in modern laptops due to high energy density, no memory effect, and low self-discharge. Ni-Cd and Ni-MH are older technologies.

Answer: b) Expanding connectivity (ports, displays, peripherals) through a single connection

Explanation: A docking station connects to a laptop via a single cable (USB-C or Thunderbolt) and provides additional ports: multiple displays, USB, Ethernet, audio, and power.

Answer: b) Plastic spudger (non-conductive tool)

Explanation: A plastic spudger or pry tool is used to safely disconnect battery connectors without causing shorts. Metal tools can damage components or cause electrical shorts.

Answer: c) Twisted pair (Cat5e/Cat6)

Explanation: Twisted pair cables with RJ45 connectors are the standard for Ethernet networks. Cat5e supports up to 1 Gbps, Cat6 supports up to 10 Gbps (shorter distances).

Answer: c) 802.11n (WiFi 4)

Explanation: 802.11n (WiFi 4) supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, with speeds up to 600 Mbps. 802.11ac (WiFi 5) is 5 GHz only. 802.11b/g are 2.4 GHz only.

Answer: c) 80

Explanation: HTTP uses port 80, HTTPS uses port 443, FTP uses port 21, and SMTP uses port 25.

Answer: b) Automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network

Explanation: DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) automates IP address assignment, subnet masks, gateways, and DNS server configuration for network devices.

Answer: b) Loopback (localhost)

Explanation: 127.0.0.1 is the loopback address pointing to the local machine. It's used for testing network services locally.

Answer: b) Switch

Explanation: A switch connects devices within a LAN and forwards frames based on MAC addresses. Hubs repeat all traffic (inefficient). Routers connect different networks.

Answer: b) A Small Office/Home Office network typically using a single integrated router

Explanation: SOHO networks use an all-in-one device that combines router, switch, wireless access point, and firewall for small office or home use.

Answer: b) Intel (modern)

Explanation: Intel uses LGA sockets (pins on the motherboard). AMD uses PGA (pins on the CPU) for most consumer CPUs, though newer AMD platforms use LGA as well.

Answer: b) Improving heat transfer between CPU and heatsink

Explanation: Thermal paste fills microscopic air gaps between the CPU and heatsink, improving thermal conductivity and heat dissipation. Too little or too much can cause overheating.

Answer: d) Both b and c

Explanation: Both SATA SSDs and NVMe SSDs use NAND flash memory with no moving parts. NVMe is faster because it connects via PCIe instead of SATA.

Answer: c) ATX

Explanation: ATX is the standard form factor for desktop motherboards (305×244 mm). Micro-ATX is smaller, Mini-ITX is compact, and E-ATX is larger for workstations.

Answer: c) 24-pin ATX

Explanation: The 24-pin ATX connector is the main power connector for the motherboard. The 4/8-pin EPS connector provides CPU power. SATA power goes to drives.

Answer: b) Mirroring (redundancy)

Explanation: RAID 1 mirrors data across two or more drives. If one drive fails, data is preserved on the other. Capacity is 50% of total (e.g., 2×1TB = 1TB usable).

Answer: a) DDR4 is faster and uses less power than DDR3

Explanation: DDR4 offers higher speeds (2133-3200 MHz vs 800-2133 MHz), lower voltage (1.2V vs 1.5V), and higher density per module compared to DDR3.

Answer: b) Hardware components at startup

Explanation: POST checks essential hardware (CPU, RAM, storage, graphics) during boot. Error beep codes indicate specific hardware failures.

Answer: a) IaaS provides virtual infrastructure (VMs, storage); PaaS provides a platform for application development

Explanation: IaaS provides virtualized computing resources. PaaS provides a managed platform for deploying applications without managing underlying infrastructure.

Answer: b) Software that creates and runs virtual machines

Explanation: A hypervisor (Type 1: bare-metal like VMware ESXi, Type 2: hosted like VirtualBox) manages virtual machines and allocates physical resources to them.

Answer: b) Identify the problem

Explanation: The first step is to identify the problem by gathering information from the user, observing symptoms, and determining what has changed.

Answer: b) Check monitor connection, power, and whether the PC is actually booting (listening for beeps)

Explanation: Start with simple checks: monitor power, cable connection, and whether the computer is actually POSTing (listen for beep codes or look for diagnostic LEDs).

