Registered for PenTest+! Who else registered?

[NEODREAM]

Sat for this on Tuesday (2/6), and to echo everyone else in this thread it was definitely tougher than expected. The objectives PDF definitely gives a good indicator of the things you should be familiar with (scripting, tools, identifying vulns, etc.).

All in all it was a fun test! Excited for the results this summer!

[shochan]

However, I'll still say the CompTIA simulation questions are garbage. I absolutely hate their "lab" questions because of the test environment/computers. You're stuck with something displaying at 800x600, and everything has a scroll bar. It's just so... uncomfortable.

Totally agree with you...The simulations on the Cloud+ beta were horrible too. Having several popup boxes to shift back & forth on one screen was difficult & time consuming...Why can't they just try to fit it into one screen if the test centers don't have dual screens? ok, off the soapbox. CHEERS!

[GeekyChick]

So are there any benefits to taking a beta exam besides the price being so low? I'm assuming they will evaluate the exam results and determine what's a passing/failing grade. If you have a passing grade from the beta I guess you get the cert?? If you fail do they give you a discount on the official exam? Will CompTIA then adjust/change their official exam based on what the outcome of this is? I'm just curious how this works.

[EnderWiggin]

So are there any benefits to taking a beta exam besides the price being so low? I'm assuming they will evaluate the exam results and determine what's a passing/failing grade. If you have a passing grade from the beta I guess you get the cert?? If you fail do they give you a discount on the official exam? Will CompTIA then adjust/change their official exam based on what the outcome of this is? I'm just curious how this works.

The benefit to me is I enjoy taking the beta, because I can actually provide input on the exam. They do evaluate the results and make changes as necessary, then determine how to weight everything. Based on that, if you passed, you get the cert.

[_nessie_]

I guess you only have access to the beta exams if you have obtained a Comptia cert before?

[GeekyChick]

The benefit to me is I enjoy taking the beta, because I can actually provide input on the exam. They do evaluate the results and make changes as necessary, then determine how to weight everything. Based on that, if you passed, you get the cert.

Yes, good point. Not all benefits should be just for one's self. Although....if you could pass it for $50 that would be sweet.

[trojin]

I guess you only have access to the beta exams if you have obtained a Comptia cert before?

no
this could be your first Comptia exam

[K-9]

So are there any benefits to taking a beta exam besides the price being so low? I'm assuming they will evaluate the exam results and determine what's a passing/failing grade. If you have a passing grade from the beta I guess you get the cert?? If you fail do they give you a discount on the official exam? Will CompTIA then adjust/change their official exam based on what the outcome of this is? I'm just curious how this works.

I have taken a few beta exams from CompTIA. I just see it as a fun, cheap way to gauge my skills. No study guides available, so I just go for it and roll the dice. If you pass, you are certified. If not, you decide if you want to go after that cert later.

[trojin]

Just back from exam.
Its hard but doable.
I wont pass as I did not study at all. One month of study should be enough.
Lot of sims, code examples and log extracts. Very little theory.

[JDMurray]

There is nothing in the current PentTest+ objectives that refers to log files or interpreting logged events. The output of pentest tools would be the closest match. It may be that this beta exam is not a good representation of the PenTest+ objectives as currently published, but instead is more of focus group testing of specific types of exam items to determine which are best to include on the initial released of the PenTest+ exam.

For those looking for PenTest+ study material: http://www.pentest-standard.org/index.php/Main_Page

[ELSADDIQ]

Just signed up, but pushed it out to April. If you guys could keep us updated as you take the exam on what study materials you believe what be most beneficial that would be great. I'm currently using CEH books. Thanks and good luck to all.

[Mike7]

Here are the objectives;

https://certification.comptia.org/do...ives-(2-0).pdf

From listing of tools, the objectives seem comprehensive and up to date. Have signed up for this in March. FWIW, I was asked to do JTA (Job Task Analysis) for CPT+ last September.

[waffle cone]

Hi Guys,
I wish to register for the CompTIA Pentest Beta exam, but I have a doubt. Once I attend and pass the Beta exam, will I be considered as a successful candidate and get original certification/CPT+ Certified in future OR will I be given a Beta Certified/Certification OR do I have to take the exam again once it is comes out as a full certification.
Thankyou Guys.

[H3||scr3am]

Signed up and scheduled for April 7th.

@Wafflecone

Beta exams do not inform you of pass/fail when you complete them, they thank you for your participation and inform you that you will be notified at a later date of your status regarding this exam. Once they decide the passing scores and filter out any questions which were problematic/issues. They score all the exams and set the passing score cut off, and then notify all participants if they passed/failed based on the threshold they set. If you recieve a notice of a passing exam you will become fully certified for the CompTIA PenTest+, and assuming you keep up with any CE requirements, you'll never need to worry about it again.

[waffle cone]

Thankyou verymuch for clearing my doubt HellScream.

[backtothegrind]

About to register now... I'm just finishing up with OSCP so it should be interesting to see how Comptia did with this...

[jamshid666]

My son and I are both registered to take it on the 28th. I don't think I will pass this one, but it's only $50, so worth it for an early peak to see the format and content of the exam so I can focus my studies to take it for real sometime later.

[jeremywatts2005]

Just sat for the Pentest+ and it is a brutal exam if you don't know a lot of coding. Echoing what others have said it is tool heavy and the output of those tools. I have done Pentesting in the past but the way they used some of the tools and the way I used them varied. Read up folks read up on common pentesting tools

[PsychoData91]

so I've seen lots of people saying to know coding.

I've done stuff like .NET coding before as a job, and I'm doing a pretty good bit of powershell scripting.

Are these the kind of coding your talking about? or just coding in general like you might use in a pentest, or.... ?

As I study up before I sit, definitely planning to refresh on common pentest tools.

[shochan]

I've heard, Bash, Ruby, and Python...

[K-9]

Section 4.4 Given a scenario, analyze a basic script (limited to Bash, Python, Ruby, and PowerShell).

1. Logic
- Looping
- Flow control

2. I/O
- File vs. terminal vs. network

3. Substitutions

4. Variables

5. Common operations
-String operations
-Comparisons

6. Error handling

7. Arrays

8. Encoding/decoding

[JDMurray]

Also know the structure and functional components of programs in all four of those languages. Realize how scripting languages differ from pure programming languages. Understand some of the common "best practices" of writing in all four langs too. It may all come in handy.

[K-9]

It may all come in handy.

Understatement.

[bhuvanesh2016]

Where can i find the CompTIA Pentest+ pdf materials (Official)

or anything covers the complete contents of VA/PT!

[K-9]

On the CompTIA web site under PenTest+