What Is the Passing Score for CompTIA A+?
The CompTIA A+ passing score trips people up because it isn't a percentage. Here are the exact numbers, how CompTIA's scaled scoring works, what your score report tells you, and what happens if you don't pass.
The passing scores
| Exam | Pass at | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Core 1 (220-1201) | 675 | 100–900 |
| Core 2 (220-1202) | 700 | 100–900 |
Each exam is scored on its own, and you need to pass both for the certification: a high Core 1 score doesn't make up for a Core 2 score under 700.
Why it's not a percentage
CompTIA uses scaled scoring: your result is reported on a 100–900 scale, and CompTIA doesn't publish how many questions you need to get right or how much each question, PBQ or multiple-choice, is worth. So you can't turn a count of correct answers into a score.
You'll see "75%" quoted online for Core 1. That's 675 divided by 900, but the scale starts at 100, not 0, and CompTIA doesn't convert scaled scores to percent correct. Treat any percentage as a rough guess, and don't aim for a bare pass.
What CompTIA does and doesn't publish:
- Published: the passing score and the scale for each exam.
- Not published: how many questions you need to get right, what each question is worth, and pass rates. CompTIA says it doesn't publish pass rates, and that its questions and rates change without notice.
Passing scores across CompTIA's entry-level exams
| Exam | Code | Pass at |
|---|---|---|
| Tech+ | FC0-U71 | 650 |
| A+ Core 1 | 220-1201 | 675 |
| A+ Core 2 | 220-1202 | 700 |
| Network+ | N10-009 | 720 |
| Security+ | SY0-701 | 750 |
The bar rises as the certifications get more advanced. If you're planning the A+ → Network+ → Security+ path, see A+ vs Network+.
Your score report
- You find out right away. CompTIA shows your result as soon as you finish the exam, whether you test at a Pearson VUE center or online. For an online exam, the score report reaches your Pearson VUE account within 24 hours.
- It lists objectives, not questions. The report doesn't show which questions you missed or how many. It lists the exam objectives tied to the questions you got wrong.
- Your CompTIA account updates within 5 business days. That's when the exam shows up in your certification account.
If you don't pass
| Attempt | Wait before booking |
|---|---|
| Second attempt | None |
| Third and later attempts | 14 calendar days after your last attempt |
- Each attempt needs its own voucher. A voucher is single use, and CompTIA offers no free retakes or retake discounts. The exception is a voucher bought with Retake Assurance ($359 instead of $274), which covers one retake if you don't pass. The A+ cost guide compares the two.
- Use the report as your study plan. Drill the objectives it lists, then take full practice tests again before you rebook.
- You can't retake an exam you've passed. CompTIA doesn't allow it without its consent.
How to know you're actually ready
Because scoring is scaled and CompTIA doesn't publish per-question values, the reliable signal isn't a single practice-test percentage — it's consistent coverage across every objective. Track your weak domains and keep drilling them until nothing on the blueprint surprises you. ExamWizardz full mock exams show a 100–900 score and pass or fail you against the real line (675 for Core 1, 700 for Core 2), but that score is an estimate: it rescales your percent correct, because CompTIA's own scaling isn't public. Aim to clear the line with room to spare, not to land on it.