TheoryCOMPTIA Study Guide
Study for the CompTIA with exam topics, practice questions, a free PDF, video walkthrough and timed mock exam links.
How to study for CompTIA
- Read the topic list so you know what the exam is likely to cover.
- Answer the free practice questions and read every explanation.
- Download the PDF for offline review.
- Use timed mock exams when your untimed practice feels comfortable.
Topics to review
- The core topics and terminology you'll be tested on
- Rules, standards and best-practice procedures
- Real-world scenarios and how to respond
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Try CompTIA questions now
Q1A new MX record has been requested in DNS as part of a server setup. Which service most requires a correctly configured MX record to function?
Show answer
✓ Correct answer: Mail server
An MX (Mail Exchanger) DNS record designates the server responsible for receiving email for a domain. A mail server relies on this record for inbound message delivery. Load balancers, FTP servers, and firewall DMZ configurations do not depend on MX records.
Q2A network administrator is experiencing high CPU utilization on a monitoring server caused by continuous SNMP polling of hundreds of devices. How should the administrator reduce this CPU load without sacrificing monitoring capability?
Show answer
✓ Correct answer: Remove SNMP polling and configure SNMP traps on each network device
Switching from continuous SNMP polling to SNMP traps is the most effective solution. With traps, each network device sends a notification to the management station only when a specific event occurs, eliminating constant polling and significantly reducing CPU load while maintaining monitoring coverage.
Q3What benefit does MIMO technology bring to the 802.11n wireless standard?
Show answer
✓ Correct answer: Multipath support
MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technology in 802.11n leverages multiple antennas to take advantage of multipath propagation, improving signal reliability and throughput by using multiple simultaneous data streams.
Q4What is the minimum recommended twisted-pair copper cable category for 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet) networks?
Show answer
✓ Correct answer: Cat 5e
Cat 5e (Category 5 enhanced) is the minimum recommended cable grade for 1000BASE-T. Its tighter specifications and improved signal quality over standard Cat 5 make it capable of supporting Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) speeds.
Q5Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) supports four modes for adding devices to a network. Which mode has serious security vulnerabilities due to a brute-force attack?
Show answer
✓ Correct answer: PIN
WPS PIN mode was shown to be susceptible to brute-force attacks, allowing attackers to recover the WPS PIN and gain network access. The vulnerability was publicly demonstrated, leading to recommendations to disable WPS PIN mode.
Q6Which term describes hackers who operate in a morally ambiguous space — working without explicit authorization but often with good intentions, such as reporting discovered vulnerabilities?
Show answer
✓ Correct answer: Gray hat
Gray hat hackers operate without formal authorization but generally do not intend to cause harm. They may expose vulnerabilities and report them to the affected parties rather than exploiting them. Black hat hackers act maliciously for personal gain. White hat hackers operate with full authorization as ethical hackers. Blue hat hackers are sometimes hired by companies specifically to test systems before launch.
Full CompTIA bank + unlimited mocks
Try 30 questions free. Unlock the complete CompTIA question bank, every explanation, and unlimited timed mock exams. Practice on any device.
Unlock CompTIA →