Use this syllabus as your source of truth for 220-1201. Work through each domain in order and drill targeted sets after every section.
What’s covered
Domain 1: Mobile Devices (13%)
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Task 1.1 - Given a scenario, monitor mobile device hardware and use appropriate replacement techniques.
- Identify signs of mobile device battery wear and when battery replacement is recommended.
- Explain safety precautions when removing or replacing internal and removable mobile device batteries.
- Describe the process for replacing or repairing mobile device keyboards and keys.
- Determine when upgrading or replacing RAM in a mobile device or laptop is possible and identify associated limitations.
- Compare replacement considerations for HDDs and SSDs in laptops, including form factor, connectors, and power usage.
- Identify common wireless network cards used in laptops and mobile devices and describe basic replacement steps.
- Describe the purpose and replacement of physical privacy and security components such as biometric sensors and NFC readers.
- Explain placement and routing considerations for Wi‑Fi antennas, cameras, and microphones in mobile devices.
Task 1.2 - Compare and contrast accessories and connectivity options for mobile devices.
- Compare common wired connection methods for mobile devices, including USB/USB‑C/microUSB/miniUSB and Lightning, for charging and data transfer.
- Explain when to use NFC, Bluetooth, or tethering/hotspot features to connect mobile devices to other devices or networks.
- Configure tethering and mobile hotspot features on a smartphone and describe their impact on carrier data usage and battery life.
- Identify appropriate scenarios for using a stylus versus direct touch input on mobile devices.
- Identify use cases for mobile headsets and speakers and basic troubleshooting steps for sound issues.
- Explain how external webcams and microphones connect to portable systems and common issues that can occur.
- Differentiate between a docking station and a port replicator and choose the appropriate device for a given scenario.
- Describe how trackpads, drawing tablets, and pointing sticks (track points) are used as input accessories.
- Identify compatibility and driver considerations when adding or upgrading mobile accessories and docking solutions.
- Enable or disable cellular data (3G/4G/5G) and Wi‑Fi on a mobile device to meet user or corporate policy requirements.
- Configure a mobile device as a hotspot and secure it with appropriate authentication and encryption settings.
- Insert and configure SIM or eSIM profiles on a mobile device, including basic activation and carrier settings.
- Perform Bluetooth pairing between a mobile device and a peripheral, including discovery, PIN entry, and connectivity testing.
- Troubleshoot common Bluetooth connection issues such as devices not discoverable, failed pairings, or intermittent disconnects.
- Configure and manage location services such as GPS and cellular location while balancing privacy and application needs.
- Describe the role of mobile device management (MDM) in enforcing device configurations, policies, and application deployment.
- Differentiate between personal and corporate data or app containers in MDM and BYOD scenarios.
- Configure mobile device synchronization for email, contacts, calendars, and cloud storage while recognizing data caps.
Domain 2: Networking (23%)
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Task 2.1 - Compare and contrast Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) ports, protocols, and their purposes.
- Match common application protocols such as HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SSH, and Telnet to their default TCP ports.
- Identify the default ports used by email protocols such as SMTP, POP3, and IMAP.
- Recognize default ports used by infrastructure services including DNS, DHCP, NetBIOS/NetBT, LDAP, SMB/CIFS, and RDP.
- Explain the characteristics of TCP, including connection‑oriented communication, reliability, and ordered delivery.
- Explain the characteristics of UDP, including connectionless communication and common use cases such as streaming or DNS.
- Given a simple scenario, determine whether a service issue is likely port or protocol related and which port should be allowed through a firewall.
Task 2.2 - Explain wireless networking technologies.
- Compare the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz wireless bands in terms of range, throughput, and susceptibility to interference.
- Explain how channel selection and regulatory considerations affect Wi‑Fi performance and interference.
- Describe characteristics of common 802.11 standards and how they relate to speed, frequency bands, and compatibility.
- Explain basic Bluetooth characteristics including range categories, pairing, and typical data rates.
- Describe how NFC is used for tap‑to‑pay, pairing, and other short‑range communication tasks.
