CompTIA A+ Pass Rate 2026
Complete analysis of CompTIA A+ exam difficulty, pass rates, and strategies to pass on your first attempt.
Pass Rate
Difficulty Verdict
Moderately Challenging
Recommended Study Time
4-8 weeks
Typical Attempts
1-2 attempts typical
CompTIA A+'s ~75% pass rate means roughly 25 out of 100 candidates fail. For a medium-difficulty CompTIA exam, this is in line with expectations. Success requires covering all exam objectives, not just the ones you're comfortable with. At $246 per exam (2 exams) per attempt, failing is costly. If you fail, you'll wait No waiting period between the first and second attempt at either core exam. Before a third attempt, and before any subsequent attempt, CompTIA requires a wait of at least 14 calendar days from the date of the last attempt. Client-proctored exams follow the same rule, and CompTIA states these requirements cannot be waived under any circumstances. before retaking. The certification is valid for 3 years, so investing in solid prep pays off long-term.
Top Reasons Candidates Fail CompTIA A+:
Do This for CompTIA A+
- Two exams: Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102)
- Computer-based at Pearson VUE
- Professor Messer free videos
- Hardware, networking, security, troubleshooting
Avoid This
- Relying on brain dumps, cloud providers update exams frequently
- Studying only theory without spinning up real environments
- Ignoring the official exam guide and objective weightings
- Cramming a week before instead of steady hands-on practice
Ready to Beat the Odds?
Get our complete CompTIA A+ study guide with practice questions.