This article shares insights from Instructor Vinh Nguyen — who directly teaches the PenTest+ program at Security365 and has passed the PT0-003 exam. These are personal experiences, not exam content, and do not replace self-study based on the official objectives.
There are three noteworthy points: the true difficulty of the exam, how the questions vary, and troubles unrelated to knowledge that can still ruin your exam session.
1. Questions seem easier than Security+ — but that's a trap
This is the first impression for many test-takers, and it's true in a narrow sense.
"Generally, PenTest+ questions seem easier to handle than Security+, but you need hands-on practice to be sure." — Vinh Nguyen
Why does it feel that way? Security+ covers many abstract concepts — risk management, compliance frameworks, control classifications — and you need to remember each one precisely. PenTest+ focuses on a specific, imaginable process: scanning, vulnerability finding, exploitation, lateral movement, reporting. The logical flow is clearer, making the questions feel more familiar.
However, "looking familiar" and "answering correctly" are two different things. If you only read the materials without actually typing commands, you'll realize this at the worst possible time: during the exam.
2. The same idea, asked in a dozen different ways
This is the most important insight in the article.
"During the exam, the question types will change even if the underlying idea is the same. For example, Nmap scans have a dozen variations — you must understand which ones scan for services and which ones only show open ports." — Vinh Nguyen
Let's use the Nmap example to illustrate the point. A student who memorizes will remember: Nmap is used for network scanning. But the exam won't ask that. The exam will present a scenario — you need to know which services are running on which ports, or you only need to know which hosts are alive, or you need to scan without leaving complete connections — and then ask which method you would use.
To answer correctly, you must distinguish between:
- Scanning only for open ports versus scanning with service and version identification — these two types yield entirely different amounts of information, different speeds, and different levels of "noise" on the network.
- TCP scanning versus UDP scanning — ignoring UDP means missing an entire layer of services.
- Host discovery scans (not touching ports) versus full port scans
- OS detection scans and the time cost associated with them.
- Different levels of stealth and the trade-offs of each level.
The key: understand the mechanism, don't just memorize the syntax. If you understand why one scan type provides service information while another doesn't, you can answer every variation of the question. If you only memorize a command line, you can only answer that exact command line.
This applies to all tools in the objectives, not just Nmap.
3. The only way to "understand the mechanism" is to do it for real
"Fully practice with CertMaster Perform PT0-003 or an equivalent lab." — Vinh Nguyen
There's no shortcut here. You have to type commands yourself, see how the results differ, and notice how one scan type takes 4 seconds while another takes 4 minutes.
Two options:
Pre-built labs. CertMaster Perform PT0-003 is CompTIA's official practice material, closely aligned with the objectives, and can be run immediately without needing to set up virtual machines. The advantage is that you spend 100% of your time on learning instead of setup.
Build your own lab. Virtual machines, a few target machines intentionally left vulnerable, self-configured network. Free and you learn many things beyond the exam, but it takes significant time for setup.
If you have more time than money, choose the second option. If the opposite, choose the first. What you shouldn't do is choose the third option: just reading.
4. Issues with the proctor — the unprepared part
This is what Vinh Nguyen emphasized, as it has nothing to do with knowledge but can ruin the entire exam session.
Sit up straight
"When taking the exam, remember to sit up straight. If your posture isn't proper, the proctor will often give annoying reminders, and sometimes even threaten to fail you." — Vinh Nguyen
The proctor monitors you via webcam for 165 minutes. Everyday postures you adopt without thinking — resting your chin on your hand, covering your mouth, leaning back, hunched over the screen, turning your head aside — can all be interpreted as suspicious behavior.
Each time you're reminded, you lose your rhythm. For a 165-minute exam requiring continuous focus, being interrupted three or four times is enough to throw you off.
Solution: sit straight, both hands in frame, eyes on the screen. It sounds rigid, but it's only for one session. If you have a habit of muttering aloud while thinking, drop it before exam day — proctors consider lip movements a serious red flag.
Check the wall behind you
This is the most memorable story, and it actually cost time.
"When I took the exam, because my wall had scribbles like in a movie, the proctor told me to erase them, but I couldn't, so it caused a delay." — Vinh Nguyen
The online exam procedure requires you to scan your entire room with the camera. The proctor will look for anything that resembles writing, diagrams, notes — whether it's a family planner, an old project diagram, or your child's drawing — and has the right to demand it be covered or removed before letting you start.
The problem: if it's writing directly on the wall, you can't erase it in 10 minutes. And the exam will be postponed.
What to do before exam day: stand in the camera's position, look around the room with the eyes of someone looking for cheating. Whiteboards with writing, posters with text, sticky notes on the wall, calendars with notes, secondary monitors, books on shelves behind you — clear or cover everything. Check the day before, not 15 minutes before the exam.
If you're not sure you can clear it, consider taking the exam at a Pearson VUE center. There, all environmental risks are the center's responsibility.
For other detailed online exam regulations, see the article on taking online exams at home — most apply generally to all CompTIA exams.
5. Time management in 165 minutes
165 minutes for a maximum of 90 questions sounds very comfortable — an average of almost 2 minutes per question. But PenTest+'s PBQs consume much more time than Security+'s, and they often appear at the beginning of the exam.
The strategy remains the same as for Security+: when encountering a PBQ, set a strict time limit for yourself. If you exceed the limit, mark it, skip it, finish all the multiple-choice questions, then return. At that point, you'll know exactly how many minutes you have left to allocate.
Never leave a PBQ blank. PBQs are often scored section by section — even doing half will earn you some points.
6. Summary: Vinh Nguyen's formula
"Otherwise, thoroughly study Security365's exam prep materials, do comprehensive practical labs, and practice enough PBQs, and your chances of passing are very high. Add exam insurance, and you're almost completely at ease." — Vinh Nguyen
Four steps, in the correct order:
- Thoroughly study materials according to objectives — don't study broadly or from unreliable sources.
- Complete all labs — CertMaster Perform or an equivalent environment.
- Practice PBQs to get familiar — this is the decisive part.
- Prepare the exam environment — room, walls, posture, equipment.
And finally: no matter how well you prepare, there are still things beyond your control. Power outages, network drops, a strict proctor, an unforeseen incident. Nothing on that list relates to how much you know about pentesting.
That's why a voucher package with a retake option is worth considering — not because you think you'll fail, but because the second attempt has been decided in advance, while you're still clear-headed.
Related products at Security365:
- PT0-003 Exam Voucher with exam insurance — 01 free retake — 7,500,000₫ (original price 9,500,000₫). Official voucher, 12-month validity, Vietnamese registration support.
- CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 CertMaster Perform official — 2,250,000₫ (original price 4,500,000₫). Practice labs according to objectives.
- PenTest+ Online Course (PT0-003) taught by Instructor Vinh Nguyen — 5,490,000₫ (original price 8,000,000₫).
See more: What is CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003? · 12-week PenTest+ study roadmap · PBQ and labs in PenTest+