Everything you need to know about how the SY0-701 exam is structured — questions, time, scoring, and exactly how the marks are distributed.
A maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes at a Pearson VUE test centre or online. The exam mixes multiple-choice items with performance-based questions (PBQs) — interactive tasks such as configuring a firewall rule set or matching attacks to logs. Scores run from 100 to 900 and 750 passes. Domains: General Security Concepts (12%), Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (22%), Security Architecture (18%), Security Operations (28%) and Security Program Management and Oversight (20%). SY0-701 launched in November 2023; CompTIA lists its English retirement for June 11, 2027 (other languages August 13, 2027) as the next version arrives. ExamDeck simulates the multiple-choice part; PBQs are hands-on and are not reproduced.
CompTIA publishes how the 90 questions are distributed (CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Exam Objectives). Weight your preparation to match — this is the single most useful planning fact:
| Domain | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Security Operations | 28% | |
| Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations | 22% | |
| Security Program Management and Oversight | 20% | |
| Security Architecture | 18% | |
| General Security Concepts | 12% |
Security Operations is the heaviest at 28% — most candidates under-weight it.
6 free questions · explanation for every option · per-area readiness · no dumps.
Start free →Take SY0-701 now if you can be ready before mid-2027. CompTIA lists June 11, 2027 as the English retirement date for SY0-701, and the certification you earn is valid for three years regardless of which exam version you passed.
PBQs are interactive items — configuring a rule set, ordering incident-response steps, matching log lines to attacks. ExamDeck covers the underlying knowledge with scenario questions, but the drag-and-drop interface itself is not reproduced; use CompTIA's exam sandbox to see the format.
Security+ is one of the certifications listed for DoD 8140 work roles, which is why it appears as a hard requirement in many US federal and contractor postings. Check the specific role's requirement, as some now accept alternatives.
A maximum of 90 questions in 90 minutes at a Pearson VUE test centre or online.
The passing score is 750 on a scale of 100–900 (roughly 83%). Aim for a consistent 80–85% on realistic practice exams before booking.
CompTIA does not publish official pass rates, so any exact percentage quoted online is unverified. The readiness signal that actually predicts passing: consistently holding 80–85% on realistic, full-length practice exams before you book.
No prerequisites — anyone can buy a voucher and schedule the exam. CompTIA recommends holding Network+ and having two years of experience in a security or systems administrator role; many candidates pass with less, using structured study.
The US list price is $439 USD per attempt (CompTIA raised prices in June 2026 — verify on comptia.org; prices differ by country, and academic-store and training-partner vouchers cost less). Renewal through Continuing Education carries a $50 USD annual CE fee ($150 over the three-year cycle).
For most candidates, commonly reported 60–100 hours for candidates with some IT background (CompTIA publishes no official figure). What matters most is practising questions and analysing why each option is right or wrong — not just reading.
valid for 3 years; renew with 50 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) plus the CE fee, by passing the latest Security+ exam, or by earning a higher-level CompTIA certification.
No — every question is original, written to test the concepts and reviewed before it ships, with an explanation linked to the source for every option. Dumps are stale, often wrong, and against CompTIA's policies.