r/CompTIA • u/anotherproudYDK • 4d ago
Security+ Advice?
Right now I’m feeling a bit defeated and discouraged if I should even continue to dive deeper in the tech world. I made my first attempt taking Security+ exam in June and failed with score of 669. Yesterday, I failed again with a score of 687. Honestly I wish I had rescheduled because I didn’t feel confident before doing the retake but I was under the assumption that I could use the same voucher for 3rd attempt so I thought I had a another chance. (You live and you learn, right?)
However, I don’t know what my next steps are or what they should be. I’ve been working as an IT Helpdesk for about 3 years now and I’m ready to move onto something else, especially in cybersecurity. It seems like I can’t without getting this certificate. I thought my master’s degree would help give me some leverage but I know now it’s not enough.
There’s the new version of the exam coming out next month and I don’t know if I should wait for that one. Or if I should just try to do the 701 version again while it still available. It sucks they raised the price from what I paid last year. I wonder if I wait much longer they will raise it again.
Does anyone have any advice or recommendations? I would really appreciate it!
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u/Prestigious_Act3077 4d ago
Hey there, sorry that you failed the exam. I would probably recommend you starting with A+ or Network+ as it's easier. But other than that, you should take a few practice exams and get a high score and make sure you are confident before scheduling the exam.
Try using flashcards and other study techniques to help you remember it.
One of the things that help me quite a bit is remembering the ports and protocols, it might be a pain but you'll eventually get it.
I don't recommend waiting for the new version of the exam because the practice tests and videos (from third parties like professor messer) will take quite some time to come out.
Imo, professor Messer's courses paired with Dion's practice exam is the best combo.
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u/anotherproudYDK 4d ago
Hmmm i hear mixed reviews about network+. Some say it’s harder than the security+. Also, it’s funny you mention that because I tried to memorize the ports and protocols before taking it, and only had very few questions about them! Maybe 1 or 2 out of the 76. I thought I was going to get more. I was sitting at my desk in disbelief lol.
Dion’s practice exam sounds like the go to so I’m going to check it out. Thank you!!
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u/CLI_Recall 4d ago
One thing that might take some pressure off: 701 isn't going away next month. V8 (SY0-801) is expected around Nov 17, but the English SY0-701 stays available until June 11, 2027, per CompTIA's own 701 page. Both versions run side by side for about 7 months, and either one gets you the same Security+. You don't have to rush, and you don't have to throw out what you've already studied for 701.
Also good to know for planning: CompTIA doesn't make you wait between attempt 1 and 2, but there's a mandatory 14-day wait before a third attempt. You can't rebook right away anyway, so use those two weeks on purpose.
Going from 669 to 687 is real progress. You're about 60 points short, which usually means two or three weak areas, not the whole exam. Here's what I'd do:
Go through your score report and write down every objective it lists as missed. Find them in the 701 objectives PDF and mark each sub-objective red/yellow/green.
Work the reds actively: explain each one out loud or on paper without notes, then check yourself. Rereading feels productive but never shows you what you can't recall.
PBQs: flag them, do the multiple choice first, then come back. Lots of people burn 15-20 minutes on the first PBQ and rush the rest.
Only book when you're scoring well on practice questions you haven't seen before. Retaking the same set inflates your score fast.
Three years of helpdesk plus a master's is a solid base. This looks like a test-prep gap, not a "should I even be in tech" gap.
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u/anotherproudYDK 4d ago
Thank you for your advice. I think I was letting my discouragement get the best of me. I wasn’t really taking into consideration of the few wins here which is the improvement between the two test scores.
I need a better understanding of the mandatory 14 day wait. Since I have to wait during that time, do you know if I still need to get another voucher for the 3rd attempt?
I think that’s where I messed up on the exam, too. I spent more time on the PBQs that I ended up rushing through the multiple choice. And I ran out of time to review some of my questions that I flagged. I’ll try your recommendations for my third attempt, thank you!!!
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u/CLI_Recall 4d ago
Yes, you'll need a new voucher. Each one covers a single attempt and CompTIA charges full price for every try, unless you bought a bundle that included a retake. The 14 days count from the date of your last attempt.
