I Scored 65% on Security+ Practice Tests: Will I Pass the Real Exam?

You just finished a Security+ practice exam. You got 65%.

Now you're sitting there wondering: "Is this good enough? Should I schedule my exam? Or am I gonna fail and waste $400?"

Here's the short answer: Maybe. It depends on which practice test you took, how consistent your scores are, and whether you understand why you got questions wrong—not just what the right answer was.

Let's break down what 65% actually means and whether you're ready.

What Does 65% on a Practice Test Actually Mean?

First, let's set some context.

CompTIA Security+ passing score: 750 out of 900 (scaled score)

That scaled score roughly translates to ~83% correct on the actual exam (though CompTIA doesn't publish exact conversion rates because the scoring is adaptive).

So if you're scoring 65% on practice tests, you're about 18 percentage points away from the passing threshold.

Is that close? Depends on the practice test.

Not All Practice Tests Are Created Equal

Here's the thing: some practice tests are way harder than the real exam. Others are way easier.

Practice tests that are harder than the real exam:

- Jason Dion's practice tests (Udemy) - People consistently score 5-10% lower on Dion's tests than the real exam

- Professor Messer's practice exams - Known for being tougher and more detailed than CompTIA's actual questions

- CertMaster Practice (CompTIA's official practice) - Can be harder because it's pulling from a huge question bank with some obscure stuff

Practice tests that are easier than the real exam:

- Free tests from random websites (ExamCompass, etc.) - Often outdated or too simplistic

- Apps with user-generated questions - Quality varies wildly

Practice tests that are about the same difficulty:

- EpicDetect's procedurally generated exams - Designed to match real exam difficulty and question styles

- CertMaster Practice (if you're consistently scoring well) - Generally accurate

So, What Does Your 65% Mean?

If you scored 65% on Dion's or Messer's practice tests:

- You're probably closer than you think (maybe 70-75% on the real exam)

- But you're still not quite ready

If you scored 65% on easier practice tests:

- You're likely not ready (might score 60-65% on the real exam)

- You need more study time

If you scored 65% on a test that matches real exam difficulty:

- You're borderline (might pass, might not)

- Depends on exam day luck and which domains you're weak in

How Consistent Are Your Scores?

One practice test score doesn't tell you much. You need a trend.

Good sign:

- Practice test 1: 55%

- Practice test 2: 60%

- Practice test 3: 65%

- Trending upward = You're learning, keep going

Bad sign:

- Practice test 1: 65%

- Practice test 2: 63%

- Practice test 3: 66%

- Plateauing around 65% = You've hit a wall, need to change your approach

Red flag:

- Practice test 1: 70%

- Practice test 2: 65%

- Practice test 3: 62%

- Trending downward = You're forgetting material, or the questions are getting harder

What Should You Do?

If you're consistently scoring 65%, take 2-3 more practice tests over the next week.

If your scores improve to 70-75%+: You're on track. Schedule your exam for 1-2 weeks out.

If you stay stuck at 65%: Don't schedule yet. Figure out what's holding you back (more on that below).

If your scores drop below 60%: You're not ready. Go back to studying content, not just drilling practice tests.

The Real Question: Do You Understand WHY You Got Questions Wrong?

Here's what separates people who pass at 65% practice scores from people who fail:

People who pass:

- Review every wrong answer

- Understand why the right answer is right

- Understand why the wrong answers are wrong

- Can explain the concept in their own words

People who fail:

- Just memorize the correct answer

- Move on without understanding the concept

- Hope that exact question shows up on the real exam (it won't)

Example: Understanding vs. Memorizing

Bad approach (memorization):

> Practice question: "What type of attack uses a malicious script embedded in a website?"

>

> Answer: XSS

>

> Your response: "Okay, the answer is XSS. Got it."

Good approach (understanding):

> Practice question: "What type of attack uses a malicious script embedded in a website?"

>

> Answer: XSS

>

> Your response: "XSS (Cross-Site Scripting). The attacker injects JavaScript into a vulnerable site, and when other users visit, the script runs in their browser. It can steal cookies, session tokens, or redirect to phishing sites. SQL injection is different—that targets databases, not browsers. And CSRF tricks the user into making unwanted requests, not running scripts."

