r/CompTIA_Security

This journey is not over yet but earning the trifecta was a goal I set for myself a year ago, so I could eventually leave trucking. Along the way , I faced multiple setbacks and failing the sec+ hit me hardest. On top of that, I could not afford to pay for the sec+ one more time.

With that being said, I want to thank this community once again. For your support and the encouraging comments that throughout this journey —helped me to keep going on.

Well, It took 1 month to prepare for the test but —-honestly I feel like 3 weeks or 2 because at the beginning, I was procrastinating so bad. It was very hard to focus on the practice test and stuff.

Last but not least, put God first in your plan, subjectively speaking I feel God will help you carry your stress and problems —-but, at the same time,don’t be negligent.

First attempt: 726
Second Attempt: 753

Reposting this because I had PII disclosed in the other one.

Well, I’m now on to CCNA in the meantime I’ll apply for some jobs. Any advice? I’m a truck driver looking to break into tech🙏🏾

First off, I'd like to thank this subreddit for the successfull exam TTPs! I would not have been able to do it without it, so thanks yall!

A little background:

I just finished my InfoSec undergrad and needed to take this exam in order to finish my capstone. I was so burnt out after starting my masters while finishing my undergrad (also do not recommend), I kept delaying my exam prep. I had an overall basic understanding of InfoSec due to my last 5 years studying, but needed to adjust myself to the exam format and objectives. I had a month to study but left myself only a week...

One day I found a comment on a post in this subreddit talking about how getting your sec+ in a short time is possible, but not how it should be done. After completing the exam, I couldn't agree more. So if you're reading this, start you studies now! Do not wait!!! I literally scheduled my exam and started studying right after I read that comment.

What and How did I study:

First thing is that I downloaded the exam objectives and read through them all, so I knew exactly what was going to be on the exam. Once I had a basic understanding, I inputted the file into ClaudeAI and told it to create a week long, sequential study guide that builds on the objectives before. Additionally, I prompted for port numbers and all acronyms (gave me around 300 to study). I did 2, 4-5 hour study sessions throughout 4 days with this material. I used this first study guide, along with CyberKraft's PBQ walkthroughs online for my first study block.

Once I had a study guide I could work through, I decided to make flash cards for all of the acronyms. THESE ARE CRUCIAL! I would not have been able to pass my exam if I was not comfortable with all of the acronyms. I decided to stop studying other resources and stick to studying flashcards for a full day. During my breaks between flashcard sessions, I would take objective-specific practice tests from ExamCompass. These were crucial for me to get each objective down before moving on to the next.

Once I got inside 48 hours, I decided to redo my study guide and focus on the essentials. I prompted CluadeAI with the exam objectives file and the first study guide to create a drill down study guide that is blocked by study sessions. I used Professor Messor's free videos to walk through any sections I was left uncertain about. This allowed me to reference my study guide and build on the necessary concepts I was struggling with.

The day of the exam:

I decided to get the free week trial from CompTia's Sec+ study app. I pounded so many exams during the day that reading through the questions during the exam just became second nature. It is really important to familiarize yourself with finding key words and understanding what the question is really asking. (I canceled my subscription right after the exam without charge).

Why I don't recommend waiting to study:

This exam can be crazy scary going into it feeling unprepared. I was as stressed as I ever was over the last week in order to properly prepare for the exam. If you have more than a month to prepare, START NOW! The further in advance you start your exam prep, the more prepared and comfortable you're allowing yourself to be when exam time comes.

Key Tips:

- Work through PBQs and understand how to find key words/phrases.

- Create a study guide and use additional reference for comparison (I used Professor Messor).

- PORT NUMBERS AND ACRONYMS!!!!

- Do not study just to write, use ExamCompass' exams to use active recall, so you know what is sticking and what needs to be gone over again.

- PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

Took it this morning, still processing so it hasn't shown up in the portal yet but here's the score sheet.

769/750 to pass. Was stressed out of my mind the whole time ngl.

Tips for anyone studying: it's super heavy on acronyms so if you're wondering where to focus, start there. Resources I used:

Jason Dion practice tests (Udemy)

Andrew Ramdayal course (Udemy)

Professor Messer (YouTube)

Cyberkraft (YouTube) for his pbqs

This is just the start. Next up is Network+, then hopefully enough certs and graduate then move out of Western NC(grew up here and trying break chain of living here)

For anyone on the fence, just go do it. You can pass it.

My study course went like this:

I relied on heavily on Professor Messer’s YouTube videos!!

