LEARNING RESOURCES Professor Messer Practice Exams Review 2026
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Current provider information

Professor Messer’s SY0-701 Security+ practice-exam listing includes written performance-based questions. Written practice is different from an interactive simulator; review the sample for your exam version. Messer’s public CompTIA course navigation lists A+, Network+ and Security+. Other certifications need dedicated resources. Check current prices, samples and access terms.

• Official provider reference 1
• Official provider reference 2

Question Quality Analysis

Professor Messer practice exam questions are generally well-written and align with his teaching style:

Strengths:

• Questions match current exam objectives
• Difficulty level approximates real exam complexity
• Detailed explanations teach concepts, not just answers
• Wording style prepares you for CompTIA question phrasing
• Cover breadth of exam domains proportionally

Accuracy Assessment: Questions are vetted by Professor Messer and his team, ensuring technical accuracy. The explanations reference the same concepts covered in his free videos, creating consistency.

Real Exam Alignment: Community feedback suggests Professor Messer questions are slightly easier than actual CompTIA exams. Candidates scoring 85%+ on these practice tests generally feel prepared for the real exam.

Professor Messer’s SY0-701 Security+ practice exams include written performance-based questions. Review the sample for your exam version and add hands-on practice. This guide does not establish a fixed PBQ count or score share.

Question Style: Questions test knowledge recall and concept application. You'll see:

• Direct knowledge questions ("What port does HTTPS use?")
• Scenario-based application ("A user reports slow network speeds. What should you check first?")
• Best practice questions ("What is the recommended approach for...")
• Troubleshooting sequences ("Given this symptom, what's the most likely cause?")

Is the current listed price Good Value for Practice Exams?

Let's analyze Professor Messer practice exam value compared to alternatives:

Cost Per Question Analysis:

• Professor Messer: $30 ÷ 270 questions ≈ $0.11 per question for the listed SY0-701 digital product
• Boson ExamSim: $99 ÷ 450 questions = $0.22 per question
• Jason Dion (Udemy): $20 course includes ~600 questions = $0.03 per question (but course + practice combined)

What the current listed price Gets You Elsewhere:

• PrepForCerts: Free tier provides unlimited daily practice for 25+ certifications
• ExamCompass: Completely free with 6,000+ questions (no explanations)
• Udemy courses during sales: Often include video training + practice exams for $15-20

Value Proposition: Professor Messer practice exams are reasonably priced for standalone practice tests with quality explanations. The PDF format provides flexibility but lacks modern platform features.

Best Value Scenario: Professor Messer practice exams offer best value when:

• Budget allows $30 for one listed digital practice-exam product or $60 for both A+ cores; check current checkout prices

Lower Value Scenario: Consider alternatives if:

• You need more question variety (270 questions may not be enough)

Professor Messer vs. Alternative Practice Tests

How do Professor Messer practice exams compare to other options?

When Professor Messer Wins:

• You want PDF format for offline/print study
• You're already committed to his ecosystem
• You prefer his teaching style and want aligned content

When Alternatives Win:

• You need more question variety (PrepForCerts, Boson)
• You want free practice (PrepForCerts, ExamCompass)
• You need timed test simulation (Boson, Jason Dion)
• You're pursuing certifications beyond A+/Security+/Network+ (PrepForCerts)

How to Use Professor Messer Practice Exams Effectively

If you decide to purchase Professor Messer practice exams, maximize their value with this approach:

Phase 1: Baseline Assessment Take the first practice exam before completing all video content. This identifies knowledge gaps and prioritizes remaining study. Don't worry about the score—this is diagnostic.

Phase 2: Targeted Review For each missed question, return to the relevant Professor Messer video. Create notes explaining why you got the question wrong and what you need to remember.

Phase 3: Spaced Repetition Wait at least one week before taking the second practice exam. This allows time for study and prevents recognizing questions from memory rather than knowledge.

Phase 4: Final Validation Save the third practice exam until you've completed all study materials. Use it as a final readiness check. Score 85%+ consistently before scheduling your real exam.

