Security+ Passing Score: What It Is and How to Achieve It

How do you know if all those late-night study sessions will actually pay off? You run through practice questions, memorize acronyms, and still feel unsure about whether you’re hitting the right targets. That doubt usually circles back to one thing: what it really takes to pass.

Many try to calculate how many questions they can miss, but the exam doesn’t work that way. CompTIA uses scaling in determining the Security Plus passing score to keep results fair, which means raw scores are converted to balance different versions.

What follows breaks down how the exam works, how to plan study time around domain weights, and how practice strategies make a difference. By the end, you’ll know where to focus and how to avoid the traps that hold test-takers back.

Security Plus Passing Score Explained

Understanding how CompTIA grades your exam helps you set realistic expectations. Let’s break down what the passing score means, how scaled scoring works, and why chasing percentages can throw you off.

At a high level, the comptia security+ passing score is 750 on a 100–900 scale, but how you reach that number depends on domain performance and scaled scoring rather than a simple percentage of correct answers.

Security+ 750 Target And What It Signals

The Security Plus passing score is set at 750 on a 100–900 scale. That number doesn’t represent a percentage.Instead, it shows that you’ve reached baseline proficiency across all exam objectives and core security controls.

CompTIA sets the standard through psychometric analysis, which ensures fairness across different exam forms. Your report won’t show how many questions you missed. Instead, it highlights performance by domain. 

Scaled Score Range And Interpretation

Security+ uses a scaled range from 100 to 900, with 750 as the pass mark. Raw scores are converted through a statistical algorithm, so there’s no fixed number of questions that guarantee a pass. Instead, your score report gives feedback on weaker domains. That makes it easier to focus your study for a retake or reinforcement.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what to look at in your report:

• Score range: Always between 100 and 900
• Passing mark: 750, regardless of form
• Domain feedback: Lists weak areas for targeted review

Here’s a tip: Plan study sprints around domains that lowered your score.

Percent-Correct Myth And Why It Misleads

Online calculators often claim 83 percent equals 750, but that’s inaccurate. Security+ doesn’t tie scores to a fixed percent correct. The scaling process adjusts for different mixes of difficulty across forms. The best way to prepare is to aim for consistent performance in all domains while practicing PBQs.

Security+ Exam Specs And Format (SY0-701, 2025)

Knowing what to expect on exam day helps you plan smarter. Here’s how the Security+ SY0-701 exam is structured and what you’ll face when the timer starts.

Up To 90 Questions In 90 Minutes

The exam caps at 90 questions with 90 minutes to complete them. Questions include both multiple-choice and performance-based tasks. You’ll see a timer, plus a review screen before submission that lets you revisit flagged or skipped items. Since pacing is fixed, practicing full-length blocks is the best way to get used to the pressure.

MCQ And PBQ Mix And Flow

The test blends multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with performance-based questions (PBQs) that mirror real-world tasks. Simulation PBQs can be revisited, but virtual PBQs usually cannot.

Strategy matters here. Lock in quick wins on MCQs, time-box your effort on PBQs, and avoid getting stuck on one item. Practicing lab-style tasks before the exam helps make PBQs feel more natural.

Available Languages And Delivery Options

Security+ SY0-701 can be taken in several ways:

• Languages: English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai
• Delivery: Pearson VUE test center or OnVUE online proctoring
• Online rules: One display, supported OS, stable bandwidth

If tech or environment feels uncertain, a test center often offers more peace of mind. Every step, from format to delivery, is designed to measure readiness against the CompTIA Security Plus passing score.

Security+ Study Plan For A 750+ Score

Scoring 750 or higher takes more than just reading through materials. A smart plan that reflects domain weights, daily habits, and focused review makes the difference.

Domain Weighting And Priority Map

The five domains in SY0-701 are weighted differently, so study time should reflect that:

• Security operations – 28%
• Threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations – 22%
• Security program management and oversight – 20%
• Security architecture – 18%
• General security concepts – 12%

Start with higher-weight domains to secure the biggest impact, then rotate for even coverage. Use the official objectives to map what to practice, like incident response, identity and access, vulnerability management, and data protection.

Building a Daily Routine with Practice Questions

Daily retrieval is proven to boost retention. A simple routine looks like this:

• Rotate items from different domains each session
• Mix in PBQ-style prompts several times weekly
• Review missed questions right away
• Dedicate one longer block per week for full practice

Error Log, Weak-Area Sprints, Spaced Review

An error log keeps progress honest and targeted. Build it by objective, then:

• Run one-week sprints for weak areas
• Use spaced review instead of cramming
• Quiz yourself on official task language
• Replicate PBQ steps during practice

These cycles sharpen recall and align your efforts toward hitting the CompTIA Security Plus exam passing score.

