Practice for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) exam with 16 exam-style practice questions, instant answer reveals, and concise explanations of every correct answer. Topics include: A company requires employees to use two-factor authentication (2FA) when accessing corporate applications on their mobil. Follow @CertPunch and visit certpunch.com for more certification practice exams and study content.
Prefer hands-on? Take this round as an interactive practice test — answer every question, get instant feedback, and see your score: Start the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) practice test →
What you will practice
- A company requires employees to use two-factor authentication (2FA) when accessing corporate applications on…
- An IT professional is selecting PoE devices for a network and needs to ensure compatibility with high-power d…
- A user is setting up a new smartphone and wants to sync their Microsoft 365 contacts to the device. Which of…
- A user wants to connect Bluetooth headphones to a desktop computer that does not have built-in Bluetooth capa…
- You are creating custom-length Ethernet cables. Which tool is necessary for attaching RJ45 connectors to the…
- A graphic designer wants to use software exclusive to Apple products for their work. Which operating system s…
Answers and explanations
Tap a question to expand the answer and the exam reasoning. Try to commit to your own pick first.
Q1. A company requires employees to use two-factor authentication (2FA) when accessing corporate applications on their mobile devices. Which of the following is a common 2FA method in this context?
Answer: C. Single-use SMS code
A single-use SMS code acts as the possession factor in two-factor authentication, verifying the user has their phone. A fingerprint scan is a biometric factor, but it typically serves as a replacement for a password rather than a true second factor.
Q2. An IT professional is selecting PoE devices for a network and needs to ensure compatibility with high-power devices. Which PoE standard should they ensure support for?
Answer: B. IEEE 802.3at
IEEE 802.3at, or PoE Plus, delivers increased wattage suitable for high-power devices. The wording creates ambiguity because the newer 802.3bt standard provides even more power, though 802.3at remains the standard high-power baseline.
Q3. A user is setting up a new smartphone and wants to sync their Microsoft 365 contacts to the device. Which of the following would be the correct procedure?
Answer: C. Add their Microsoft 365 account to the phone s email app
Adding the Microsoft 365 account to the phone's email app automatically syncs contacts, calendar, and mail. Dedicated contacts apps are unnecessary, and manual entry defeats the purpose of cloud synchronization.
Q4. A user wants to connect Bluetooth headphones to a desktop computer that does not have built-in Bluetooth capability. Which of the following would they need?
Answer: C. Bluetooth adapter
A Bluetooth adapter adds the necessary radio hardware to the desktop, typically via a USB port. Ethernet and HDMI cables handle networking and video, while a Wi-Fi adapter only provides wireless network access.
Q5. You are creating custom-length Ethernet cables. Which tool is necessary for attaching RJ45 connectors to the ends of the cable?
Answer: A. Crimper
A crimper firmly attaches an RJ45 connector to an untwisted cable by pushing the copper pins into the wires. Use a punchdown tool for keystone jacks or patch panels, and cutters merely trim the cable ends.
Q6. A graphic designer wants to use software exclusive to Apple products for their work. Which operating system should they use?
Answer: D. macOS
macOS is the native operating system for Apple Mac computers and is required to run Apple-exclusive software natively. Windows, Chrome OS, and Linux do not support these specific proprietary applications without workarounds.
Q7. A user is experiencing slow performance on their computer. They want to use a tool built into Windows to check the system for corrupted files and restore system files. Which tool should they use?
Answer: D. SFC
The System File Checker scans and restores corrupted Windows system files. Run CHKDSK to verify disk integrity, and remember that Disk Cleanup only clears temporary files to free up storage space.
Q8. A user wants to set up a small home office network with several devices that need internet access. Which device will allow multiple devices to share a single IP address from an ISP?
Answer: B. Router
A router uses network address translation to let multiple internal devices share one public IP address. A switch merely connects devices locally, while a modem acts as the direct bridge to the ISP.
Q9. A user wants to buy a monitor for graphic design work that requires accurate color representation and wide viewing angles. Which type of display should they choose?
Answer: C. IPS
An in-plane switching panel provides superior color accuracy and wide viewing angles required for graphic design work. Twisted nematic panels prioritize response times over color reproduction, making them poor choices.
Q10. A user is choosing a printer for their home office and needs to print high-quality color photographs. Which type of printer is more suitable for this purpose?
Answer: A. Inkjet printer
Inkjet printers spray liquid ink to produce vibrant, high-quality color photographs. Laser printers are optimized for fast text document printing, while thermal printers are mainly used for receipts and shipping labels.
Q11. A user wants to enhance the security of their online accounts. Which practice is most effective in managing passwords securely?
Answer: C. Using a password manager
A password manager securely stores and manages unique credentials in an encrypted database. Reusing passwords creates vulnerability, while writing them down or changing them too frequently are outdated practices that do not ensure account safety.
Q12. A remote worker needs to securely access their company's internal network from home. What technology should they use to ensure a secure connection?
Answer: A. VPN
A Virtual Private Network creates an encrypted tunnel over the internet to securely connect to an internal network. Ethernet or Wi-Fi only provides local connectivity, while public networks lack the necessary security for corporate data.
Q13. A company is upgrading its network infrastructure to support faster data speeds. Which Ethernet standard should they consider for the best performance?
Answer: D. Cat7
Cat7 cabling provides the highest bandwidth and strictest shielding among the listed options for maximum network performance. For CompTIA exams, always select the highest category cable when asked about best performance or future proofing.
Q14. A user is installing a new application on their computer but receives an error message saying the application is not compatible with their operating system. What is a common reason for this issue?
Answer: B. Outdated operating system version
An outdated operating system often lacks the necessary application programming interfaces for new software. Insufficient RAM or a full drive typically causes performance or installation failures, not explicit operating system compatibility errors.
Q15. A user's computer is behaving erratically, showing unexpected pop-ups and running slowly. Which type of software should they use to diagnose and fix the issue?
Answer: B. Anti-malware software
Anti-malware software scans for malicious programs that cause pop-ups and sluggish performance. Disk cleanup tools remove temporary files but do not detect or remove viruses, making them ineffective for malware removal.
Q16. A network printer starts making a grinding noise during operation. The printer is connected via Ethernet. What is the most likely cause of the noise?
Answer: B. A mechanical issue within the printer
A grinding noise almost always indicates a physical hardware problem with internal moving parts like gears or rollers. Network connectivity issues or outdated drivers will not cause physical noises, so focus on the mechanical components during troubleshooting.
More CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) drills and other practice exams are on @CertPunch. New rounds drop every few days at certpunch.com.