CompTIA A+ vs Network+ Difficulty

What is this page about?

A difficulty comparison of CompTIA A+ (220-1101 and 220-1102) and Network+ (N10-009) for choosing a first certification. It explains that Network+ goes deeper on fewer topics and demands stronger subnetting, routing, and port-number recall, while A+ spans more total material across two exams so its overall study burden is actually 30-60 hours greater, and recommends most beginners start with A+. It compares exam specifications, question style, three-year cost, salary, and what comes after both.

What has been corrected on this page?

Every accepted correction to this page is recorded with the exact change, so readers can see how the page improved over time.

1. 11 July 2026 · corrected by Melik Can Sariyer

   2 flagged issues verified: Unverified-precision reader pass-rate statistics (78%/72%) tied to an undefined 'reader dataset' were softened to a qualitative comparison; two unattributed 'direct quotes from readers who emailed us' had no verifiable names/dates/sources and were generalized to descriptions of common candidate experiences.

   Before

   Readers who took A+ first pass Network+ on the first attempt at roughly 78 percent. Readers who took Network+ first and later attempted A+ pass both A+ exams on the first attempt at roughly 72 percent. [...] On A+: "The sheer volume of topics was the hardest part. Each individual concept is easy, but there are so many you have to track that I needed notes just to organize my notes." On Network+: "Subnetting destroyed me during my first practice exam. After daily drills for two weeks, it became automatic. The exam felt much more manageable." On both: "Performance-based questions are nothing like the multiple-choice questions. I wish I had spent more time on PBQs during my practice sessions."

   After

   Anecdotally, candidates who take A+ first tend to report an easier time passing Network+ on their first attempt than candidates who reverse the order and attempt A+ after Network+. [...] On A+: the sheer volume of topics is often described as the hardest part [...]. On Network+: subnetting is frequently cited as the toughest hurdle on the first practice exam [...]. On both: performance-based questions are nothing like the multiple-choice questions, and many candidates wish they had spent more time on PBQs during their practice sessions.

   Why: Removed unverified-precision pass-rate statistics (78%/72%) tied to an undefined 'reader dataset' and generalized two unattributed direct quotes falsely claimed to be from readers who emailed the site, replacing both with plain-prose descriptions of common candidate experiences.

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