I Passed the CompTIA Security+ Certification in 9 Days

Summary

In this informative video, the creator shares their experience of passing the CompTIA Security Plus exam after a nine-day study sprint using chat GPT. They provide a detailed breakdown of the study materials and techniques that helped them succeed on their first attempt, including practice tests from Exam Compass, Professor Messer and Udemy, and the use of Notion for note-taking. The video also covers how to effectively learn and understand cybersecurity terms and concepts, especially for those with limited time due to work or other commitments. The creator emphasizes the importance of understanding one's learning style and tailoring study methods accordingly, offering practical advice for others aspiring to achieve CompTIA certification.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker recently graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Management Information Systems and has an entry-level background in cybersecurity from coursework and internships.
• 📚 The speaker studied for the CompTIA Security Plus exam for nine days, using a combination of resources and techniques tailored to their learning style.
• 🕒 The speaker had the luxury of dedicating 3-5 hours per day to studying due to not being currently employed, acknowledging that this may not be feasible for everyone.
• 📝 The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding one's learning style and using resources that align with it, such as interactive learning over passive video watching or reading textbooks.
• 📖 The speaker used four main resources for studying: free practice tests from Exam Compass, practice exams from Professor Messer and Udemy, and the note-taking platform Notion.
• 🔍 The speaker utilized chat GPT as a study aid, particularly for getting explanations of unfamiliar terms and concepts, and customizing responses to relate specifically to the Security Plus exam.
• 📝 Notion was used for note-taking to track and rephrase terms and concepts that were unfamiliar, aiding in active learning and retention.
• 📊 The speaker took multiple practice tests and exams, focusing on understanding why questions were answered incorrectly and using explanations provided to correct misunderstandings.
• 🎥 For more complex topics or when chat GPT's explanations were not sufficient, the speaker turned to YouTube for additional clarification and examples.
• 💻 The speaker studied for the multiple-choice and performance-based question sections of the exam differently, using resources like CyberCraft for the latter.
• 🎯 The overall study strategy was to cover all CompTIA objectives thoroughly, ensuring a foundational understanding of terms and concepts rather than deep specialization.

Q & A

What certification did the speaker recently pass?

The speaker recently passed the CompTIA Security Plus exam.

How many days did the speaker study for the CompTIA Security Plus exam before passing it?

The speaker studied for nine days before passing the CompTIA Security Plus exam.

What is the speaker's educational background?

The speaker graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems.

What is the speaker's experience with cybersecurity prior to taking the Security Plus exam?

The speaker has an entry-level background in cybersecurity due to some coursework during their degree and two summer internships in the field.

How many hours per day did the speaker dedicate to studying for the exam?

The speaker dedicated three to five hours per day to studying for the exam.

What learning style does the speaker identify with?

The speaker identifies with a hands-on approach to learning, being active and involved in the learning process.

What are the four main resources the speaker used to study for the Security Plus exam?

The four main resources used were practice tests from Exam Compass, Professor Messer videos, Udemy practice exams, and Notion for note-taking.

How did the speaker use chat GPT in conjunction with study materials?

The speaker used chat GPT to get easy-to-digest definitions and explanations of terms and concepts they were unfamiliar with while studying.

What is the purpose of Notion in the speaker's study routine?

Notion was used as a note-taking platform to keep track of unfamiliar terms and concepts related to the Security Plus exam.

How many practice tests did the speaker take from Exam Compass?

The speaker took 25 practice tests from Exam Compass.

What was the speaker's strategy for dealing with questions they got wrong on practice exams?

The speaker made sure to understand all the acronyms and terms in the questions they got wrong and utilized explanations provided in the practice exams to learn from their mistakes.

How did the speaker prepare for the Performance-Based questions on the Security Plus exam?

The speaker used the Cybercraft YouTube channel to understand and practice Performance-Based questions.

What was the speaker's final recommendation for those with limited time to study?

The speaker recommended understanding one's own learning style and adapting the study techniques presented to fit individual needs and time constraints.