Exam format
Certified Red Team Specialist Exam Format
Everything the official exam blueprint specifies: question count, time limit, scoring and the weight each domain carries. The CREST Certified Red Team Specialist (CCRTS) certification is an advanced hands-on qualification designed for experienced penetration testers and security professionals aiming to specialize in red teaming. It validates the candidate's ability to plan, execute, and report on full-scope adversarial simulations that mimic real-world threat actors. The exam emphasizes deep technical proficiency in exploitation, lateral movement, and evasion techniques, as well as the strategic and communication skills necessary to lead complex engagements. Candidates must demonstrate mastery across multiple domains, from initial reconnaissance and intelligence gathering to advanced post-exploitation and C2 infrastructure management. The certification is globally recognized, particularly in regulated industries, and serves as a benchmark for senior red team roles. Successful candidates prove they can operate under realistic constraints, adapt to dynamic defenses, and deliver high-quality intelligence to improve organizational security posture.
- 60 questions
- 66% to pass
- 5 domains
certilumExam facts at a glance
The published specifications for this certification.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 60 |
| Time limit | Not published by the vendor |
| Passing score | 66% — Written exam: multiple choice 'at least two thirds or 40 marks', written scenario 'at least two thirds or 80 marks'; practical exam: Red Team Assault Course 'at least two thirds or 120 marks', Red Team Tactics/Tradecraft and Operational Security 'at least half of the marks available in this section or 60 marks' - 'Passing one of the sections but failing the other one will result in a failure overall' |
| Domains | 5 |
| Level | Expert |
| Question bank here | 60 questions |
| Published format | Not published by the provider as a total question count; official format: written exam of 3 hours (multiple-choice test 1 hour, worth 60 marks, plus written scenario 2 hours, worth 120 marks) and a separate practical exam of 3 hours (assault course worth 180 marks plus operational security/tradecraft worth 120 marks), each with 15 minutes reading time |
| Source | Official exam specification, published by the vendor |
Official domain weights
The percentage of the exam each domain carries. Weight your revision by these numbers, not by what you find hardest.
| Domain | Weight | Topics | Practice Qs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting and Communication | 15% |
| 9 |
| Adversary Emulation and TTPs | 20% |
| 12 |
| Exploitation and Post-Exploitation | 30% |
| 18 |
| Planning, Scoping, and Legal Compliance | 15% |
| 9 |
| Reconnaissance and Intelligence Gathering | 20% |
| 12 |
The heaviest domain is Reporting and Communication at 15%, and that is where lost points cost you the most. Certilum scores you per domain so you can see the difference between a knowledge gap and a formatting problem.
Note from the vendor record: Issuer confirmed as CREST (International); the credential is active and was formerly titled CREST Certified Simulated Attack Specialist (CCSAS). CREST states 'There are no pre-requisites to the CCRTS exam'; the written component is taken at Pearson VUE and the practical component in the CREST exam environment (files pre-uploaded via CRESTDrive), with MC results available immediately and other results within 20 days / 24-48 hours respectively. The credential is described as a critical requirement of the Bank of England CBEST scheme and the qualification is valid for three years. Caveat: fee is published at Certified level, not per exam, and exam parts must be booked separately. Official exam page
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Everything you need to know about the Certified Red Team Specialist exam.