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How many questions are on the CompTIA A+ exam? Format explained

By SunTzu, founder of CertOwl • Published July 17, 2026 • 3 min read

The official answer is "a maximum of 90 questions per exam." The practical answer is more interesting, because the number you see, the time you get, and the way it's scored all interact in ways worth knowing before exam day.

The numbers that matter

• Up to 90 questions on Core 1 (220-1201) and up to 90 on Core 2 (220-1202)
• 90 minutes per exam
• Scored from 100 to 900. Core 1 needs 675 to pass, Core 2 needs 700
• Both exams mix multiple choice, multiple response, drag and drop, and performance-based questions

Most people don't get all 90 questions. Sitting the exam, you'll typically see somewhere in the low-to-mid 80s. The exact count varies per exam form, partly because performance-based questions take the place of several multiple choice items, and partly because some questions are unscored trial questions CompTIA is testing for future exams. You'll never know which ones those are, so treat every question as real.

What PBQs do to your time budget

Performance-based questions, or PBQs, are the wildcard. Instead of picking A, B, C or D, you interact with a small simulation: build a network from a scenario, match cable types to uses, configure settings in a mock interface.

They usually appear at the front of the exam, and this is where the 90 minute budget gets dangerous. Simple math says one question per minute. But a single PBQ can eat five minutes without you noticing, and if you get four or five of them, a third of your time can be gone before question ten.

The strategy almost everyone lands on: open each PBQ, and if the approach isn't clear within about a minute, flag it and move on. Clear all the multiple choice questions first, since they're fast points, then return to the flagged PBQs with everything that's left. You can review and change any answer before submitting, so nothing is lost by skipping ahead.

And know this: PBQs are scored, so never leave one blank. Partial work can still earn partial credit.

How the 100 to 900 scoring works

Your score isn't a percentage. CompTIA uses scaled scoring: each exam form has a slightly different mix of questions, some harder than others, and the scale evens that out so a 675 means the same thing no matter which form you got.

Practical consequences:

1. You can't compute "how many I'm allowed to miss." Anyone who tells you "675 means 75%, so you can miss 22 questions" is guessing. The weighting isn't public.
2. There's no penalty for wrong answers. A blank and a wrong answer score identically, so answer everything, even if it's a pure guess. Eliminate one or two options first and the guess gets a lot better.
3. The minimum score isn't zero. The scale starts at 100. Don't be alarmed by the strange floor; it's just how the scale is built.

You get your result immediately after finishing, on screen, along with a domain-by-domain breakdown if you fail. That breakdown is gold for a retake, so if the worst happens, photograph nothing (not allowed) but read it carefully before leaving and write it down outside: it tells you exactly which domains to fix before trying again.

Is 90 minutes enough?

For most prepared candidates, yes, with minutes to spare. The people who run out of time are almost always the ones who got stuck on PBQs early or who read slowly in the exam language (you can book the exam in several languages, worth checking if English isn't your first).

The best fix is rehearsal. Take at least two or three full-length, 90-question timed simulations before the real thing. Not ten-question quizzes. Full simulations. The first one will feel long. By the third, the pacing lives in your hands and exam day is just another rep.

Frequently asked questions

Why did I get fewer than 90 questions?

The count varies by form. More PBQs usually means fewer total questions, and your score is weighted, not a simple percentage.

How much time is that per question?

Roughly a minute for each multiple choice question, with several minutes reserved for each PBQ. Flag heavy PBQs and return to them at the end.

Do wrong answers lose points?

No. There is no penalty for guessing, so never leave anything blank.