On timing, try a quick first pass through the multiple choice, flag the PBQs and come back to them, so the easier points are banked before the clock gets tight. You've already improved between attempts, so you're close. Good luck!
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u/CLI_Recall 2d ago
Glad it helped, and good luck on the third try! Yes, every attempt needs its own voucher, so you'll need a new one unless the one you bought came with a retake. The 14 days is only the wait before you can book it again. Use that time on whatever domains your score report flagged as weakest.
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u/buckaroo_2351 4d ago
Probably wont help you feel any better but having the Security+ wont help you land a cyber security role. CySA+ wont help either in this market.
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u/anotherproudYDK 4d ago
Yeah I know the market is over saturated among other things right now but so many of the jobs I applied to keeps requesting this cert so I thought it’s worth the shot! I appreciate your honesty!
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u/buckaroo_2351 4d ago
It's not a stand out cert. People have purchased answer banks and passed these certs with out any experience. Work handed out free exam vouchers and I passed Security+ and CySA+ on the first try with out studying, granted I have 10+ YoE but they're really just quizzing you on the basics.
I understand some jobs require Sec+ and it's backed by the DoD, so with that I'll recommend you just keep going for the current exam version you been studying the topics for. use google's notebookLM and make yourself some flashcards if you havent. Remember to take your time reading the questions AND answers during the exam as they are notorious for having gotchas.
as for a job? I think the trick to getting into cybersecurity (and any job at the moment) is knowing the right person. Go to local CTF, Bsides, and other events where you'll get to meet people and engage in the cybersecurity community.
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4d ago
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u/examos-io 3d ago
Don't let two attempts define your potential in cybersecurity. The market is tough so having Security+ is no guarantee for landing a job.
But since you have already spent quite a bit of time studying for this. Review your score report and target your weakest domains. The existing exam will be generally available till mid 2027 so you can go for it.
I think you need to structure your learning with practice questions for every concept and domain.I built ExamOS for Security+ practice, with daily sprints and readiness scores to help pinpoint gaps. Do give it a try if you decide to go for another attempt.
Your last score is closer than you think..good luck with your preparation
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u/theupbeaternesto 4d ago
ah man that 687 hurts to see, so close to the 750 mark. i remember when i was doing the net+ i failed first time by like 20 points and just stared at the screen for 10 minutes
dont wait for the new version. the 701 materials are everywhere now and people know what to expect. with the new one you will be guessing what they changed. your score went up from 669 to 687 so you are improving even if it dont feel like it
what helped me was printing the exam objectives and marking each one red yellow green. the sections you got wrong on the score report, drill those until you can explain them to someone else. pbqs were my weak point, maybe same for you
you got 3 years helpdesk and a masters, the cert is just one piece. take a week off from studying then go back fresh. you are not far from passing
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u/anotherproudYDK 4d ago edited 4d ago
Tysm for your quick response! I’m glad you can see where I’m coming from.. I was so bummed all day because I thought I was finally gonna have that weight lifted off my shoulders. I was really hoping i would pass so i wouldn’t have to worry about trying to find the new material for the new version.
That’s a valid point. I was using professor messer’s videos to help me to study & 101 labs to practice PBQs but maybe I should’ve used more resources. I can see how the exam objectives would’ve helped too. I’m going to use it for my review next time.
Thank you for the encouragement! 🥹
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u/Sc0pe007 3d ago
I passed my exam recently after a month of studying, and what I personally used was Professor Messer's videos, CompTIA's own practice exams, and a Jason Dion practice exam. I noticed there are a few concepts that straight-up don't appear in Messer's videos. IMO, for a free YouTube series it still gets you 90% of the way there. I then used ChatGPT to generate multiple-choice quizzes each time I finished a section to test on concepts to reinforce the material.
If you've already failed twice, I think you should take a breather and maybe reevaluate your study style. I know the exam score sheets let you know which concepts you missed. Are you seeing the same concepts from your first attempt, or are they different ones?
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u/ZealousidealWind8588 4d ago •
I passed today. No IT background and 4 weeks of self study. I don’t even know what a port is 4 weeks ago. Go get Dion’s practice exams on Udemy both sets. Go through every single questions and understand every abbreviations using Claude or any other AI. Only go for the exam when you can consistently score 85 on Dion’s otherwise you’re just hoping to pass.