What is the hardest part of the Security+ exam?

Most candidates find the scenario-based questions hardest — not because they lack knowledge, but because CompTIA designs options so that multiple answers seem correct. The key skill is choosing the BEST answer, not just a technically correct one. Practise this with timed mock exams.

How do performance-based questions (PBQs) work on Security+?

PBQs appear FIRST in the exam and simulate real-world tasks like configuring a firewall, matching attacks to symptoms, or ordering incident response steps. The countdown timer is hidden during PBQ simulations. Spend no more than 2 minutes per PBQ — flag and return if unsure.

How much time should I spend per question on Security+?

With 90 questions in 90 minutes, you have exactly 1 minute per question on average. Aim for 45 seconds on straightforward MCQs and 2 minutes maximum on PBQs. Flag anything taking longer and return at the end.

What happens if I fail Security+?

You must wait 14 days before your first retake attempt. For any subsequent retake (third attempt onwards), CompTIA requires a 60-day wait and does not allow more than three attempts in any 12-month period.

Pass Strategy PBQ Tips Test Prep

How to Pass CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 in 2026 — Proven Strategy & Tips

Most people who fail Security+ know the material — they fail because of CompTIA exam logic, poor time management, or PBQ panic. This guide fixes all three.

March 3, 2026 • 9 min read

The #1 Reason Candidates Fail Security+

It is not a lack of knowledge. Candidates who fail Security+ almost always know the material. The problem is CompTIA Logic — the way CompTIA writes questions where every option looks defensible, and your job is to find the most correct in this specific context.

💡 CompTIA Logic — The Rule:
When two answers look correct, CompTIA is usually asking you to choose based on one of these criteria:

Sequence: What comes FIRST? (e.g., Contain before Eradicate, always)
Context: Which is BEST for THIS scenario? (e.g., WAF for web app attacks, not generic NGFW)
Scope: Which is MORE comprehensive? (e.g., XDR > EDR when cross-domain visibility is needed)
Policy: What does procedure REQUIRE? (e.g., always preserve evidence before remediation in forensics)

Performance-Based Questions (PBQs) — Complete Strategy

PBQs are the most feared part of the Security+ exam, but they do not have to be. Here is everything you need to know:

PBQ Fast Facts

Appear FIRST

Before all multiple-choice questions

Timer Hidden

Clock hidden during PBQ simulations

Common Types

Drag-and-drop ordering, firewall config, log matching

Time Limit

2 minutes max per PBQ — then flag and move on

The 3-Step PBQ Method

Read the scenario first, not the options. Understand what the task is before looking at what to do. For ordering questions, draft the sequence in your head before touching any options.
Eliminate obviously wrong options. Even in complex PBQs you can usually eliminate 1–2 options immediately. Work with what remains.
Answer and flag if uncertain. Make your best guess, flag it, and move on. You have 60 seconds from a time-management perspective. Return at the end if you have spare minutes.

Common PBQ Scenarios to Practise

Order the PICERL incident response phases
Order forensic evidence collection by volatility
Match attack types to evidence/log descriptions
Assign firewall rules to traffic scenarios
Select the correct control type/category for a given requirement
Identify the most appropriate access control model (RBAC vs MAC vs DAC vs ABAC)

Time Management for 90 Questions in 90 Minutes

PBQs

~5–10 PBQs

≤2 min each

~15 min total

Scenario MCQs

~60–65 Qs

~55–60 sec each

~60 min

Review time

Flagged Qs

Remaining time

~15 min

The golden rule: never let a single question take more than 90 seconds. If you are unsure, make your best guess, flag the question, and move on. You can review flagged questions with any remaining time — but an unanswered question scores zero, while a guess has a 25% chance of being correct.

The 5 Hardest Topics — Where Marks Are Lost

1. Risk Calculations (SLE/ALE/ARO)

Every exam has 2–4 risk math questions. SLE = AV × EF. ALE = SLE × ARO. Many candidates have never seen these formulas. Spend 30 minutes with a calculator working through 10 examples until the formula is automatic. See our cheat sheet for worked examples.

2. PICERL Phase Ordering

Questions ask what happens FIRST, NEXT, or which phase an action belongs to. The most common wrong answer: doing Eradicate before Contain. Contain ALWAYS comes before Eradicate. Contain is isolating the threat; Eradicate is removing it — you cannot remove what you have not contained.

3. Distinguishing Similar Security Tools

EDR vs SIEM vs XDR vs MDR — these are frequently confused. EDR = endpoint-focused detection+response. SIEM = log aggregation+correlation+alerting. XDR = cross-domain (endpoint + network + cloud). MDR = managed service (human analyst). Know which tool a scenario is describing.

4. Port Numbers in Firewall Scenarios

"A firewall rule blocks port 389. What feature is broken?" (Answer: LDAP directory queries). These require memorisation — there is no trick. Focus on the 20–25 ports most frequently tested. See our cheat sheet for the full annotated list.

5. Encryption Algorithm Selection

Scenarios ask you to choose the BEST algorithm for a given requirement. Key facts: AES-256 for bulk symmetric encryption. RSA/ECC for key exchange and digital signatures. Diffie-Hellman for key exchange (not bulk encryption). SHA-256 for integrity. bcrypt/Argon2 for password storage. MD5 and SHA-1 are broken — never the right answer.

Exam-Day Checklist

Night before

Lay out government-issued photo ID (required for Pearson VUE)

Confirm exam time, testing centre address or Pearson OnVUE link

Set alarm 60 minutes before you need to leave — do not rush

Brief cheat-sheet review only. No new material. Sleep at a normal time.

Exam day

Arrive 30 minutes early (in-person) or launch Pearson OnVUE 30 min early

Do NOT cram on the way — it increases anxiety and hurts performance

Use all scratch paper provided for PBQ drafting and calculations

Flag PBQs that take >2 minutes — move on, do not let them eat your time

Trust your preparation — answer decisively, do not second-guess unnecessarily

Review flagged questions in remaining time; change only if you have a concrete reason

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hardest part of Security+?

Most candidates find scenario-based questions the hardest — not because they lack knowledge, but because CompTIA designs all four options to look plausible. The skill is choosing the BEST one in context, not just a correct one. Timed practice exams train this skill.

How many questions can I get wrong and still pass?

At a scaled score of 750/900 from a range of 100–900, the approximate raw accuracy needed is 80–83%. With 90 questions, that means you can miss roughly 15–18 questions. This varies based on question difficulty weighting.

Is it worth getting Security+ in 2026?

Yes. Security+ is DoD 8570-approved, required by many federal and defence roles, widely recognised in the private sector, and currently the most popular entry-level cybersecurity certification. It retires in May 2027, so there is a clear incentive to earn it now.

What if I fail on the first attempt?

CompTIA requires a 14-day wait before your first retake (2nd attempt). Third attempt and beyond each require a further 14-day wait, and CompTIA limits you to three retake attempts within any 12-month period. If you fail twice, the third attempt also carries a 60-day wait under some exam policies — book early to lock in your seat. Use the waiting time to focus exclusively on the domains where you scored lowest.

Practice the CompTIA Logic — Right Now

Every question in our bank is written using the same BEST-answer logic as the real exam. Practice until it becomes instinct.

Full Mock Exam Cheat Sheet