- A
Reduce the screen resolution to 1920x1080
Why wrong: Lowering resolution makes text larger but causes blurriness because it's not the native resolution.
- B
Increase the display scaling percentage in OS settings
Scaling enlarges text and UI while keeping native resolution, maintaining clarity.
- C
Replace the monitor with a lower-resolution model
Why wrong: This is unnecessary and costly; scaling solves the problem without replacing hardware.
- D
Adjust the monitor's physical sharpness setting
Why wrong: Sharpness controls edge contrast, not text size, and won't make text larger.
Question 1,005 of 1,020
Fixing Small Text on a 4K Monitor with Display Scaling
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of display devices. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user complains that text on their new 27-inch 4K monitor appears very small and hard to read. The display is set to its native resolution. What is the most effective way to make text readable without sacrificing image quality?
Quick Answer
The answer is to increase the display scaling percentage in the operating system settings. This works because scaling enlarges text and UI elements while keeping the monitor at its native 4K resolution, which preserves the sharp, crisp image quality that high-resolution displays are designed for. Lowering the resolution would make text larger but would introduce blurriness, as the monitor would no longer be using its ideal pixel grid. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of the difference between resolution and scaling—a common trap is choosing “reduce resolution” because it seems like a quick fix. Remember that scaling is a software-level adjustment that maintains pixel-perfect clarity, whereas resolution changes are hardware-level and degrade quality. A useful memory tip: “Scale up, don’t drop down”—keep the native resolution high and let the OS scale the interface for readability.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Increase the display scaling percentage in OS settings
At the native 4K resolution (3840x2160), pixels are densely packed, making UI elements physically tiny. Increasing the display scaling percentage (e.g., to 150% or 200%) instructs the OS to render text and icons at a larger logical size while keeping the monitor at its native resolution, preserving full sharpness and detail. This is the standard solution for high-DPI displays.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reduce the screen resolution to 1920x1080
Why it's wrong here
Lowering resolution makes text larger but causes blurriness because it's not the native resolution.
- ✓
Increase the display scaling percentage in OS settings
Why this is correct
Scaling enlarges text and UI while keeping native resolution, maintaining clarity.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Replace the monitor with a lower-resolution model
Why it's wrong here
This is unnecessary and costly; scaling solves the problem without replacing hardware.
- ✗
Adjust the monitor's physical sharpness setting
Why it's wrong here
Sharpness controls edge contrast, not text size, and won't make text larger.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that reducing resolution is the only way to enlarge text, trapping candidates who overlook the scaling feature designed specifically for high-DPI displays.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Display scaling works by the OS compositor rendering the desktop at a higher virtual resolution (e.g., 7680x4320 for 200% scaling) and then downsampling to the native 4K output, effectively using multiple physical pixels per logical pixel. This is distinct from resolution reduction, which discards pixel data. In Windows, scaling is set per-display in Settings > System > Display; macOS uses 'Scaled' resolutions under System Preferences > Displays. Some older applications may appear blurry if not DPI-aware, but modern OSes handle this via DPI virtualization.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Display Devices — study guide chapter
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Display Devices practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Display Devices — This question tests Display Devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Increase the display scaling percentage in OS settings — At the native 4K resolution (3840x2160), pixels are densely packed, making UI elements physically tiny. Increasing the display scaling percentage (e.g., to 150% or 200%) instructs the OS to render text and icons at a larger logical size while keeping the monitor at its native resolution, preserving full sharpness and detail. This is the standard solution for high-DPI displays.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.
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