Attempted the Security+ and it wasn't what I thought it would be!!!
For context, I have 20 years of experience in Information Security across domains such as VA-PT, GRC, network security, and security operations. I already hold CISSP, ISSAP, and CGRC certifications from ISC2. I only pursued the CompTIA Security+ because my HR believed I had fewer certifications compared to others who had multiple CompTIA or EC-Council certifications.
I wasn’t particularly happy about preparing for this certification, as I felt I had more valuable things to focus on. However, in a workplace setting, you sometimes have to do things not for yourself, but to satisfy those running the show. My plan was simple: attempt practice questions for a week and then take the exam.
When I started with the initial set of practice questions, I performed well. However, there were areas where I needed to revisit the study guide. A significant portion of the questions relied on understanding how CompTIA defines and uses specific terminology.
I used Jason Dion’s SY0-701 Practice Exams Set 1 (my rating - 4/5) and Andrew Ramdayal’s SY0-701 Practice Exams (my rating - 3/5). I was able to complete each test within 45 minutes and consistently scored above 80 percent. Some questions and their explanations didn’t sit well with me, but for any new or unfamiliar concepts, I referred back to the study guide. I followed this approach over two weeks. By the end, I felt I had encountered several technical concepts that are only briefly touched upon in CISSP, making Security+ a reasonably good refresher.
Then came exam day. As a non-native English speaker, I was granted an additional 30 minutes, which I initially thought I wouldn’t need. However, the very first question made me nervous, it was a PBQ on network design, and I ended up spending too much time on it. After 15 minutes, still unsure, I decided to move on. There were four other PBQs, and while I won’t go into details, they consumed a considerable amount of time. At that point, I realized that the extra 30 minutes might actually be crucial. I knew PBQs would be part of the exam, but I didn’t expect to feel so unprepared for them.
The MCQs, on the other hand, were much easier. I moved through them quickly, with only a few uncertainties. In the end, I finished the exam with about 20 minutes remaining and passed with a scaled score of 795. That said, the PBQs made it a far more stressful experience than I had anticipated.
Big takeaway: Even with strong experience, don’t underestimate the PBQs. They can easily disrupt your time management if you’re not prepared for the format.