Started doing practice tests - lots of confusion

Hi all,

Backround: I am a network and systems engineer with 10+ years of experience, and I moved to the InfoSec field about 3 years ago starting as a pen tester (Total of 13 years in IT with one gap year since 2001). I decided that having the CISSP is worth trying and would give me a much needed career boost. After certain age, one should move up and forward or become unemployable.

I started my study with AIO 6th, but got bored after the first couple of chapters. Then I discovered Conrad, read it cover to cover once. After getting fair results from Conrad and AIO post-chapter self-tests, I did the comprehensive 100+ part at the end of AIO and got a result of 75%. Took another small (50 questions) test from the ones that come with the CD and the result confirmed my level of preparedness as I got 77%. I analyzed the results, identified what I need to concentrate on and read the respective AIO chapters. Today I sat for another 2 sets of practice questions from AIO CD and got two extremely different results. I was shocked to receive 37% (!!!) on the first one, and an actual "pass" with 83% on the second one. Has anyone experienced similar day and night differences when doing comparable practice test? Honestly, after the utter failure on the first one, I was convinced that I have reached my own level of incompetence, and it is time to give up IT, get some land and go farming. The excellent result on the second one left me in a very strange state of mind, so I would really appreciate your thoughts and comments on similar experiences.

I know that reading Conrad once and going through half of AIO is absolutely not enough for the exam, I don't consider myself even close to be ready for the exam. Unfortunately it took me about 2 months to do even this as I have to do it while working full-time and being a full-time husband and dad. I am doing my best. I am just puzzled by the huge discrepancy in the practice exam results that I got. My mind is screaming "drop it, it's not for you", and the next second I am like "lots of people are doing it, you have no excuses". A monster that exam is

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Robicus

Hey nk_vn,

Have you gone through some of these quizzes?
McGraw-Hill Education | CISSP Practice Exams

I believe these are a pretty good gauge. Stay relaxed and think positive!

sponge2

Hey nk_vn,
There are a bunch of questions and observations you have in your post.
1) You are very correct the CISSP exam is not easy, but it is doable. I can identify with you as I was is a similar situation once.
2) Don't let the results of two practice exams create doubts in your preparation process. Stay with your plan and continue to practice the questions.
3) Make notes as you go along. Write your notes a couple of times. This will help with recalling details as you practice.
4) Don't drag your preparation over a long period of time. Talk to your spouse, kids etc. as to why this exam is so important to you. Get their co-operation and spend any time that are not studying, working, commuting with your family. No me time for you until you pass.
I wish you all the best.
You will pass the CISSP exam give it the time and effort it deserves.

gespenstern

I did cccure.org tests for half a year and felt more or less confident after I started getting consistent 85% and higher. Passed on first attempt. Never read Conrad or AIO.

Robertf969

I used the Transcender practice tests, I was averaging 90%+ on each domain before I sat for the exam. I remember there being a handful of questions that just threw me for a loop on the transcenders and it took me a long time to start getting them right and understanding why I was getting them wrong. What I am saying is you cant take just one practice test to be indicative of how you will do on the actual exam. Just keep studying and keep quizzing, if you put in the effort you will be rewarded at the end. Now get back at it

nk_vn

Hi guys,

I did a couple of McGraw-Hill practice tests and got results in the high 70's. Now I am much more relaxed and assured that the one-off shockingly low result is not really relevant. I still have lots of resources that I never used (heck, I only went through Conrad once and barely half of AIO), so I certainly have room for improvement. Thank you for helping me gaining my confidence back.

Good luck to everyone who is still struggling with one of the hardest tech exams ever. I am looking forward to seeing the next "Just passed the exam!" posts!

mjsinhsv

I haven't seen a "just passed" post since they changed the test.

Wonder if they are still giving people their results after the test or if they have gone back to mailing the results.

beads

nk_vn wrote: »

Hi all,

Backround: I am a network and systems engineer with 10+ years of experience, and I moved to the InfoSec field about 3 years ago starting as a pen tester (Total of 13 years in IT with one gap year since 2001). I decided that having the CISSP is worth trying and would give me a much needed career boost. After certain age, one should move up and forward or become unemployable.

I started my study with AIO 6th, but got bored after the first couple of chapters. Then I discovered Conrad, read it cover to cover once. After getting fair results from Conrad and AIO post-chapter self-tests, I did the comprehensive 100+ part at the end of AIO and got a result of 75%. Took another small (50 questions) test from the ones that come with the CD and the result confirmed my level of preparedness as I got 77%. I analyzed the results, identified what I need to concentrate on and read the respective AIO chapters. Today I sat for another 2 sets of practice questions from AIO CD and got two extremely different results. I was shocked to receive 37% (!!!) on the first one, and an actual "pass" with 83% on the second one. Has anyone experienced similar day and night differences when doing comparable practice test? Honestly, after the utter failure on the first one, I was convinced that I have reached my own level of incompetence, and it is time to give up IT, get some land and go farming. The excellent result on the second one left me in a very strange state of mind, so I would really appreciate your thoughts and comments on similar experiences.

I know that reading Conrad once and going through half of AIO is absolutely not enough for the exam, I don't consider myself even close to be ready for the exam. Unfortunately it took me about 2 months to do even this as I have to do it while working full-time and being a full-time husband and dad. I am doing my best. I am just puzzled by the huge discrepancy in the practice exam results that I got. My mind is screaming "drop it, it's not for you", and the next second I am like "lots of people are doing it, you have no excuses". A monster that exam is

Sounds like quiz fatigue if you ask me. Two large scale quizzes in one day? Bleh! I think you'd be better off not trying to cram so hard and let some of this information sink in a bit as well. On the second quiz did you feel anywhere ready to challenge yourself or were you feeling: "I need to get through this quiz..?" Guessing the later. If that is the case then your mind was getting tired at the end of a mental workout. This is not to say you can't learn to stretch yourself before an exam but it takes time and training before you hit the half-marathon. The CISSP is allotted six hours but most people finish under three.

Second learn to read the exam questions for what they really are and are not. This is a typical psychometric exam intent on finding your weak points and exploiting them to get you to answer incorrectly or give up. OK that's a bit harsh but not all that far from it. Some of the actual questions will include too much superfluous detail or similar answers, etc. Learn how to read through the junk the exam writers put in there to lead you astray, etc.

Most importantly - don't rush it. You'll only burn perfectly good quizzes doing so. And repeatedly going through the same questions while still fresh or memorized in your head is a faulty gauge of expertise as well.

- b/eads