Understanding the Differences Between the CompTIA A+ Essentials and 702 Exams
- Overview of the Domains Covered on Each Exam
- Hardware
- Operating Systems
- Networking
- Conclusion
For years, the CompTIA A+ Certification process has included two exams. Until the 2006 exams came on-line, understanding the difference between the exams was easy: One exam covered operating systems and software, and the other exam covered hardware.
However, starting with the 2006 exams and continuing with the new 2009 exams, CompTIA has drastically changed the domains covered on the exams.
There are now two exams:
- 220-701 (better known as Essentials)
- 220-702 (also known as Practical Application)
This article helps you understand how these exams differ from each other and how to prepare yourself for both exams.
Overview of the Domains Covered on Each Exam
The 220-701 Essentials exam includes five domains:
- 1.0 Hardware
- 2.0 Troubleshooting, Repair, and Maintenance
- 3.0 Operating Systems and Software
- 4.0 Networking
- 5.0 Security
- 6.0 Operational Procedure
The 220-702 exam includes four domains:
- 1.0 Hardware
- 2.0 Operating Systems
- 3.0 Networking
- 4.0 Security
As you can see, the Hardware, Operating Systems, and Networking domains are present in both the Essentials and 220-702 exams. To find out what's different, let's take a closer look at each of these "duplicate" domains.