220-1201 · Original practice content · Last reviewed October 3, 2026

Hardware A+ Core 1 Practice Questions

Apply component compatibility, installation, and configuration knowledge to common desktop and printer scenarios.

Core 1: up to 90 questions in 90 minutes. Passing score: 675 on a 100–900 scale. Both Core 1 and Core 2 are required for CompTIA A+.

These short multiple-choice samples report practice accuracy, not official scaled scores, and do not simulate interactive performance-based questions.

This domain accounts for 25% of Core 1. Topics: motherboards, processors, memory, storage, power supplies, cables, connectors, peripherals, and printers.

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Domain sample questions with answers

Hardware

Sample question 1

Which display technology produces light at each individual pixel and therefore needs no backlight?

  1. IPS LCD
  2. Mini-LED
  3. VA LCD
  4. OLED
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. OLED

D is correct because organic light-emitting diodes emit their own light, so each pixel can turn fully off and no backlight is needed. A is a liquid crystal panel that only filters light from a separate backlight. B uses thousands of small LEDs as a backlight behind an LCD panel, so it still relies on a backlight. C is a liquid crystal panel that blocks or passes light from a separate backlight.

Hardware

Sample question 2

Which component of a touch screen converts a finger or stylus contact into input coordinates for the operating system?

  1. Digitizer
  2. Backlight
  3. Inverter
  4. LCD panel
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Digitizer

A is correct because the digitizer is the touch-sensitive layer that detects where the screen is touched and reports the position as input. B provides the light behind an LCD panel and does not sense touch. C converts DC power to AC to drive the CCFL backlight on older LCD panels. D forms the image by filtering light and does not detect touch.

Hardware

Sample question 3

A user wants a monitor with 4K UHD resolution. Which resolution should the monitor support?

  1. 1280 x 720
  2. 1920 x 1080
  3. 2560 x 1440
  4. 3840 x 2160
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. 3840 x 2160

D is correct because 4K UHD is 3840 x 2160 pixels, four times the pixel count of 1080p. A is 720p (HD) resolution. B is 1080p (Full HD) resolution. C is 1440p (QHD) resolution.

Hardware

Sample question 4

A budget gaming monitor advertises a 1 ms response time and a low price, but reviews say its colors look washed out when viewed from the side. Which LCD panel type does it MOST likely use?

  1. In-plane switching (IPS)
  2. Twisted nematic (TN)
  3. Organic LED (OLED)
  4. Vertical alignment (VA)
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Twisted nematic (TN)

B is correct because TN panels are inexpensive and very fast but have narrow viewing angles and weaker color reproduction. A is known for wide viewing angles and accurate color, which contradicts the reviews. C is not an LCD technology and offers very wide viewing angles. D is known for high contrast and slower pixel response, not 1 ms budget speed.

Hardware

Sample question 5

A graphic design team often reviews artwork together around one monitor. They need colors to stay consistent from wide viewing angles, and response time is not a priority. Which LCD panel type is BEST?

  1. Super-twisted nematic (STN)
  2. In-plane switching (IPS)
  3. Twisted nematic (TN)
  4. Vertical alignment (VA)
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. In-plane switching (IPS)

B is correct because IPS panels keep color and brightness consistent at wide viewing angles and are preferred for color-critical work. A is an old passive-matrix technology with poor color and viewing angles. C shifts color noticeably when viewed off-center, which is poor for group color reviews. D offers good contrast but shows more color and gamma shift at wide angles than IPS.

Hardware

Sample question 6

A photo studio is comparing monitors to find the one that can display the widest range of colors for print work. Which display attribute should the studio compare?

  1. Color gamut
  2. Refresh rate
  3. Pixel density
  4. Screen resolution
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Color gamut

A is correct because color gamut describes the range of colors a display can reproduce, often stated as a percentage of sRGB, Adobe RGB, or DCI-P3. B describes how many times per second the image is redrawn, not the range of colors. C describes how many pixels fit into each inch of the screen, not the range of colors. D describes the number of pixels horizontally and vertically, not the range of colors.

Hardware

Sample question 7

A user connects a new monitor rated for 144 Hz, but motion in games looks no smoother than on the old 60 Hz monitor. Which setting should the user configure in the display settings?

  1. Screen resolution
  2. Refresh rate
  3. Color profile
  4. Display scaling
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Refresh rate

B is correct because the refresh rate often defaults to 60 Hz and must be raised to 144 Hz to take advantage of the monitor's capability. A sets the number of pixels displayed, not how many times per second the image updates. C adjusts color accuracy, not how often the screen is redrawn. D changes the size of text and apps, not the smoothness of motion.

Hardware

Sample question 8

A technician is repairing an older laptop whose LCD uses a CCFL backlight. Which component converts the laptop's DC power into the high-voltage AC the backlight requires?

  1. Rectifier
  2. Inverter
  3. Voltage regulator
  4. Digitizer
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Inverter

B is correct because an inverter converts DC to the high-voltage AC needed to light a cold cathode fluorescent lamp. A converts AC to DC, which is the opposite of what the backlight requires. C stabilizes DC voltages for the system board and does not create high-voltage AC. D converts touch input into coordinates and has no role in powering the backlight.

Hardware

Sample question 9

A user wants text and images on a laptop screen to look sharper, with individual pixels harder to see at normal viewing distance. Which display attribute should the user compare when shopping?

  1. Color gamut
  2. Pixel density
  3. Backlight type
  4. Refresh rate
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Pixel density

B is correct because pixel density (pixels per inch) measures how closely pixels are packed, and a higher value produces sharper text and images. A affects the range of colors shown, not how visible individual pixels are. C affects brightness and contrast, not how closely pixels are packed. D affects how smooth motion looks, not how sharp a still image appears.

Hardware

Sample question 10

A user is choosing between a 24-inch monitor and a 32-inch monitor, both with 2560 x 1440 resolution. Which statement is correct?

  1. Both monitors have the same pixel density
  2. The 32-inch monitor shows more desktop workspace
  3. The 24-inch monitor has the higher pixel density
  4. The 32-inch monitor has the higher pixel density
Show correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. The 24-inch monitor has the higher pixel density

C is correct because the same number of pixels spread over a smaller screen produces more pixels per inch. A is incorrect, because pixel density depends on screen size as well as resolution. B is incorrect, because both monitors display the same number of pixels and the same workspace. D is incorrect, because spreading the same pixels over a larger screen lowers pixels per inch.

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