# CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) — Exam Details

## Status
- **Studying since:** June 11, 2026
- **Exam goal:** July 7, 2026
- **Hard deadline:** July 12, 2026
- **Passing score:** 700 / 900 (~78%)
- **Format:** 90 questions in 90 minutes

## Study Strategy
- Took cold diagnostic practice test first to find weak spots
- Study weak domains first (not start-to-finish)
- Practice tests every 3–4 days to track improvement
- Don't schedule the real exam until consistently scoring 85%+ on practice tests
- July 4th week = buffer week or final prep if needed

## Domain Breakdown

| Domain | Weight | My Confidence | Priority |
|--------|--------|---------------|----------|
| Operating Systems | 27% | Medium | High — most content |
| Security | 24% | High (homelab!) | Medium — review gaps |
| Software Troubleshooting | 26% | High | Medium — use real experience |
| Operational Procedures | 23% | Low | High — most memorization |

## Practice Test Log

| Date | Test | Score | Notes |
|------|------|-------|-------|
| 2026-06-11 | Sybex diagnostic (cold) | 50% (50/100) | No prior study. Sybex ~60-65% equivalent on real exam |

## Key Weak Areas

- Windows command-line tools: `sfc /scannow`, `DISM`, `chkdsk`, `bootrec`, `diskpart`, `ipconfig /all`, `netstat`, `tracert`, `nslookup`
- Malware types and the exact removal steps (quarantine order, safe mode boot, etc.)
- Windows OS editions and what features each one has
- Operational procedures (safety rules, environmental controls, compliance)

## Study Resources

| Resource | Type | Status |
|----------|------|--------|
| Professor Messer | YouTube + paid practice exams | Active |
| CompTIA CertMaster | Official practice platform | Planned |
| Sybex | Practice exam book | Used (diagnostic) |
| Jason Dion | Udemy practice exams | Backup option |
| r/CompTIA | Community forum | Active |
| Professor Messer Discord | Study accountability | Active |

## Homelab Experience That Helps

These hands-on KiteStacks experiences map directly to exam topics:

| Homelab Experience | Exam Topic |
|-------------------|------------|
| Cloudflare Tunnel setup | Network security, VPN concepts |
| Authentik SSO (OAuth2, OIDC) | Authentication, authorization, MFA |
| Tailscale VPN mesh | Remote access, network topology |
| Docker container management | Virtualization, OS concepts |
| Linux CLI (daily use) | OS commands, file permissions |
| Diagnosed OAuth2 distributed bug | Software troubleshooting methodology |
| RUNBOOK + git change tracking | Documentation, change management |
| Grafana/Prometheus monitoring | Operational procedures |