Failing CompTIA PenTest+ means a 14-day wait and $404 retake fee. PenTest+ is one of CompTIA's most challenging certifications, testing hands-on penetration testing methodology, vulnerability exploitation, scripting skills, and professional reporting. With a 750/900 passing score and heavy emphasis on practical application, many experienced security professionals need multiple attempts. This guide provides your complete recovery strategy.
CompTIA's standard retake policy applies: 14-day waiting period, $404 per attempt, unlimited retakes. The exam contains up to 85 questions in 165 minutes, covering Planning and Scoping (14%), Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning (22%), Attacks and Exploits (30%), Reporting and Communication (18%), and Tools and Code Analysis (16%).
PenTest+ stands apart from other CompTIA exams because of its heavy emphasis on practical skills. The performance-based questions may require you to analyze code snippets, interpret scan results, write exploitation commands, or draft portions of a penetration test report. This practical focus means that theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient—you need genuine hands-on experience with penetration testing tools and methodologies.
Insufficient hands-on tool experience. PenTest+ expects you to know not just what tools do, but how to use them effectively. Questions may present Nmap output and ask you to identify the next step, show Metasploit commands and ask for the correct syntax, or present Burp Suite intercepts requiring analysis. Without actual experience using these tools, the questions become nearly impossible.
Weak scripting skills. The Tools and Code Analysis domain (16%) requires you to read and understand Python, Bash, Ruby, and PowerShell scripts. You need to identify what a script does, spot vulnerabilities in code snippets, and understand how to modify scripts for specific exploitation scenarios. If you cannot read basic code, this domain will cost you critical points.
Neglecting reporting and communication. At 18%, this domain is often overlooked by technically-focused candidates. PenTest+ tests your ability to write professional penetration test reports, communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, understand legal and compliance requirements, and recommend appropriate remediation strategies. These questions require a professional mindset, not just technical knowledge.
Poor attack methodology understanding. The largest domain (Attacks and Exploits at 30%) tests your understanding of the complete attack lifecycle: reconnaissance, enumeration, exploitation, post-exploitation, and lateral movement. You need to understand different attack vectors for networks, applications, wireless systems, and social engineering, plus know when each technique is appropriate.
Network penetration testing: Practice network scanning with Nmap, vulnerability assessment with Nessus or OpenVAS, exploitation with Metasploit, and post-exploitation techniques including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and data exfiltration. Use deliberately vulnerable machines like Metasploitable 2/3 and VulnHub images.
Web application testing: Set up DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web Application) and practice SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), command injection, file inclusion, and authentication bypass attacks. Use Burp Suite for intercepting and modifying HTTP requests. Understand OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities and their exploitation techniques.
Wireless testing: Study wireless attack methodologies including rogue access points, evil twin attacks, WPA/WPA2 cracking with Aircrack-ng, and deauthentication attacks. Understand wireless security protocols and their weaknesses.
Social engineering: Understand phishing campaign design, pretexting techniques, physical security testing, and how to document social engineering findings in a professional report. Know the ethical and legal boundaries of social engineering assessments.
PenTest+ occupies a unique space in the penetration testing certification landscape. It is more practical than CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) but less intensive than OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional). CEH is primarily multiple-choice and focuses on theoretical knowledge, while OSCP requires a 24-hour practical exam. PenTest+ bridges this gap with its combination of multiple-choice, scenario-based, and performance-based questions.
If you are planning to pursue OSCP in the future, PenTest+ serves as excellent preparation. The methodology, tools, and mindset tested on PenTest+ directly translate to OSCP preparation. Many candidates use PenTest+ as a stepping stone to validate their intermediate skills before tackling the more intensive OSCP certification.
14 calendar days after each failed attempt.
$404 USD per attempt.
750 out of 900, requiring approximately 83% correct answers.
Yes. PenTest+ requires hands-on penetration testing skills, scripting knowledge, and vulnerability exploitation experience that go well beyond Security+ concepts.
CompTIA recommends Security+ and Network+ plus 3-4 years of hands-on security experience. While not mandatory, this foundation is strongly advised.
PenTest+ is more hands-on and practical, while CEH is more theoretical. PenTest+ is vendor-neutral and increasingly recognized. CEH has broader name recognition but is significantly more expensive.
Practice with Nmap, Metasploit, Burp Suite, Wireshark, Nikto, SQLMap, Hashcat, John the Ripper, and scripting in Python and Bash.
Practice with adaptive PenTest+ questions across all exam domains.
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