When I first started this journey, I watched his videos first in normal speed after I completed that I got the Sybex Comptia security+ study guide book. I read it while taking notes which took a while but worth it. I also utilized the chapter quizzes and the 2 exams. (Which I feel like are harder than the actual exam lol)

After I read the book, I went back and watched Professor Messer’s videos in 2x speed. I downloaded his course note and practice exams (on the exams I scored 66, 73, 75).

I also used Comptiasecurity+ and Comptia PrepMe apps a lot (mostly Comptiasecurity+)

In the final week, I focused a lot on memorizing the acronyms and the most important port numbers as well.

If you guys have any questions, feel free to ask.

Background

Hello, everyone. My name is Pacho. I recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems, with a concentration in cybersecurity, and earned Magna Cum Laude honors. After graduation, I pursued the CompTIA Network+ certification to kickstart my career in network administration. I didn’t pursue any certifications during my studies because I was a full-time student while also working full-time due to budget cuts. I passed the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam in September 2025. I started pursuing the CompTIA Security+ certification in October, but I put it on hold to apply for an AT&T Sales Consultant position and didn't resume my studies until February 2026.

My Reddit Post from N+: CompTIA Network+ N10-009

Learning Path

It took me approximately 3.5 months to study due to ongoing events. The study materials I utilized included CompTIA Certmaster, Professor Messer's Study Bundle (notes, exams, and video playlist), Andrew Ramdayal's Udemy course (He has a free YT Exam 50 Questions). For the Performance-Based Questions, I utilized CyberCraft, Certmaster PBQ (mid).

About the Study Material (Worth it or not?)

CertMaster: So, starting with the CompTIA CertMaster, I honestly enjoyed it for the Network+ Exam because it allowed me to test my understanding of each chapter lesson, track my areas of weakness, and provided labs to further grasp the content. The issue is that for the Security+ exam, there are no videos of a subject matter expert doing an overview of each chapter, but instead a professional just doing interviews with other subject matter experts, taking their input on the topic, and maybe just a couple of videos of certain things, but not the same experience as the Network+ CertMaster. Overall, I will say the Security+ does give you PBQ questions and one final exam covering all domains, including PBQ questions, which is always randomized. I preferred Messer's exam style because it was straightforward, like the exam, and I barely utilized the CertMaster exam questionnaire.

Professor Messer: I would recommend starting with Professor Messer's video playlist after finishing the book. This will help you cover areas that you didn't understand or fully grasp. I purchased his course notes/exams, and they were worth it. He addresses the exam objectives and creates a visual aspect of the material. However, some areas are left out, which is understandable, as he covers enough to ensure a good understanding. If you prefer not to use a prepared cram study guide, which is well-designed aesthetically, you can simply watch his videos and take notes. This approach is essentially the same.

Andrew Ramdayal: Udemy course was highly effective. Ramdayal explained concepts with exceptional clarity, incorporated real-world use cases, and provided practice labs that could be completed independently (though these were not correlated to the exam). The practice questions were generally satisfactory, although a few seemed ambiguous or lacked sufficient detail—an issue that appears similar to feedback I have heard regarding Dion’s practice exams. My average scores ranged from 88% to 94%, and I completed each set twice before progressing to the Pocket Prep exams. Overall, I would rate this course an 8.5 out of 10, primarily due to the quality of the exam materials provided, but the course is a strong foundation, and pairing it with the other materials really rounded out my preparation.

PocketPrep: This application offers over 1,300 unique questions, enabling users to be quizzed across five distinct domains as well as three mock exams. It also allows targeted practice by focusing on weaker domains, and enables the creation of custom quizzes based on specific domains or previously missed questions. Overall, I consider this a strong resource and would rate it 10 out of 10. Although the service is priced at $20, I highly recommend it for the final month of study to address areas requiring further improvement. While I personally used it for only one week, I still found it worthwhile.

ChatGPT: I primarily utilized this tool for time management and to receive explanations on areas or subjects I did not fully understand. Although I did not use it extensively, it was particularly helpful in clarifying difficult topics and assisting with the organization of my study schedule.

Exam Preparation/Experience

During the final preparation stage, I studied Professor Messer's Notes (6 hours), Andrew Ramdayl's cram study guide (2 hours), and took the practice exams (Prep, Messer, ChatGPT, PBQ: (Cybercraft, YT videos), overall slept for three hours.

I took my exam online (Pearson Vue). I heard of the nightmares of setting up or cancellation of the exam during the middle of taking it, but I did not experience any of this when taking it. Since I have previous experience in taking a CompTIA exam, I knew what to expect in terms of exam style (straightforward questions, not complex, acronyms, best solution preferred). I always take a deep breath (do not rush), and take my time as results differ in pace.

