The Setup
I am going to preface my article by saying that if you are expecting a success story with one of those "I passed at 100 questions!" or "I passed with only a month of studying!"...then you will be highly disappointed. You can get your fill on the CISSP subreddit. If you're still here, know that preparing for the CISSP had me questioning whether I could actually get it done. You may be reading this as you prepare to take the CISSP exam and are looking for any glimmers of hope before dedicating 3 hours of your life to this adaptive exam. I want you to know that it's okay to feel the way you are because it is a very difficult exam and requires you to change your approach, since it is nothing like any CompTIA exam you may have already taken. It requires a different mindset.
My journey with the CISSP started back in 2022. I purchased the ninth edition of the official study guide and practice test bundle. I hyped myself up for attempting to tackle a feat as great as the CISSP by posting on LinkedIn and holding up both books like they were championship belts, much like Roman Reigns did when he carried both the WWE Championship and the WWE Universal Championship. I knew it was going to be difficult, but I went for it anyway. I don't shy away from challenges, as I thrive on them. Mind you, this is after finishing my Doctorate in Cybersecurity in late 2021.
A little background on me: I have worked with computers and in the IT/Cybersecurity field for over 20 years; I hold multiple certifications, including Network+, CySA+, and PMP. I hold a Bachelor's in Computer Information Systems, a Master's in Cybersecurity, and my aforementioned Doctorate in Information Technology w/a specialization in Cybersecurity. I run my own online study hall via Discord called the Command Line under my LLC, Tallawah Cyber. I have worked in the government space, including four years in the Air Force over 24 years. I have worked in various government agencies, such as the Veterans Affairs hospital and the DoD Cyber Crime Center, and currently work within one of the U.S. 3-letter intelligence agencies (I could tell you, but then I'd have to… you know. Let's move on, shall we? 🙂). Did we just become best friends? Ok, cool, so let's dig into the prep for this monster of an exam.
Got the Tools and the Talent
After success with my study hall, where multiple members and I passed certification exams, including the PMP, CySA+, AWS, and more, the CISSP was the ultimate test. As I shared earlier, I got things going in 2022. In my study hall, we would tackle at least 30 questions for an hour, 2-3 nights a week. But before we started practicing questions, we watched the CISSP course by Pete Zerger together on YouTube. On my own, I watched other free YouTube resources, such as the Destination Certification mind map playlist, Andrew Ramdayal's 50 CISSP practice questions, and any other CISSP-related videos I found useful. As far as books, I have so many damn CISSP books that it doesn't make any sense. I have the CISSP Official Study Guide bundles for both the ninth and tenth editions because I was shook that I was missing important material in the latest release, the Destination Certification concise guide, and the CISSP all-in-one textbook, which felt like an encyclopedia!
The three resources that stood out the most to me for my prep were Pocket Prep, Quantum Exams, and LearnZapp. I completed all the questions from Pocket Prep first, then moved on, going back and forth between LearnZapp and Quantum Exams. Below is my personal assessment of the three platforms. Will you agree? Probably not. The aim of this article is not to convince you of one platform over the other; this is my personal experience that led to my CISSP win, so feel free to use it as you see fit.
Pocket Prep
Of the three, I believe Pocket Prep has the best user interface (UI), giving it a very modern feel and keeping you engaged with periodic study reminders and motivational support for exam dates. Additionally, with the recent AI updates, it does a great job of providing deeper explanations for your questions during your review. Pocket Prep works perfectly at home on your desktop or on the go with its app. So let's say you're out at a restaurant, waiting for your meal. You can knock out 10 quick questions and do a review right after, or go back to it when you're free again. You also have a Question of the Day feature that you can set the time according to your schedule and answer it before the day is over. The platform also keeps track of your answered-questions streak, so don't miss a day!
In my opinion, the Pocket Prep questions are good for keeping your brain sharp for locking in the CISSP-related terminology or ensuring you know your Wi-Fi standards or what port number SSH is (that's 22, by the way 😁). I don't say this as a bad thing; it's just what it is. I don't see Pocket Prep being close to what you'd see on the exam in terms of question construction and rigor, but it still serves its purpose and is very helpful for your exam preparation.
Quantum Exams
I learned about Quantum Exams after spending a lot of time lurking in the CISSP subreddit and reading all the 'I passed' posts. Now, not every post credited Quantum Exams, but the majority of the posts I read heavily attributed their exam success to Quantum Exams, and I understood why when I started using the platform myself.
Quantum Exams is a very no-frills type of website. At the time of this writing, it does not have a mobile app, and the question bank capped out at ~600 questions. Don't get it twisted…QE is the TRUTH! 😅 The newest feature of the Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) gives you the closest feel to the real exam in terms of structure and rigor. You can practice with the CAT version, where you have 3 hours to complete the exam with 100-150 questions, just like the real exam. You also have the non-CAT version, which still includes adaptive features but doesn't time you. In my opinion, QE is an excellent resource to leverage in your CISSP prep. Given the smaller question bank, I recommend holding off on using Quantum until towards the end of your prep so you avoid seeing repeat questions and building a false sense of security that you're doing better than you really are.
