How to pass CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Certification

After a lot of hard work over the summer, I passed the CompTIA Security+ certification on my first try. I got asked 75 questions, out of which 5 of them were PBQs. After hearing about problems faced with proctoring at Home, I decided to give the examination at a PearsonVue Test Center.

As suggested by the community I flagged and skipped the 5 PBQs at the beginning of the test and started with the MCQs first. I had 30 minutes left on the clock for the PBQs after completing the other questions.

My advice would be to read the questions thoroughly as sometimes a small hint in between the lines could change the answer from the obvious one to something that you overlooked.

Resources that I used to prepare -

  1. Get Certified Get Ahead SY0-601 by David Gibson as a textbook and read it cover to cover. There is a test before the content starts and after the book finishes which gives you a good idea of where you stand in terms of preparation needed. https://getcertifiedgetahead.com/about-security-sy0-601/

  2. Professor Messer’s - Security+ 601 Videos to fill any gaps in knowledge and revise. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLG49S3nxzAnkL2ulFS3132mOVKuzzBxA8

  3. Jason Dion’s Practise Tests were close to what the exam was like. https://www.udemy.com/course/security-601-exams/

  4. CompTIA Security+ - Practice Tests 2nd Edition by David Seidl helped me test my knowledge. They have about 1000 questions that cover most of the objectives. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/CompTIA+Security++Practice+Tests:+Exam+SY0+601,+2nd+Edition-p-9781119735465

  5. Flash cards from Quizlet are also a really good source for practice questions. https://quizlet.com/318213669/security-must-study-flash-cards/

  6. I used to memorize common port numbers with these flashcards. https://quizlet.com/343931988/port-names-and-numbers-security-501-flash-cards/

On the exam day tips -

  1. Get sufficient sleep

  2. Schedule the exam when you are normally productive and the time that fits your schedule. No need to keep it early in the day if you are not comfortable.

  3. Acronym revision for the exam day. https://getcertified.ecpi.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CompTIA-SecurityPlus601-Acronyms.pdf

Security+ gave me a comprehensive insight into Information Security. It also helped me recognize some topics that need more work.

Hope these resources help you too.

Security+ Candidate Photo

Security+ Certificate