The CompTIA 220-1001 is the industry-standard exam that allows the candidates to prove their skills in technologies from security to cloud and data management. If you are thinking of pursuing your career in today's digital world, this evaluation is a must for you. Once you pass the 220-1001 test, you will be one step closer to getting the CompTIA A+ certification.

Who Is A+ 220-1001 Exam Intended for?

This test, in particular, is designed for candidates who want to start their careers in the IT field. On the whole, the candidate’s knowledge about the IT fundamentals will be tested in such a detailed exam so they should have some fundamental knowledge of virtualization, data, and cloud management. Basically, there is no formal prerequisite for this exam so anyone can take it to launch their careers in the IT sector. In the main test, the candidate should be able to demonstrate networking and hardware IT skills as well as change management & scripting acumen. Moreover, the basic knowledge of implementing data backup and applying data storage as well as recovery methods are also required before taking the final evaluation.

What Is 220-1001 Test?

The official exam consists of 90 questions to be finished in 90 minutes and they are in the form of multiple-choices, single and multiple responses, drag & drop as well as performance-based items. To pass the test, the candidate needs to get a 675-mark score on a scale of 100-900. In addition, the candidates are recommended to have 9-12 months of experience before applying for such an exam. Besides, 220-1001 comes in the English, Japanese, Portuguese, Thai, German, and Spanish languages. Moreover, you have to register for it by Pearson VUE and pay $232 as a registration fee. Finally, as mentioned above, acing this exam will get you the A+ certificate which also requires you to pass the exam 220-1002 by code.

What Domains Are Covered by 220-1001 Test?

The CompTIA A+ 220-1001 exam tests the knowledge of candidates in various IT-related topics. This way, the examinees should develop the core skills that are required not only for clearing the main exam but also for performing work duties well. In a nutshell, here’s an outline of the objectives measured by the 220-1002 test:

• Mobile Devices;
• Networking Technology;
• Virtualization & Cloud Computing;
• Hardware & Network Troubleshooting;
• Hardware.

The first tested domain talks about mobile devices. Particularly, it involves installing and configuring laptop hardware and its other components. Thus, the candidate's knowledge about hardware and device replacement elements like hard drive, optical drive, DC jack, CPU, etc. will be tested in the exam. Moreover, this part includes configuring the mobile device network connectivity and understanding the methods to perform the mobile synchronization. In addition, it focuses on configuring the accessories and ports of mobile devices. In all, here, you’ll get equipped with such concepts as OLED, port replicator, - VR/AR headsets, NFC, Bluetooth, and the like.

The second area focuses on networking technology. It allows the candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of identifying the types of networks and connections that include TCP and UDP. It also deals with comparing common networking hardware devices and exploring the network configuration. Next, you will be tested on utilizing the appropriate networking tools and configuring wired or wireless SOHO networks. In more detail, this topic looks at ports, protocols, routers, switches, NIC configuration, settings for firewalls, IP addressing, crimper, and so on.

The third part discusses virtualization and cloud computing. In particular, it covers the terms like configuring client-side virtualization and comparing as well as contrasting cloud computing concepts. Therefore, the candidate should have basic knowledge of cloud models, rapid elasticity, pooling of resources, virtual NIC, VMs and their intention, hypervisor, etc. to answer the questions of this domain with ease.

The fourth section emphasizes hardware and network troubleshooting. All in all, it involves the objectives such as configuring the network issues and troubleshooting devices. Besides, it tests your knowledge of utilizing the techniques and methodologies to solve the problems, troubleshooting printers, devices, and wireless/wired network glitches, troubleshooting problems of motherboards, CPUs, RAM, and power. On the whole, such concepts as VGA mode, artifacts, swollen battery, paper jam, APIPA will be touched on within this area.

Lastly, the fifth tested objective defines hardware. It consists of notions like identifying common connector types, explaining the uses of several peripheral types, configuring motherboards, add-on cards, and CPUs, briefing power supply types, and also defining basic cable types, their purposes, and features. Then, the candidate should as well have skills in installing and configuring the storage devices as well as RAM types.

What Are Career Opportunities for CompTIA A+ Specialists?

The CompTIA A+ 220-1001 exam will open up the door of career opportunities for many applicants. So, if you pass the test, you will enter the world of skilled IT specialists and will be able to go further by passing higher-level evaluations. To add more, these are some of the positions you can apply for as a beginner specialist after passing the 220-1001 & 220-1002 exams:

• Service Desk Analyst;
• Help Desk Technician;
• Field Service Technician;
• Associate Network Engineer, etc.

When it comes to the annual pay, for example, the Service Desk Analyst earns around $48,167 per year and the Help Desk Technician has an annual income of $41,694 as revealed by PayScale. Also, the salary of the Field Service Technician ranges between $36,000 to $75,000 as mentioned by the same website. Significantly, the CompTIA A+ certified individuals can get jobs in well-recognized companies like Intel, Dell, Nissan, BlueCross BlueShield, HP, and Ricoh.

Certification Path

As stated earlier, after passing the 220-1001 test, you should take the CompTIA 220-1002 exam to earn your A+ certificate. And if you want to expand your knowledge even more, you should apply for the Network+ certification, which will help you enhance your problem-solving skills and enter the world of networking. After that, a wise step will be to obtain the Security+ designation that will furnish you with all the pertinent skills relating to the namesake domain.