Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) for CISSP Examinations in All Languages

We are pleased to announce that as of April 15, 2024, all CISSP examinations worldwide will take place in Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) format. The CISSP CAT is a more precise and efficient evaluation that enables candidates to prove their knowledge by answering fewer items and completing the exam in half the time of a linear exam.

Candidates who sit for the CISSP examination in English currently experience the CAT format. Beginning this April, those taking the CISSP exam in German, Japanese and Spanish will move from a fixed-form examination format to CAT. Additionally, registration has resumed for the CISSP exam in Chinese, also in the CAT format.

Test takers in all languages will experience a reduced administration time from the linear format maximum six hours to three hours. The items necessary to accurately assess a candidate’s ability are also reduced from 250 items on a linear, fixed-form exam to as little as 100 items on the CISSP CAT exam. The standard required to pass the exam has not changed.

In addition to this exam format change, on April 15, 2024, the CISSP domain weights will also be updated based on the latest job task analysis (JTA). JTAs are conducted on a triennial cycle as an analysis of the current content of the credential. ISC2 members evaluate the content outline and weightings to ensure it accurately reflects cybersecurity job roles and tasks.

CISSP in APAC

Registration is now open for the CISSP examination in China, which was previously paused. With the reduction of supported languages to English, Chinese, Japanese, German and Spanish the examination will no longer be available in Korean. See more on exam language availability and visit Pearson VUE to find your nearest testing center.

There is no need for those with scheduled exams to change anything about their preparations or exam schedule. Learn more about CISSP CAT at https://www.isc2.org/certifications/cissp/cissp-cat

#CISSP30

The CISSP is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary this year. The transition from a linear exam to adaptative – now for all languages – is yet another improvement in the delivery of this gold-standard certification exam. We hope those of you who took the CISSP exam on a paper scantron can appreciate the significant progress that exam technology, and the certification itself, have displayed.