Triumph in the OSCP Exam: My Journey and Study Tips for Success

I’m thrilled to share that I successfully passed the OSCP exam! This achievement comes after an intense six weeks of full-time study, including a prior unsuccessful attempt. I managed to navigate through the new exam format, securing a solid 100 points—even tackling the notoriously challenging Active Directory set that many had warned me about. Let me tell you, it was indeed a grind!

Not your typical success story, I spent a grueling 22 hours on the exam, with moments of doubt creeping in where I genuinely questioned my chances of passing.

To help others on a similar journey, I’ve put together a comprehensive study guide that outlines my path from being a relative novice in Hack The Box (HTB) to acing the exam in just six weeks. That said, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this condensed timeline. In the guide, I provide an in-depth breakdown of how I would approach studying if I had ten weeks or more at my disposal. A crucial insight: focus on mastering Windows systems.

Additionally, I documented my exam day experience. The most challenging aspect for me was Windows Privilege Escalation; in hindsight, more preparation in this area would have been beneficial. One particularly tough privilege escalation in the Active Directory set took me six exhaustive hours to conquer.

The primary aim of sharing these experiences and resources is to assist others in their preparation for and success in the OSCP exam. I welcome any questions you might have—this journey has been quite the adventure, and I’m exuberant to finally be an OSCP holder. My hope is to support and inspire others to achieve this milestone as well!