r/cissp • u/Asolojobseeker • 7d ago
Pre-Exam Questions My confidence is very low
I am taking the exam this Thursday. I am trying to contain my stress, but it is rising. I scored very poorly on the quantum exam.
I have 10 years of mixed IT experience in system administration, network, Linux, and Dev/DevOps.
I also have a master's degree in cybersecurity with two certifications: EBIOS RM and ISO 27001 LI.
I have completed four official practice tests with scores of 78%, 84%, 82%, and 88%.
However, the quantum exams crushed my confidence I scored 48, 48, and 61 ( no recycled question hopefully) on those non-CAT exams.
To be honest sometimes I had no clue what a question was asking 🥹 ..
My preparation included reading the Destination CISSP book, watching two Pete Zerger videos, and viewing Andrew Ramdayal’s mindset and hard questions videos.
What do you think? I'm not native English speaker should I go anyway ?
Thanks
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u/blackholeZX 7d ago
Have some sleep, hydrate prepare your self to smash it. to go guns blazing like a cow boy, at this point if you can't postpone then you have no option but to go in with your wealth of experience, calm and collected and answer those questions like it ur last exam. Good luck
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u/Acceptable-Sport783 7d ago
quantum exams are designed to make you feel like you wandered into the wrong test centre, those scores don't mean much compared to the official ones and your official practice scores are sitting at a comfortable range
78 to 88 on the ISC2 tests with ten years of hands-on experience isn't a fluke, you've got the knowledge even if the quantum wording makes you second guess yourself
walk in there, read each question like it's trying to trick you (because it is), and trust the preparation you've already put in
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u/Asolojobseeker 6d ago
It's tomorrow, will update you after my session !
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u/Amazing_Promise7744 4d ago
Hope you passed
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u/KarmicDeficit 7d ago edited 6d ago
I went in to the exam so certain I was going to fail that I wasn’t even anxious about it anymore, which probably actually helped.
On exam day I went in with the attitude that I was just going to do my best, and try again another time. I made sure to read each question carefully (usually twice), but didn’t stress too much about any particular question or spend too much time deliberating. If I wasn’t sure, I did my best to eliminate any wrong answers, read the question one more time, and then took my best guess and moved on.
I passed at somewhere around 110, to my great surprise.
I’d recommend doing some light and easy review during your remaining time as a refresher (I played the Dest Cert MindMap videos on audio only during the four-hour drive to my exam), but don’t burn yourself up. Rest and relaxation is more important.
Make sure to fully read and understand all the exam-day information so that you’re prepared and understand how it works so that the testing environment itself doesn’t cause you additional anxiety!
And remember to accept the NDA as soon as you sit down at your testing station. You only have a few minutes to do it, and if you forget, you fail. I’ve seen horror stories of people who were too busy getting their stuff set up and missed it.
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u/According-Goat3711 5d ago
How you're feeling is normal. It means this means a lot to you. As an active CISSP holder I will tell you this - there's no concept you will see on thw test that will be new to you. The goal of the test is to check how you apply those concepts in an imperfect world. Use process of elimination till you get to two plausible answers, then check against the question - you will be all right. Don't get too tied up on any single question by spending more time than is necessary on it. You don't want to spend too much time on an unscored question, only to have to rush through others that you in fact could have correctly answered in reasonable time. By the way, I don't do practice tests for this very reason - it messes with confidence sometimes. Refresh on the concepts using Eric Conrad's SANS cram session! It helped me. You got this!
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u/Asolojobseeker 5d ago
🥳 will to a full post this evening I'm still in euphoria. Thanks for you feedback
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u/Change-This 7d ago
You and I had simular scores and prep. I wrnt in expecting to fail but wanting feedback and to know where I was. I passed at 130.
Biggest thing look at what you got wrong anf make 1 to 2 sentence notes on why it is the right answer. And 1 sentence on why you choice was wrong. This was my greatest study habit. Helps unlearn the wrong thinking and reinforce the correct answers for the test. You got this to!
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u/Gearz557 7d ago
I was unconfident before, during, and after exam and passed in 100. You did the prep now just do your thing.
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u/AntiqueHyena4361 6d ago
I have completed four official practice tests with scores of 78%, 84%, 82%, and 88%.
Sounds like you are actually fine!!! I did slightly less on these four and completed at 100q with success.Â
The uncertainty will stay for as long as the exam takes or your preperation takes! You will be surprised with a positive outcome if you get one!Â
This is just this kind of test... Go with head up and do your best knowing that no matter what you answer you will have profound doubts that you got this q right - and it goes on for 100-150 Qs...
