CompTIA Security+ CE: A Post-Exam Review
CompTIA Security+ certificate was delivered a day after the exam
Definition
CompTIA Security+ is a foundational certification for entry-level cybersecurity roles.
Exam Cost
The standard exam voucher costs $439 USD today.
Get a Student Discount Here
https://help.comptia.org/hc/en-us/articles/38887439363092-What-Academic-Discounts-and-Purchasing-Options-Are-Available-for-Students-and-Institutions
Exam Format
70-90 questions total. My exam had 76 questions
Multiple choice questions (90%) + performance-based questions (10%)
Study Resources I used
- Professor Messer (Free Video Courses and Study Groups)
My progress and how I felt each week
Week 1-2
I partially watched videos on topics I wasn’t familiar with and read Professor Messer’s textbook. I tried to read 1 hour a day consistently. Otherwise, it could quickly lead to burnout
Week 3-4
After solving all the practice problems in the book at least once, reviewing them on the second pass became easier
Week 5
I was able to study more than the last weeks in the same time period. I felt consistently confident across more than 77% of the exam objectives.
Week 6
I tried to push myself harder than last weeks since I felt I can take the exam soon enough. I bought a discounted voucher and was trying to find the best day to take the exam. Since my graduate Computer Networks class starts next Monday, I needed to finish the exam before the weekend ended.
On Saturday, May 16, 2026
I took the exam and I passed the exam on the first attempt!
On Saturday, I was quite flustered at the beginning of the exam because there were questions I didn’t expect. After passing the 60-question mark, my eyes became fatigued quickly because the font size was so small, and my vision actually started to blur.
Tip: The night before the exam, try not to study too hard. Instead, get plenty of rest.
The exam screen will tell you the result as soon as the exam session is over.
Final throught
Having already built a solid foundation in core cybersecurity concepts through my experience with the ISO 27001 framework and practical knowledge gained from my IT roles in the Republic of Korea Army and a Korean university, I was able to efficiently streamline my study schedule.
To combat the forgetting curve, I maintained strict discipline by studying every single day, even if only for a short time. Furthermore, my focus on maximizing study efficiency led me to actively integrate GenAI tools into my preparation. This journey not only solidified my security fundamentals but also significantly enhanced my AI literacy and prompt engineering skills.