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: During a RAID 0 array setup, a user notices that the total storage capacity is less than the sum of both drives. What is. 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
- During a RAID 0 array setup, a user notices that the total storage capacity is less than the sum of both driv…
- A user notices speckling on printed pages from a laser printer. What could be causing this issue?
- A user's smartphone shows a strong Wi-Fi signal but has limited or no internet access. What is a common cause…
- You are replacing a failed hard drive in an older desktop computer. The computer's motherboard supports SATA…
- A user reports that their laptop is running slow and frequently overheating while running resource-intensive…
- Your company is transitioning to a modern phone system to reduce communication costs. What type of phone tech…
Answers and explanations
Tap a question to expand the answer and the exam reasoning. Try to commit to your own pick first.
Q1. During a RAID 0 array setup, a user notices that the total storage capacity is less than the sum of both drives. What is likely causing this discrepancy?
Answer: B. Incorrect RAID configuration
RAID 0 stripes data across drives, meaning the total capacity should equal the combined storage of the drives. If the capacity is less than expected, an incorrect RAID configuration is the likely culprit. Failing drives usually cause array failures, not capacity reductions.
Q2. A user notices speckling on printed pages from a laser printer. What could be causing this issue?
Answer: B. There is debris or damage on the printer s drum unit
The drum unit transfers toner to the paper, so debris or scratches on its surface will cause speckles or repeating spots on the printed page. Cleaning or replacing the drum resolves this. Draft mode or unstable network connections will not create physical speckling on the paper.
Q3. A user's smartphone shows a strong Wi-Fi signal but has limited or no internet access. What is a common cause of this issue?
Answer: C. The DHCP server is not assigning an IP address to the smartphone
Strong Wi-Fi signal with no internet usually points to a DHCP failure, leaving the device connected but lacking a valid IP configuration. If the antenna were damaged, the device would not show a strong signal in the first place.
Q4. You are replacing a failed hard drive in an older desktop computer. The computer's motherboard supports SATA II. Which of the following hard drives would be the most appropriate replacement?
Answer: B. SATA II
A SATA II drive matches the stated motherboard capabilities exactly. Note that SATA III drives are fully backward compatible and generally preferred in the real world for convenience, which makes this question slightly ambiguous despite the intent.
Q5. A user reports that their laptop is running slow and frequently overheating while running resource-intensive applications. Which of the following hardware components is most likely to be the cause of this issue?
Answer: A. CPU
The central processing unit generates the most heat during resource-intensive tasks and slows down via thermal throttling to prevent physical damage. While insufficient memory can also cause system slowdowns, it does not directly trigger the overheating symptoms described in the scenario.
Q6. Your company is transitioning to a modern phone system to reduce communication costs. What type of phone technology uses the internet for voice communication and can help achieve cost savings?
Answer: B. VoIP Phone
Voice over Internet Protocol technology routes telephone calls over standard internet connections, which significantly reduces costs compared to legacy phone lines. Analog phones rely on traditional copper networks, and the other options do not provide complete enterprise voice services.
Q7. An employee needs to transfer large video files between their computer and an external hard drive. Which cable type would provide faster data transfer speeds?
Answer: D. Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt actually provides the fastest transfer speeds available among the options, easily outperforming both USB standards. The original rationale correctly notes that USB 3.0 outpaces USB 2.0, but Thunderbolt is ultimately faster.
Q8. A client's laptop webcam has stopped working, and they have requested a replacement. What should you check first before proceeding with the webcam replacement?
Answer: B. The compatibility of the webcam with the laptop model
Checking hardware compatibility with the specific laptop model ensures the replacement part will fit and connect properly. Storage capacity and screen resolution do not dictate internal webcam connectivity requirements.
Q9. A technician is setting up a computer in a region where the standard electrical outlet provides 220-240 VAC. What should they verify about the computer's power supply before connecting it?
Answer: B. It supports 220-240 VAC input
You must verify the power supply supports the local 220 to 240 VAC input to prevent hardware damage. Modern power supplies often switch automatically, but checking the label avoids electrical failures.
Q10. What maintenance tasks are typically required for an impact printer to ensure it continues to function properly?
Answer: C. Replace ribbon, replace print head, replace paper
Impact printers use ribbons and tractor feed paper, requiring periodic replacement of these consumables. Thermal printers require cleaning rollers, while inkjets need standard printhead maintenance.
Q11. A user's smartphone screen is frequently unresponsive in cold weather. Which type of touchscreen technology is likely used in their smartphone?
Answer: A. Capacitive
Capacitive touchscreens rely on the electrical conductivity of a human finger. Cold weather can dry the skin or affect conductivity, leading to an unresponsive screen. Resistive screens rely on physical pressure, not electrical charge.
Q12. You are setting up a server that requires a stable, open-source operating system with strong community support. Which Linux distribution is commonly used for this purpose?
Answer: A. Ubuntu Server
Ubuntu Server is a widely used Linux distribution designed specifically for server environments. The other options are proprietary, commercial operating systems that do not meet the strict open-source requirement.
Q13. A technician is troubleshooting a network connectivity issue in an office. Several computers are unable to access the internet, but they can communicate with each other within the local network. Which TWO of the following are potential cau…
Answer: B,D. Router configuration error || Incorrect subnet mask
Since internal communication works, the default gateway or subnet mask is likely misconfigured. However, a faulty cable to the gateway or a failing switch port could also isolate devices from the internet while keeping the local network intact.
Q14. A user is experiencing distorted and flickering visuals on their laptop screen. Which hardware component should the user suspect as the potential cause of this issue?
Answer: A. LCD
The LCD panel or its associated ribbon cable is the correct hardware to suspect for flickering or distorted laptop visuals. LED refers to the backlight technology, while IP and HTTP are networking protocols completely unrelated to display hardware.
Q15. A technician is setting up a new printer in an office. What is an important consideration regarding the location when unboxing and setting up the device?
Answer: A. Proximity to a power source
Ensuring proximity to a power source is the primary physical consideration when setting up a device. Avoid placing hardware near heat sources or windows where temperature fluctuations could damage internal components.
Q16. An office wants to enable employees to scan documents directly to their email addresses from the office scanner. Which network scan service should be set up for this functionality?
Answer: C. Email
Configuring the email network scan service allows users to send scanned documents directly to their inboxes. SMB is used for shared folder scanning, while ADF is hardware used to feed physical pages.
More CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) drills and other practice exams are on @CertPunch. New rounds drop every few days at certpunch.com.