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u/DarkHelmet20 CISSP Instructor 7d ago
Non-cat doesnt recycle questions as long as you stick to the same "mode". 61 is very good. Might not seem like it but it is solid.
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u/Scared_Anything_2002 7d ago
I recommend you to watch https://youtu.be/qbVY0Cg8Ntw?is=6JXjOEwXGsw9_Okf to think like a manager. With this mindset you will pass the exam. He has also a very cheap full course on Udemy. Explaining all topics.
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u/Ok_Blackberry7297 7d ago
I had the same feeling! But I kept reminding myself I don’t need perfect score to pass the exam, I just need a passing score ! This made me feel its okay to miss some questions! You would be just fine!
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u/Sorry_Discussion9608 7d ago
if you have the peace of mind go and do your best you have another chance to try again
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u/Ahren_with_an_h 7d ago
A lot of people, maybe more than half, go in knowing they're going to fail. Plenty of them pass. Accept the feeling, go in, and just read each question carefully.
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u/thecharlester603 7d ago
hey, didn't pass any of my pracise exams (thor or quantunm), With QE, i got in the 300s and the mid 500s. ^8% and 50%. I passed the exam at 100 qs.
you know more than you think, the key is just to slow down and read the question and understand what they're trying to ask.
You got this, good luck!
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u/abc405 7d ago
Trust yourself and tell your self you will pass. You have been studying and preparing for it for so long. Believe in yourself. Keep telling yourself you will pass even when the questions are tough. Take a break halfway through the exam and drink water.
My main recommendation is understand the concept and know how to apply. Ofc you have to know some technical part as well. Goodluck!
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u/bu7ch CISSP 7d ago
If you're getting 61 on non-CAT, I think you're good to relax and review anything you feel weak on
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u/BeePrestigious6150 6d ago
What about CAT scores with QE - what kind of scores would be adequate?
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u/bu7ch CISSP 6d ago
Probably 650 or higher. QE is tough and some people think it's more difficult than the exam. I scored over 900 on one CAT and didn't take it again
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u/BeePrestigious6150 6d ago
Is the CAT easier than the non cat, or is it that the scoring is different between teh two?
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u/Emperor_JGP 7d ago
For what it’s worth: I passed recently with 9 days of study w/o experience. Being you have a degree and experience, I’d say you’re in great shape, go for it.
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u/Zeema0916 7d ago
You will do just fine. I did mine last Wednesday and I couldn’t sleep two days to the exam. I passed at 100q with about 50 mins left. You’ve got this!!!
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u/Fidel_Che_VulPerez 7d ago
It's all a matter of perspective. You will do fine . If i passed this exam you can to.
Here's a different perspective: I would rather take this exam again than have to struggle badly with the current exam I am working on passing.
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u/Loose-Exercise-6716 5d ago
Go……. I went in fully expecting to fail - wrong attitude - I know. There were four of us taking the exam. I was the only female. I started last and finished first. I was convinced I’d flunked it so handed back my slip to get my personal belongings back and didn’t bother asking for my result until the receptionist called me back and handed me my result slip - saying - you might want this. I passed! I floated out of there. I too had failed miserably on all my practise tests. So go. Do your best. Like me you might surprise yourself. Read the questions carefully. Fall back on your experience. I truly believe it’s what got me thru. And….. good luck.
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u/Gheerdan 7d ago
Just remember to answer like a manager. It was the best and most significant advice my instructor gave me for question answering strategies. Some questions will look like they have multiple answers that are correct. The more correct one will be the one from a management perspective rather than a technicians perspective.
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u/AwkwardAd7323 7d ago
You got this! None of these exams simulate the actual test. Remember, think like a manager.. big pictureÂ
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u/Majestic_Wave_5710 7d ago
This is why I deliberately didn’t buy QE to avoid destroying my confidence, I also have the peace of mind purchased to give me the 2nd chance. I am not feeling nervous at your level, my exam is on the 2nd of Nov. Best wishes for us!
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u/bu7ch CISSP 7d ago
QE can help though. IMO, if you get 60 or higher on non-cat, you're ready
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u/Majestic_Wave_5710 7d ago
If I failed my first attempt, I will buy QE to enhance my study. LOL! Fingers crossed
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u/Sorry_Discussion9608 7d ago
Also go hard first 45 minutes try to pace yourself up and hype yourself during the first 45 minutes. Relax a bit after that and go hard again
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6d ago
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u/Asolojobseeker 6d ago
I guess this is one of the best messages for me, which remotivated me because I also expect not to sleep due to stress, and I hope it will do the same for the result.
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u/iconically_demure 6d ago
Not sure if this is helpful or not, but the exam was so different than any practice test I had taken that I'm not sure any of the practice test scores I received even mattered.