Conquering the CompTIA Security+ Exam: My First-Try Success Story

I’m thrilled to share that I passed the CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam on my very first attempt! For anyone feeling anxious about their readiness, let me reassure you: the exam was not as daunting as I imagined, although it certainly had its challenges.

Before I dive into my experience, I want to emphasize that while the exam requires preparation, it is manageable. A few of the questions could have been phrased more clearly, but overall, the format was relatively user-friendly. As for the simulations, which had me worried for quite some time, they turned out to be much simpler than I anticipated. Instead of complex command inputs, these simulations resembled matching questions or dropdown selections—definitely not the laborious memory exercises I had envisioned.

In fact, it was my apprehension surrounding the simulations that led me to delay taking the exam. I convinced myself that I needed more practice than I actually did, allowing fear to hold me back. Looking back, I realize that I was psyching myself out more than necessary.

Here’s my best piece of advice for those preparing for the exam: Once you’ve completed your study materials, make sure to take practice exams and consistently achieve passing scores. If you come across questions that stump you, don’t hesitate to skip them initially and mark them for review. Sometimes, answering a different question can trigger the right information you need to tackle the tougher ones. Just be sure to highlight those questions, so you can address them all at the end.

I owe a big thank you to the members of this Reddit community for their invaluable insights, advice, and resources. Your contributions have played a vital role in my journey through the world of cybersecurity, and I truly appreciate it.

Best of luck to everyone embarking on this path—you’ve got this!

Update: I wanted to extend my gratitude for all the kind words and awards—I appreciate the support! I couldn’t have achieved this milestone without the encouragement of this community.