Supplementing the Limited Question Bank: With only 270 questions per certification, you may exhaust the bank quickly. Supplement with:

• PrepForCerts free daily practice questions for ongoing testing
• ExamCompass quizzes for additional variety
• Create flashcards from missed questions for review

Manual Progress Tracking: Since PDF exams don't track progress automatically:

• Create a spreadsheet logging date, exam number, score, and weak domains
• Track which questions you miss repeatedly
• Monitor score trends across attempts

Who Should Buy Professor Messer Practice Exams?

Ideal Candidates for Professor Messer Practice Exams:

✅ You're using his free video courses and want aligned content ✅ You prefer physical/PDF study materials over web platforms ✅ You appreciate detailed explanations for every question ✅ Budget allows for supplemental practice materials ✅ You want to support Professor Messer for his free content

Consider Alternatives If:

❌ You need more than 270 practice questions per certification ❌ You want timed, simulated exam experience ❌ You're pursuing certifications beyond A+, Security+, Network+ ❌ Budget is extremely tight (free alternatives exist) ❌ You need progress tracking and analytics ❌ You prefer mobile-first or app-based learning

Hybrid Approach: Many successful candidates use Professor Messer practice exams alongside free resources. Example strategy:

• Professor Messer videos (free) for learning
• PrepForCerts (free tier) for daily practice
• Professor Messer practice exams (the current listed price) for final validation
• Total cost: the current listed price for complete A+ preparation

Complete Video Training First

Watch all Professor Messer videos for your certification before purchasing practice exams. Practice tests validate knowledge—they work best after you've learned the material.

Use free practice questions from PrepForCerts during video study to reinforce concepts before buying paid exams.

Take Diagnostic Practice Exam

Use your first Professor Messer practice exam as a baseline assessment. Identify weak domains and create a targeted study plan based on results.

Don't rush through the first exam trying to get a high score. Take time to read explanations for questions you're unsure about.

Study Weak Areas Intensively

Review relevant videos, create notes, and practice specifically in domains where you scored lowest. Use free resources like PrepForCerts for additional practice in weak areas.

Teach weak concepts to someone else (or an imaginary student). If you can explain it simply, you understand it.

Validate with Remaining Exams

Take practice exams 2 and 3 with at least one week between attempts. Look for consistent improvement and scores above 85%.

If scores aren't improving between attempts, you're not studying effectively between tests. Change your approach.

Schedule Exam When Ready

When you consistently score Use unfamiliar practice questions to identify weak topics, explain your reasoning, and practise within the exam time limit. No practice percentage guarantees a pass.

Book your exam date immediately after a successful practice test while confidence is high. Delaying leads to knowledge decay.

Expert Tips

• Print practice exams if you learn better with physical materials—the PDF format makes this easy.
• Create flashcards from questions you miss repeatedly. Use Anki or physical cards for spaced repetition.
• Read ALL explanations, even for questions you answered correctly. You might have guessed right without full understanding.
• Supplement Professor Messer's 270 questions with free daily practice from PrepForCerts for broader exposure.
• Simulate exam conditions on your final practice attempt: timed, quiet room, no breaks or references.
• If you exhaust all 3 practice exams, wait at least 2 weeks before retaking. Memory of specific questions can inflate scores.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Rushing through all three practice exams in one week without studying between attempts.
• Memorizing specific question answers instead of understanding underlying concepts.
• Only using Professor Messer practice exams without supplementing with other question sources.
• Taking practice exams before completing video training—they're validators, not teachers.
• Ignoring explanations for correctly answered questions.
• Expecting 270 questions to be sufficient for comprehensive practice—most candidates need more variety.

Ready to Start Your Certification Journey?

Practice with real exam-style questions and track your progress.

Additional details from the guide

• Last updated: September 8, 2026
• 3 per cert
• ~270 (A+)
• Pro Tip:
• This guide was last updated on September 8, 2026