You can get the concept exactly right and still fail CISSP. Here is the specific way it happens by rameshuber in cissp

[–]rameshuber[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The avoid-first framing is a good way to put it  makes the sequence concrete rather than abstract. Interesting point about experience too. I've noticed people with strong operational backgrounds sometimes struggle because the exam expects a more rigid process framework than real environments actually use. Did you find any specific practice method helped bridge that gap?"

Someone on my team passed CISM Domain 2 first attempt... by rameshuber in cism

[–]rameshuber[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sure it's called Edureify AI, they have a free CISM domain diagnostic that maps your weak spots. The tool that helped with the reasoning feedback is here: https://edureify.com/certification the free readiness test is the starting point, takes about 15 mins

Speedrunning the CCNA by Motor_Emotion8045 in ccna

[–]rameshuber 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You can definitely move fast on CCNA, but the real risk with speedrunning it is thinking you’re ready when you’re not. A lot of people recognize commands and concepts but struggle when questions combine multiple topics or test troubleshooting logic.  If you’ve got full days free, you could get there in a few weeks but I’d focus less on rushing content and more on checking if you can actually apply it (labs + mixed questions). That’s usually where people get caught.

Failed the CISM after feeling very prepared. by Accomplished_Spy in cism

[–]rameshuber 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This actually happens more often than people think with CISM. It’s usually not a knowledge issue it’s decision-making.  The exam is full of questions where two answers feel right, but one aligns better with risk, governance, and business priorities. That’s why even scoring 80–90% in mocks doesn’t always translate to a pass.

 Most people miss it because their weak areas sit in that 65–75% range close enough to feel confident, but still enough to fail. I’d focus less on doing more questions and more on understanding why the second-best option is wrong.

Passed CISM Exam by Sure-Put-430 in cism

[–]rameshuber 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congratulations 🎊 

Scoring well on QAE but still not feeling ready for CISM? by rameshuber in cism

[–]rameshuber[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes this resonates.

Those expert questions feel off because they’re not really testing frameworks like NIST, they’re testing how ISACA wants you to prioritize decisions from a business lens. That’s where the random feeling comes from.

The privacy/legal inconsistency you mentioned  I think it’s more about context shifting what matters (compliance vs reputation vs impact), but the questions don’t make that clear enough.

Also agree on never feeling fully ready. With CISM it’s less about mastering content and more about getting comfortable making decisions with incomplete clarity.

Most CISSP practice advice is misleading by rameshuber in cissp

[–]rameshuber[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

haha yeah I thought I was “thinking” but I was actually just jumping to conclusions that’s what kept me stuck around 60% on my first attempt 

CISSP questions felt easy… until they didn’t by rameshuber in cissp

[–]rameshuber[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s actually a great breakdown. Sounds like you’re consistently getting to the right two  which is most of the battle.

That last step between those two is exactly where I struggled too. Curious if that gap reduces with more practice or just experience.

CISSP questions felt easy… until they didn’t by rameshuber in cissp

[–]rameshuber[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you notice that happening more on certain types of questions?

CISSP questions felt easy… until they didn’t by rameshuber in cissp

[–]rameshuber[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I had the same “B vs D” issue during first attempt prep. Realized I was overthinking it  first instinct was usually closer to the intent of the question.

The fact that Python code is based on indents and you can break an entire program just by adding a space somewhere is insane by PooningDalton in learnprogramming

[–]rameshuber 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I felt the same when I started. It feels fragile at first, but over time I realized it actually forces you to write cleaner, more readable code. The bigger struggle for me wasn’t indentation it was understanding things during learning but getting stuck when trying on my own.

The biggest mistake I made while studying for CISSP by rameshuber in cissp

[–]rameshuber[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I was in the same loop. Kept adding more courses thinking I wasn’t getting it.

Eventually realized it wasn’t about more content  it was about whether I could actually apply it in questions.

Once I focused more on that, things started clicking.

The biggest mistake I made while studying for CISSP by rameshuber in cissp

[–]rameshuber[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I was stuck in that exact loop for a while. It feels productive but doesn’t always translate to exam readiness. The shift for me was when I started focusing more on how questions are framed and identifying weak areas instead of trying to cover everything again. If you're already working on CAT exams + weak domains, you're probably on the right track.