CompTIA 220-1101 (A+ Core 1) Practice Exam 100
Questions with Answers and Rationales
This exam covers the latest objectives including:
• Mobile Devices – 15%
• Networking – 20%
• Hardware – 25%
• Virtualization & Cloud Computing – 11%
• Hardware & Network Troubleshooting – 29%
Part 1: Questions 1–50
1. A user reports that their laptop battery drains quickly even when plugged in. The laptop
is 2 years old. What is the most likely cause?
• A) The AC adapter is the wrong wattage
• B) The battery has reached its end of life
• C) A virus is consuming power
• D) The laptop is in Airplane Mode
Answer: B) The battery has reached its end of life
*Rationale: Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time and charge cycles. After 2-3 years,
capacity significantly decreases. A failing battery may charge slowly or drain faster even
when plugged in because it cannot hold a charge. Check battery health reports in BIOS or
using powercfg /batteryreport.*
2. Which of the following display technologies requires a backlight to produce an image?
• A) OLED
• B) AMOLED
• C) LCD
• D) MicroLED
, Answer: C) LCD
Rationale: LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) requires a separate backlight (LED or CCFL) because
liquid crystals do not emit light; they modulate light passing through them. OLED and
AMOLED pixels emit their own light (self-emissive). MicroLED also self-emits.
3. A technician is installing a new printer. The printer supports both USB and Ethernet. The
office requires that the printer be accessible to all users without a dedicated print server.
Which connection method should be used?
• A) USB direct to one computer with sharing enabled
• B) Ethernet connected to the network switch
• C) Bluetooth pairing
• D) Serial connection
Answer: B) Ethernet connected to the network switch
Rationale: Connecting the printer via Ethernet to the network switch allows all users on the
network to print directly to the printer's IP address. USB sharing requires a host computer to
remain on. Network printing is the standard for office environments without a print server.
4. A user's smartphone screen is cracked but the display and touch function work normally.
What is the most appropriate recommendation?
• A) Replace the entire phone
• B) Apply a tempered glass screen protector over the cracks
• C) Replace the screen assembly (digitizer + LCD/OLED)
• D) Ignore it until it fails
Answer: C) Replace the screen assembly (digitizer + LCD/OLED)
Rationale: A cracked screen compromises structural integrity and risks injury from glass
shards, moisture ingress, and further damage. The proper repair is replacing the display
assembly. A screen protector over cracks is temporary. Even if touch works now, the digitizer
may fail later.
5. Which of the following is the maximum cable length for a USB 3.2 Gen 1 cable without
using active extension?
,• A) 1 meter
• B) 3 meters
• C) 5 meters
• D) 10 meters
Answer: B) 3 meters
*Rationale: USB 3.x (5-20 Gbps) has a recommended maximum cable length of 3 meters due
to signal integrity timing requirements. USB 2.0 allows 5 meters. Active cables, hubs, or
optical extenders can go longer.*
6. A technician is configuring a SOHO router. Which of the following would prevent
outsiders from seeing the wireless network name?
• A) Enable MAC filtering
• B) Disable SSID broadcast
• C) Enable WPA3 encryption
• D) Change the default IP address
Answer: B) Disable SSID broadcast
Rationale: Disabling SSID broadcast (hidden network) prevents the router from announcing its
network name in beacon frames. The network does not appear in visible Wi-Fi lists. Users
must manually enter the SSID to connect. This is "security through obscurity" and not a
primary security measure.
7. A customer reports that their desktop PC emits a series of beeps (three long beeps) and
does not display anything on the monitor. What is the most likely cause based on standard
AMI BIOS beep codes?
• A) Power supply failure
• B) RAM error (memory not detected)
• C) Video card failure
• D) CPU overheating
Answer: B) RAM error (memory not detected)
*Rationale: Standard AMI BIOS beep codes: 3 long beeps = memory error (base 64K
memory failure). AWARD BIOS: 1 long 2 short = video error. Beep codes vary by
manufacturer, but the exam expects common patterns referencing RAM as a frequent cause
of no-POST beep codes.*
, 8. Which of the following RAID levels provides striping with parity (distributed parity)
requiring a minimum of three drives?
• A) RAID 0
• B) RAID 1
• C) RAID 5
• D) RAID 10
Answer: C) RAID 5
*Rationale: RAID 5 uses block-level striping with distributed parity. It requires at least 3
drives. It can tolerate one drive failure. RAID 0 is striping without parity (no fault tolerance).
RAID 1 is mirroring (2 drives). RAID 10 is striped mirrors (4 drives minimum).*
9. A laptop has a dim display even at maximum brightness. The display works but is very
hard to see. Which component is most likely failing if this is an older laptop with a CCFL
backlight?
• A) LCD panel
• B) Inverter board
• C) Video cable
• D) Graphics card
Answer: B) Inverter board
Rationale: CCFL backlights require a high-voltage inverter to convert DC to AC. A failing
inverter produces dim or flickering backlight. The image is still faintly visible because the LCD
panel itself works. LED-backlit laptops dim from LED driver failure. Inverters are common
failure points on older laptops.
10. A technician is running Ethernet cable through a drop ceiling that is used as an air
return for the HVAC system. What type of cable is required by fire code?
