--- title: "CompTIA A+ Core 1 — Example Quiz" tags: [comptia, a-plus, core-1, 220-1101, hardware, networking] note: "Sample study questions — not affiliated with or sourced from CompTIA certification exams" --- ##### Question q001 type: single_choice correct: [c] A user reports that their laptop screen is very dim even though the brightness setting is at maximum. The display works fine when connected to an external monitor. What is the most likely cause? A. The LCD panel has failed B. The graphics card is faulty C. The backlight or inverter has failed D. The display cable is disconnected ###### Explanation If the screen shows an image (visible under bright light) but is very dim, the backlight or its inverter (on older CCFL displays) has likely failed. A failed LCD panel would show no image at all or visible damage. A disconnected cable would produce no signal. The external monitor working rules out the graphics card. --- ##### Question q002 type: multi_choice correct: [b, d] Which TWO of the following are advantages of solid-state drives (SSDs) over traditional hard disk drives (HDDs)? (Select two.) A. Higher maximum storage capacity at the same price B. Faster read and write speeds C. Lower cost per gigabyte D. No moving parts, making them more resistant to physical shock E. Longer guaranteed lifespan measured in years of continuous use ###### Explanation SSDs are significantly faster than HDDs and have no moving parts, making them durable and silent. HDDs still offer better cost per gigabyte and higher maximum capacities at lower price points. SSD lifespan is limited by write cycles (TBW — terabytes written), though modern SSDs last well beyond typical use. --- ##### Question q003 type: single_choice correct: [a] Which connector type is used by modern smartphones and tablets for both charging and data transfer, and supports USB Power Delivery for fast charging? A. USB-C B. Micro-USB C. Lightning D. Mini-USB ###### Explanation USB-C is the current standard for smartphones, tablets, and laptops — it's reversible, supports high-speed data (USB 3.2 and USB4), and USB Power Delivery for fast charging up to 240W. Micro-USB is the older Android standard. Lightning is Apple's proprietary connector (being phased out for USB-C). Mini-USB is largely obsolete. --- ##### Question q004 type: true_false correct: [b] DDR4 RAM modules are physically compatible with DDR3 slots and can be used interchangeably. A. True B. False ###### Explanation Each DDR generation has a different notch position on the module to prevent incorrect installation. DDR4 has 288 pins with the notch in a different position than DDR3's 240 pins. They are not physically or electrically compatible. Always match the RAM type to what the motherboard supports. --- ##### Question q005 type: single_choice correct: [d] A technician needs to connect a computer to a network using a wired connection. The cable has an 8-pin modular connector. What type of connector is this? A. RJ-11 B. DB-9 C. BNC D. RJ-45 ###### Explanation RJ-45 is the standard 8-pin connector used for Ethernet networking (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a cables). RJ-11 is the smaller 6-pin connector used for telephone lines. DB-9 is a serial port connector. BNC is a coaxial connector used in older network installations and video. --- ##### Question q006 type: single_choice correct: [b] What is the maximum data rate of a USB 3.0 (USB 3.2 Gen 1) connection? A. 480 Mbps B. 5 Gbps C. 10 Gbps D. 20 Gbps ###### Explanation USB 3.0 (now officially called USB 3.2 Gen 1) supports up to 5 Gbps. USB 2.0 tops out at 480 Mbps. USB 3.2 Gen 2 reaches 10 Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 reaches 20 Gbps. The USB naming is notoriously confusing — focus on the Gbps speed when comparing. --- ##### Question q007 type: multi_choice correct: [a, c, e] Which THREE of the following are functions of a SOHO (small office/home office) wireless router? (Select three.) A. Assigning IP addresses to devices via DHCP B. Providing Power over Ethernet to all connected devices C. Performing Network Address Translation (NAT) between the local network and the internet D. Filtering email spam for connected users E. Acting as a wireless access point for Wi-Fi devices ###### Explanation A typical SOHO router combines several functions: DHCP server (assigns IP addresses), NAT (translates private IPs to a public IP for internet access), and wireless access point (provides Wi-Fi). Most SOHO routers do not provide PoE (that requires a PoE switch or injector) and do not filter email spam. --- ##### Question q008 type: single_choice correct: [c] A user's laser printer produces pages with vertical black lines running down the entire length of every page. What is the most likely cause? A. Low toner B. A worn pickup roller C. A scratch or debris on the drum D. A faulty fuser assembly ###### Explanation Vertical lines running the full length of the page are typically caused by a damaged or dirty imaging drum — a scratch or debris on the drum creates the same mark on every rotation. Low toner causes faded output. Worn pickup rollers cause paper feed issues. A faulty fuser causes smudging or toner that rubs off the page. --- ##### Question q009 type: single_choice correct: [a] Which wireless networking standard operates on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands and has a maximum theoretical throughput of approximately 600 Mbps? A. 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) B. 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) C. 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) D. 802.11g ###### Explanation 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) was the first standard to support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands with a maximum theoretical speed of 600 Mbps using four spatial streams. 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) is 5 GHz only with speeds up to several Gbps. Wi-Fi 6 supports both bands with even higher throughput. 802.11g is 2.4 GHz only at 54 Mbps. --- ##### Question q010 type: sequence correct: [d, b, a, c] Place the following laser printing steps in the correct order. A. Transfer — the toner image is transferred from the drum to the paper B. Exposing — a laser writes the image onto the charged drum C. Fusing — heat and pressure bond the toner permanently to the paper D. Charging — the drum is given a uniform negative charge ###### Explanation The laser printing process follows this order: Charging (uniform charge applied to drum by charge roller) → Exposing (laser discharges areas of the drum to form the image) → Developing (toner sticks to discharged areas — implied) → Transfer (toner image moves from drum to paper) → Fusing (heat and pressure melt toner onto paper). Cleaning then prepares the drum for the next cycle. --- ##### Question q011 type: single_choice correct: [b] A technician is building a PC and needs to connect the power supply to the motherboard. Which connector provides the main power to a modern ATX motherboard? A. 4-pin Molex B. 24-pin ATX connector C. 6-pin PCIe power connector D. SATA power connector ###### Explanation The 24-pin ATX connector is the primary power connector for modern motherboards. Most boards also require an additional 4-pin or 8-pin EPS connector for the CPU. Molex is a legacy peripheral connector. 