CompTIA PBQ practice: real simulations, free
Performance-based questions are where most CompTIA candidates lose points, and where most free practice sites offer nothing. PBQs ask you to do the task: type the command, fix the config, cable the workstation. This site has 59 free PBQs across A+ Core 1, Core 2, and Network+, in six interaction styles modeled on the formats CompTIA describes: simulations, virtual environments, and drag-and-drop.
Six PBQ formats you can practice here
Simulated terminal
A working command line with objectives to complete. Type ipconfig /release, renew a DHCP lease, trace a route. Multiple command forms are accepted, and correct commands print realistic output.
Configuration panels
Router and OS settings screens with dropdowns, toggles, and text fields. Some settings start misconfigured, exactly like the exam's simulated interfaces.
Network diagram hotspots
A topology diagram where you click the device that answers the scenario: find the loop, place the firewall, spot the failed switch.
Drag-to-connect cabling
Drag connectors (RJ45, HDMI, USB-C, fiber) onto an illustrated PC rear panel, patch panel, or rack. Distractor connectors included.
Matching
Match terms to definitions or tools to tasks, the classic drag-and-drop PBQ format.
Ordering
Put troubleshooting or procedure steps into the correct sequence.
What a terminal PBQ looks like
A real example from the Core 1 bank. Scenario: a laptop shows a 169.254.x.x address after sleeping through a DHCP outage. The server is healthy again; refresh the client. Three objectives:
# Objective 1: give up the broken lease
C:\Users\tech> ipconfig /release
# Objective 2: request a fresh one
C:\Users\tech> ipconfig /renew
# Objective 3: clear stale name resolution
C:\Users\tech> ipconfig /flushdns
In the simulator you type these yourself, each correct command prints realistic output, and partial credit is scored per objective, the same way CompTIA says PBQs are graded.
Common questions
What is a PBQ?
A performance-based question asks you to do a task instead of picking an answer: type commands in a terminal, configure a router, or drag components into place. CompTIA uses them to test hands-on skill.
How many PBQs are on the exam?
CompTIA does not publish an exact count, but most candidates see roughly 3 to 6, usually at the start of the exam. They take longer than multiple choice, so practicing the format matters.
Do PBQs get partial credit?
Yes. CompTIA confirms PBQs may be scored with partial credit. Our simulator grades the same way: complete 3 of 4 objectives and you earn 75% for that question.
Should I do PBQs first or skip them?
Common advice is to flag PBQs and return after finishing multiple choice, so the timer never strands you. Practice both ways here and see which suits you; the simulator has the same flag-and-return controls.