See the difference?

If you're just memorizing answers, your 65% means you're not ready.

If you're actually understanding the concepts behind your mistakes, your 65% might be enough to pass (with a bit more practice).

Which Domains Are Dragging You Down?

Security+ has 5 domains. If you're weak in one domain, it can tank your overall score.

Domain breakdown (SY0-701):

- Domain 1: General Security Concepts (12%)

- Domain 2: Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations (22%)

- Domain 3: Security Architecture (18%)

- Domain 4: Security Operations (28%)

- Domain 5: Security Program Management and Oversight (20%)

If you're scoring 65% overall, you might be:

- Strong in Domains 1, 3, 5 (80%+ correct)

- Weak in Domains 2 and 4 (50-60% correct)

Domain 4 alone is 28% of the exam. If you're bombing that, your overall score tanks even if you're acing the other domains.

How to Find Your Weak Domains

Most good practice test platforms (including EpicDetect) break down your score by domain.

Look at your results and find:

- Which domain(s) you're scoring below 70% in

- Which question types you're consistently getting wrong (multiple choice vs. PBQs)

Then focus your study time on those weak areas. Don't waste time reviewing stuff you already know.

Should You Schedule Your Exam at 65%?

Let's make this simple.

Schedule your exam if:

- You're consistently scoring 75%+ on practice tests that match real exam difficulty

- You're trending upward (scores improving each test)

- You understand why you got wrong answers wrong (not just memorizing)

- You're strong across all 5 domains (no domain below 70%)

- You've taken at least 5+ full-length practice exams

Don't schedule yet if:

- You're stuck at 65% with no improvement

- You're guessing on 30%+ of questions

- You have one or two domains where you're scoring below 60%

- You've only taken 1-2 practice tests (not enough data)

- You're just memorizing answers, not understanding concepts

Definitely not ready if:

- You're scoring below 60% on multiple practice tests

- Your scores are trending downward

- You're failing performance-based question (PBQ) simulations

- You don't understand basic concepts (CIA triad, common ports, encryption vs. hashing)

How to Go from 65% to 75%+ (Pass Zone)

Alright, you're at 65%. What's the fastest way to get to passing range?

1. Focus on Your Weakest Domain

Don't study everything equally. Find your worst domain and attack it.

How to improve a weak domain:

- Re-read/re-watch that section (Professor Messer, Dion's course, etc.)

- Take domain-specific practice questions (not full exams)

- Make flashcards for key terms and concepts

- Teach it to someone else (or explain it out loud to yourself)

Spend 70% of your time on weak domains, 30% on review.

2. Stop Taking Full Practice Exams for a Week

If you're stuck at 65%, stop grinding full exams. You're just reinforcing bad patterns.

Instead:

- Study targeted content (videos, textbooks, notes)

- Take small quizzes (10-20 questions) on specific topics

- Review wrong answers deeply (spend 5-10 minutes per wrong question)

After a week of focused study, take another full practice exam. If your score jumps to 70-75%, you're back on track.

3. Master Performance-Based Questions (PBQs)

PBQs are worth more points than multiple choice, and they're where a lot of people lose points.

Common PBQ topics:

- Configuring a firewall (ACLs, rules, implicit deny)

- Analyzing logs (identifying attacks from log entries)

- Matching attacks to MITRE ATT&CK tactics

- Configuring wireless security (WPA2, WPA3, RADIUS)

- Identifying network topology issues

If you're weak on PBQs, find practice simulations (EpicDetect has these, as does Dion's course).

You can score 100% on multiple choice and still fail if you bomb the PBQs.

4. Take More Practice Exams (But Space Them Out)

Once you've studied your weak areas, take another practice exam.

Best practice:

- Take 1 full practice exam per week

- Review wrong answers immediately (spend 1-2 hours on review)

- Take targeted quizzes on weak topics during the week

- Repeat until you're consistently hitting 75%+

Don't:

- Take 3 practice exams in one day (you'll just burn out)

- Move on without reviewing mistakes

- Take the same practice exam twice (you'll just memorize answers)

5. Use Procedurally Generated Practice Exams

Most practice tests use the same question pool. Take them twice, and you start recognizing questions.