• A) PVC cable (CM)
• B) Riser-rated cable (CMR)
• C) Plenum-rated cable (CMP)
• D) Outdoor-rated cable (CMX)
Questions with Answers and Rationales
This exam covers the latest objectives including:
• Mobile Devices – 15%
• Networking – 20%
• Hardware – 25%
• Virtualization & Cloud Computing – 11%
• Hardware & Network Troubleshooting – 29%
Part 1: Questions 1–50
1. A user reports that their laptop battery drains quickly even when plugged in. The laptop
is 2 years old. What is the most likely cause?
• A) The AC adapter is the wrong wattage
• B) The battery has reached its end of life
• C) A virus is consuming power
• D) The laptop is in Airplane Mode
Answer: B) The battery has reached its end of life
*Rationale: Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time and charge cycles. After 2-3 years,
capacity significantly decreases. A failing battery may charge slowly or drain faster even
when plugged in because it cannot hold a charge. Check battery health reports in BIOS or
using powercfg /batteryreport.*
2. Which of the following display technologies requires a backlight to produce an image?
• A) OLED
• B) AMOLED
• C) LCD
• D) MicroLED
, Answer: C) LCD
Rationale: LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) requires a separate backlight (LED or CCFL) because
liquid crystals do not emit light; they modulate light passing through them. OLED and
AMOLED pixels emit their own light (self-emissive). MicroLED also self-emits.
3. A technician is installing a new printer. The printer supports both USB and Ethernet. The
office requires that the printer be accessible to all users without a dedicated print server.
Which connection method should be used?
• A) USB direct to one computer with sharing enabled
• B) Ethernet connected to the network switch
• C) Bluetooth pairing
• D) Serial connection
Answer: B) Ethernet connected to the network switch
Rationale: Connecting the printer via Ethernet to the network switch allows all users on the
network to print directly to the printer's IP address. USB sharing requires a host computer to
remain on. Network printing is the standard for office environments without a print server.
4. A user's smartphone screen is cracked but the display and touch function work normally.
What is the most appropriate recommendation?
• A) Replace the entire phone
• B) Apply a tempered glass screen protector over the cracks
• C) Replace the screen assembly (digitizer + LCD/OLED)
• D) Ignore it until it fails
Answer: C) Replace the screen assembly (digitizer + LCD/OLED)
Rationale: A cracked screen compromises structural integrity and risks injury from glass
shards, moisture ingress, and further damage. The proper repair is replacing the display
assembly. A screen protector over cracks is temporary. Even if touch works now, the digitizer
may fail later.
5. Which of the following is the maximum cable length for a USB 3.2 Gen 1 cable without
using active extension?
,• A) 1 meter
• B) 3 meters
• C) 5 meters
• D) 10 meters
Answer: B) 3 meters
*Rationale: USB 3.x (5-20 Gbps) has a recommended maximum cable length of 3 meters due
to signal integrity timing requirements. USB 2.0 allows 5 meters. Active cables, hubs, or
optical extenders can go longer.*
6. A technician is configuring a SOHO router. Which of the following would prevent
outsiders from seeing the wireless network name?
• A) Enable MAC filtering
• B) Disable SSID broadcast
• C) Enable WPA3 encryption
• D) Change the default IP address
Answer: B) Disable SSID broadcast
Rationale: Disabling SSID broadcast (hidden network) prevents the router from announcing its
network name in beacon frames. The network does not appear in visible Wi-Fi lists. Users
must manually enter the SSID to connect. This is "security through obscurity" and not a
primary security measure.
7. A customer reports that their desktop PC emits a series of beeps (three long beeps) and
does not display anything on the monitor. What is the most likely cause based on standard
AMI BIOS beep codes?
• A) Power supply failure
• B) RAM error (memory not detected)
• C) Video card failure
• D) CPU overheating
Answer: B) RAM error (memory not detected)
*Rationale: Standard AMI BIOS beep codes: 3 long beeps = memory error (base 64K
memory failure). AWARD BIOS: 1 long 2 short = video error. Beep codes vary by
manufacturer, but the exam expects common patterns referencing RAM as a frequent cause
of no-POST beep codes.*
, 8. Which of the following RAID levels provides striping with parity (distributed parity)
requiring a minimum of three drives?
• A) RAID 0
• B) RAID 1
• C) RAID 5
• D) RAID 10
Answer: C) RAID 5
*Rationale: RAID 5 uses block-level striping with distributed parity. It requires at least 3
drives. It can tolerate one drive failure. RAID 0 is striping without parity (no fault tolerance).
RAID 1 is mirroring (2 drives). RAID 10 is striped mirrors (4 drives minimum).*
9. A laptop has a dim display even at maximum brightness. The display works but is very
hard to see. Which component is most likely failing if this is an older laptop with a CCFL
backlight?
• A) LCD panel
• B) Inverter board
• C) Video cable
• D) Graphics card
Answer: B) Inverter board
Rationale: CCFL backlights require a high-voltage inverter to convert DC to AC. A failing
inverter produces dim or flickering backlight. The image is still faintly visible because the LCD
panel itself works. LED-backlit laptops dim from LED driver failure. Inverters are common
failure points on older laptops.
10. A technician is running Ethernet cable through a drop ceiling that is used as an air
return for the HVAC system. What type of cable is required by fire code?
• A) PVC cable (CM)
• B) Riser-rated cable (CMR)
• C) Plenum-rated cable (CMP)
• D) Outdoor-rated cable (CMX)
