CompTIA A+ Core 2 Certification Exam Practice Test
The CompTIA A+ Core 2 Certification Exam practice page covers Windows operating-system support, software troubleshooting, security practices, and IT operations. Questions in the available bank use help-desk situations such as checking device drivers, diagnosing network name resolution, repairing protected system files, managing print queues, and protecting data on retired devices.
Exam overview
About the CompTIA A+ Core 2 Certification Exam
Core 2 practice involves interpreting symptoms, choosing appropriate system tools, and applying safe support procedures. Windows tasks include inspecting process memory use, managing user privileges, updating drivers, and checking system-file integrity. Troubleshooting scenarios connect symptoms to likely causes, such as an automatically assigned 169.254.x.x address indicating a DHCP configuration or connectivity problem, or access by IP address but not hostname pointing toward name resolution. Security decisions include isolating suspicious software for observation, selecting strong Wi-Fi protection, and sanitizing storage before disposal. These situations reflect practical technician work: gather evidence, limit risk, choose a targeted corrective action, and confirm that the system or service works afterward.
Sample Practice Questions
Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.
A technician wants to check whether a Windows computer has a newer driver available for a specific hardware device. Which utility provides access to the device's driver update controls?
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Correct answer: BDevice Manager lists installed hardware and provides controls for managing device drivers, including checking for driver updates. Disk Management handles storage volumes, while the other utilities serve different system functions.
A Windows computer is configured to obtain network settings automatically, but it has assigned itself an address in the 169.254.0.0/16 range. What does this most commonly indicate?
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Correct answer: BA 169.254.x.x IPv4 address is a link-local address Windows may assign when it cannot obtain a lease from a DHCP server. The technician should investigate connectivity to the network and DHCP service.
A Windows user needs to review which programs are consuming the most memory at the moment. Which built-in tool is best suited to show current resource usage by process?
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Correct answer: ATask Manager displays running processes and their resource usage, including memory, CPU, disk, and network activity. The other utilities serve different system-management purposes.
A technician needs to determine whether a Windows system file has become corrupted and, where possible, repair protected system files. Which command-line utility is appropriate for an initial integrity check?
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Correct answer: ASystem File Checker, invoked with sfc /scannow from an appropriately elevated command prompt, scans protected Windows system files and attempts repairs using cached copies. The other commands do not perform this integrity check.
A technician is reviewing a suspicious executable in a safe, isolated environment to observe its behavior without affecting the main operating system. Which technology is most suitable?
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Correct answer: BAn isolated virtual machine or sandbox can contain test activity and help prevent changes to the host system. It should be configured carefully, since isolation is not an absolute guarantee against all threats.
A computer is connected to a network printer, but print jobs remain queued and do not reach the printer. Which Windows component is responsible for managing print jobs?
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Correct answer: AThe Print Spooler service manages print jobs and their transfer to printers. Checking whether it is functioning and reviewing the queue are reasonable troubleshooting steps.
A technician is preparing to dispose of a company laptop that contains sensitive data on an SSD. Which action is most appropriate before the device leaves the organization?
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Correct answer: BOrdinary file deletion usually removes references to data rather than reliably sanitizing the storage. A verified secure erase or an approved sanitization process is designed to prevent data recovery before disposal or transfer.
How to use this practice test
Access is free. The page presents up to 20 random questions from its 50-question bank in a session, with results shown afterward. Use missed answers to identify which Windows utilities, troubleshooting clues, or security procedures need more review.
Preparation tips
- Practice mapping Windows tasks to the right tools: Device Manager for device driver controls, Task Manager for current process resource use, and SFC for an initial protected system-file integrity check.
- For network symptoms, distinguish address assignment from name resolution: investigate DHCP when a client self-assigns a 169.254.x.x address, and DNS when an IP address works but a hostname does not.
- Review Windows support components and account privileges, including how the Print Spooler handles queued jobs and why administrator access is needed for system-wide changes.
- Compare safe malware-analysis isolation with routine endpoint protection, and learn secure data-sanitization choices appropriate to SSDs before organizational disposal.
- When practicing scenario questions, identify the symptom, select a low-risk diagnostic step, and determine what evidence would confirm the fix.