LearnZapp
Here we are, good people. The last review of the Big 3. LearnZapp. This platform played a pivotal role in my prep. LearnZapp encompasses both a desktop version and a mobile app, which is great for maintaining continuity when you're on the move. They recently made some updates to their UI, which I believe makes it much easier to navigate and keep you engaged on the app. It also has a Question of the Day streak tracker and provides very detailed explanations for your practice questions. As for the questions, I didn't feel they were too easy; they were a mix of technical and managerial questions, varying from rote memory to scenario-based questions.
One area that always seems to be the point of discussion when it comes to LearnZapp is the readiness score. It is the meter you see first when you log in to your account, resembling a gas tank meter. Some people feel your readiness score needs to be at a certain point before you take the exam, while others say not to put much stock in it. For me, I'm somewhere in the middle. My readiness score was 82% when I took the exam, but I have seen some Reddit posts where others have passed with much lower scores. There are likely other factors at play, such as the individual's overall experience and how many questions they answered on the platform, but that's a research paper for another day. My advice is, if you feel you have a good command of the material, the readiness score shouldn't sway you. Trust your prep.
0-0 Mindset: Stay Desperate
Let's set the stage…it's 20 July 2026. Exam day. This is my third attempt at this monster of an exam, but I changed my preparation leading up to it. I didn't go frantic by cramming a bunch of questions or by bringing my textbook and notes with me to the site, as I did on my previous two attempts. This time, I did…nothing. Well, maybe not entirely nothing, but I didn't drive myself crazy before the big day. I conducted a light review of some areas, and that's all I did. I kept myself relaxed as I watched a couple of episodes of the second season of X-Men '97 (great show, by the way!). I wanted to keep my brain relaxed and ready to go, not overworked when I needed it most. 🧠
I chose the same site in DC where I failed previously. I did this on purpose cause I wanted to get a win in that building. I treated it like it was the NBA Finals, and I was on the road trying to get a difficult win. I was very confident because I trusted the time I invested; I trusted my prep. At this point, you either know it or you don't. No amount of cramming will save you. One thing I noticed that told me I was ready was that I reached a point where I could dissect the question and its answer choices and put myself in that scenario. Most of the time, I was able to eliminate at least two answer choices because they just would not apply in that scenario, and then make the best choice from there. Working within my study hall, being able to explain to someone, which felt like you were teaching, is a great measure of your readiness with the material, in my opinion.
After checking in, I'm at my workstation and start the exam. I still feel very confident and calm as I evaluate and answer each question at a steady, consistent pace. I felt so good that I figured I would finish in 100 questions. I answered the 100th question, and… the exam continues to 101! That was the first time I lost a little confidence. However, I knew I had to press on. I answered question 120, and the same; the exam was not done yet. Once the exam kept going after 140, I knew I was in it till the end, so I just had to maintain focus and answer the questions to the best of my ability. After I answered the final question at 150, I honestly did not know whether I had passed.
I completed the post-exam survey, and the proctor came by to close out my workstation and escort me to the front to retrieve my results. The proctor reached over to the printer, takes a glimpse at the results, folded the paper in half, and handed it over to me. Let me tell you, the way the proctor looked at me when she handed me the results, I thought I was doomed. She had no emotion whatsoever, so it was hard for me to tell what my fate would be. I thought to myself, damn... another L. I absolutely refused to open the results in front of her, so after I got my things from the locker, I went out into the hallway, opened up the paper, and the first word said, Congratulations.
Knicks in 5
Anyone prepping for this exam: while it's HARD, it's not impossible. I locked in on my 3rd attempt, and I have to shout out my coach, Doresha Blackwell, CISSP, who gave me the push I needed. If not for her, I'd still be acting shook to schedule the exam. Everyone needs someone in their circle to push them past their fear and get it done. Believe me, it's scary trying to conquer this exam, and not a great feeling to fail it either. However, you are 100% guaranteed to stay in the same spot if you don't try. So find someone who will keep you accountable and prevent you from staying in the same place.
Leading up to the exam, I watched New York Knicks Guard and NBA Champion, Mikal Bridges' post-game interview after the Knicks went up 2-0 in the Finals, essentially on a loop. He stressed the importance of having that 0-0 mentality and staying desperate. He had failed in the Finals before as a member of the Phoenix Suns against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, and refused to let that happen again. For further context, the Suns were up 2-0 in that Finals, but they let their foot off the gas, and the Bucks won 4 straight games to become NBA champions. For the Knicks, they embodied that 0-0 mindset, and they became the 2025-26 NBA champions in 5 games over the San Antonio Spurs, 4 games to 1 (4-1).
The 0-0 mentality in the Cyber context means that if you didn't do well on your CISSP practice test, don't let it linger. 0-0, reset, and attack again the next day. Did you have a high score in Quantum Exams? 0-0. Doesn't matter. Reattack with the same desperation the next day. Don't allow yourself to get too high or too low. Maintain that same intensity, and you'll see the results you desire!
0-0; Stay Desperate. 🟧🟦🗽🏆
Dr. Joseph J. Burt-Miller Jr. shared this story with us after passing his CISSP, and we're publishing it in his own words, with his permission, to help other candidates. If LearnZapp was part of how you passed, we'd love to hear from you.