- Identify common uses of RFID, such as access control, asset tracking, and inventory management.
Task 2.3 - Summarize services provided by networked hosts.
- Identify common server roles including DNS, DHCP, file, print, mail, web, and database servers.
- Explain the purpose of AAA servers and how they support authentication, authorization, and accounting for network access.
- Describe the function of syslog and NTP services in managing and synchronizing network devices.
- Explain the roles of Internet appliances such as spam gateways, unified threat management (UTM) devices, load balancers, and proxy servers.
- Describe characteristics and basic risks of legacy or embedded systems such as SCADA devices on a network.
- Identify typical Internet of Things (IoT) devices on a small network and the basic network services they may require.
Task 2.4 - Explain common network configuration concepts.
- Differentiate between common DNS record types such as A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, and TXT.
- Explain how DNS TXT records support email security mechanisms like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
- Describe the purpose of VLANs and how they logically segment network traffic.
- Explain how VPNs provide secure remote access over untrusted networks.
- Describe key DHCP concepts including leases, reservations, scopes, and exclusions.
- Given a basic scenario, choose between static and DHCP addressing and configure devices accordingly.
Task 2.5 - Compare and contrast common networking hardware devices.
- Compare the functions of routers, switches, and wireless access points in a SOHO network.
- Differentiate managed switches from unmanaged switches and describe when managed features are beneficial.
- Explain how patch panels and structured cabling support easier network maintenance and changes.
- Describe the role of a network interface card (NIC) and the importance of the MAC address for identification on a LAN.
- Compare broadband access devices such as cable modems, DSL modems, and optical network terminals (ONTs) and when each is used.
- Explain Power over Ethernet (PoE) options, including injectors and PoE switches, and common use cases.
- Differentiate between private and public IPv4 addresses and identify typical private address ranges.
- Describe the characteristics and use cases for IPv6 addressing in modern networks.
- Explain Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) and when a host will self‑assign an APIPA address.
- Compare static and dynamic (DHCP) IP addressing and when each is appropriate in a SOHO environment.
- Given a simple network diagram, determine appropriate subnet mask and default gateway settings for clients.
- Configure basic TCP/IP settings on a workstation or SOHO router to establish Internet connectivity.
Task 2.7 - Compare and contrast internet connection types, network types, and their characteristics.
- Compare common Internet connection types such as satellite, fiber, cable, DSL, cellular, and WISP in terms of speed, latency, and reliability.
- Identify scenarios where cellular data or WISP connections are appropriate as primary or backup Internet links.
- Differentiate network types such as LAN, WAN, PAN, MAN, SAN, and WLAN by scope and typical devices.
- Match simple user scenarios to appropriate network types, such as PAN for personal devices or SAN for shared storage.
- Recognize trade‑offs between different WAN connection types in terms of bandwidth, latency, cost, and availability.
- Identify the purpose of cabling tools such as crimpers, cable strippers, punchdown tools, and cable testers.
- Explain how toner probes, loopback plugs, and network taps are used to trace and monitor network connections.
- Describe how Wi‑Fi analyzers help troubleshoot wireless issues such as signal strength, channel overlap, and interference.
Domain 3: Hardware (25%)
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Task 3.1 - Compare and contrast display components and attributes.
- Compare LCD panel technologies such as IPS, TN, and VA in terms of viewing angles, color accuracy, and response time.
- Describe characteristics and use cases for OLED and Mini‑LED displays, including benefits and drawbacks.
- Explain the function of a touch screen digitizer and how it interacts with the underlying display panel.
- Identify the role of an inverter in older laptop displays and common symptoms of inverter failure.
- Define common display attributes such as pixel density, refresh rate, and resolution and how they affect image quality.
- Describe color gamut and why it matters for tasks such as photo editing, video production, and graphic design.
Task 3.2 - Summarize basic cable types and their connectors, features, and purposes.
- Differentiate common twisted‑pair Ethernet cable categories (for example, Cat 5e vs Cat 6) and when each is appropriate.
