# CompTIA A+ Core 2 — Study Workspace

Everything for passing CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) lives here.

**Exam goal:** July 7, 2026
**Hard deadline:** July 12, 2026
**Status:** Active study — Phase 2 (Security)

---

## Quick Navigation

| File/Folder | What's in it |
|-------------|--------------|
| `SCHEDULE.md` | Day-by-day study plan (June 10 – July 7) |
| `MEMORY.md` | Current state, progress, what's next |
| `quiz-log.md` | Every quiz attempt with score and missed concepts |
| `lab-log.md` | Hands-on lab progress |
| `notes/` | Study notes organized by objective (OS-1, SEC-1, etc.) |
| `quizzes/` | Quiz question sets by topic |
| `labs/` | Hands-on lab exercises |
| `flashcards/` | Quick-review cards for memorization-heavy topics |
| `mind-maps/` | Visual maps of each domain |
| `reference-materials/` | Index of study resources |
| `certifications/` | Certification roadmap and exam details |

---

## How to Study Each Day

1. Open `MEMORY.md` — it tells you exactly where you left off
2. Read the matching note from `notes/` (e.g., `notes/SEC-1-security-fundamentals.md`)
3. Do the matching lab from `labs/` if practical
4. Take the matching quiz from `quizzes/`
5. Update `quiz-log.md` with your score and any weak concepts
6. Update `MEMORY.md` with today's progress and tomorrow's next step

---

## Exam Info

- **Test code:** 220-1202
- **Questions:** 90 questions in 90 minutes
- **Passing score:** 700 / 900 (about 78%)
- **Format:** Multiple choice + performance-based questions (PBQs)

## Domain Weights

| Domain | Weight | Strategy |
|--------|--------|----------|
| Operating Systems | 27% | Heaviest — memorize Windows CLI tools and edition features |
| Security | 24% | Strong from homelab experience |
| Software Troubleshooting | 26% | Practical — use real-world analogies |
| Operational Procedures | 23% | Most memorization — review late in study plan |

---

## Background Strengths (from homelab)

Running KiteStacks homelab already covers real-world versions of many exam topics:
- **Security:** firewall rules, TLS certificates, OAuth2/OIDC SSO, VPN (Tailscale)
- **Linux CLI:** file permissions, process management, networking tools, SSH
- **Troubleshooting:** diagnosed and fixed production-level distributed systems issues
- **Documentation:** maintains active RUNBOOK and git-tracked change history
- **Networking:** Cloudflare Tunnel, Docker networking, DNS, reverse proxy

---

## Study Resources

- **Professor Messer** — free YouTube videos + paid practice exams (professormesser.com)
- **CompTIA CertMaster** — official practice platform
- **Sybex** — used for cold diagnostic (harder than real exam, ~60-65% equivalent)
- **Jason Dion practice exams** — Udemy backup
- **r/CompTIA** — community forum
- **Professor Messer Discord** — accountability and study partner replacement

---

## Core 1 Result

CompTIA A+ Core 1 — **PASSED** — highest score in a class of 22 students.