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After the Exam

(ISC)²® no longer releases the numeric score of students who fail the exam (as they once did). Pass or fail, you will not know your numeric score: “(ISC)²® does not report to candidates the number of questions they answered correctly or the overall percentage of questions they answered correctly; however, failing candidates are provided with the rank ordering of domains based on their percentage of questions answered correctly in each domain of the examination”[^7]. If you do fail, use that list to hone your studies, focusing on your weak domains. Then retake the exam. Do not let a setback like this prevent you from reaching your goal. We all suffer adversity in our lives: how we respond is what is important. The exam’s current retake policy is:

Test-free days between retake attempts:

  • If you don’t pass the exam on your first attempt, you may retest after 30 test-free days.
  • If you don’t pass the exam on your second attempt, you may retest after 60 test-free days from your most recent exam attempt.
  • If you don’t pass the exam on your third attempt and for all subsequent retakes, you may retest after 90 test-free days from your most recent exam attempt.

Per certification program, at a maximum you may attempt an (ISC)²® exam up to 4 times within a 12-month period[^8].

Once you pass the exam, you will need to be endorsed by another CISSP® before earning the title “CISSP®”; (ISC)²® will explain this process to you in the email they send with your passing results.

Good Luck!

We live in an increasingly certified world, and information security is growing into a full profession. Becoming a CISSP® can provide tremendous career benefits, as it has for the authors’ team.

The exam is not easy, but worthwhile things rarely are. Investing in an appreciating asset is always a good idea: you are investing in yourself. Good luck: we look forward to welcoming you to the club!