- Compare shielded twisted pair (STP) and unshielded twisted pair (UTP), as well as plenum‑rated and direct‑burial cables, and their use cases.
- Identify common network and telephony connectors such as RJ45, RJ11, and F‑type and where they are used.
- Compare video cable types including HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, and USB‑C in terms of signal type and typical usage.
- Describe storage interface cables such as SATA and eSATA and how they connect drives to motherboards or external enclosures.
- Differentiate USB standards and connector types (USB 2.0 vs 3.x, microUSB, miniUSB, USB‑C) and serial connections for peripherals.
- Explain the purpose of adapters and when they are needed to connect mismatched interfaces between devices.
Task 3.3 - Compare and contrast RAM characteristics.
- Differentiate DIMM and SODIMM RAM form factors and identify which systems typically use each.
- Describe major DDR generations (such as DDR3, DDR4, DDR5) and their basic compatibility considerations.
- Explain the difference between ECC and non‑ECC RAM and typical environments where ECC is used.
- Describe single, dual, and multi‑channel memory configurations and how they affect performance.
- Given basic system specifications, select compatible RAM based on form factor, speed, and capacity limits.
Task 3.4 - Compare and contrast storage devices.
- Compare hard disk drives (HDDs) by spindle speed and form factor and explain how these affect performance and use cases.
- Describe characteristics of solid-state drives (SSDs) compared to HDDs, including speed, durability, and noise.
- Differentiate SSD interfaces such as SATA, NVMe over PCIe, and SAS and how they connect to the system.
- Identify common solid‑state form factors including M.2 and mSATA and their compatibility requirements.
- Explain basic RAID levels (0, 1, 5, 6, 10) and which ones provide redundancy, performance, or both.
- Describe removable storage options such as USB flash drives and memory cards and their typical use cases.
- Explain the role of optical drives today and identify common media types they support.
- Compare common motherboard form factors such as ATX, microATX, and ITX and how they affect case size and expansion.
- Identify typical motherboard connectors and slots including PCI/PCIe slots, SATA ports, M.2 slots, and front‑panel headers.
- Explain CPU socket types and how they determine motherboard and CPU compatibility.
- Describe common BIOS/UEFI configuration options such as boot order, USB permissions, security passwords, and fan controls.
- Explain Secure Boot, TPM security features, and hardware security modules (HSMs) at a high level.
- Differentiate CPU architectures (x86/x64 vs ARM), core counts, and vendors such as Intel and AMD for typical systems.
- Identify common expansion cards, including sound cards, video cards, capture cards, and NICs, and their purposes.
- Describe cooling solutions including fans, heat sinks, thermal paste, and liquid cooling and when each is appropriate.
Task 3.6 - Given a scenario, install the appropriate power supply.
- Differentiate AC input voltage requirements (110–120 VAC vs 220–240 VAC) and explain the importance of correct selection.
- Describe common DC output rails (3.3V, 5V, 12V) provided by PC power supplies and which components typically use each.
- Explain how to size a power supply based on system wattage requirements and planned future expansion.
- Compare modular and non‑modular power supplies and describe advantages of modular cabling.
- Describe standard motherboard power connectors such as the 20+4 pin connector and the role of redundant and high‑efficiency PSUs.
- Outline considerations when unboxing and placing a new printer or multifunction device, including power, ventilation, and accessibility.
- Select and install appropriate printer drivers, including PCL and PostScript, for a given operating system.
- Configure printer connectivity options such as USB, Ethernet, and wireless and verify basic connectivity.
- Set common printer configuration options including duplexing, orientation, paper tray selection, and print quality.
- Describe security and network features of printers such as user authentication, badging, secured print, audit logs, and scan-to-email/SMB/cloud services.
Task 3.8 - Given a scenario, perform appropriate printer maintenance.
- Perform routine maintenance on laser printers including replacing toner, using maintenance kits, calibrating, and cleaning.
- Maintain inkjet printers by cleaning printheads, replacing cartridges, and clearing paper feed issues.
