How I passed the CompTIA Security+ on my first attempt

So, here is a subject I tend to see in a lot of different social media outlets. For those who are new to the cyber security field, the CompTIA Security + Certification exam is the “must have” certification to get your foot in the door. It is required by almost every hiring service with cyber security job openings. Not saying that you cant get a job without it, but having it will definitely not hurt your chances.

A little background on the exam, the CompTIA Security+ exam will certify the successful candidate has the knowledge and skills required to install and configure systems to secure applications, networks, and devices; perform threat analysis and respond with appropriate mitigation techniques; participate in risk mitigation activities; and operate with an awareness of applicable policies, laws, and regulations. The successful candidate will perform these tasks to support the principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The exam is a maximum of 90 questions, both multiple choice and performance based. The passing score is 750 (on a scale of 100–900).

Ok, now that we understand what we are going to go over, we will get to what I did to pass the exam. First thing I did was search for training on Udemy. Udemy is an online learning resources that is fairly affordable, the course I took was the one instructed by Jason Dion, who in my opinion one of the best instructors for CompTIA exams, he breaks everything down and explains it from the simplest form.

The next thing that I did was I started listening to blogs and CBTNuggets. I listened to these on the drive to work or on long distance drives, after a few minutes, I started to remember every subject and then when they went over the answer, I repeated it out loud to confirm that I understood why it was the correct answer.

The final step that I took was, I went back over the basics of Network + and A+, because I figured there was a reason why CompTIA wants you to have a solid understanding of these prior to attempting the Security +. From there, I scheduled the exam. The days leading up to exam day I still did some last-minute cramming of port numbers and the OSI model. I also completed a few practice exams to get me in the test taking mindset.

The worst part about taking the exam was the constant second guessing. I actually completed the exam in 30 minutes, but for the next hour I went back over every single question…twice! If I was 100% sure of an answer, I wouldn’t touch it, but if I was 90%, I went over all of the possible answers and did the process of elimination. By the time I was ready to submit the exam, I my anxiety was through the roof. The countless days and hours spent to prepare were all on the line and by pressing the submit button it would confirm if it was time well spent or if I needed to start from scratch.

So, I finally mustered up the courage to finally press the submit button, then boom, I passed!!! I got a 758. Not the best score, I’m pretty sure I changed some answers that were right and made them wrong due to my anxiety, but I still passed.

After I finished it felt like it was a huge weight off my shoulders, it also confirmed that the studying I did the months leading up to the exam was not in vein. All in all it took me seven months of studying a few hours a day to get over the hump.

In conclusion, this exam is very in-depth and it is not for the faint at heart. My studying techniques may not work for everyone. Some people can read books and remember everything they read, I on the other hand cannot. I must listen to it repeatedly to retain the information, or I have to perform the actions over and over again. I hope that you found this helpful and If you have any questions or comments, let me know.