How to Pass CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 on Your First Try
Security+ is the most widely-held baseline security cert in the world — and the current SY0-701 version is meaningfully harder than SY0-601. This guide covers what changed, how to study efficiently, and the specific traps that fail candidates.
Pass Rate
~65% (first attempt)
Total Cost
$450–$650 all-in
Difficulty
Intermediate
Exam Domain Breakdown
Official weights from the exam provider.
Cryptographic concepts · Authentication (MFA, passwordless) · Security controls (preventive, detective, corrective) · PKI basics
Malware types · Social engineering attacks · Vulnerability scanning vs pen testing · Application and network attacks · Threat intelligence
Zero Trust model · Cloud security · Network segmentation (DMZ, VLAN) · Secure network design · Infrastructure as code security
Incident response lifecycle · Digital forensics · Log analysis and SIEM · Identity and access management · Endpoint detection (EDR/XDR)
Risk management · Data privacy regulations (GDPR, HIPAA) · Security frameworks (NIST, ISO) · Third-party risk management · Audit and compliance
Study Timeline by Background
Estimates for 1–2 hours of daily study.
IT professional with 1–2 years experience
Study Hours
80–100 hours
Timeline
5–7 weeks
Help desk or entry-level IT
Study Hours
100–130 hours
Timeline
7–10 weeks
No IT background
Study Hours
150–200 hours
Timeline
12–15 weeks
What SY0-701 Tests (and What Changed From SY0-601)
The SY0-701 version (current as of November 2023) is heavier on Security Operations (28%) and Security Program Management (20%) than the old version. This means real-world operations work — incident response, log analysis, identity management — now makes up more than half the exam. The exam has up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, including Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) that simulate actual environments.
⚠ Watch out
PBQs appear at the START of the exam, not the end. Many candidates get flustered and spend 20+ minutes on one PBQ. The right strategy: attempt it briefly, flag it if stuck, and keep moving. Come back at the end with remaining time.
Key Tips
- ✓PBQs are worth more points — if you can solve them, do it; if not, move on and return
- ✓Know your acronyms cold: SIEM, SOAR, EDR, XDR, MDM, DLP, CASB — they appear constantly
- ✓Passing score is 750/900 — roughly 83% correct (adjusting for question weighting)
- ✓The exam rewards applied thinking over definitions — 'what would you do if...' questions dominate
The 6-Week Study Plan
Most candidates with IT background can pass Security+ in 6–8 weeks with 1.5–2 hours of daily study. The key is not to just watch videos — active recall and practice questions matter more than passive review.
Key Tips
- ✓Week 1–2: Video course — Professor Messer (free) or Jason Dion (Udemy). Take notes; don't just watch.
- ✓Week 3: Work through the CompTIA official objectives PDF and fill knowledge gaps
- ✓Week 4: Start practice questions — 30/day minimum. Review every wrong answer with explanation
- ✓Week 5: Take 2 full timed practice exams. Score yourself honestly. Identify weak domains.
- ✓Week 6: Targeted review of weakest domain only. Take 1 more full mock under real conditions.
Best Resources (You Don't Need to Spend Much)
Security+ has some of the best free study resources of any cert. Professor Messer is free, thorough, and regularly updated for SY0-701.
Recommended Resources
Professor Messer – SY0-701 Course (Free)
course
Jason Dion – Security+ SY0-701 (Udemy)
course
Jason Dion – SY0-701 Practice Exams (Udemy)
practice test
CompTIA Official Objectives PDF (Free)
official
Professor Messer Practice Exams
practice test
r/CompTIA
community
Exam Day Strategy
Pearson VUE administers Security+ at test centers and via online proctoring. Online proctoring is convenient but the room requirements are strict — empty desk, cleared walls, no second monitor, no phone within reach.
Key Tips
- ✓Attack PBQs strategically: spend max 10 minutes; flag if unsure; return at the end
- ✓For scenario questions: eliminate the 2 obviously wrong answers first, then evaluate the remaining 2
- ✓You can only move backward to flagged questions — not to any question you've already passed
- ✓DoD 8570/8140 compliance is a big employer driver — if you're in defense, you'll know why you're taking this
Common Traps
- ✕Over-studying cryptography depth — Security+ tests crypto concepts, not implementation details
- ✕Ignoring the governance and compliance domains — Security Program Management is 20% of the exam
- ✕Memorizing attack names without understanding the defense — questions ask what you would DO, not just what to call an attack