- Describe thermal printer components such as feed assemblies and special thermal paper and perform basic cleaning and paper replacement.
- Maintain impact printers by replacing ribbons, printheads, and multipart paper when appropriate.
- Recognize symptoms that indicate specific printer maintenance needs across different printing technologies.
Domain 4: Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%)
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Task 4.1 - Explain virtualization concepts.
- Explain the general purpose and benefits of virtual machines in a desktop or lab environment.
- Describe how virtual machines can be used as sandboxes to test software or configurations safely.
- Explain how virtualization enables running legacy operating systems or applications that require older environments.
- Describe application virtualization and how it isolates applications from the underlying host operating system.
- Explain desktop virtualization and the concept of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).
- Define a hypervisor and differentiate between Type 1 (bare‑metal) and Type 2 (hosted) hypervisors with examples.
- Identify basic hardware and firmware requirements for running virtual machines, such as CPU virtualization support and sufficient RAM.
- Describe networking considerations for virtual machines at a high level, such as bridged, NAT, and host‑only connectivity.
- Explain storage considerations for virtualization, including disk space planning and performance impact.
- Describe containers as an alternative to full virtual machines and how they share the host operating system.
- Compare when to use containers versus full virtual machines for different workload types.
Task 4.2 - Summarize cloud computing concepts.
- Define common cloud deployment models: private, public, hybrid, and community cloud.
- Given a basic scenario, choose the most appropriate cloud deployment model based on security, control, and sharing requirements.
- Differentiate cloud service models Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).
- Explain how IaaS shifts responsibility for physical hardware to the provider while the customer manages operating systems and applications.
- Explain how PaaS abstracts underlying infrastructure to simplify application development and deployment.
- Explain how SaaS delivers complete applications over the Internet with minimal local installation or maintenance.
- Describe key cloud characteristics such as elasticity and on‑demand scalability.
- Explain metered utilization in cloud computing, including how ingress and egress charges can impact cloud costs.
- Describe how file synchronization services keep data consistent across devices using cloud storage.
- Explain multitenancy and how cloud providers securely host multiple customers on shared infrastructure.
Domain 5: Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%)
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Task 5.1 - Given a scenario, troubleshoot motherboards, RAM, CPUs, and power.
- Interpret basic POST beep codes and LED indicators to identify motherboard, RAM, or video issues.
- Given a scenario with a blank screen or no POST, determine likely causes such as loose cables, bad RAM, or a failed CPU.
- Diagnose no‑power conditions by checking the power supply, power button connections, and AC power sources.
- Identify causes of sluggish system performance such as insufficient RAM, overheating, or excessive background processes.
- Recognize symptoms of CPU or system overheating and identify contributing factors such as dust buildup or failed fans.
- Respond appropriately to burning smells, unusual noises, or bulging capacitors by shutting down and inspecting for hardware failure.
- Troubleshoot random shutdowns and application crashes related to power, heat, or faulty RAM.
- Identify when incorrect system date and time settings point to CMOS battery or firmware issues.
- Describe safe troubleshooting steps when opening a PC case, including ESD protection and documenting cable connections.
Task 5.2 - Given a scenario, troubleshoot drive and RAID issues.
- Interpret drive activity LEDs and audible alarms to identify potential drive or RAID array issues.
- Recognize grinding or clicking noises from a hard drive as signs of imminent mechanical failure.
- Troubleshoot 'bootable device not found' errors by checking boot order, drive connections, and partition or boot sector status.
- Identify causes of data loss or corruption related to failing drives, bad cables, or sudden power loss.
- Diagnose RAID array failures and determine whether the issue is with a single disk, the RAID controller, or configuration.
- Use S.M.A.R.T. status and vendor utilities to assess drive health and plan proactive replacements.
- Troubleshoot extended read/write times and low IOPS by checking for drive saturation, fragmentation, or interface bottlenecks.
- Resolve issues where drives or RAID arrays are missing from the operating system by verifying cabling, power, and disk initialization.
