The CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 has no shortage of practice exam resources, but quality varies significantly. The real exam is scenario-based and includes performance-based questions (PBQs) that require more than recall. Choosing resources that reflect this format is the difference between arriving prepared and arriving surprised.
What Makes a Good Security+ Practice Exam
Before comparing options, it's worth understanding what the SY0-701 actually tests:
Scenario-based questions: The real exam rarely asks "define least privilege." It asks "an organisation wants to restrict employees to the minimum system access required for their role. Which principle should guide the access control policy?" Practice questions that use this format build the right reasoning patterns.
Performance-based questions (PBQs): The SY0-701 includes PBQs at the start of the exam. These are interactive scenarios: you might drag and drop security controls, configure a firewall rule set, or analyse a log file. Not all practice resources include PBQ-style questions, but the ones that do give you a realistic sense of what to expect.
All five domains: Security Operations (28%), Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (22%), Security Program Management and Oversight (20%), Security Architecture (18%), General Security Concepts (12%). Resources that over-index on one domain leave gaps.
Clear explanations: Wrong answers on the real Security+ are often correct security practices applied in the wrong context. Good explanations address why each option is right or wrong, not just what the correct answer is.
The Main Options
Professor Messer (Free Video Course + Practice Exams)
Professor Messer's SY0-701 video course is free, comprehensive, and widely regarded as one of the best Security+ study resources available. He also sells practice exam bundles.
Price: Video course is free. Practice exams are $39 USD for a bundle of 5 exams.
Strengths: The video course is exceptionally good as a theory resource. The practice exams are well-written and cover all five domains. Professor Messer has been creating Security+ content through multiple exam versions and knows what the exam tests.
Weaknesses: The PBQ coverage in the practice exams is limited. The practice exam interface is simple.
Best for: Candidates who want a high-quality free theory resource and solid multiple-choice practice.
Jason Dion (Udemy)
Jason Dion's SY0-701 practice exams on Udemy are a popular choice, frequently updated and covering 750+ questions across multiple practice tests.
Price: $85 USD list price; typically under $20 during Udemy's regular sales.
Strengths: Large question bank. Regularly updated to reflect exam changes. Includes some PBQ-style questions. Performance tracking by domain.
Weaknesses: Some questions are more straightforward than the real exam. A few questions in the bank contain minor errors that have been flagged by the community. The sheer volume can lead to diminishing returns if you're drilling questions rather than studying explanations.
Best for: Candidates who want a large question bank to drill through, particularly when available at the discounted Udemy sale price.
Darril Gibson (Mike Meyers / Mike Chapple)
Mike Chapple and David Seidl's "CompTIA Security+ Study Guide" (Sybex) includes a practice exam bank and is widely used in formal study paths. Mike Meyers also has Security+ content on Total Seminars.
Price: $40–60 USD for the book (includes practice exam access); Total Seminars subscription $40/year.
Strengths: The Sybex study guide provides thorough domain coverage alongside the practice questions. Good for candidates who prefer structured book-based learning.
Weaknesses: Book-based practice exams tend to be less interactive than online platforms. PBQ coverage is limited.
Best for: Candidates who prefer a traditional study approach with a comprehensive reference alongside practice questions.
CompTIA Official CertMaster Practice
CompTIA's own CertMaster Practice platform provides an adaptive question bank aligned to the SY0-701 objectives.
Price: Around $119–149 USD.
Strengths: Questions are from CompTIA directly. Adaptive learning identifies weak areas. The interface is polished.
Weaknesses: Expensive relative to alternatives with similar or better quality. Some candidates find the interface more useful for gap identification than for exam-realistic practice.
Best for: Candidates who want CompTIA's official questions and are willing to pay the premium.
TechPracticeExams
Our SY0-701 practice questions are available in six sets of 20 questions, all scenario-based and written to reflect the real exam format. Detailed explanations cover every answer option. The first set is completely free.
Price: First set free; full access from $9.99.
Strengths: Free to try before purchasing. Scenario-based questions across all five domains. Explanations address why each answer option is right or wrong. Progress tracking. Mobile-friendly. Money-back guarantee.
Weaknesses: No PBQ simulation (drag-and-drop or interactive scenarios). Smaller total question count than Jason Dion's bank.
Best for: Candidates who want to assess question quality before committing to a resource, and candidates who prefer scenario-focused practice over volume.
Recommended Study Approach
The SY0-701 performance-based questions require hands-on thinking that multiple-choice practice alone cannot fully prepare you for. The most effective preparation combines:
- Theory: Professor Messer's free video course as the primary theory resource. Complete all modules — the governance and compliance domain is easy to skip and will cost you marks.
- Multiple-choice practice: Use practice exams throughout your study, not just at the end. Start practicing after completing each domain module to test understanding.
- PBQ preparation: Research Security+ PBQ question types (log analysis, firewall configuration, network diagram labelling) and find interactive labs or scenarios to practice with.
- Final mock exams: In the final 1–2 weeks, take full timed practice exams (90 questions, 90 minutes) to simulate real exam conditions.
The Most Important Factor
The SY0-701 punishes candidates who treat it as a memorisation exam. Scenario-based questions and PBQs reward understanding. When you review practice questions, read every explanation — especially for questions you answered correctly. Understanding why each wrong answer is wrong is what builds the pattern recognition to handle novel scenarios on exam day.