CompTIA A+ domain 1: Mobile devices — What you need to know for the exam

The proliferation of mobile devices has not gone unnoticed by the makers of the CompTIA A+ certification exam. The use of mobile devices is so prevalent that it is now the first topic of the A+ certification exam. The topic covers how to install and configure laptop hardware, the display components of mobile devices, how to set up and configure accessories and ports and how to configure network connectivity and application support for mobile devices.

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It is important for A+ certification candidates to be well-versed in mobile devices because they and others in their organization use them daily, and they will eventually need support. Without further ado, let’s delve into what you need to know on the A+ (Core 1) Domain 1 — Mobile Devices.

Domain 1: Mobile Devices

The topic of mobile devices is covered by domain 1 of the 220-1101 version of the CompTIA A+ certification exam. CompTIA probably made it the first domain of the A+ certification exam because mobile devices are the most personal information technology devices. They are always on your person or in your hand. At any rate, domain 1 represents 15% of the overall weight of the certification exam material. Below is the complete listing of the domains of knowledge on the A+ certification exam:

• 1.0  Mobile Devices
• 2.0  Networking
• 3.0  Hardware
• 4.0  Virtualization and Cloud Computing
• 5.0  Hardware and Network Troubleshooting

This article will outline all you need to know for Domain 1 – Mobile Devices.

What’s new in domain 1: Mobile devices

For those familiar with the previous A+ exam version, one of the first things you will notice is how domain 1 has changed. The number of sub-objectives has been reduced from seven to four. Also, the focus has shifted to be more security-minded (such as port configuration) and to involve newer technologies such as touch screen displays. Below is a comparison of the previous exam version and the new domain 1.

(220-1001) Domain 1

(220-1101) Domain 1

Domain 1: Mobile devices exam outline

Domain 1 of the latest version of the A+ certification exam contains four subdomains.   Each subdomain is presented below with a description of the kind of material you will need to know to pass the certification exam.

1.1  Given a scenario, install and configure laptop hardware and components

This subdomain covers hardware/device replacement and explores seven types of hardware, ranging from batteries and keyboards to the various types of hard drives and wireless cards. It also covers physical privacy and security components such as biometrics and near-field scanner features.

1.2  Compare and contrast the display components of mobile devices

Subdomain 1.2 covers seven different types of display components you need to know about for the exam. These display components are types of displays, mobile display components, Wi-Fi antenna connector/placement, camera/webcam, microphone, touch screen/digitizer and inverter.

1.3  Given a scenario, set up and configure accessories and ports of mobile devices

You will be expected to explain the setup and configuration of five categories of accessories and port-related devices for this subdomain. The material ranges from connection methods and accessories to docking stations, port replicators and trackpad/drawing pads.

1.4 Given a scenario, configure basic mobile-device network connectivity and application support

This is the largest subdomain of domain 1 of the A+ certification exam. It covers five categories of material: wireless/cellular data network (enable/disable), Bluetooth, location services, mobile device management (MDM), mobile application management (MAM), and mobile device synchronization.

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Summary

Domain 1 of the latest edition of the A+ certification exam (Core 1) covers mobile devices. With the great proliferation of mobile devices in our working and personal lives, it’s no surprise that it is given its own domain on the certification exam. If you would like more information about this domain and the other domains on the A+ certification exam, please feel free to take advantage of our Infosec CompTIA A+ hub. 

Sources

• A+ Certification Exam Core 1 Objectives, CompTIA
• A+ Certification Exam: Core 1 Objectives (previous version), CompTIA