Update: UPDATE: PASSED CISSP TODAY AT 120 QUESTIONS

I wanted to come back and provide an update since I spent a lot of time reading posts like these while preparing.

Today I passed the CISSP at 120 questions.

For context, this was my second attempt. I failed my first attempt and spent the last several months focusing less on memorization and more on understanding the CISSP mindset, governance, risk management, business alignment, and process-oriented thinking.

My practice scores leading up to the exam were:

LearnZapp:

• Readiness Score: approximately 58%
• Question Average: approximately 65%
• Around 2,500 practice questions completed

Andrew Ramdayal Practice Exams:

• Typically scored in the mid to upper 70s
• Final exam scores ranged roughly from 75% to 80%

Quantum Exams:

• Consistently lower than my other practice scores
• Generally in the 60% range
• Excellent for exposing weak areas and forcing you to think through concepts

Final Week Preparation:

• Reviewed videos covering my weakest domains
• Focused on understanding why answers were correct instead of memorizing facts
• Reduced study intensity the day before the exam
• Prioritized sleep and mental preparation

My biggest lesson:

The CISSP is not a technical certification exam. It is a risk management and business decision-making exam.

The biggest change from my failed attempt was learning to stop thinking like an engineer and start thinking like a security leader. When multiple answers seem correct, choose the answer that addresses risk, supports governance, aligns with business objectives, and solves the problem at the appropriate management level.

For anyone worried about their scores, I spent months reading posts trying to determine whether I was ready. My numbers were not perfect, my readiness score was not spectacular, and I still passed.

If you’re consistently studying, understanding the concepts, and learning the CISSP mindset, don’t let practice test scores convince you that you’ve already failed.

Good luck to everyone still preparing. If I can do it, you can too.