How to Pass CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) on Your First Try
Security+ is the most widely-held baseline security cert in the world. Here's how to study efficiently, what actually appears on the exam, and how to avoid the traps that fail candidates.
What SY0-701 Actually Tests
Security+ SY0-701 (the current version) is heavier on operations, governance, and threat analysis than the old SY0-601. You'll see scenario-based questions that require you to apply concepts, not just define them. The exam is 90 questions in 90 minutes — many multiple-choice but also PBQs (performance-based questions) that simulate real environments.
Key Tips
- ✓PBQs appear at the start — don't skip them; flag and return if stuck
- ✓Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities is the heaviest domain
- ✓Know your acronyms cold: AAA, MFA, PKI, SIEM, SOAR, EDR, XDR
- ✓Understand the 'why' of controls, not just what they are
The 6-Week Study Plan
Most people pass Security+ with 80–120 hours of focused study. Prior IT experience shortens this; no IT background requires 120+.
Key Tips
- ✓Week 1–2: Video course — Professor Messer (free) or Jason Dion (Udemy)
- ✓Week 3–4: Study the CompTIA CertMaster Learn objectives section by section
- ✓Week 5: Take practice exams — aim for 80%+ before sitting the real exam
- ✓Week 6: Review weak areas; take 2 full timed mocks under exam conditions
Best Free and Paid Resources
Security+ has exceptional free resources — you don't need to spend a lot.
Exam Day Strategy
Pearson VUE administers the exam at test centers or via online proctoring. Online proctoring has strict requirements — test your environment in advance.
Key Tips
- ✓Flag difficult questions and keep moving — you can return
- ✓For scenario questions: eliminate obviously wrong answers first
- ✓The exam counts DoD approval heavily — know IAM, access controls, and cryptography for those questions
- ✓Passing score is 750/900 — roughly 83%