- Explain appropriate backup and data recovery actions when drive or RAID problems are suspected.
Task 5.3 - Given a scenario, troubleshoot video, projector, and display issues.
- Verify the correct input source is selected on monitors and projectors when there is no display output.
- Troubleshoot video issues caused by loose, damaged, or incompatible cables and adapters.
- Diagnose projector problems such as burnt‑out bulbs, dirty filters, or overheating that cause dim images or intermittent shutdowns.
- Resolve fuzzy or distorted images by adjusting resolution, refresh rate, and projector focus or keystone settings.
- Identify and differentiate display artifacts such as burn‑in, image persistence, and dead or stuck pixels.
- Troubleshoot color and brightness issues using monitor on‑screen display settings and GPU driver controls.
- Address audio problems in display setups, including missing audio over HDMI or incorrect audio output device selection.
- Resolve screen flickering or flashing that may result from refresh rate mismatches, failing cables, or hardware issues.
- Troubleshoot sizing and aspect ratio issues so that images fit the display area correctly without stretching.
Task 5.4 - Given a scenario, troubleshoot common mobile device issues.
- Diagnose poor mobile device battery health and determine when battery calibration, power‑saving settings, or replacement is needed.
- Identify swollen batteries and take appropriate safety actions including immediate removal from service and proper disposal.
- Troubleshoot broken screens, digitizer failures, and touch calibration issues on smartphones and tablets.
- Resolve charging problems caused by damaged ports, cables, adapters, or debris in connectors.
- Troubleshoot poor or no connectivity issues involving Wi‑Fi, cellular, or Bluetooth settings on mobile devices.
- Identify signs of liquid damage on mobile devices and outline appropriate next steps, including power‑off, drying, and possible replacement.
- Diagnose mobile device overheating and recommend steps such as closing apps, removing cases, or checking environmental conditions.
- Recognize malware or unwanted apps as causes of degraded performance or unexpected behavior and apply basic remediation steps.
- Troubleshoot issues installing new applications related to storage space, OS version, or security policies, including stylus or accessory compatibility problems.
Task 5.5 - Given a scenario, troubleshoot network issues.
- Troubleshoot intermittent wireless connectivity by analyzing signal strength, channel congestion, and roaming behavior.
- Identify causes of slow network speeds such as bandwidth saturation, duplex mismatches, or weak Wi‑Fi signals.
- Resolve limited or no connectivity issues by checking IP configuration, DHCP status, default gateway, and DNS settings.
- Explain jitter and latency and how they affect real‑time applications such as VoIP or online gaming.
- Troubleshoot poor VoIP call quality using QoS concepts, bandwidth analysis, and network path checks.
- Identify and address port flapping issues potentially caused by bad cables, loops, or failing NICs or switch ports.
- Recognize external interference sources such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, or neighboring networks impacting wireless performance.
- Resolve network authentication failures by checking credentials, account status, and wireless security settings such as WPA keys.
- Diagnose intermittent Internet connectivity issues by isolating whether the problem is with the ISP, modem/router, or local network.
Task 5.6 - Given a scenario, troubleshoot printer issues.
- Troubleshoot print quality issues such as lines down the page, speckling, faded output, and ghosted or double images.
- Diagnose garbled or incorrect print output caused by wrong drivers, corrupt print jobs, or incompatible page description languages.
- Resolve common paper‑handling issues including paper jams, paper not feeding, and multipage misfeeds.
- Troubleshoot finishing problems such as staple jams or hole‑punch failures in multifunction devices.
- Correct incorrect page orientation, paper size, or tray selection issues using printer and driver settings.
- Address printer tray not recognized errors by checking configuration, tray sensors, and firmware updates.
- Troubleshoot printer connectivity issues over USB, Ethernet, or Wi‑Fi, including offline and unreachable printers.
- Resolve stuck or frozen print queues by clearing print jobs, restarting spooler services, or rebooting devices.
Tip: After finishing a domain, take a 20–25 question drill focused on that domain, then revisit weak objectives before moving on.