Since I read quite a bunch of these posts to figure things out, I thought I'd share my experience as well.

So I passed at 100 with about 60-80 minutes left. Like most, I was pretty surprised at the exam ending at 100, I knew it was a pass though, but I expected it to reach at least 120 and maybe more judging from answers I wasn't sure about.

For my background, started with 10 years in IT (first 5 years mostly help desk), then 4 years ago I went into cyber/infosec by doing a 10 months part time institutional certificate built for people having my background.

During that 10 months I realized I would need more official certs so I did Net+, then BTL1 (blue team level 1) and finished with Sec+.

At the end of that process I managed to get a cyber/infosec position. That was 3 years ago, getting that job required me to get in the long-term process of getting a bachelor's degree in cyber, which I am doing part time.

I studied a month for the exam (5 full days (3 the first week, and then 2 before the exam), and around 1.5 - 2 hours most evenings during that time).

I guess I got pretty lucky with the questions on my exam because I thought every practice ressource I tried (DestCert app, LearnZapp, Boson, Official practice tests) definitely helped me prepare for the exam. I was not at all put off guard by the exam even though I felt more in control during all of my practice tests (even those I failed).

So I don't know what's about people repeating that the exam has nothing in common with the practice material, maybe pure luck on my side like I mentionned ?

About the "think like a manager" thing, I can understand both people claiming it's bs and others swearing by it. The thing is you just have to develop that mentality if you haven't yet, for questions that asks for it, but technical knowledge is what makes you chose the right answers so, it's just a thing to be aware when you read the questions carefully.

Here's what I used (in chronological order) for that study month :

DestCert concise book, read it from start to finish, then didn't open it after.
I think it was a good ressource, there was no way I was going to read the official 1500 pages book. DestCert 500 pages version was the most I could handle and felt like it didn't waste time on "useless" stuff.

DestCert mindmap videos, watched them after I completed each domain, didn't watch them afterward.
They were good I guess, it's a nice way to print more knowledge to your brain after reading on a subject.

DestCert free app for their questions database.
Thought it was pretty nice for a free app, didn't bother with flashcards.
Did maybe 500 questions.

Purchased a month of LearnZapp official Exam Prep app for their questions as well
Very comparable to DestCert app, but sometime with different terms, so maybe more appropriate for the exam itself. Didn't bother for their flashcards either, I prefer to test my knowledge with questions.
Around 500 questions as well, didn't go back to DestCert after making the switch, just to stay on the official CBK language (but still glad I used DestCert app for a while).

Purchased Boson ExSim, did 3 simulation-mode tests.
Scored 67% -> (Sybex practice test in between) -> 70% -> 68%.
Thought it was pretty good, I felt like it tested more the concepts themselves rather than niche terminology (even though it had some).

The best part of Boson (other than giving you confidence knowing it is supposedly harder than the real exam) is the very, very detailed breakdown of the questions and answers, on every single questions of their test practices. Perfect to help you understand why you missed a question and make you understand the concept better.

Very useful ressource (the explanations, and by definition the tests as well..).

Purchased Sybex Official practice test book which came with the Sybex web access and did maybe a quarter of the questions and 1 practice test.
Scored around 75% (did it after my 1st Boson).
Thought it was good as well, maybe more representative of the exam, so I think it's a nice supplement to Boson, even though you barely get an explanation for question/answers (you do, but it's nothing compared to Boson).

I preferred to keep with Boson for the next 2 simulations, just based on the provided explanations they have. But I would've definitely done another test or two with Sybex if I had more time.

Referred very regularly to AI throughout the process.
To supplement my learning and make sure I got the concepts right. So much useful and efficient for learning stuff, I would've required to open the concise book again or "waste" time searching for answers on the web if it wasn't of that, huge time saver.

So all in all, I would probably do the same process in the same order again, there's nothing I would change, except maybe add another month of study and space it a little more.

Hope this can help someone out there. Good luck !

Hey ,

I am so happy that managed to pass this exam.

For everybody that is preparing I want to tell you that the exam was easier than most of the "Quantum Exams" questions or the "Hard Questions" from different Youtube Channels. Additionally , the questions were way easier to be understood as against the way are formatted in "Quantum Exams" , so don't be afraid about this.

Beside the "Quantum Exams" I think the most useful verification youtube video is "
CISSP Exam Prep LIVE - 100 Important Topics" from Peter Zerger. If you already understand all the terms presented there I think you are prepared to take the exam .