Answer: a) Multimeter

Explanation: A multimeter measures voltage, resistance, and continuity. It's used to test power supply outputs (e.g., 12V, 5V, 3.3V rails) to diagnose power issues.

Answer: b) Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc)

Explanation: Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) creates, deletes, extends, and shrinks partitions. It also initializes new drives and assigns drive letters.

Answer: b) sfc /scannow

Explanation: System File Checker (sfc /scannow) scans and repairs protected Windows system files. chkdsk checks disk for errors, not system files.

Answer: a) Booting with a minimal set of drivers and services for troubleshooting

Explanation: Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and services, allowing troubleshooting of issues caused by third-party drivers, malware, or software conflicts.

Answer: a) Task Manager (Startup tab)

Explanation: Task Manager's Startup tab shows which applications launch at startup and allows enabling/disabling them to improve boot time.

Answer: b) ls

Explanation: ls lists files and directories in Linux. dir is the Windows equivalent. Common options: ls -l (detailed view), ls -a (show hidden files).

Answer: b) Time Machine

Explanation: Time Machine is macOS's built-in backup utility. It creates hourly, daily, and weekly backups to an external drive or network location.

Answer: b) Releases the current IP address

Explanation: ipconfig /release releases the current DHCP lease. ipconfig /renew requests a new IP address. ipconfig /flushdns clears the DNS resolver cache.

Answer: b) Antivirus and anti-malware protection

Explanation: Windows Defender (now Microsoft Defender) provides built-in antivirus, anti-malware, and real-time protection against threats.

Answer: c) Ransomware

Explanation: Ransomware encrypts victim files and demands payment (usually cryptocurrency) for the decryption key. Prevention includes backups and security awareness.

Answer: b) Manipulating people to reveal confidential information

Explanation: Social engineering exploits human psychology to trick people into revealing passwords, clicking malicious links, or granting access.

Answer: b) Granting only the minimum permissions needed for job functions

Explanation: Least privilege restricts users to only the permissions necessary for their role, reducing the attack surface and potential damage from compromised accounts.

Answer: b) Requiring two or more different authentication factors

Explanation: MFA requires factors from at least two categories: something you know (password), something you have (phone/token), and something you are (biometric).

Answer: b) BitLocker

Explanation: BitLocker provides full-disk encryption for Windows drives, protecting data if the device is lost or stolen. EFS encrypts individual files.

Answer: b) Prompting for permission before making system changes

Explanation: UAC prompts for administrator permission before allowing system-level changes, preventing unauthorized modifications by malware or unaware users.

Answer: b) Run the application as administrator or in compatibility mode

Explanation: Application startup failures can be resolved by running as administrator (permissions) or using compatibility mode (for older apps). Then try reinstalling if needed.

Answer: b) Boot into Safe Mode or use Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) for troubleshooting

Explanation: Start with Safe Mode (minimal drivers) or WinRE for recovery options (System Restore, Startup Repair, Command Prompt) before more drastic measures.

Answer: a) Device Manager

Explanation: Device Manager allows rolling back drivers to a previous version (Driver tab → Roll Back Driver) if a new driver is causing issues.

Answer: b) Reverting system files and settings to a previous point without affecting personal files

Explanation: System Restore creates restore points (before significant changes) and can revert system files, settings, and installed programs to an earlier state.

Answer: a) Checks disk and fixes file system errors

Explanation: chkdsk /f checks the disk for file system errors and attempts to fix them. chkdsk /r also locates bad sectors and recovers readable data.

Answer: a) Grounding the technician to prevent static discharge damage to components

Explanation: An ESD strap grounds the technician to prevent static buildup from damaging sensitive electronic components. Always use ESD protection when handling internal components.

Answer: b) Physical destruction or secure wiping with data sanitization software

Explanation: Data on formatted or deleted drives can be recovered. Proper disposal requires physical destruction (shredding, degaussing) or secure wiping (multiple-pass overwrites).

Answer: b) Listen actively to their problem without interrupting

Explanation: Professional communication begins with active listening — let the user explain their issue fully, show empathy, and then work toward a solution. This helps de-escalate tension.