Study plan
How to Pass the CompTIA PenTest+ Exam
A study plan for the CompTIA PenTest+ certification exam, built from the official domain weights instead of a generic template. Use an iterative approach. Build a home lab with VirtualBox, Kali Linux, Metasploitable, and a vulnerable web application such as DVWA or Juice Shop. Practice each phase on realistic targets and write detailed reports. Review the official exam objectives and spend extra time on vulnerability discovery and exploitation. Take practice exams to build speed and comfort with performance-based questions. Use flashcards for ports, tools, and command syntax.
- 5 domains
- 90 questions
- 165 min
- 83% to pass
certilumStudy in weight order, not topic order
The plan below follows the official blueprint weights, so the order of study is the order that returns the most points.
- 1
Attacks and Exploits
35%- Exploiting web application vulnerabilities including injection and XSS
- Exploiting network services, protocols, and misconfigurations
- Performing password attacks, credential harvesting, and brute force
- Executing client-side attacks, phishing, and social engineering
- +4 more topics in the blueprint
31 practice questions tagged to this domain.
- 2
Reconnaissance and Enumeration
21%- Passive reconnaissance using open-source intelligence (OSINT)
- Active reconnaissance techniques and network footprinting
- Network discovery, host scanning, and port enumeration
- Service enumeration and protocol banner analysis
- +4 more topics in the blueprint
19 practice questions tagged to this domain.
- 3
Vulnerability Discovery and Analysis
17%- Vulnerability scanning methodologies and scheduling
- Using Nessus, OpenVAS, and Qualys for automated scanning
- Manual security assessment and secure code review
- Analyzing scan results, validating findings, and reducing false positives
- +4 more topics in the blueprint
15 practice questions tagged to this domain.
- 4
Post-Exploitation and Lateral Movement
14%- Maintaining persistent access and covert installations
- Performing privilege escalation on Windows and Linux
- Moving laterally across networks and managing sessions
- Clearing logs, covering tracks, and avoiding detection
- +3 more topics in the blueprint
13 practice questions tagged to this domain.
- 5
Engagement Management
13%- Planning and scoping penetration test engagement objectives
- Establishing legal, regulatory, and compliance boundaries
- Defining rules of engagement, permissions, and authorization
- Selecting assessment methodologies and testing frameworks
- +4 more topics in the blueprint
12 practice questions tagged to this domain.
Three phases, in order
Most failures are process failures, not knowledge failures.
Phase 1 — Learn the high-weight domains
Start where the points are. The first domains on this plan carry the most weight, so a gap there costs the most. Cover the objectives, then close each topic with practice questions you actually get wrong.
Phase 2 — Close the mid-weight domains
The middle of the blueprint is where most candidates plateau. These domains are worth less per topic than the first phase, but they add up fast, and they are the usual difference between a near miss and a clear pass.
Phase 3 — Timed full mocks
Stop reading new material at this point. Run full-length exams under the real time limit and the real format, and use the per-domain breakdown to find which domain is still costing you the pass.
Where we put the emphasis
Certilum courses emphasize guided labs, attack simulations, and official objective mapping. Learners receive structured modules for each domain, practical labs for tools, and exam-style performance tasks. This approach reduces study time and builds job-ready penetration testing skills.
The order matters less than the loop. Every domain you finish should end with questions you got wrong, because the mistake is the only thing you actually needed to study. On the CompTIA PenTest+ that loop is worth 35% of the exam in the first block alone.
More about the CompTIA PenTest+ exam
Explore the rest of this page series: format, cost, difficulty, requirements and how to prepare.
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Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the CompTIA PenTest+ exam.