CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Guide
At a glance
- Questions
- 90
- Time limit
- 1h 30m
- Passing score
- 750 (on a scale of 100-900)
- Governing body
- CompTIA
CompTIA Security+ is an industry-leading certification that validates your ability to implement security technologies and manage risk in enterprise environments. It's designed for IT professionals moving into security roles or enhancing their credential in cybersecurity. CompTIA recommends a minimum of 2 years of IT administration experience with a focus on security, plus CompTIA Network+ as a prerequisite.
The exam covers five core domains: General Security Concepts (12%), Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (22%), Security Architecture (18%), Security Operations (28%), and Security Program Management and Oversight (20%). You'll encounter both multiple-choice and performance-based questions across real-world security scenarios, incident response, and policy implementation.
Exam cost varies by region and testing method. Check Pearson VUE's website for current pricing in your location. The exam is delivered through Pearson VUE at authorized test centers worldwide and via OnVUE online proctoring, available 24/7.
The Security+ exam presents a maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes. Questions are multiple-choice and performance-based. You need a passing score of 750 on a scale of 100 to 900. The exam is available in English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) exam, and how long do I get?
The SY0-701 exam contains a maximum of 90 questions, and you're given 90 minutes to complete it. That works out to roughly one minute per question, so pacing matters. The questions come in two formats: standard multiple-choice items and performance-based questions (PBQs) that ask you to complete a task in a simulated environment. Because PBQs take longer than multiple-choice questions, a smart strategy is to skip or flag any PBQ you can't answer quickly, bank the fast multiple-choice points first, and return to the PBQs with your remaining time.
What score do I need to pass, and how is the exam scored?
You need a scaled score of 750 to pass, on a scale that runs from 100 to 900. Note that this is a scaled score, not a raw percentage — it does not mean you must answer 750 out of 900 questions correctly. CompTIA does not publish exam pass rates, stating that questions and passing scores are subject to change without notice, so you won't find an official percentage of candidates who pass. Because the exam mixes weighted multiple-choice and performance-based questions and reports a scaled score, the practical takeaway is to aim well above a bare pass across every domain rather than trying to reverse-engineer how many questions you can afford to miss.
How should I split my study time across the exam domains?
The exam measures five content domains, and they are not weighted equally, so your study time shouldn't be either. The domains and their exam weights are: 1.0 General Security Concepts (12%), 2.0 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (22%), 3.0 Security Architecture (18%), 4.0 Security Operations (28%), and 5.0 Security Program Management and Oversight (20%). Security Operations is the single largest domain at 28%, and together with Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (22%) it makes up half the exam — so prioritize those two if your time is limited. Weighting your preparation toward the heavier domains gives you the most points per hour studied.
Where do I take the exam, and how do I keep the certification valid after I pass?
CompTIA exams are delivered through Pearson VUE, and you can test either in person at a Pearson VUE test center or online through the OnVUE remote proctoring platform, which is available 24/7 — convenient if you need an evening or weekend slot. The exam is offered in English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Thai. Once you pass, the certification isn't permanent: the SY0-701 exam launched in November 2023 and is usually retired about three years after launch. To keep your certification current without retaking the exam, you renew it by earning 50 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), which you can accumulate through training, higher education, industry activities, and completing additional certifications. Planning your CEU activities early spreads the renewal effort out instead of scrambling near the deadline.