CompTIA study plan
220-1101 study plan
A step-by-step 220-1101 study plan: the exact order to study in, how long to spend on each stage, and when to start practice questions. Follow it top to bottom.
The real 220-1101 is Maximum of 90 questions questions in 90 minutes, pass mark 675 / 900. For the full domain-by-domain breakdown behind each stage, read the 220-1101 study guide.
Your step-by-step plan
Map the blueprint and set a date
Day 1Read the official Core 1 exam objectives and the five domains with their weights. Book a provisional exam date now: a fixed date turns open-ended study into a plan and is the strongest predictor of actually sitting the exam.
Drill the high-yield facts (Networking and Hardware)
Weeks 1-2These two domains carry the most single-fact marks. Memorise the well-known ports with their secure alternatives, the 802.11 band-and-speed table, the RAID levels, and the RAM and M.2 form factors until recall is instant. Use the recall prompts in this guide: cover the answer, retrieve from memory, then reveal.
Cover mobile devices and virtualization and cloud
Week 2Learn the laptop as replaceable parts tied to symptoms, and lock the cloud service and deployment models plus the Type 1 versus Type 2 hypervisor split. These are lower weight and mostly conceptual, so a focused pass with practice questions secures them.
Master the troubleshooting methodology
Week 3This is the largest domain. Learn the six steps in order until a reordered list looks wrong on sight, then drill applied symptom-to-cause scenarios across hardware, storage, display, mobile, printer, and network faults. Always pick the safest correct first action.
Practise on scenarios with worked explanations
Week 4Move to full practice sets and read the explanation for every question, including the ones you got right. The exam rewards choosing the best action among plausible options, so understanding why each distractor is wrong is where the marks are.
Find and close your weak domains
Week 4Use your per-domain accuracy to drill the areas dragging you down rather than re-reading what you already know. Ports, RAID, and methodology ordering are common weak spots; repeat until every domain clears the pass line with margin.
Sit a timed mock and review it
Week 5Take at least one full timed mock to rehearse pacing and flag-and-return. Treat the score as a per-domain readiness signal, then review every missed question before booking or sitting.
Ready to start stage one?
Free 220-1101 questions with worked explanations. No sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
How long does this 220-1101 study plan take?
It is 7 stages, paced by how much time you can give it each week - most candidates work through it in 2 to 6 weeks. Each stage below has a suggested duration; slow down on any stage where the recall checks in the study guide are not landing before moving on.
What order should I study 220-1101 in?
Follow the stages in order below. They are sequenced deliberately: foundational material first, then the domains weighted heaviest on the exam, then timed practice, with review passes built in rather than left to the end.
Do I need practice questions as part of this plan?
Yes. Reading alone does not surface what you have not actually learned. This plan builds in graded practice, and the full 299-question bank is free to use as you work through each stage.
Is this plan enough on its own, or do I need the full study guide too?
This page is the plan: what to do and in what order. The study guide adds the domain-by-domain breakdown, easy-to-confuse traps, and worked examples behind each stage - read it alongside this plan, not instead of it.
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