topic Re: CISSP Exam preparation in CISSP Study Group

CISSP Exam preparation

sireesha — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 17:09:48 GMT

Hi All,

I am new to this group. Is anyone getting ready for the CISSP certification?

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

JoshuaL — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 04:18:19 GMT

Hello! I'm open to connect. Let me know what are your thoughts on how you'd like to structure it.

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

ArunRamesh — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 20:09:18 GMT

Hello Sireesha,

I am preparing for CC and CISSP.

Level 1 of Chapters and Domains completed

Signed up with Flashcards and adding knowledge.

How is it going with you?

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

Yellowmarker54 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:53:41 GMT

Same here. Done with domain 1 today, which for me is the hardest. Still a lot to go until exam in beginning of November though! (I study after work and in weekends.) How is it going?

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

ArunRamesh — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:34:39 GMT

Right now, I am looking at sunflower cissp layout version 2.0 Maarten de Frankrijker, revised by Christian Reina, second revision by Steve Warnock. Which I retrieved from my archive documents and mostly referring to youtube videos for additional tutorial.

Checking if you/we have any enhanced/latest versions of sunflower cissp layout? Meanwhile, I am thinking to read the entire official study guide again, domain wise to prepare further.

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

nkeaton — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 02:07:17 GMT

@ArunRamesh I would recommend against YouTube videos as they often do not align with the actual exam objectives. The exception to that would be Prabh Nair’s Coffee Shots. I would also recommend Luke Ahmed’s How to Think Like a Manager. It better helps frame the mindset needed to answer exam questions correctly. If you have not done the CC, it is a good starting point to better prepare for the CISSP.

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

ArunRamesh — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 21:33:19 GMT

Yes, Thank you for suggestion.

I started referring to Prabh Nair’s Coffee Shots and looks good. I hope under drop down menu CISSP> Importance resource 2022 stands good for reference to take the exams in revised content in 2025?

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

Gopal — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 06:03:32 GMT

Hey all, I have just started with OSG, I'm currently in Domain 1, and planning to follow with official practice questions. If any open study groups, pls let me know. Following is my LinkedIn, dm me, thanks
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gopalakrishnan-entwickler/

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

ArunRamesh — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 21:34:00 GMT

@nkeaton Luke Ahmed is good learning. I finished kindle version of 169 pages.

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

nkeaton — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:29:25 GMT

@ArunRamesh. I know Luke and think the World of him and his training. I did find his How to Think Like a Manager really helped frame the mindset needed to answer the questions correctly for the CISSP. I did not use anything else of his but know that his practice questions are one of four would suggest. I used Wentz Wu’s. The other two are Thor’s and Boson.

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

shakeelahmed — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 19:47:21 GMT

I am in the process of preparing for my exam.

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

Fola — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 15:52:31 GMT

Hi, yes. How is your preparation going?

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

markorz — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:14:20 GMT

Hi, I'm open to a group study. I have many years of practical experience and just was awarded a 2025 ISC2 scholarship for a CISSP certification.

I passed the CC examination in early 2023 based on my award from the One Million Certified in Cybersecurity" Initiative.

In June of 2023 I attempted the CISSP examination and did not pass. I did well in 4 domains, OK in 2 domain and needs improvement in the last 2 domains.

I also just signed up to finish my Bachelors in Information technology in January and I'm hoping my certification preparation doesn't conflict with my school curriculum.

I've never been in a virtual study group and I'm excited to try this new learning platform.

What's your background?

Mark

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

markorz — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 18:13:50 GMT

I can tell you from someone who's taken and failed the CISSP examination, that I could not get through on sheer experience, memorization of questions and practice exams. I purchased subscriptions to a number of exam cram and simulated exams sites and had very high scores on everything.

When it came to the examination, on at least 25% of the questions I was totally in the dark.

Hopefully without violating my existing CC certification and ISC2 guidelines I can say there's a lot on software development lifecycles, project management, structured framework and principals that was a big part of the examination and knowing the best practices for a number of software development ecosystems was my downfall.

I have a colleague who recently graduated from a 4-year college in Computer Science and passed the examination without even studying. This showed me how much of the software development curriculum and securing these platforms was involved in the examination.

It does not appear that memorization of questions/answers will get you through the adaptive examination.

It will change questions and point values per question based on previous answers and can be very tricky if you start to answer high value questions.

I can say that after taking the exam and seeing my results, I believe my experience as a infrastructure & access engineer got me through 5 domains easily but the 6th & 7th domains I was just competent in and the 8th domain was focusing on SLDC gave me thew most trouble.

-Mark

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

Gopal — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:32:05 GMT

@markorz Thank you for sharing your experience. I believe you can ace it on the next attempt. May we know your study materials and exam simulators?

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

sireesha — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 12:52:50 GMT

I have completed the first three domains.

Re: CISSP Exam preparation

nkeaton — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 14:00:27 GMT

@markorzThat is definitely the hardest practice exam that you will ever take. 25% is about right as there are 25 beta/pre-test questions in the first 100. I wasn’t sure from your post if was the CC or CISSP that took since you mentioned CC but is a CISSP thread. I think passed the CC and then took the CISSP. I am glad that you are aware of the NDA that agreed to. My advice would be a little different depending on which one sat for. On both I always recommend keeping the exam objectives with you to enforce what are expected to know and to identify knowledge gaps. Best wishes.