Recently I passed the CISSP and want to describe my journey so that others can learn from it. This will cover a few different sections such as considerations, practice tests, bootcamps, notes, how you should approach the exam, free resources, and resources I used to pass. Please realize that there are a wide variety of people who pass the CISSP, with a wide variety of study and experience considerations. You can do this!
Considerations:
1) No 2 paths are the same to the exam. Therefore, while person A might use resources X, Y, and Z to pass, person B will use BK, P, and X.
2) Everyone is strong in different areas. Therefore, what is important to note is to ask others who are strong in an area to figure out how to improve.
3) Dont measure yourself against other people. Just because someone passed after 2 months of studying only using the study guide provided by Sybex, it doesnt mean that you wont pass after studying for 4 months.
4) The CISSP test bank has thousands of questions, therefore, 1 exam will be different than every other exam taken by every other person.
What should I score on {Insert Name of exam bank}?
As it is said on the Certification Station Discord, “Just because you score 70% on X or Y exam does NOT automatically mean that you are ready for the exam. There are people who have gotten 100% on the practice exams and dont pass, whereas, there are people who get 50% on the practice exams and pass. The key is to study the areas that you get wrong and improve upon them.”
Know why the answer is correct, dont just know that it is the right answer because it is the best of the 4 provided.
Retaking questions and exams is not necessarily recommended as you will get questions right because you remember the questions, not because you know why they are right.
Practice Tests
Please be aware of 4 things with practice tests:
1) No questions are going to be exactly like the questions on the exam. If there were 1 set of questions that were best like the exam, they would be the one source of knowledge that everyone uses. P
2) Just because you got 70%+ on this 1 exam, it doesnt automatically mean tat you’re ready. Take as many tests as you can, learn from what you got wrong, and go from there. Always learn what you got wrong and improve upon that!
3) There is no hard set number of the number of questions to take, but take around 1,500 questions minimum from a variety of sources. The typical saying goes, there really are no bad sources, but always use a variety of test options.
4) Not all tests are made equally. As said by the Certification Station discord, “Some services as Boson are too technical, while others such as the Thor hard questions are too detailed and mentally challenging.” If you can sit for a Thor Hard exam in 1 sitting, then you will be able to sit for the exam is mentally challenging, but it isnt as mentally taxing necessarily for some as the Thor Hard questions.
How to approach the exam
Here’s how to approach the exam: Think of it as a mile wide and an inch deep. If you get a detailed question, then you’re deep in the weeds of the domain that the CISSP thinks you are weak in. And, if you get hard questions in the weeds, then you are doing well.
If the questions are getting easier, then it means you’re answering questions wrong. If the questions are getting harder, then you’re doing really well.
Here are a few tips:
1) With computerized testing, stay calm. The better you do up front, the better chance you have of passing. Dont be nervous, you will do great! Trust in yourself!
2) Know what types of questions you will get
3) Know the processes. They wont ask you straight up What is the Xth question not disaster recovery process. But they would ask you a scenario, with you to understand that the question is asking about
4) The more test banks you do, the better you may score IF you understand why you got what you got wrong and why the answer is correct.
More tips can be found here.
Resources:
I will break this into paid and free resources. The free resources are resources I would 1000% take advantage of, with you choosing to taking advantage of the applicable paid resources as necessary.
Paid Resources
1) Thor Videos–>Similar to the Original Study guide in video format. This is really good.
2) Original Study Guide–Reading 1 chapter a day and taking notes is a great strategy.
3) Boson–> These test questions were really good for 2 reasons. The first being that these were 175 questions long. This helped me understand how my stamina for a 175 question test will be. Do I need to take a break between questions 107 and 108 to refresh? Other exams are 125 questions, which is great, but with a 175 question test, expect to get 175 questions.
The second reason is that the questions are more technical than the exam. Therefore, it allowed me know how much I really knew and where my weak areas were. It helped me reinforce things.
Free Resources
Local Library–>Check to see if the local library has a copy of the Original Study guide and study material. If not, ask them if they could get a copy. This would allow you to get cheaper access to the material, with the only caveat being that it has to be returned. But if one is studying on a budget, this is a great option. Plus, one doesnt have to worry about what to do with the books after they pass.
1) Local resources
Often times there will be a local (ISC)2 chapter that you can attend to interact and work with CISSPs to find good resources. This isnt a guarantee that existing CISSPs will help, but this a great idea, as getting to know a CISSP from a local chapter can be a great way to get an endorser.
Local resources such as a library will often time have resources such as the most recent CISSP books that you can rent for free. Although this means taking time to get a library card, visiting the library, and not being able to write in the books, often times, getting the books from the library makes the price of the study cheaper.
2) Internet Study Groups
I used the Destination Certification Discord, which was a life saver. The community there is numerous and allows for asking questions on any topic and network with people who have passed the test that answer questions, and others who are studying.
3) Reddit CISSP
This is a great resource to help learn how other people have done. If you want to ask them questions, this is a good place to ask how a particular resource you’re using to study compared to their exam experience. But those who take the test cannot and will not reveal questions.
