Over a year ago, I successfully passed the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) exam, and I'm thrilled to be officially certified currently. As a cybersecurity student, I knew this was a critical foundational certification to earn. Many people from my university ask me how to pass CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 and what my strategy was, so I decided to write this post to share my process.
If you're studying for the Sec+ right now, I hope my experience can help you.
My Core Study Resources
You don't need to buy a dozen different books. I focused on a few high-quality resources most of which were entirely free:
- Mike Chapple's Sybex Study Guide: This was my first and primary resource that I utilized. This book is chock-full of information that is presented in a very easy-to-understand manner. This Study Kit includes the textbook as well as over 1000 practice questions all for the cost of around $40.
- Mike Chapple's LinkedIn Learning Course: This was my primary video resource that acts as a perfect companion to the Sybex Study Guide. His explanations are clear, and he covers every objective on the exam in a logical order.
- Professor Messer's SY0-701 Videos (YouTube): Professor Messer's channel is another great resource. If you want a second opinion/reference, there is not a better place to go!
- Practice Exams & Questions: As mentioned previously, the primary source of test questions that I used was from the Sybex Exam Kit. However, there are a LOT of free resources out there. Quizlet has so many practice question sets.
- My Own Notes: This was the most important part of my study. As I went through the video courses, I compiled all my own notes into an organized Obsidian folder. My notes are attached to my website, and my LinkedIn so feel free to look over/download them: My GitHub Notes.
My Study Strategy
My process was simple: Learn, Review, Practice.
- Learn (The "First Pass"): I went through Mike Chapple's entire course, taking detailed notes as I went. The goal was just to get exposure to all the topics.
- Review (The "Second Pass"): This is where my notes came in. I put away the videos and only studied my notes. I would read a section, look away, and try to explain the concept out loud.
- Practice (The "Final Phase"): After I felt confident with my notes, I moved on to practice exams. The key here isn't just to get a good score, but to read the explanation for every single question you get wrong. This is how you find your weak spots.
Exam Day Tips
- Flag the PBQs: The Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) at the beginning are time-consuming. Flag them for review, blast through the multiple-choice questions, and then come back to the PBQs at the end.
- Read Every Word: CompTIA loves to try and trick you. Read the question twice. Look for keywords like "BEST," "MOST," or "NOT."
- Trust Your Gut: Your first instinct is usually the right one. Don't go back and change your answers unless you are 100% certain you misread the question.
Final Thoughts
Passing the Security+ is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes consistent effort, but it is absolutely achievable. My biggest piece of advice is to create your own study materials. That active learning process is what makes the information stick.
Good luck with your studies!