CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 is the operating-system, endpoint-security, software-troubleshooting, and operational-procedure half of the current A+ V15 series. The exam rewards disciplined process choices more than flashy fixes: effective permissions over guesswork, recovery order over panic, and secure defaults over convenience shortcuts.
WinRE: Windows Recovery Environment, which provides repair and recovery tools when normal boot or repair paths fail.
UAC: User Account Control, the Windows security feature that prompts for elevation when administrative rights are needed.
Current orientation
CompTIA’s current official Core 2 page lists 220-1202 as the V15 Core 2 exam, launched on March 25, 2025, with up to 90 questions in 90 minutes and a passing score of 700. CompTIA also states that Core 1 and Core 2 must be taken from the same version series.
Current exam fact
Current official value
exam code
220-1202
version series
V15
duration
90 minutes
question count
maximum of 90
passing score
700 on a 100-900 scale
exam style
multiple-choice and performance-based questions
What makes Core 2 harder than it first looks is not command memorization. It is boundary judgment:
user issue versus device issue
permissions issue versus policy issue
malware symptom versus software fault
reversible repair versus destructive rebuild
technical fix versus operational procedure requirement
Use the cheat sheet for commands, recovery tools, permissions, and security baselines.
Keep the glossary open when Windows, security, and support terms begin to blur together.
Use the faq for scenario-heavy distinctions such as malware workflow, effective permissions, WinRE, and reset choices.
Use the resources page for the current official exam details and CompTIA platform references.
What strong answers usually do
choose the safest least-disruptive troubleshooting step before jumping to reinstall or reset
distinguish user-scope problems from admin-scope problems before changing permissions or security settings
treat documentation, backup, communication, and change discipline as part of the technical answer
prefer secure defaults and recovery paths that preserve user data when the scenario allows it
remember that Core 2 is as much about process discipline as it is about tools
Review flow
flowchart LR
A["Study plan"] --> B["Operating systems and account boundaries"]
B --> C["Security and malware workflow"]
C --> D["Software troubleshooting and recovery order"]
D --> E["Operational procedures and final review"]
E --> F["Cheat sheet, FAQ, and resources"]
If two answers both sound right
For Core 2, the better answer is often:
the least disruptive supported fix
the answer that preserves data and security
the answer that separates share permission, NTFS, ownership, and elevation correctly
the answer that includes verification and documentation, not just the technical change
Best fit for this guide
If you are coming from…
Bias your review toward…
help desk or desktop support
permissions, recovery, malware workflow, and procedure discipline
junior sysadmin
support-process judgment, least privilege, and user-impact-aware recovery choices
self-study learner
one believable endpoint loop: secure, troubleshoot, recover, and document