What a practice test does and why you need one
An A+ certification practice test is a mock exam that mimics the real CompTIA A+ exam in format, question types, and difficulty. It shows you what you actually know versus what you think you know—the gap between those two is where your studying needs to focus.
The real A+ exam has two parts: the Core exam (220-1101) and the practical exam (220-1102). Each covers different material. A practice test for each one lets you measure your readiness before you pay the exam fee and sit for the real thing. Most people who pass the A+ have used at least two or three practice tests during their study period.
Practice tests also reduce test-day anxiety because the format and pacing feel familiar. You will have already timed yourself, already seen the kinds of questions that trip people up, and already learned how to manage your time across 90 minutes of questions.
Key Takeaways
- A practice test should match the exam version you are taking (220-1101 Core or 220-1102 Practical) and include the same question types as the real exam.
- Take your first practice test before you study to see what you already know, then use later tests to measure improvement and identify weak topics.
- Score 70 percent or higher on a practice test before registering for the real exam, since CompTIA requires a passing score of 675 out of 900 points.
- Review every question you missed—not just the answer, but why the wrong choices were wrong and why the right answer is correct.
- Practice tests from CompTIA, Pearson Vue, and established training providers are more reliable than free tests from unknown sources.
Where to find practice tests that match the real exam
CompTIA itself publishes official practice exams through their website and through Pearson Vue, the company that administers the real A+ exam. These are the most accurate because they use the same question bank and scoring system as the actual test. CompTIA's official practice exams cost between $20 and $40 per test.
Pearson Vue also sells practice exams directly on their website under "Practice Tests" in the exam section. These are the same tests CompTIA sells, just distributed through the testing company. You can take them online when ready after purchase and get your score and a breakdown of which topics you missed.
Training providers like Professor Messer (free YouTube videos with paid practice exams), Jason Dion on Udemy, and Kaplan offer practice tests as part of their courses. These are usually cheaper than official tests—often $10 to $15—but the question quality varies. Read reviews from people who have passed the exam before buying a third-party test.
Avoid free practice tests from websites you have never heard of. They often contain outdated questions, incorrect answers, or questions that do not match the real exam's difficulty. A free test might feel easier than the real exam, which gives you false confidence.
How to use a practice test to actually improve
Take your first practice test without studying first. This sounds backwards, but it shows you what you already know and what you need to learn. You will score lower than you want to, but that baseline matters. Write down which topics appeared in questions you missed: networking, security, hardware, troubleshooting, or operating systems.
Study the topics where you scored lowest. Use your study materials—textbooks, video courses, or training guides—to fill those gaps. Then take a second practice test two weeks later, focusing on the same topics. Your score should improve noticeably. If it does not, you may need a different learning method or more time on that material.
Take a third practice test one week before you plan to register for the real exam. At this point you should score 70 percent or higher consistently. If you are scoring below 70 percent, delay your exam registration. CompTIA's passing score is 675 out of 900 points, which is roughly 75 percent. A practice test score of 70 percent means you are close but not yet ready.
For every question you miss, read the explanation. Do not just look at the right answer and move on. Understand why the other choices were wrong. This is where real learning happens. If the explanation is unclear, search for that topic in your study materials or watch a video about it.
Timing yourself and managing the exam clock
The real A+ Core exam gives you 90 minutes for roughly 80 to 90 questions. That is about one minute per question. The Practical exam also runs 90 minutes but has fewer questions because some are scenario-based and take longer to read.
When you take a practice test, use the timer. Do not skip this step. Many people who fail the real exam run out of time before answering all questions. Practicing under time pressure teaches you to move through questions at the right pace and to recognize when a question is taking too long and you should flag it and come back later.
Most practice test platforms let you flag questions and review them at the end. Use this feature. If a question is confusing or you are not sure, flag it and move on. Answer all the straightforward questions first, then come back to the hard ones if you have time left. This strategy prevents you from spending five minutes on one hard question and running out of time for five straightforward ones at the end.
Understanding your score and what it means
CompTIA scores the A+ exam on a scale of 100 to 900 points. A passing score is 675. Most practice tests show your score as a percentage instead. A percentage score of 75 percent roughly equals a scaled score of 675, though the exact conversion varies slightly.
Your practice test score also breaks down by topic: how many questions you got right in networking, security, hardware, and so on. This breakdown is more useful than your overall score. If you scored 85 percent overall but only 60 percent on security questions, you know exactly where to focus your next study session.
Do not panic if your first practice test score is low. Most people score 50 to 60 percent on their first attempt. That is normal. The point is to see the gap and close it before exam day.
Common mistakes people make with practice tests
The biggest mistake is taking a practice test and then moving on without reviewing your answers. A practice test is only useful if you learn from it. Spend as much time reviewing as you spent taking the test.
Another mistake is memorizing answers instead of understanding concepts. If you see a question about TCP/IP ports and you memorize that port 443 is HTTPS, you will fail when the question is worded differently or asks about a related concept. Understand why port 443 is HTTPS and what HTTPS does.
Some people take too many practice tests and not enough studying. A practice test is a measurement tool, not a learning tool. If you take five practice tests without studying between them, your score will not improve. Study, then test, then study again.
Finally, do not rely on a single practice test source. If you only use free tests from one website, you might miss question types or topics that appear on the real exam. Use at least one official CompTIA or Pearson Vue test and one test from a reputable training provider.
When to register for the real exam
Register for the real A+ exam only after you have scored 70 percent or higher on at least two different practice tests taken one week apart. This shows your improvement is consistent, not a one-time lucky test.
You register through Pearson Vue's website. You choose a test center near you or select an online proctored exam. The exam costs $226 for the Core exam and $226 for the Practical exam, or $452 if you register for both at once. You can take them on the same day or on different days.
Schedule your exam at least two weeks after your last practice test. This gives you time to study any remaining weak areas without cramming the night before. Cramming does not work for the A+ because it tests understanding and troubleshooting, not memorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pass the A+ without taking a practice test?
Technically yes, but it is unlikely. A practice test shows you what the real exam looks like and where your knowledge gaps are. Without that feedback, you might study the wrong topics or feel unprepared on exam day. Most people who pass have used at least one practice test.
How many practice tests should I take before the real exam?
Most people take three to five practice tests spread across their study period. Take one at the beginning to see your baseline, one or two in the middle to measure improvement, and one final test a week before the real exam to confirm you are ready. More than five tests without additional studying shows diminishing returns.
What score do I need on a practice test to pass the real exam?
A practice test score of 70 percent or higher suggests you are ready. CompTIA's passing score is 675 out of 900 points, which is roughly 75 percent. Practice test difficulty varies slightly by source, so scoring 70 to 75 percent on an official CompTIA practice test is a safer indicator than scoring 70 percent on a third-party test.
Are free practice tests as good as paid ones?
Free tests from unknown websites often contain outdated questions or incorrect answers. Free tests from established sources like Professor Messer's YouTube channel are reliable because the instructor has a reputation to maintain. Paid official tests from CompTIA and Pearson Vue are the most accurate because they use the same question bank as the real exam.
What if I fail the real exam after scoring well on practice tests?
This happens occasionally and usually means either test anxiety affected your performance, you did not understand the concepts deeply enough, or the practice test was easier than the real exam. Review the topics you missed on the real exam, study them more thoroughly, and retake the exam. CompTIA lets you retake the exam after 14 days.