4) Youtube Study Videos
Channels like Destination Certification, Prabh Nair, and others have created great resources to help review. If you’re looking for a good reference of how to understand Kerberos, check out this video.
5) Youtube Why You Will Pass Videos Use a variety of these.
These videos will really help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-99b1YUFx0A, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw8sYsO153s and CISSP Test-Taking Tactics: Successfully Navigating Adaptive Exams
Passing the CISSP is no small feat, and your journey sounds both inspiring and practical. I appreciate how you emphasized understanding the “why” behind the answers rather than just memorizing them—it’s a mindset that truly sets successful candidates apart. The tip about leveraging local libraries is brilliant, especially for those on a budget; it’s a resource many might overlook. I’m curious, though, how did you balance the use of free resources versus paid ones? Did you find one more effective than the other? Also, what was the most challenging part of the exam for you, and how did you overcome it? Your insights could really help others tailor their own study plans. Would you say the bootcamps are worth the investment, or can self-study with the right resources be just as effective? Great post—thanks for sharing your experience!
Congratulations on passing the CISSP! Your journey sounds both challenging and inspiring. I appreciate how you’ve broken down the resources into paid and free options, making it accessible for everyone. The tip about the local library is brilliant—it’s a resource many overlook. I’m curious, though, how did you balance studying with other commitments like work or family? Also, do you think the bootcamps are worth the investment, or can someone pass just using free resources? Your advice about understanding why an answer is correct rather than just memorizing it is spot on. Would you say that mindset was the key to your success?
It’s inspiring to hear about your CISSP journey and how you’ve structured your approach to help others. I appreciate the emphasis on understanding why an answer is correct rather than just memorizing it—it’s such a crucial mindset for mastering any subject. The tip about using local libraries is brilliant, especially for those on a budget; it’s a resource many overlook. I’m curious, though, how did you balance the use of free resources with the paid ones? Did you find any particular free resource more effective than others? Also, do you think the bootcamps are worth the investment, or can someone pass just as well with self-study? Your insights are valuable, and I’d love to hear more about your experience with the practice tests—did they accurately reflect the difficulty of the actual exam?
Congrats on passing the CISSP! Your journey seems insightful. I agree with focusing on understanding why an answer is correct rather than just memorizing it. One question though, how did you manage to balance your time between using free and paid resources? Did you find one more effective than the other? I think retaking questions might still be helpful for some as it reinforces the material, even if it’s just through memory. Did you face any unexpected challenges during your preparation? Your tip about checking the local library is brilliant for those on a budget, but do you think it’s realistic to rely solely on borrowed materials given the time constraints? Overall, your advice seems practical, but I’m curious if you’d change anything about your approach if you had to do it again? Looking forward to your thoughts!
Your journey through the CISSP exam is truly inspiring and packed with practical advice. I appreciate how you emphasized understanding the reasoning behind the correct answers rather than just memorizing them. The tip about utilizing local libraries for study materials is a brilliant way to save costs, especially for those on a tight budget. It’s also great that you highlighted the importance of not retaking questions just to remember them, as it doesn’t truly test your knowledge. I’m curious, though, how did you manage to stay motivated throughout the entire preparation process? Your approach seems very methodical, but I wonder if there were moments of doubt or burnout. Overall, your insights are incredibly valuable, and I’m sure many aspiring CISSP candidates will find them helpful. What would you say was the most challenging part of the exam for you?
Congratulations on passing the CISSP! Your journey sounds both challenging and inspiring. I appreciate how you’ve broken down the process into manageable sections, especially the emphasis on understanding the “why” behind the answers rather than just memorizing them. The tip about using local libraries is brilliant—it’s a resource many might overlook but could be a game-changer for those on a budget. I’m curious, though, how did you balance your study time with other commitments? Also, do you think the bootcamps were worth the investment, or could someone pass just as effectively with free resources? Your insights could really help others tailor their approach. What’s one thing you wish you had known before starting your CISSP journey?
Congrats on passing the CISSP! Your journey sounds really insightful, especially the emphasis on understanding why an answer is correct rather than just memorizing it. I’m curious, though—how did you balance using free resources versus paid ones? Did you feel like the paid resources were essential, or could someone pass relying mostly on free materials? Also, the tip about the local library is genius—I never would’ve thought of that. Do you think the study guide alone is enough, or should someone supplement it with other materials? Lastly, how did you manage your time during the exam? I’d love to hear more about your strategy!
Congratulations on passing the CISSP! Your detailed guide is incredibly helpful for anyone preparing for the exam. I particularly appreciate your emphasis on understanding why an answer is correct rather than just memorizing it. The distinction between paid and free resources is also valuable, especially the tip about utilizing the local library—it’s such a practical and budget-friendly suggestion. I’m curious, though, how did you balance your study time between these resources and your daily commitments? Also, do you think the free resources alone would be sufficient for someone with limited time or should they prioritize paid options? Your insights could really help others tailor their approach based on their circumstances.