Post-Exam: What to Do If You Fail
Failing sucks. But a large share of first-time Security+ test-takers don't pass on their first attempt, so you're not alone. Here's what to do next.
Step 1: Read Your Score Report (Today)
Your score report shows your performance by domain. It won't tell you which questions you got wrong, but it'll show something like:
- Domain 1: ✓ (above passing)
- Domain 2: ✗ (below passing)
- Domain 3: ✓
- Domain 4: ✗
- Domain 5: ✓
This tells you exactly where to focus. Don't re-study domains you passed — that's wasted time.
Step 2: Take a Break (1–3 Days)
Don't immediately start studying again. You're frustrated and burned out. Take 2–3 days off. Come back fresh.
Step 3: Adjust Your Study Plan (Days 4–7)
- Focus 80% of your time on the domains you failed
- Get a different practice question source — your brain may have memorised patterns from the old one
- Do practice questions exclusively for the first few days — you've already learned the material; you need to practice applying it
Step 4: Retake (2–3 Weeks Later)
CompTIA sets a mandatory waiting period before a retake — check the current retake policy at comptia.org. Schedule your retake a few weeks out — close enough to retain what you know, far enough to genuinely improve on your weak domains.
Step 5: Adjust Your Technique
If you ran out of time, work on pacing. If you narrowed to two answers and picked wrong, work on elimination technique. The score report + your gut feeling about the exam will tell you what went wrong.
The Right Mindset
A failed first attempt with a focused retake often leads to a stronger pass than a first-time squeaker. You now know what the real exam feels like — that's an advantage most first-timers don't have.