That's why procedurally generated exams (like EpicDetect's) are so valuable—you get new questions every time, so you're actually testing knowledge, not memory.

If you're stuck at 65%, try a platform that generates unique exams. It'll expose gaps in your understanding that static tests miss.

Real Talk: Can You Pass at 65%?

Some people pass Security+ after scoring 65-70% on practice tests.

But here's the catch: they got lucky.

Maybe the real exam happened to focus on their strong domains. Maybe they guessed right on a few tough questions. Maybe the PBQs were easier than expected.

But do you want to gamble $400 on luck?

If you're at 65%, you might pass. But you probably won't feel confident walking out of the testing center. And if you fail, you're out $400 and you have to wait to retake it.

Here's a better plan:

Spend 1-2 more weeks studying your weak areas. Take 3-4 more practice exams. Get your score to 75-80%.

Then schedule your exam with confidence, knowing you're actually ready—not just hoping you'll get lucky.

TL;DR – Will You Pass at 65%?

Scoring 65% on Security+ practice tests means you're close, but probably not ready yet. It depends on which practice test you took (some are harder than the real exam), whether your scores are improving, and if you understand why you got questions wrong. To pass, you need to consistently score 75-80%+ on practice tests that match real exam difficulty. Focus on your weakest domain, master PBQs, and take more practice exams until your scores improve. Don't schedule your exam until you're confident—$400 is too much to gamble on luck.

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FAQs

Is 70% on practice tests enough to pass Security+?

70% is borderline. Most people who consistently score 75-80% on practice tests pass the real exam comfortably. At 70%, you might pass, but it'll be close. Aim for 80% to feel confident.

What if I keep scoring 65% no matter how much I study?

You've hit a plateau. Stop grinding practice tests and go back to studying content. Focus on your weakest domain, review concepts you don't fully understand, and take a break from full-length exams for a week. Then come back and try again.

How many practice exams should I take before scheduling Security+?

At least 5-10 full-length practice exams from different sources. This gives you enough data to see trends (improving, plateauing, declining) and exposes you to different question styles. If you're consistently scoring 75%+ on your last 3-5 exams, you're ready.

Are Dion's practice tests harder than the real Security+ exam?

Yes, most people report that Dion's tests are 5-10% harder than the real exam. If you're scoring 70%+ on Dion's tests, you're likely ready for the real thing.

What if I fail Security+? How much does a retake cost?

$400 for a retake (same as the first attempt). That's why it's worth spending an extra 1-2 weeks studying to make sure you pass the first time. A $30-50 investment in good practice exams is way cheaper than a $400 retake.

Can I pass Security+ by just taking practice tests?

No. Practice tests expose gaps in your knowledge, but they don't teach you. Use practice tests to identify weak areas, then go study those topics (videos, textbooks, notes). Alternate between studying content and taking practice tests.

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Sources & References:

- CompTIA Security+ Exam Objectives (SY0-701)

- CompTIA Exam Scoring and Score Reporting

- Professor Messer's Security+ Course

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> You're not failing at 65%—you're just not done studying yet. The people who pass are the ones who recognize they need more prep and put in the work. Don't gamble $400 on hope. Get your score to 75-80%, then walk into that testing center knowing you've got this.

How EpicDetect Can Help

Here's the problem with most Security+ practice exams: you take them once, memorize the answers, and then you're just testing your memory—not your knowledge.

EpicDetect's Security+ practice exams are procedurally generated.

That means every time you take an exam, you get a different combination of questions from our massive question bank. You can take the test 10 times and never see the exact same exam twice.

Plus, we track your performance by domain, so you know exactly which areas are dragging you down (Domain 4 killing you? We'll show you).

Stop memorizing answers. Start actually learning.

Try EpicDetect's Security+ Prep — 7-day free trial, cancel anytime.

If you're stuck at 65%, this is how you get to 80%.