Passed CSSLP 30th Oct 2015
This is my first exam review so do bear with me. 
Took CSSLP exam today at Pearson. Exam duration is 4 hours and consist of 175 questions. This is my second ISC2 exam, the first was CISSP in end March this year. Finished most of the questions in about an hour, did 3 rounds of review and click submit with about 2 hours reminding. I was certain that I have at least 80% of the answers correct.
Comments about the exam? Without violating the NDA, I can say that this is a managerial type exam that focuses on your understanding of stages and characteristics of the typical SDLC (software development lifecycle). The 8 CSSLP domains maps into a nice chronological process; concept -> requirements -> design -> coding -> testing -> acceptance -> deployment & operations. The 8th domain supply chain was added later. You need to know what and why certain tasks are carried out during each phase, and characteristics of the different software methodologies and standards.
This is an exam for those who have been through application development lifecycle. Someone without programming knowledge is able to pass the exam but will find the study materials dry as they lack the hands-on experience and point of reference. Sort of like studying for ITIL without having any IT operations experience. Or PMP without project management experience. Do-able but you may end up sleeping instead.
My study materials were CSSLP AIO as the main exam guide with Offical CSSLP CBK (2nd edition) as reading supplement. The AIO is a no-nonsense exam guide. The CBK is comfortable read and refresher; I do wish that the author did not use the "As a CSSLP.." phrase that often.
By the way, ISC2 members are eligible for 50% off (ISC)2 official study guides and CBK textbooks. Login to https://www.isc2.org/memberhome.aspx for details.
Took CSSLP exam today at Pearson. Exam duration is 4 hours and consist of 175 questions. This is my second ISC2 exam, the first was CISSP in end March this year. Finished most of the questions in about an hour, did 3 rounds of review and click submit with about 2 hours reminding. I was certain that I have at least 80% of the answers correct.
Comments about the exam? Without violating the NDA, I can say that this is a managerial type exam that focuses on your understanding of stages and characteristics of the typical SDLC (software development lifecycle). The 8 CSSLP domains maps into a nice chronological process; concept -> requirements -> design -> coding -> testing -> acceptance -> deployment & operations. The 8th domain supply chain was added later. You need to know what and why certain tasks are carried out during each phase, and characteristics of the different software methodologies and standards.
This is an exam for those who have been through application development lifecycle. Someone without programming knowledge is able to pass the exam but will find the study materials dry as they lack the hands-on experience and point of reference. Sort of like studying for ITIL without having any IT operations experience. Or PMP without project management experience. Do-able but you may end up sleeping instead.
My study materials were CSSLP AIO as the main exam guide with Offical CSSLP CBK (2nd edition) as reading supplement. The AIO is a no-nonsense exam guide. The CBK is comfortable read and refresher; I do wish that the author did not use the "As a CSSLP.." phrase that often.
By the way, ISC2 members are eligible for 50% off (ISC)2 official study guides and CBK textbooks. Login to https://www.isc2.org/memberhome.aspx for details.
Comments
Have: CISSP, CISM, CRISC, CGEIT, ITIL-F
Started reading from end August. So about 2 months of reading, and waiting.
I ordered exam voucher in August and only received it just last week.
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Timeline
30th Oct(Friday): Passed exam
1st Nov(Sunday): submit endorsement (ISC2 to endorse aka audit). I included HR letter listing my job titles for past 9 years and my CISSP, MCAD and MCSD certs.
2nd Nov(Monday): acknowledgement by ISC2
4th Dec(Friday): CSSLP awarded email => 5 weeks
Time to update LinkedIn
When you said, endorsement mail, as in physical mail or email?
Thanks.
I also used the CBK book as well as the AIO book, although I did also use the studiscope practice test tool as a review and pointer to where I was weak on the material and a couple of youtube SDLC presentations.
While I was looking at the new endorsement form I noticed that unlike most of the other ISC2 certs, the CSSLP mentions "recent experience" though I haven't been able to find a time limit, nor did I find a reference to a time limit on the ISC2 site. Did anyone else notice that and have a pointer to further information?
Are you getting another CSSLP to endorse you? Or ISC2 to do it?
I had it done by ISC2. I am not aware of any time limit for experience, my stretched all the way to 10 years back and add up to more than the required number of years.
From https://www.isc2.org/uploadedfiles/certification_programs/endorsement.pdf, it seems that any ISC2 certified person can endorse you. So can be CAP, SSCP, CISSP, CSSLP.....
There is supposed to be as per https://www.isc2.org/certification-register-now.aspx.
However, the questions are not tagged as beta. I did not encounter any questions that are very much different from others.
Voucher store :: Pearson VUE
I passed CISSP by scheduling at pearsonvue (USD 599) and not used any voucher.
The voucher is for Singapore only. Citizens get 50% exam fee rebate from government upon passing and getting endorse.
PM me for details if you are a Singaporean.