Examworthyexamworthy.comCompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102) cheat sheet
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At a glance
Format: Multiple choice and performance-based, at Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored
Domain weight map
Heaviest first - spend your time hereHow this exam thinks
Core 2 tests the correct tool and the correct step in order, not general familiarity: the right utility for the symptom, the right permission model, and the published sequence for malware removal, change management, and troubleshooting.
Spot the trap
Tempting wrong answers, and why they failTempting but wrong
True or false: FAT32 is the safe pick for a USB drive because it is the most widely supported removable-media format.
Why it fails
False for large files. FAT32 is broadly compatible, but it caps individual files at 4 GB, so a 6 GB video will not fit. Use exFAT when files exceed 4 GB.
Operating Systems
Tempting but wrong
True or false: degaussing an SSD reliably erases its data because the field wipes the storage.
Why it fails
False. An SSD stores data in flash cells, which a magnetic field cannot erase. Degaussing only works on magnetic media; on an SSD the data survives, so use a controller Secure Erase instead.
Security
Tempting but wrong
A banking app crashes after an update. Should you clear its storage and data first to give it a fresh start?
Why it fails
No. Clearing storage often fixes a corrupt-state crash, but it also wipes saved logins and in-app data, so it is not the first step when that data must be kept. Clear only the cache first, which preserves accounts and saved data.
Software Troubleshooting
Tempting but wrong
Should the resolution steps be written into a ticket at the moment it is first logged?
Why it fails
No. The fix cannot be known before diagnosis, so writing resolution notes at intake records a solution that has not happened. Resolution notes matter, but they belong at closure, not at logging time.
Operational Procedures
Tempting but wrong
Why not just format a cross-platform drive as NTFS, since it handles large files fine?
Why it fails
macOS mounts NTFS volumes read-only by default, so you could not write to the drive without third-party drivers. For native read/write on both platforms with large files, choose exFAT.
Operating Systems
Tempting but wrong
Is deleting partitions and running a quick format enough to make data unrecoverable before reuse?
Why it fails
No. A quick format only clears the file table; the underlying data remains and is trivially recovered with forensic tools. It fails the unrecoverable requirement. Use a Secure Erase to sanitise the media.
Security
Tempting but wrong
Rapid battery drain on a phone that used to last all day means the cell is worn and needs replacing. True or false?
Why it fails
False when battery health still reads high and the drain began right after new app installs. That pattern points to a misbehaving app in software, so a hardware swap is premature. Check per-app battery usage first.
Software Troubleshooting
Tempting but wrong
Is the ticketing system the right place to record a laptop's purchase price and inventory data?
Why it fails
No. The ticketing system tracks support requests, not hardware inventory. Cost and inventory data belong in the asset management system, which is the correct record for tracking devices across their lifecycle.
Operational Procedures
Key terms
Exam-day rules
- For a problem scenario, choose the BEST or FIRST action, not any action that helps. Two options are often both valid; the exam wants the correct next step in the published order given the constraint in the stem.
- Match the tool to the symptom. A corrupt system file is sfc /scannow, disk errors are chkdsk, a broken component store is DISM, a hung process is Task Manager or taskkill; read each option as a claim about what the tool does.
- Know the seven malware-removal steps in order cold. Quarantine and disable System Restore before you remediate, re-enable and create a restore point after, and educate the user last; a reordered list is the classic trap.
- For combined permissions, apply the most-restrictive rule. Effective network permission is the most restrictive of NTFS and share; local access uses NTFS only, and an option that says share always wins is wrong.
- Do not pair WPA with TKIP. WPA3 is current and WPA2 uses AES; TKIP and WEP are legacy, so a WPA2-or-WPA3-with-TKIP option is keyed wrong on sight.
Revision schedule
- Day 1Map the blueprint and set a date
- Week 1Master the ordered procedures early
- Weeks 1-2Drill the security models (Security domain)
- Weeks 2-3Cover Operating Systems breadth
- Week 3Practise on scenarios with worked explanations