Prepare for the Network+ CompTIA Network+ Exam
CompTIA Network+ validates the technical skills needed to securely establish, maintain and troubleshoot the essential networks that businesses rely on.
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The industry standard for establishing a career in IT infrastructure covering troubleshooting, configuring, and managing networks.
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Free Network+ Practice Questions (With Answers)
5 real questions from the Network+ bank, with the full explanation for each answer. No sign-up needed to read them.
- Question 1Network Implementations [Static vs Dynamic]
A small branch office has only one internet connection and one route to headquarters. Which routing approach is most appropriate for this scenario?
- A.OSPF – link-state IGP
- B.EIGRP – hybrid Cisco IGP
- C.BGP – exterior routing
- D.Static routing – manual routes
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Correct. With only one path, static routing is simplest. There's no benefit to dynamic routing's path selection when only one path exists.
Why the other options are wrong
A. Incorrect. OSPF is a dynamic routing protocol that adds complexity unnecessary for a single-path network.
B. Incorrect. EIGRP is a dynamic protocol that would waste resources when there's only one possible route.
C. Incorrect. BGP is for inter-domain routing between autonomous systems—overkill for a simple branch office.
- Question 2Network Operations [Remote Access]
A security audit finds that VPN users authenticate with username and password only. What additional control significantly strengthens remote access security?
- A.More frequent password changes
- B.Longer passwords with increased minimum length requirements
- C.Shared VPN credentials for teams
- D.Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Correct. MFA requires something you know (password) plus something you have (token, phone) or something you are (biometric). Even if credentials are stolen, attackers can't access the VPN without the second factor.
Why the other options are wrong
A. Incorrect. Frequent changes often lead to weaker passwords. Modern guidance recommends MFA over rotation.
B. Incorrect. While stronger passwords help, they remain a single factor. Credential theft still compromises access.
C. Incorrect. Shared credentials eliminate individual accountability and make credential compromise affect multiple users.
- Question 3Network Troubleshooting [Common Issues - Network]
A user's computer has IP address 169.254.x.x. What does this indicate?
- A.DHCP failure with APIPA self-assignment
- B.Successful DHCP assignment
- C.Static IP was manually configured on the workstation
- D.IPv6 transition address was auto-assigned instead
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Correct. 169.254.x.x is an APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) address, assigned when DHCP fails. The device can communicate with other APIPA devices but lacks proper network access.
Why the other options are wrong
B. Incorrect. DHCP servers don't assign 169.254.x.x addresses—these are self-assigned.
C. Incorrect. While possible to statically assign 169.254.x.x, it's almost always APIPA auto-assignment.
D. Incorrect. IPv6 transition addresses use different formats. 169.254.x.x is IPv4 APIPA.
- Question 4Network Troubleshooting [Hardware Tools]
A technician needs to trace a specific network cable through a bundle of cables in a ceiling. Which tool set is most appropriate?
- A.Protocol analyzer
- B.OTDR – tests fiber optic cable for faults
- C.Cable certifier – tests copper specs
- D.Tone generator and probe
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Correct. A tone generator sends a signal on the cable, and the probe (amplifier) detects that tone, allowing the technician to trace the specific cable through bundles or walls.
Why the other options are wrong
A. Incorrect. Protocol analyzers capture network traffic—they don't help with physical cable tracing.
B. Incorrect. OTDR tests fiber characteristics—this scenario involves tracing copper cables.
C. Incorrect. Certifiers test performance but require access to both ends—they don't trace through bundles.
- Question 5Network Security [Wireless Security]
A retail chain with 500 stores deploys a wireless network for inventory scanners and point-of-sale terminals. The security team needs to ensure PCI DSS compliance. The CTO proposes using WPA2-PSK with a single shared passphrase rotated monthly across all stores. The security team rejects this. Which is the MOST compelling reason?