Practice Tests And Review For Higher Scores

Practice exams aren’t just warm-ups. They build stamina, sharpen recall, and highlight weak spots before the real test.

Taking One Full Practice Exam Each Week

A weekly 90-minute simulation helps you build pacing and endurance; pair runs with study tips that reinforce active recall and spaced review. Follow real exam rules for best results:

• One uninterrupted sitting with timer visible
• Mixed domains, including PBQs
• Review flagged items only after finishing
• Analyze mistakes by objective afterward

Testing research shows practice tests boost retention more than extra study. Use each run to set your next week’s focus.

PBQ Reps And Scenario Patterns

PBQs test how you apply skills, not just recall them. Common scenarios include identity and access management (IAM) setup, network hardening informed by security controls, and incident response order.

Simulation PBQs can be revisited, but virtual ones usually cannot. That detail matters when managing time. Practice full workflows, reset simulations to improve speed, and think of each PBQ as a mini task list to execute.

Post-Test Analysis By Objective

Don’t stop at domain-level review. Break your analysis down by objective:

• Map each miss to wording from the SY0-701 objectives
• Write a quick fix plan for weak spots
• Add spaced retrieval prompts for later review
• Pair each with one PBQ-style task

Consistent cycles like these help align practice with the CompTIA Security Plus 701 passing score.

Test-Day Strategies For Security+ Success

A solid study plan means little if time slips away on exam day. Smart strategies help you maximize points and keep your pacing steady.

Quick Wins First, PBQs Time-Boxed

Start with fast multiple-choice items to build momentum. Then manage PBQs carefully:

• Lock quick wins early
• Time-box PBQs to avoid getting stuck
• Remember: simulation PBQs can be revisited, virtual PBQs usually cannot
• Capture partial work and move on if time runs long
• Use scratch notes to track unresolved items

Flag-And-Move Method And Pacing

The review screen is your friend when pacing. Use it to stay efficient:

• Flag items you’re unsure about
• Keep moving if recall stalls past your time budget
• Scan flagged and incomplete questions near the end
• Avoid perfectionism on early items—pace matters most

Final Buffer And Rapid Rechecks

Save a few minutes for a last pass. Focus on:

• Multi-select MCQs
• PBQs left open or partially done
• Questions with negatives like “except”

Use filters on the review screen to find flagged items, confirm PBQ instructions, and recover easy points. Even small corrections can push you closer to the CompTIA Security Plus test passing score.

Common Security+ Pitfalls And Fixes

Even strong preparation can be undermined by avoidable mistakes. Here are common traps to watch for and how to fix them before exam day.

PBQ Prompt Traps And Clarity

PBQs look like real job tasks, so details matter. Always:

• Read all instructions carefully
• Confirm naming, order of operations, and constraints
• Save partial progress if simulations allow revisits
• Practice common admin tasks to avoid hesitation

Multi-Step Scenario Fatigue And Focus

Long scenarios can drain focus. To stay sharp:

• Simulate extended runs during prep
• Use quick resets between tasks to restore attention
• Break PBQs into micro-steps and confirm each step
• Practice interleaving to switch tasks under time pressure

Low-Weight Topic Overstudy And Balance

The SY0-701 blueprint assigns 12–28% per domain. To keep balance:

• Prioritize high-weight areas like Security operations (28%) and Threats and mitigations (22%)
• Give minimum coverage to smaller domains
• Rotate topics weekly to maintain even exposure

Exam Objectives PDF And Alignment

The objectives PDF should guide all study. Use it to:

• Translate objectives into PBQ checklists
• Tag missed items from practice tests to exact objectives
• Plan spaced review sessions around those weak spots

Avoiding these pitfalls keeps your study aligned and increases your chances of reaching the Security Plus passing score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Exam-Ready With Expert Support

The Security Plus passing score sets the standard at 750, and reaching it takes focused preparation with the right guidance. Instead of guessing where to spend your time, you need training that mirrors the real exam and resources that keep you on track until test day.

Destination Certification provides exactly that. Our Live Online BootCamp gives you structured, instructor-led sessions built around CompTIA’s objectives, including PBQ practice and pacing strategies. Our Security+ Study Guide extends your prep with clear explanations and practice material you can revisit anytime.

Don’t leave your result to chance. Start your training with Destination Certification today and put yourself in the best position to earn your certification on the first attempt.