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

14 free, exam-style CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) 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.

Q8. A desktop begins emitting memory-related beep codes immediately after a RAM upgrade. What should the technician do first?

Explanation: Memory beep codes immediately after an upgrade commonly indicate that a module is not fully seated. Reseating is the quickest, least invasive first step. Learn more.

Q9. A liquid-cooled PC overheats within minutes, but every radiator fan is spinning normally. Which component should be checked first?

Explanation: If radiator airflow is present but coolant does not circulate, a failed or disconnected pump can cause rapid processor overheating. Learn more.

Q10. A workstation has no Ethernet link light with a verified working cable. What is the best next troubleshooting step?

Explanation: Testing a known-good switch port isolates whether the failure is at the original port or the workstation network interface. Learn more.

Q11. Users lose Wi-Fi connectivity in a crowded office, and a scan shows many overlapping 2.4 GHz networks. What is the best corrective action?

Explanation: Moving capable clients to less congested 5 GHz or 6 GHz bands reduces interference and provides more non-overlapping channels. Learn more.

Q12. A projector image is bright and focused but appears wider at the top than at the bottom. Which adjustment should be used?

Explanation: Keystone correction compensates for trapezoidal distortion caused when the projector is not perpendicular to the projection surface. Learn more.

Q13. A hard disk begins clicking and intermittently disappears from firmware detection. What should the technician do first?

Explanation: Clicking and intermittent detection are signs of mechanical failure. Preserving accessible data and replacing the drive take priority over software repair attempts. Learn more.

Q14. A newly installed CPU runs hot because the heatsink does not sit flat against it. Which installation error is the most likely cause?

Explanation: Uneven mounting or excessive thermal compound can prevent proper heatsink contact, reducing heat transfer and causing high CPU temperatures. Learn more.

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