Previous Experience: Very basic networking/security, SCCM engineer, Windows Administrator, 14 years of building computers

Study Time: ~2 weeks daily after work (I work full time) and weekends. Started seriously studying on 12/31. Took test on 1/12.

Materials Used:

• Professor Messer videos on YouTube – watched the videos once through, passively but didn’t retain much info. Realized using videos for studying may not be for me unless I need additional explanation on a topic. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG49S3nxzAnnVhoAaL4B6aMFDQ8_gdxAy
• Professor Messer Study Notes – $20 for the notes he uses in his videos. Was good for cross-referencing material a few days before the test to see details from a different source. https://www.professormesser.com/sy0-501-course-notes/
• Comptia Security+ SYO-501 Study Guide on Kindle – Probably my top resource for studying. Good explanations. Good practice questions. Made flash cards of all the acronyms, ports, and key concepts from the book. So. Many. Flashcards. https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Security-Get-Certified-Ahead-ebook-dp-B07652KDXM/dp/B07652KDXM/ref=mt_kindle?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1549133276
• Darril Gibson’s website for additional practice questions. I did not purchase the additional study guide, but I’ve read good things about it. I only used the free questions to get an idea of what to expect for the performance based questions. https://gcgapremium.com/performance-based-question-demo/
• The list of Security+ 501 objectives directly from Comptia’s website. I printed the list and reviewed it often starting a few days before the test to verify I knew each of the objectives and acronyms for the cert. https://certification.comptia.org/docs/default-source/exam-objectives/comptia-security-sy0-501-exam-objectives.pdf
• Udemy’s Mike Meyers Security+ 501 course – I only watched the videos on cryptography to get another angle on the topic. His videos are great and if I had time I would have watched more of them. https://www.udemy.com/comptia-security-certification-sy0-501-the-total-course
• Udemy’s Security+ Cert Practice Tests – good source of extra practice for the test. I found the questions in the Comptia Study Guide from Darril Gibson more like the questions on the actual test, but these tests from Udemy were still good to go through once. https://www.udemy.com/comptia-security-cert-sy0-501-practice-tests

Test Experience:

Since this was my first certification ever, I didn’t really know what to expect. I scheduled mine at a National Polytechnic Institute where they do a lot of medical training and testing of all sorts. I arrived at the testing center about 30min early (LA traffic is unpredicatable at times), and looked over my flashcards one last time. I went into the testing center about 10min early to sign in, fill out some documents and provide my 2 forms of identification (Drivers License and Passport). The receptionist then took my keys and passport (I was allowed to keep my DL, and I had left my phone in the car) and walked me into the test room. The test room is a small classroom size space with a closed door and about 30 computers. When I arrived the room was about 80% full of people sitting at the computers, typing away. I felt it was kinda odd having staggering test times, with people coming and going from the room throughout the process. The room was also very very loud from all the typing. I don’t know what type of tests they do in there, but some people were definitely writing essay’s. Thankfully, they provide earplugs. I didn’t put them in at first, but once the test started I quickly shoved them in my ears so I could think clearly. The computers themselves were definitely old and not in the greatest shape. They also provided a few pieces of laminated paper to write on and a sharpie.

As for the test, Comptia definitely loves their wordy, 5 sentence questions.. phew. Some questions I had to read multiple times just to figure out what they were asking. I did skip all of the performance based questions until the end. The first 10 multiple choice questions all seemed super tricky to me as well and halfway through the test I was convinced I was failing. After the multiple choice questions I went back to the PBQ’s (which were surprisingly easy). I reviewed other questions I was on the fence about until about 10sec left in the 90min test. After submitting it, they have you complete a quick survey on your study time, experience, gender, etc. Then they show you pass or fail and amazingly I passed. I then stared at the screen for a good 60sec in pure disbelief that I had done it. A great feeling and a great way to start 2019! Nice to see the hard work over the past 2 weeks paid off.

Passed with a score of 797/900. Not great but I’ll take it for only studying a limited amount!

I hope this helps some of you out there looking to take the Security+ certification. It’s a great one if you work in IT or just want it for the resume!