CompTIA exam day

CompTIA exams are delivered by Pearson VUE, at a test center or online, and mix multiple-choice questions with performance-based items.

How scoring works

Most CompTIA exams are scored on a scale of 100 to 900. The passing score is set per exam and published on each exam page; for example, Security+ requires 750.
SecurityX (formerly CASP+) is the exception: it is reported as pass or fail with no scaled score.
Questions are not all worth the same. Performance-based items can carry more weight, and multiple-response items generally need every correct choice selected.
Exams can include unscored questions that CompTIA is trialling. You cannot tell which ones they are, so treat every question seriously.

Multiple choice with a single answer, and multiple response where you select more than one.
Performance-based questions (PBQs): drag-and-drop matching, ordering steps, configuring settings in a simulated interface, reading logs, or working in a simulated terminal.
PBQs often appear at the start of the exam. You can usually flag them and return after the multiple-choice section, which many candidates find less stressful.
Check each exam page for the maximum number of questions and the time limit, since these differ by exam.

Budget roughly a minute per multiple-choice question and save a larger block for the PBQs.
If a PBQ is taking too long, submit your best partial attempt and flag it. Partial credit may be possible, and the multiple-choice questions that follow are quicker points.
Use the review screen at the end to find anything unanswered or flagged. Unanswered questions count as wrong.

At a Pearson VUE test center you store personal items in a locker, show ID, and have your photo taken. Scheduled breaks are not built in, and the clock keeps running if you leave the room.
Online testing uses Pearson VUE OnVUE. You check in with a photo of your ID, photos of your workspace, and a webcam room scan. The desk must be clear, and you must stay in view for the whole exam.
Online exams generally allow no breaks; leaving the camera view can end the session. Use the restroom before check-in.
Run the OnVUE system test ahead of time on the exact machine and network you will use. Work laptops with strict security software often cause problems.

You buy a voucher from CompTIA or a reseller, then schedule through Pearson VUE. Vouchers have an expiry date, so check it when you buy.
Rescheduling and cancelling are allowed up to a cut-off before the appointment. Missing that cut-off or not showing up usually forfeits the fee.
CompTIA has a retake policy with waiting periods that apply after repeated attempts. Check the current policy on CompTIA's site before you book a retake.

You normally see your result on screen when you finish, and receive a score report that lists the objectives where you missed questions.
The certification appears in your CompTIA account after processing, usually within a few days. That is where you download the certificate and share a digital badge.
Most CompTIA certifications are valid for three years and are renewed through the Continuing Education program: earning CEUs through activities or higher certifications, or passing the latest version of the exam.
Passing a higher-level CompTIA exam can renew some lower ones. Check the CE program page to see how your certifications stack.

Policies change. Check the vendor's candidate handbook and your booking confirmation for the current rules.