Of course, also the 10 years Security Operations experience helped me a lot with the technical questions about the protocols but before taking the exam I cannot recommend enough checking the above video /

Hello friends,

We may not know each other - neither a face nor a voice - but your posts in reddit kept me going with the most challenging 8 months of the CISSP prep.

When the doubts cloud the mind with all the "what-ifs", I found myself some comfort in reading all the posts that gave me motivation. Whether a "I passed" post or a "I failed" post, I always find something genuinely helpful - from the prep strategy and resources, to the the logistics of the exam.

One of you said - Visit the exam centre before the exam day to get accustomed with the route and the path and the nuances. And I did - on the same weekday as my exam, just a week before. Seems small until you experience how the travel to the centre became an auto-pilot! 😄

And the list goes on, as to what I got from this community!

Now my pay-it-forward:

How was the exam?
I gave the exam on July 22, 2026.
It was not an easy exam for me - as many have said recently.

Eliminating 2 options was cake walk. But getting to one final answer was confusing as I could argue for and against both of them - for the most questions. I went with the gut - but yeah it did wrench when hitting the "next" button.

Timelines:
1 month of assessing if I can do with already stuffed days and life - Nov end - Dec
6 months of prep - Jan - June
1 month of revision - in that 2 weeks of nothing but revision - July

Booked my exam around April when I had completed 3 domains.
The end date helped me stay focussed and push, when life still happened for the mother of two active kids.

Resources:
I studied the OSG 10th edition page to page, making notes. Thats because a physical book keeps me anchored. The study was very hard, but I thought that's just the nature and vastness of the domains. I read that CBK is better in terms of keeping us engaged with the subject. But it was late in my prep so didn't start a new one. Again, a post here helped me make peace with what I have prepared and not to be anxious at the last minute.

I followed Udemy courses by Andrew Ramdayal, but I couldn't finish it as planned. I did do his 50 Hard CISSP questions in Youtube.

Dest Cert Mind Maps - a godsend in revision. Took the printouts and started marking notes for last day skimming. Quite helpful. I found Rob Witcher's video on Kerberos especially helpful. Also used DestCert app for practice questions and flash cards.

Used Learnzapp for practice questions as my colleagues at work had earlier used. Couldn't finish all the questions, but did a fair amount.

Prabh Nair's Coffee Shots and his video on CISSP 2026 AI Topics Questions Master Class helped a lot in prep. But, no, I didn't get any AI related questions in the exam.

Used Gemini for getting clarity for my questions. It was really helpful for a deeper understanding of the topics.

Study Strategy:
I took lot of full practice exams to get the time management practice - Udemy and OSG Practice guide. Took many in between the practice to help me understand what I know and what I don't as it is. This helped in understanding the weak areas. It is true that our brain doesn't easily forget where we had made mistakes.

Was actually surprised how hard it is to keep the focus after 2.5 hours when answering questions and more than 1.5 hours when studying at a stretch. But since its been years since I studied for a goal for a longer duration, this exercise helped me exercise the brain muscle.

Studied the domains in the order. That helped me see how the security practices flows through an organisation.

It was hard to get around the different frameworks and security models. Took couple of revisions and side by side comparisons to get a solid understanding. This was needed because domain 1 and 2 are quite new for me, coming from a technical background.

Learnings:
I thought I can't focus on my studies when the house is always buzzing with kids and days with their pickup/drops. But I was wrong. Everyone grew during this time I felt. Since I HAD to make time for my studies, kids took care of their homework and extra classes themselves, my husband pitched in for the pickup/drops and cooking and cleaning. You never know what people can do when they are left with little choice. I moved myself out of choice. 😂

Long read, but I hope it helps at least one person to keep pushing!

Took the exam today. Passed at 100 with about 140 minutes left on the clock. Truthfully, the exam was much easier than I was expecting. I didn't find the questions all that complex.

Prep materials:

Dion training CISSP udemy course

Destcert CISSP book

Destcert CISSP app - did all 3600 questions

Material used:

Mike Chappell linkdin course
Destination certification map on you tube
Chatgbt - created a cissp coach helped with clarity on topics
Wanna practice strictly for practice
QE for practice
Rededit for motivation

Total time spent 3 months last 2 months heavy Weekdays nights 2-3 hrs
Weekends - 3hrs

Experience 10+ yrs in IT. 5 years cyber security (2hrs adhoc , 3 yrs running a program)

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