6-pin PCIe powers graphics cards. SATA power connects to storage drives. --- ##### Question q012 type: true_false correct: [a] RAID 1 mirrors data across two drives, providing redundancy but no increase in usable storage capacity compared to a single drive. A. True B. False ###### Explanation RAID 1 writes identical data to two (or more) drives. If one drive fails, the other has a complete copy. The trade-off is that you only get the capacity of a single drive — two 1 TB drives in RAID 1 give you 1 TB of usable space. For increased capacity with redundancy, RAID 5 or RAID 10 are alternatives. --- ##### Question q013 type: single_choice correct: [d] A user reports that their desktop PC powers on, the fans spin, but nothing appears on the display and there is a series of beeps from the motherboard speaker. What should the technician check first? A. The hard drive connection B. The network adapter C. The power supply voltage D. The RAM modules — reseat or test them ###### Explanation POST (Power-On Self-Test) beep codes typically indicate a hardware issue detected during startup. A series of beeps most commonly points to a RAM problem — a module may be improperly seated, faulty, or incompatible. The fans spinning confirms the power supply is working. Hard drive and network issues don't prevent POST from completing with display output. --- ##### Question q014 type: multi_choice correct: [a, d] Which TWO of the following use the 5 GHz wireless frequency band? (Select two.) A. 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) B. 802.11b C. 802.11g D. 802.11a E. Bluetooth 5.0 ###### Explanation 802.11a (1999) and 802.11ac/Wi-Fi 5 both operate on the 5 GHz band. 802.11b and 802.11g operate on 2.4 GHz only. Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz. Remember: 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) support both bands. --- ##### Question q015 type: single_choice correct: [c] What is the purpose of a BIOS/UEFI POST (Power-On Self-Test)? A. To load the operating system into memory B. To connect the computer to the network C. To verify that essential hardware components are functioning before booting D. To update the firmware to the latest version ###### Explanation POST runs immediately when the computer powers on — before any operating system loads. It checks that critical hardware (CPU, RAM, graphics, keyboard) is present and functional. If POST fails, the system halts and may produce beep codes or LED error indicators. The OS boot process begins only after POST succeeds. --- ##### Question q016 type: single_choice correct: [a] A technician needs to terminate an Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector. Which tool is required to attach the connector to the cable? A. Crimping tool B. Punchdown tool C. Cable tester D. Wire stripper ###### Explanation A crimping tool presses the RJ-45 connector's metal contacts down onto the individual wires inside the cable, creating a permanent connection. A punchdown tool is used for terminating cables at patch panels and wall jacks. A cable tester verifies the connection after termination. Wire strippers remove the cable jacket but don't attach connectors. --- ##### Question q017 type: single_choice correct: [b] Which RAID level requires a minimum of three drives and uses distributed parity to allow the array to survive a single drive failure? A. RAID 0 B. RAID 5 C. RAID 1 D. RAID 10 ###### Explanation RAID 5 stripes data across three or more drives with distributed parity — if one drive fails, the array continues operating and the data can be rebuilt. RAID 0 stripes without parity (no redundancy). RAID 1 mirrors two drives. RAID 10 requires four drives minimum and combines mirroring and striping. --- ##### Question q018 type: multi_choice correct: [b, c] A user cannot access any websites from their desktop computer, but other devices on the same network work fine. Which TWO troubleshooting steps should the technician try first? (Select two.) A. Replace the ISP modem B. Check the PC's IP configuration with ipconfig (or ip addr on Linux) C. Verify the Ethernet cable is securely connected D. Reset the wireless router E. Contact the ISP to report an outage ###### Explanation Since other devices work fine, the problem is isolated to this PC — the ISP, modem, and router are not the issue. Start with the basics: check the physical connection (cable seated properly, link light active) and verify the PC has a valid IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS. If the IP starts with 169.254.x.x, the PC isn't getting a DHCP address. --- ##### Question q019 type: true_false correct: [a] An M.2 SSD can use either a SATA or NVMe interface depending on the drive and the motherboard slot, but NVMe offers significantly faster performance. A. True B. False ###### Explanation M.2 is a physical form factor (the slot shape), not a protocol. An M.2 slot can support SATA-based SSDs (limited to ~550 MB/s, same as a 2.5" SATA SSD) or NVMe-based SSDs (which use PCIe lanes and can exceed 7,000 MB/s on Gen 4). Check the motherboard specifications — some M.2 slots support both, some only support one protocol. The key notch on the drive indicates compatibility. --- ##### Question q020 type: sequence correct: [c, a, d, b] Place the following troubleshooting steps in the correct order according to the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology. A. Establish a theory of probable cause B. Verify full system functionality and document findings C. Identify the problem by gathering information from the user D. Test the theory and implement a fix ###### Explanation The CompTIA troubleshooting methodology follows a structured approach: Identify the problem (gather symptoms, question the user, reproduce the issue) → Establish a theory (consider the most likely cause) → Test the theory and implement a fix (if the theory is confirmed, resolve it; if not, go back and form a new theory) → Verify and document (confirm the fix resolved the issue, document what was done).