CompTIA A+ Core 1 Practice Questions: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting

7 free, exam-style CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) practice questions covering Hardware and Network Troubleshooting. Each question shows the correct answer and a clear explanation. Ready for the real thing? Take the full timed quiz below.

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Q1. Which tool can you use to test a network cable for continuity and wiring faults?

Explanation: A cable tester checks pin-out, continuity, and wiring faults quickly; a TDR is more specialized.

Q2. A laptop powers on but the display stays blank. What should you check first?

Explanation: Reseat or test the RAM first; bad/misaligned RAM often prevents POST but still powers fans.

Q3. Which device would you use to simulate multiple wireless clients to test an access point?

Explanation: A traffic generator can emulate many clients to stress-test an access point.

Q4. Which cable type should you use to extend a PC’s HDMI output beyond 50 feet with minimal signal loss?

Explanation: Active (powered) HDMI cables boost the signal for runs over 50 ft; standard HDMI degrades.

Q5. After adding a new PCIe add-on card, the system fails to boot. What is the best first step?

Explanation: Reseating the card ensures it’s properly contacted; loose PCIe cards often cause boot failures.

Q6. A user reports that their computer's date and time frequently reset to an incorrect value, usually the BIOS default or an old date, whenever the computer is powered off for an extended period. What is the MOST likely hardware component causing this symptom?

Explanation: The CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) battery provides power to the CMOS chip on the motherboard, which stores the BIOS/UEFI settings, including the system date and time. If this battery fails, the settings (and thus date/time) will reset when the computer loses main power. Learn more.

Q7. A user on a Voice over IP (VoIP) call complains about choppy audio and significant delays, making conversation difficult. Which common network symptom is MOST likely contributing to this poor call quality?

Explanation: High latency (delay) and jitter (variation in delay) are common network symptoms that severely impact real-time applications like VoIP. Choppy audio and delays in conversation are direct results of excessive latency preventing timely packet delivery. Learn more.

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