topic Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam? in Exam Preparation

can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

Jeroen_1 — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:33:45 GMT

Hi,

the CISSP exam is adaptive but if you encounter a question where you really don't know what the answer is... should you not select an answer or guess?

Can you even skip a question?

Best regards,
Jeroen

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

dcontesti — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 11:30:18 GMT

Morning,

I think the best folk to answer this one would be the Test Development staff. @tldutton can you advise on this one?

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

abhattac5 — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 21:10:18 GMT

Hi @Jeroen_1 - having taken both CISSP and CCSP exams, I think that you are required to answer every question (although I could be mistaken). The reason is the computer-adaptive engine can only calibrate the band of difficulty by whether or not questions from the previous band were correct or incorrect. Granted, I never tried this on the actual exams I took, but from what I recall, the option to click "Next" didn't light up and become active until I put in an answer on the prior question.

Beyond that, even if you're stumped (as I was on many, many questions for both exams), why would you skip anyway? I would surmise that even a well thought out guess is better than nothing at all!

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

CEMyers — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 22:20:34 GMT

Adaptive exam - get it right = "OK on this subject"; get it wrong = "test more on this subject";

So always better to provide best informed response (even if wrong, it will help shape additional questions provided to you).

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

AndreaMoore — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 15:46:27 GMT

Questions must be answered and cannot be skipped and returned to later.

More information and Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Computerized Adaptive Testing method can be found: https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CISSP/CISSP-CAT

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

EmperorDivine — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 19:06:51 GMT

Please Help I Want To Reschedule My CC Exam. How Can I Do It.

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

AndreaMoore — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:19:37 GMT

@EmperorDivine

@EmperorDivine wrote:
Please Help I Want To Reschedule My CC Exam. How Can I Do It.

https://www.isc2.org/Exams/Before-Your-Exam

Rescheduling or Cancelling an Exam

Once you schedule your exam, you have up to 365 days to reschedule and sit for your exam.

To reschedule or cancel your exam appointment, you must contact Pearson VUE:

Online at least 48 hours prior to your exam or
By phone at least 24 hours before your exam

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

Jeroen_1 — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 07:35:16 GMT

thanks for that link, very helpful!

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

tldutton — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 15:04:15 GMT

On all of our exams, the CISSP computerized adaptive testing (CAT) exam AND all of the linear exams, you can't go back to a previous question. You can also see the same answer in our FAQ section, https://www.isc2.org/Frequently-Asked-Questions.

Many of our current linear exams will move to CAT over the next few years.

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

denbesten — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 21:53:17 GMT

@tldutton wrote:
you can't go back to a previous question. ... https://www.isc2.org/Frequently-Asked-Questions.

I nearly fell into the trap of responding with the same FAQ, but upon more careful reading, I realized the FAQ does not answer the question at hand. The FAQ answers skipping a question with the intent of answering later but does not answer the question of permanently skipping it. The frequent answer might be better phrased "...neither exam type allows for candidates to skip a question ~~and~~ or return to it later."

The inability to skip does moot the original poster's second question of if one is penalized more greatly for an incorrect answer than for no answer.

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

Early_Adopter — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 23:20:01 GMT

IMHO Multi-guess exams are easier if you can go back and change an answer - CAT really rewards more care in initial answers.

Does ISC still offer invigilated paper based exams? If so it would seem that enforcing not going back on these would be tricky, maybe take away rubbers..? 😛

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

tldutton — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 19:27:22 GMT

No plans on EVER going back to paper-based exams. I took my CISSP exam back in 2009 and it was on paper; a definite beast.

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

raganldavis — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 23:46:35 GMT

Do you have to pass all the questions in each domain to be able to pass? I was told that you have to be proficient in ALL domains to pass.

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

abhattac5 — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 18:42:04 GMT

While it's not clear whether you have to pass all of the domains, it seems clear to me that you definitely have to come close. Whatever it takes to get to the scaled score of 700, which mathematically would mean that at least proficiency in most of the domains would be required.

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

CEMyers — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 13:28:51 GMT

If you consider that the CISSP is not domain specific, but gives members a good grounding across all the domains, why would you not be expected to attain a level of proficiency across all?

Anything else would be a domain specific qualification (isee CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSEP, CISSP-ISSMP)

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

denbesten — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 14:51:00 GMT

@raganldavis wrote:
Do you have to pass all the questions in each domain to be able to pass?

From the FAQ:

Q: Does a candidate need to score “Above Proficiency” in all domains in order to pass the exam?
A: No. Candidates must score above proficiency level in order to pass the exam. However, a candidate does not need to score above the proficiency level in each area of the test plan to pass the exam. A single pass/fail result is calculated on the total of all operational items administered for the examination. ISC2 exams are compensatory exams which allow for a higher number of items answered correctly in one domain to compensate for a lower performance in another domain. If a candidate performs very well in a more heavily weighted domain where a high number of items are included on the exam and only performs “near proficiency” or even “below proficiency,” in a lesser weighted domain where a fewer number of items are included, there is a possibility that a candidate may pass the exam, but there is no guarantee.

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

Imran_sdq — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:36:20 GMT

Is there a button to save answer to finalize it? or if i click on a choice A, B, C, D, my answer shall be saved? My question, if i select an answer, can i change it immediately before going to the next?

Thanks

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

Early_Adopter — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 01:07:09 GMT

Not sure how the new tests work without the ability to review questions. Somebody with more recent experience might be able to help. There are different types of questions so I’d assume enter answer/submit is most likely the way to go here.

There should however be an example question or similar before you start the exam proper - the most important thing you really need to consider is that there is no review anymore, so getting the answer correct first time is critical.

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

Randy-JH — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 21:34:47 GMT

You skip a question when you're not sure of the answer. Later, reading other questions, there may be a reference or an epiphany on a previously skipped question. You CANNOT change or skip any questions or change any answers.

Re: can you not select an answer on CISSP exam?

Randy-JH — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 21:47:52 GMT

Toys exam made me feel utterly powerless and therefore was very debilitating, emotionally and intellectually. I've passed most of my certification exams by study and memorization. It's not fair to charge new applicants $750 that will just shut down before you can go back and answer questions that were skipped due to time or because of a temporary memory lapse. The test feels like an old middle school bully who sits on your chest while you're trying to breathe. I've never felt more alone, powerless, and scared that I just spent 3 quarters of a thousand dollars 💸 and have absolutely nothing to show for it. Another case of perfect being the enemy of the good, even though it isn't flawless.