Due to the NDA, I cannot say too much about the exam, just note it wasn't bad at all, like I stated in my previous exam experience post on the Network+ Exam. For the exam, I had 73-76 multiple-choice questions and 3 performance-based questions.

What's Next?

I recently earned both the CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certifications on my first attempt and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems with a concentration in Cybersecurity. While I do not yet have formal IT work experience, I have developed foundational technical skills through academic lab work, CertMaster simulations, and hands-on practice with personal computing systems. Additionally, I have gained seven months of professional experience as a Sales Consultant at AT&T, where I regularly assist customers with troubleshooting devices, explaining technical solutions, and navigating account systems. I am currently evaluating whether pursuing the CompTIA A+ certification would add meaningful value to my qualifications or if I should instead focus on building practical experience through home labs and entry-level IT opportunities.

If you have any questions, please comment down below, and thank you!

[effacé]

Today, I passed the security+ exam with a 762 score on the first time. The exam was generally easy when you truly understand the concepts. For studying, I used ChatGPT. I created a project within the app, with a prompt specific to the exam objectives. Additionally, I have an associates degree in cybersecurity with no relative experience. Currently, I’m a rising Senior studying cyber forensics and aiming to breakthrough in cybersecurity. So for everyone in fear, take the exam. Just make sure you fully understand the concepts. I studied for about 2 weeks, watched professor messer videos passively and referencing my academic material. You could pass too!

I just want to thank this community for all the help and advice! I couldn’t have done it without the resources here. Here is my experience with this whole thing.

Study material: Professor Messer’s security+ series was really good and helpful, a definitive must when studying for S+

I also bought Jason Dion’s practice exams on Udemy which was helpful, but like many people mentioned, his practice exam questions were much wordier than the actual test.

I also have a background in IT so that helped with many of the PBQs, which I thought were pretty difficult and none of my study materials prepared me for it.

Regarding the actual test, I was super anxious while taking it as I thought I bombed it, but in the end it looked like I pass!

(Repost since I left my info on here🤦‍♂️)

So thrilled that I earned this, regardless of it being so close! A class I took on this semester was Information Technology Applications in CompTIA Security+. When I registered for the class, I was told that a contingency of releasing our final grades relies on completing the Security+ exam. My professor said we don’t need to pass, as this isn’t an actual grade for us, but I knew I couldn’t miss this opportunity. The school provided exam vouchers for our class, so I scheduled mine for the end of the semester and passed!

I utilized the course content from Cengage that was provided, but what really helped me was Professor Messers videos, Andrew Ramdayal’s Cheat Sheet + practice test, and Security+ Prep app by LearnZapp. I also used AI to help me hammer down the topics I was having trouble with. Thank you to everybody in this sub for providing your experiences and advice.

Now to focus on graduation tomorrow, on to the next chapter!

When i was studying i was looking for a post about the most accurate practice exams so here it is.
(THIS IS NOT AN AD)

Unpopular opinion: Jason Dion’s exams WILL NOT fully prepare you. DO NOT rely solely on them. I’ve seen a lot of posts here saying if you’re getting 80-85% consistently you’re good. Imho that’s BS, even if you get 90+. The more you practice the more questions become repetitive, and on top of that, the phrasing is easier and the areas covered are a bit limited then the real exam. Again, Im not saying they’re bad, they can def serve as a solid foundation, but you still need more.

Comptiastudy.io website is not bad as an additional resource, but again, does not serve as a solid preparation source.

ExamCompass can be a good free start, but a lot of the time they cover stuff that might not be in such detail on the exam, and some of the questions are just definitions, completely different from exam phrasing. The night before the real exam i took one and didn’t pass, so it doesn’t really serve as a good indicator.

I bought a few other practice test packs on Udemy, some of them way easier than the exam, some of them just having misleading questions that are almost impossible to answer correctly, some of them just having errors in the tests themselves marking your correct answers wrong.

THE CLOSEST to the truth practice exams that i encountered is Cybercert (again got it on udemy for 10-14$) During the real exam i was reading some questions and literally realizing i’ve already answered these the day before, taking practice tests. These tests are definitely a little complicated from time to time and some questions are harder than the actual exam. Additionally, when practicing, I def came close a few times to the passing score (90%), but never actually passed, still needed a couple of %. Nevertheless, i believe it’s the best way to get yourself ready to the complicated phrasing of questions and the difficulty of the real exam.

Everybody’s learning process is obviously individual, and some people would disagree. This is just what worked for me.

The best advice i could give you is to try and take ALL kinds of practice exams from different sources. That’s def the best way to make sure you covered all the bases.

Thank you and good luck to everyone who is still studying for the exam!