The Short Answer
CompTIA Network+ is the certification that says you understand how networks are built, run, secured and fixed. The current exam, N10-009 (Network+ V9), launched on 20 June 2024. It has a maximum of 90 questions — multiple-choice plus performance-based simulations — in 90 minutes, and you need 720 on a 100–900 scale to pass. CompTIA estimates it will retire in 2027, three years after launch.
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| 1. Networking concepts | 23% |
| 2. Network implementation | 20% |
| 3. Network operations | 19% |
| 4. Network security | 14% |
| 5. Network troubleshooting | 24% |
CompTIA recommends A+ and nine to twelve months as a junior network administrator or support technician, but plenty of people pass without the job experience if they build and break a small lab at home. Our free Network+ practice questions are written to the N10-009 objectives with an explanation for every option; the practice quiz takes about fifteen minutes.
The Numbers to Know Cold
Network+ has a reputation for memorisation, and it is earned. These come up across every domain — and in the troubleshooting scenarios, where a wrong port or subnet is often the clue.
Common ports
| Port | Service | Port | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/21 | FTP | 161/162 | SNMP / SNMP traps |
| 22 | SSH, SFTP | 389 | LDAP |
| 23 | Telnet | 443 | HTTPS |
| 25 | SMTP | 445 | SMB |
| 53 | DNS | 514 | Syslog |
| 67/68 | DHCP | 587 | SMTP submission (TLS) |
| 69 | TFTP | 636 | LDAPS |
| 80 | HTTP | 1433 | Microsoft SQL Server |
| 110 | POP3 | 3389 | RDP |
| 123 | NTP | 5060/5061 | SIP / SIP over TLS |
| 143 | IMAP |
Addressing
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Private IPv4 ranges | 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16 |
| APIPA (no DHCP answer) | 169.254.0.0/16 |
| Loopback | 127.0.0.0/8 (IPv4), ::1 (IPv6) |
| Usable hosts | /24 = 254 · /25 = 126 · /26 = 62 · /27 = 30 · /28 = 14 · /29 = 6 · /30 = 2 |
| Formula | 2 to the power of the host bits, minus 2, usable addresses per subnet |
The Troubleshooting Method (24% of the Exam)
Troubleshooting is the largest domain, and CompTIA expects you to follow its seven-step method in order:
- Identify the problem.
- Establish a theory of probable cause.
- Test the theory to determine the cause.
- Establish a plan of action and identify potential effects.
- Implement the solution or escalate as necessary.
- Verify full system functionality and implement preventive measures if applicable.
- Document findings, actions, outcomes and lessons learned.
Questions often ask "what should the technician do next?" — and the answer is usually the next step in this list, not the most technically impressive fix. Documenting comes last, but it is never optional.
Performance-Based Questions
A few questions are simulations: configure a device, place equipment on a diagram, read command output and identify the fault, or match cable types to their uses. They take far longer than multiple-choice items. A common approach is to flag them, answer the multiple-choice questions, then come back with the remaining time — the exam lets you review and change answers before you submit. Never leave one blank; partial credit is possible.
The best preparation for simulations is hands-on time: subnet a home network on paper, run ipconfig/ip, ping, tracert/traceroute, nslookup/dig and netstat until you can predict their output, and read a switch or router configuration line by line.
A Study Order That Follows the Points
- Networking concepts (23%) — the OSI model, ports and protocols, addressing and subnetting, cloud and virtual network concepts. Everything else builds on this.
- Troubleshooting (24%) — the method above, then cable, wireless, routing and switching, and service problems with their symptoms.
- Implementation (20%) — routing, switching and VLANs, wireless standards and settings, physical installation.
- Operations (19%) — documentation, monitoring, high availability and disaster recovery, network services.
- Security (14%) — hardening, common attacks, access control and segmentation.
Already hold A+? Much of the hardware and port knowledge transfers — our A+ Core 1 cheat sheet is a quick refresher. Headed to Security+ next? Read our Security+ 701 vs 801 guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the passing score for Network+ N10-009?
720 on a scale of 100 to 900. It is a scaled score, not a percentage of questions answered correctly.
How many questions are on Network+?
A maximum of 90, mixing multiple-choice and performance-based questions, in 90 minutes.
When does Network+ N10-009 retire?
CompTIA estimates 2027 — usually three years after its June 2024 launch. Check CompTIA's Network+ page for the confirmed date and the next version.
Is Network+ harder than A+?
Most candidates find it more conceptual: A+ is broad, while Network+ goes deeper into addressing, protocols and troubleshooting. Subnetting and port numbers are where most of the extra effort goes.
What is the largest domain on Network+?
Network troubleshooting, at 24%, followed closely by networking concepts at 23%.
Sources
- CompTIA — Network+ certification — exam code N10-009, launch date, question count, duration, passing score, estimated retirement, recommended experience, domain weights.
- CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam objectives — domains, the troubleshooting methodology and command-line tools.
