CompTIA A+ study plan for Core 1 and Core 2
CompTIA A+ is two exams, and most people starting out in IT take them back to back. This prompt has your todo.is agent check the current exam codes and objectives, plan Core 1 and Core 2 by domain, add hands-on practice with an old PC or free virtual machines, and drill the performance-based questions that surprise first-timers.
The prompt
- Make me a CompTIA A+ study plan. I want to take Core 1 on [CORE 1 DATE] and Core 2 on [CORE 2 DATE]. My IT background: [BACKGROUND]. I can study [HOURS PER WEEK] hours a week. Check the current exam codes and objectives on the CompTIA site, then plan each exam by domain using the objectives as a checklist. Add hands-on tasks I can do at home with [HARDWARE I HAVE], performance-based question practice, port and protocol flashcards as a CSV, and one practice exam before each test. Give me an Excel plan with a checklist tab and send me the week's goals every Sunday at 18:00 on WhatsApp.
What to change
- [CORE 1 DATE]: E.g. "March 3".
- [CORE 2 DATE]: E.g. "April 7". 3 to 5 weeks after Core 1 works for many people.
- [BACKGROUND]: E.g. "help friends fix PCs, no IT job yet".
- [HOURS PER WEEK]: E.g. "10".
- [HARDWARE I HAVE]: E.g. "an old desktop and a home router", or "just my laptop", and the agent plans virtual machines.
Example result
- CompTIA A+ plan: 10 weeks for both exams
- Core 1: March 3 · Core 2: April 7 · 10 h a week · Home PC repair experience, has an old desktop and router
- Exam basics
- • Two exams, each up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, with multiple choice and performance-based questions (PBQs)
- • You need both to be certified. The agent checks the current exam codes and passing scores on the CompTIA site.
- Core 1 (weeks 1 to 5)
- • Week 1, mobile devices: laptop parts, display types, mobile sync, Bluetooth and NFC setup
- • Week 2, networking: ports and protocols (22 SSH, 25 SMTP, 53 DNS, 80 HTTP, 443 HTTPS, 3389 RDP), Wi-Fi standards, SOHO router setup
- • Week 3, hardware: RAM types, storage (SATA, NVMe), power supplies, printers (laser steps, thermal, inkjet)
- • Week 4, virtualization and cloud: hypervisors, cloud models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
- • Week 5, troubleshooting: CompTIA's 6-step method, no-POST, overheating, no network, printer streaks. Practice exam, then test day.
- Core 2 (weeks 6 to 10)
- • Week 6, operating systems: Windows editions, command line (ipconfig, ping, chkdsk, sfc, gpupdate), macOS and Linux basics
- • Week 7, security: malware types, MFA, encryption, wireless security, physical security, social engineering
- • Week 8, software troubleshooting: slow PCs, boot problems, browser issues, mobile app crashes
- • Week 9, operational procedures: documentation, change management, backups, safety, scripting basics
- • Week 10: practice exam and PBQ drills, then test day
- Hands-on at home
- • Take the old desktop apart and rebuild it; name every part out loud
- • Install Windows and a Linux distribution in free virtual machines
- • Change the router's Wi-Fi to WPA3 (or WPA2 if not supported), set a guest network
- PBQ practice
- • Match ports to protocols in under 2 minutes
- • Order the 6 troubleshooting steps
- • Configure a SOHO router from a short scenario
How to do it with todo.is
- Pick your two exam dates and fill them into the prompt with your background and hardware.
- Paste it into todo.is, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp.
- Your agent checks the current objectives, then sends an Excel plan, a checklist and a flashcard CSV.
- Each Sunday you get the week's goals. Reply with what you finished and the checklist updates.
Tips for a better result
- Use the official exam objectives as your checklist. If a topic is not on it, skip it.
- PBQs often come first. Flag them, answer the multiple-choice questions, then come back with the time left.
- Learn the troubleshooting steps in order. Several questions ask what you should do next.
- Hands-on practice beats video. Even an old laptop teaches you more than another hour of watching.
CompTIA A+ study plan: FAQ
- How long does it take to study for CompTIA A+? Many beginners take 2 to 3 months for both exams at about 10 hours a week. With IT help desk experience it can be faster.
- Do I have to take Core 1 before Core 2? No, you can take them in any order, but most people start with Core 1 because it covers hardware and networking basics.
- What jobs can A+ help me get? It is a common entry requirement for help desk, IT support and field technician roles.
- Can todo.is quiz me on ports? Yes. Ask for 10 port and protocol questions every day at lunch on WhatsApp. It is a recurring to-do.
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