Deciding to take the CISSP exam can be a monumental decision in your career. After all, becoming CISSP-certified could increase your earning potential by up to 35% based on  , help you get your foot in the door for more advanced roles, and prove you have what it takes to effectively design, implement and manage a best-in-class cybersecurity program.

However, passing the CISSP exam takes time and effort. The adaptive exam’s questions are designed and delivered in a way to challenge you. To support your success, it helps to take a methodical and proactive approach to preparing for the exam. We’ve got you covered — here's your action plan for CISSP certification success.

Register for Your Exam

It may sound obvious, but registering for your exam is an essential first step. Not only is booking an exam date a prerequisite for actually taking the exam, but having a clear deadline and a target is enormously helpful when planning your study schedule. Knowing you have a specific number of weeks before your exam date allows you to take a more structured approach toward preparation.

Sign Up for Training

With your exam date locked in, it’s time to start studying. If you’re an independent learner, you may opt for the flexibility of Online Self-Paced Training. If you prefer a more traditional learning experience, consider our Online Bootcamp, which is instructor-led and has both full-time and part-time options available.

CISSP self-paced training is adaptive, tailoring your learning experience to your individual needs. It includes interactive study materials, robust search functionality to narrow topics, analytics dashboards to track progress, email support and 24/7 course availability. 

With Online Bootcamp training, you’ll benefit from the structure of a group class with the convenience of remote learning. Featuring live virtual instruction led by an ISC2 Authorized Instructor (a verified security expert and CISSP holder), the course content aligns with the CISSP exam outline to help ensure you understand what you need for exam success. Moreover, you’ll take part in applied scenarios, activities and quizzes to reinforce your learning.

Reinforce Learning with Self-Study Resources

Taking advantage of self-study resources alongside training is essential to vary your methods, reduce the risk of burnout and encode information to your long-term memory. Here’s a list of the self-study resources available to you:

  • Official CISSP Practice Quiz: Determine your exam readiness with a short 10-item quiz. You’ll get recommended next steps.
  • Official CISSP Flash Cards: This online self-study tool tests your knowledge, gives real-time feedback and allows you to study for the CISSP exam anywhere, anytime.
  • Official CISSP Study App: With more than 5,000 practice test questions and explanations, over 2,000 flash cards and a comprehensive glossary, the Official CISSP Study App is your go-to source for exam prep.
  • Official CISSP Online Study Group: Joining the online study group connects you with fellow CISSP exam takers to help you build a supportive network of colleagues who understand your journey and help keep you accountable.

Look After Your Health

CISSP exam prep requires you to juggle your studies with work and personal commitments, so looking after yourself is important.

A healthy work-study-life balance can help to reduce the risk of burnout. Set aside time each day to rest and recuperate, prioritize high-quality sleep, and spend time with friends and family to ensure you're mentally prepared for exam day. Mindfulness techniques such as meditation can also help keep you feeling positive and motivated.

Ask About Accessibility

Having the right study environment will help you focus on your work. If you need exam accommodations, request them as early as possible to ease any exam anxieties.

To request an exam accommodation, complete the Exam Accommodation Form and return it to examadministration@isc2.org before registering for your exam with the following information:

  • An explanation of the examination accommodations you need
  • Documentation supporting the examination accommodation request, such as a letter from your doctor
  • The exam you want to take
  • The Pearson VUE test center location where you plan to take the exam

Familiarize Yourself with CAT

ISC2 uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) for all CISSP exams worldwide. The CISSP CAT is a more precise and efficient way to evaluate your competency. It enables you to prove your knowledge by answering fewer items and completing the exam in less time.

Each candidate taking the CISSP CAT exam will start with a relatively easy question. Following a candidate’s response to that item, the scoring algorithm re-estimates the candidate's ability. With each additional item answered, the estimate of the candidate’s ability becomes more precise. This approach pinpoints ability more efficiently than traditional, linear exams.

Using a more precise evaluation reduces the maximum exam administration time from six hours to three hours. It also reduces the number of items necessary to accurately assess a candidate’s ability from 250 on the previous linear, fixed-form exam to as few as 100 items on the CISSP CAT exam.

Prepare for Exam Day

The night before your exam, get everything ready. Lay out what you need for your exam, look over your study plan’s focus areas once more and then get a good night’s sleep. On the day of your exam, eat a healthy breakfast and give yourself ample time to get to the test center to deal with any traffic, parking or public transport issues.

You know you getting CISSP-certified will take your career to the next level. Now it’s time to put your plan into action to take the fast track to CISSP success.

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