I passed the CompTIA Security+ exam with a 781/900 Below are the steps I took to pass confidently, and if even one person finds this information helpful, then I’ve achieved my goal in this post.
Foundational Knowledge
My journey originally started with my university coursework, which provided a strong foundation in networking and cybersecurity concepts. At the same time, I was introduced to the Sec+ certification by working through the official CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) study guide while also completing all of the hands-on labs that paired with it. These labs helped tie the theory I was diving into with practical application, which was huge for retention and gaining a real-world understanding.
Prof Messer’s free YouTube playlist I watched all of Professor Messer’s SY0-701 video series on YouTube and took detailed notes throughout. His teaching style is incredibly concise and always makes complicated topics more digestible, and revisiting my notes later was crucial during review.
Acronyms and Port Numbers
Instead of blindly memorizing acronyms and what they stand for, it is extremely important to truly understand what each one stands for and how it can be applied in real-world context. Anytime you encounter an acronym for the first time, write it down; every time after that, say it out loud. This method is super helpful for memorization and understanding for myself. With this in mind, it is important to do the same — or something similar — for common port numbers (SSH, DNS, DHCP, HTTP, NTP, HTTPS, etc.).
Practice Exams
Practice exams are not to be skimmed over, how you practice is how you play. I went through all three of Professor Messer’s practice exams and reviewed every single question, whether I got it right or wrong. I read all the answer explanations carefully, which helped me understand the reasoning behind each question and identify weak areas to revisit, or re-watch Messer videos on. It is also important to understand how CompTIA exams are set up beforehand and become comfortable with the formatting, and Messer’s practice exams are very similar. Note, although it is not necessary to time yourself on every practice exam you take, it is important to get practice on a timer, to get a feel for the time management you will face during the real deal.
Practice Questions Although not every study source is as accurate as something like Professor Messer’s exams, it’s still beneficial to get as much practice as possible. That’s why I used a variety of YouTube channels that covered Security+ practice questions. Some helpful ones included MLA Tech, Technical Institute of America, and Computer Networks Decoded, among others.
PBQs Performance-based questions are a significant part of the exam — even if you only get three. Preparing for them not only helps you answer those questions correctly, but also reinforces theoretical knowledge for the multiple-choice portion. The best practice I found — other than the Messer exams — came from two YouTube channels, with one standout. Cyberkraft offers a Security+ PBQ playlist that’s decent for understanding question formats and reinforcing key topics. However, the real hidden gem was a channel called MLA Tech. Their extensive PBQ playlist was by far the most helpful and accurate resource I used to prepare for the performance-based section of the exam.
Confidence and Strategy
By the time exam day came, I felt prepared and confident. I stuck to my plan and trusted in the time and effort I had put into studying. Do not second-guess yourself or panic, just focus and execute. Also, you will never feel “ready” to take the exam, just go for it when you build enough confidence and you will excel.
Bonus Tips
Rotate Practice Exam Sources
Don’t rely on just one set of practice questions. Mixing up your practice exam sources prevents you from memorizing patterns and helps you adapt to different styles of questioning. I only used Messer as I was already confident enough in my ability.
Build a Home Lab (If You Can) Although not a necessity, hands-on practice always reinforces learning. Even a simple home lab setup using virtual machines can help you understand topics like networking, permissions, and logging on a deeper level.
USE AI Using AI tools such as ChatGPT is incredibly helpful during the study process. Whether I needed quick explanations, simplified breakdowns of complex topics, or help understanding why I got a practice question wrong, AI was a resource I could always consult. It is especially useful for reinforcing concepts in your own words and getting additional context when other resources are not making sense.
Thanks for taking the time to read through my journey and I hope it offered helpful insight for your own path to Security+. Best of luck with your studies. As always, feel free to reach out if you ever want to connect or share progress.
