My Security+ Experience
I decided on Wednesday of this week that I needed to get moving on certifications again after spending a lot of time the past few months working non-stop without any time to study. I decided to take Security+ as an easy one to things rolling again for me and scheduled it last Wednesday for today (Monday). I didn't get a chance to start preparing until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. I read straight throug the Sybex book and all of the Security+ Technotes as my only reference material. Most of it was review of things I was familiar with especially after the CISSP exam I took last September. A lot of the inforation for the exam was highly dated and definitely needed an update. After reading the Technotes and Sybex book I took the practice quizzes here at www.techexams.net and then took the practice quizzes on the CD enclosed with the Sybex book. After scoring 29/30, 96/100, and 97/100 on the Sybex CD questions I was fairly confident going into the exam on Monday.
I tried to call the testing center scheduled the exam with using the phone number I recieved from Pearson Vue's site and found it to be disonnected. I was planning to call and find out about parking since I was taking the exam down-town and wanted to know the best place to park. This concernd me a bit so I gave myself some extra time to get there. I played it safe and parked in the large lot at the Mellon Arena and walked a few blocks to the testing center. I arrived at the building at 12:20 p.m. for a 1:00 p.m. test and had trouble getting buzzed into the building due to a poor sound system for the connection to the front door. It took until 12:32 to get in the front door to the building and the I proceed to the floor where the test center was located after a quick stop in the bathroom. When I arrived there was not a person to be found anywhere in the test center. I rang the buzzer which clearly sounded throughout the building and nobody answered. Ater waiting until about 12:45 p.m. and hitting the buzzer 5 times I took a walk through and found nobody in any of the offices on this floor. I saw someone get off the elavator and asked about it and he mentioned the guy who ran the test center was likely downstairs as he usually was and would tell him I was here. The guy came back up and mentioned he told him. It took another 5 minutes for the person in charge of the test center to arrive. I provided my ID and signed the required paperwork and began taking my exam.
The exam itself was fairly straightforward without many major surpises. There were at least 7-8 questions that I felt were very poorly worded considering the answer choices provided and wasn't sure if I had them correct primarily for this reason. Ultimately I finished the exam in 32 minutes (not incuding time to read the opening disclaimer and take the short survey after the exam). Upon finishing it the computer provided me with my passing score of 847. I would have hoped for a higher score but was satisfied considering my limited study time of reading through the book/technotes and taking those short practice tests.
During the test nobody checked in on me in my room so I am hoping there was a hidden camera as I was in a room by myself. I could my paperwork printed on the printer out in the hallway and waited a minute without anyone coming in. I stuck my head out the door and noticed not one person was in the testing center other than me taking my test. I waited about 5 minutes and the guy came back up and congratulated me on my pass. I commented on his hair since I noticed it was shorter than when I began my test. He said someone that works downstairs cuts his hair for him so he doesn't have to pay for a haircut. I was very dissapointed with my experience at this testing center that is used both by Prometric and Vue for a number of exams. I express my concerns about the incorrectly listed phone number, access to the building, and lack of service (and probable lack of moderation) while I was there.
Next I will be likely be going down the Juniper track since I am starting to work with Juniper Firewalls, IDP, and VPN solutions. Also on my list for certifications to take soon is CEH. There is only one other testing center fairly close by in Pittsburgh that I can use for these exams that I saw through Vue but if it is as bad as this one I might start travelling a bit further for my exam. If anyone from Pittsburgh can recommend a good test center please let me know. At least the testing computer didn't crash like some of the other reports I heard on these boards.
I tried to call the testing center scheduled the exam with using the phone number I recieved from Pearson Vue's site and found it to be disonnected. I was planning to call and find out about parking since I was taking the exam down-town and wanted to know the best place to park. This concernd me a bit so I gave myself some extra time to get there. I played it safe and parked in the large lot at the Mellon Arena and walked a few blocks to the testing center. I arrived at the building at 12:20 p.m. for a 1:00 p.m. test and had trouble getting buzzed into the building due to a poor sound system for the connection to the front door. It took until 12:32 to get in the front door to the building and the I proceed to the floor where the test center was located after a quick stop in the bathroom. When I arrived there was not a person to be found anywhere in the test center. I rang the buzzer which clearly sounded throughout the building and nobody answered. Ater waiting until about 12:45 p.m. and hitting the buzzer 5 times I took a walk through and found nobody in any of the offices on this floor. I saw someone get off the elavator and asked about it and he mentioned the guy who ran the test center was likely downstairs as he usually was and would tell him I was here. The guy came back up and mentioned he told him. It took another 5 minutes for the person in charge of the test center to arrive. I provided my ID and signed the required paperwork and began taking my exam.
The exam itself was fairly straightforward without many major surpises. There were at least 7-8 questions that I felt were very poorly worded considering the answer choices provided and wasn't sure if I had them correct primarily for this reason. Ultimately I finished the exam in 32 minutes (not incuding time to read the opening disclaimer and take the short survey after the exam). Upon finishing it the computer provided me with my passing score of 847. I would have hoped for a higher score but was satisfied considering my limited study time of reading through the book/technotes and taking those short practice tests.
During the test nobody checked in on me in my room so I am hoping there was a hidden camera as I was in a room by myself. I could my paperwork printed on the printer out in the hallway and waited a minute without anyone coming in. I stuck my head out the door and noticed not one person was in the testing center other than me taking my test. I waited about 5 minutes and the guy came back up and congratulated me on my pass. I commented on his hair since I noticed it was shorter than when I began my test. He said someone that works downstairs cuts his hair for him so he doesn't have to pay for a haircut. I was very dissapointed with my experience at this testing center that is used both by Prometric and Vue for a number of exams. I express my concerns about the incorrectly listed phone number, access to the building, and lack of service (and probable lack of moderation) while I was there.
