Laptop Component Replacement and Physical Privacy Hardware
Core 1 expects you to know which laptop parts are field-replaceable, the order of operations for a safe replacement, and the physical privacy and security components built into modern portables. Battery and storage swaps are routine; display assemblies and system boards are not.
Exam tip. When a laptop symptom appears immediately after a repair, the answer is nearly always a cable or connector that was not reseated. Look for the reassembly mistake before suspecting a failed component.
Laptop Display Technologies and Components
Display questions test whether you can match a panel technology to a requirement and identify which internal component causes a given symptom. Know the tradeoffs between IPS, TN, VA and OLED, and what the inverter, backlight, digitizer and webcam each do.
Exam tip. A screen that is readable only under a bright light means the backlight failed, not the panel. If the image is fine but touch does not respond, the digitizer is the failed part.
Mobile Connectivity: USB-C, Lightning, Bluetooth, NFC and Tethering
Objective 1.1 asks you to compare accessories and connectivity options. The distinctions that get tested are range, whether pairing is required, and which method suits a given scenario such as contactless payment versus file transfer versus sharing a cellular connection.
Exam tip. Range is the fastest way to eliminate wrong answers. If the scenario says the devices touch or nearly touch, it is NFC. If pairing is mentioned, it is Bluetooth.
Cellular Standards, SIM Types and Airplane Mode
You need to configure basic mobile network connectivity and know what each generation of cellular offers. Questions often hinge on the difference between a physical SIM and an eSIM, and on what airplane mode actually disables.
Exam tip. If a device has signal and can make calls but has no mobile data, the answer is an APN or data-plan issue, not a hardware or antenna fault.
Mobile Email, Sync and MDM Configuration
Objective 1.2 covers configuring corporate and commercial email on mobile devices and supporting synchronisation. Expect scenarios about which protocol keeps mail on the server, which ports are secure, and what a mobile device management platform enforces.
Exam tip. Any scenario where mail must appear identically on several devices is IMAP. Memorise 993 and 995 as the secure pair - they are among the most tested port numbers on Core 1.
Mobile Device Form Factors and Accessories
Core 1 expects you to recognise the range of portable form factors and match accessories to a described need. The distinctions are mostly about input method, portability and what the device is designed to do.
Exam tip. Read accessory questions for the requirement rather than the device. If the user needs pressure sensitivity, the answer is an active stylus; if they need several displays and one cable, it is a docking station.