- A.WPA2-PSK with AES encryption is deprecated and no longer considered secure for any business payment environment
- B.Monthly rotation across 500 stores risks lockouts, and the single shared passphrase means one store's compromise exposes all stores
- C.WPA2-PSK cannot efficiently support the large number of simultaneous devices across a 500-store retail deployment without dedicated controller hardware at each site
- D.Monthly passphrase rotation across 500 stores violates PCI DSS requirements for minimum password change frequency
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct. PSK's fundamental weakness at scale: one compromised passphrase at any store — through a disgruntled employee, a phishing attack, or a shoulder-surfed device — gives an attacker access to the wireless network at all 500 locations. PCI DSS requires per-device or per-user authentication for cardholder data environments. WPA2-Enterprise with 802.1X and per-device certificates eliminates this blast radius.
Why the other options are wrong
A. Incorrect. WPA2-PSK is not deprecated — it remains widely deployed and is acceptable for low-sensitivity environments. The problem is specific to this use case, not the protocol itself.
C. Incorrect. WPA2-PSK has no meaningful limit on connected devices — this is not a scalability constraint.
D. Incorrect. Monthly rotation is actually more frequent than PCI DSS minimum requirements. The PCI DSS concern is the shared passphrase model, not its rotation schedule.
Those are 5 of the 40 questions in the free sample exam. Sign up to take the remaining 35 under exam conditions, get scored, and see which topics are holding you back.
Network+ Exam Domains and Weights
The share of the exam each official domain accounts for, from the published exam outline.
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Networking Concepts | 23% |
| Network Implementation | 20% |
| Network Operations | 19% |
| Network Security | 14% |
| Network Troubleshooting | 24% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The CompTIA Network+ consists of 90 questions. You are given 90 minutes to complete the exam.
The CompTIA Network+ exam reports a scaled score from 100 to 900, and you need at least 720 to pass. A scaled score is not the percentage of questions you answered correctly. Our practice exams use 80% as their pass mark.
You have 90 minutes to complete the CompTIA Network+. That works out to roughly 60 seconds per question, so time management is important during your preparation.
The CompTIA Network+ covers the following domains: Networking Fundamentals, Network Implementations, Network Operations, Network Security, Network Troubleshooting. Each domain carries a different weight on the exam, so focus your study time on the areas that count most.
The CompTIA Network+ is rated Intermediate. This means candidates should have hands-on experience and foundational knowledge before attempting this exam.
The CompTIA Network+ is part of 2 career paths:
• IT Infrastructure Path: Network+
• CompTIA IT Professional Journey: A+ Core 1 → A+ Core 2 → Network+ → Security+
After passing, the recommended next step is Security+ CompTIA Security+.
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Official vendor practice tests typically offer a limited number of questions with minimal explanations. MindMesh Academy provides a comprehensive question bank with detailed explanations for every answer choice — both correct and incorrect — so you understand the reasoning behind each answer. You also get flashcards with spaced repetition, a complete study guide covering every exam domain, section-based practice, progress analytics that identify your weakest topics, and a guided learning journey. All study materials are accessible on desktop and mobile.
Yes. Our team reviews and updates the question bank to reflect the latest exam objectives and real-world scenarios. When exam versions change or new topics are added, we update our practice questions, flashcards, and study guide to ensure you are always studying current material.
MindMesh Academy offers practice exams that simulate real test conditions, flashcards with spaced repetition to strengthen long-term retention, and an integrated study guide covering every exam domain. You can also track your progress with analytics that pinpoint your weak areas so you know exactly where to focus.
Written by
Alvin Varughese
Founder, MindMesh Academy
Alvin Varughese is the founder of MindMesh Academy and an enterprise architecture leader. An electrical engineer by training, he moved from factory automation in South Africa to cloud architecture at GE Appliances and Humana (Fortune 50), and holds 20 professional certifications including AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, and Microsoft Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect. He built MindMesh Academy after interviewing too many highly certified candidates who couldn't answer basic questions: the goal is prep that makes you better at the job, not just able to pass the exam.
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