Next I will be likely be going down the Juniper track since I am starting to work with Juniper Firewalls, IDP, and VPN solutions. Also on my list for certifications to take soon is CEH. There is only one other testing center fairly close by in Pittsburgh that I can use for these exams that I saw through Vue but if it is as bad as this one I might start travelling a bit further for my exam. If anyone from Pittsburgh can recommend a good test center please let me know. At least the testing computer didn't crash like some of the other reports I heard on these boards.
Comments
wow, sounds a little familiar as to my experience with sec+. No cameras, the 'admins' on site did not seem to know thier head from thier...you know. stuck in a room with another person and NO AC (It was summer in AZ, so you can imagine the computer room was ~100 degrees). However, they did have the loudest box fan on the planet in there, you know, to really make you concentrate on the exam. Might was well been taking the exam on a job site. I saw no surveillance anywhere, and the receptionist seemed too busy with her cell phone to fully assist me and check me in. Needless to say, I dont think I will return there unless I must.
As far as the exam, I have to agree with you 100%. I don't think they have changed the sec+ material in over 4 years; and as far as infosec is concerned (as you probably know better than I), thats an eternity!
congrats on your pass though!
:study: Current 2015 Goals: JNCIP-SEC JNCIS-ENT CCNA-Security
Where did you take the exam? I usually take mine at Riverhead and have not had an experience like that before.
2020 Goals: 0 of 2 courses complete, 0 of 2 exams complete
I took mine at Blue Screen Techs on 5th Ave. Riverhead is only a block away from where I was at on 6th Ave and I almost scheduled mine there. I will definitely go with Riverhead next time.
The long time since the last exam update was most easily seen when it came to wireless technology. This was my first CompTIA exam though and some of the poorly worded questions surprised me.
Yea I was going to say where did you go...I've taken every exam at Riverhead and and have had no problems. I usually test on Saturday's and there's a parking garage across the street from there and it's very cheap on Saturdays as well maybe $3/hour...but all the well Congrats!!!
I have only used Riverhead personally but I do know there is New Horizons in Greentree and PTI in Oakdale is a testing center now as well I hear. Anyway since you're up north I'd say Riverhead would be your best choice then New Horizons.
Let me know as well that would only be a 20 min drive for me on Mcknight since I don't plan on using Prometric unless I have to.
I live in Hampton Township so it would be perfect for me. I don't know anything other than that one of my business partners mentioned his IT Manager heard from someone at Pearson VUE that one would be available. I do not know how long it will take and if they include all of the different vendors test, but I was very excited at the news. He just mentioned it about 3 weeks ago.
I'll send you and ajs a PM if I hear anything else. I will definitely be checking for it when I schedule my next example that can be scheduled through VUE.
You may learn something!
I felt very comfortable going into the exam. 10 question into the exam, and was wondering if I was writing the right exam! very poorly worded, I did not have but 2 port questions, and maybe 5 questions on MAC/DAC/RBCAC. The rest of the question were what is the "Best" or what would you do " First" ? The course material had studied always seem to have either one option or several options... Either what I studied is not up to standard, or compti should look at venders that are leading there courses.? Or I lucked out and got one of the worst exams . out there. What is "Best for my company, might not be what is "best " for your company!!!!
What study aids did you use? I used the Sybex book, and recently passed with an 814.
MS
Then I took the CCNA.
*shakes uncontrollably*
Don't take this the wrong way but the questions they asked in this manner are done so the test taker will use the knowledge learned and apply it to the given situation. I don't know what the questions were like in class but maybe they were all straight forward and didn't make you apply the knowledge that you had been studying. Poorly worded questions there's not much to do but learne to make the best guess you can in that matter but looking at the subject they're asking you on. Now that you know what to expect I would work on the area's you need work on the most hit the books hard, lab up some different scenarios and then go back and own the exam. I haven't taken the exam but I've heard it's one of the more difficult exams CompTIA has, so don't get down keep on moving and give it another shot.
If you don't have any experience with networking, access control, cryptography, or the other areas being discussed it will be a lot more difficult to understand and be able to apply what is being discussed. For example, you may have memorized the definition of a digital certificate for the exam and have been able to recite it word for word, but have you actually looked at any to see what is stored in them and what their uses are? If you have a functional knowledge of the material in addition to the book/exam knowledge it will make any test much easier (and give you more of a reason to take it sinc you will be expanding your knowledge of a subject matter and not simply trying to pass a test).
I don't know your background and experience, but if you have no networking experience maybe the Network+ would have been an easier place to start?
Even in the case of the poorly worded questions I had a high chance of getting the correct answer because I knew what would not be applicable. I also had enough of the other questions correct so that even if I missed all of the poorly worded ones I still would have passed with some room to spare.
You can not truly know the percentage needed to pass such as 85% like you mentioned because here are test questions that don't count for anything and you don't know how much the othe questions are weighted. It is possible all of the poorly worded ones are worth less points or no points.
I am sure there are a lot of people that don't pass any exam the first time, but that is not typically due to the difficulty of the exam but taking it before they were fully prepared to pass it. You cannot judge a real exam by a practice exam since they aren't designed to be the same (otherwise it would be cheating). The practice exams are made to help you find your weakest areas and focus your studies in those areas.
I don't know you and I have nothing against you, but I think you are going to be disappointed by any class you take and by any book you buy, just based on your interpretation of what "should" be. It all sounds like whining to me.
Best bet is to just get over it and do your best to get what you want in life, really.
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