CISSP: My Study Plan

I sat for the CISSP exam on May 16, 2009. The exam was not easy, but I was prepared. And had the positive energy to complete it successfully. It was a long exam - 6 hours. Equally mentally exhaustive as much as physically demanding. Add to that the constant slight buzzing sound (read noise!!) of something in the hall.

All these in place, I took the whole 6 hours & completed & checked, rechecked the question paper & checked, rechecked the bubbles in the answer sheet. Someone must be wondering why would I check & recheck the question paper.

Please read on to know why.

My Study Resources:

+ Clement's CISSP introductory video (www.cccure.org/flash/intro/player.html/)
+ Shon Harris All-in-One (AIO) 4th Edition
+ ISC2 Official CBK Guide (www.amazon.com/Official-ISC-Guide-CISSP-Press/dp/0849382319)
+ Shon Harris CISSP CBT/DVD (www.cccure.com/cissp/shon-harris-cissp-dvd-tutorial/prod_2.html)
+ www.cccure.org CISSP forum
+ www.freepracticetests.org CISSP Quizzer
+ Notes/Aide Memoire available on cccure.org CISSP forum
+ CISSP Gold Edition Questions & Answers
+ Shon Harris AIO Quiz (in the CD)


Time Duration for Preparation:

January last week - March end 2009 -> 3-5 hours after work. Weekends -> 5-6 hours - slowly tasting the subject matter & letting it seep in.
April 2009 - May 15, 2009 - > 7-9 hours every day - Time to pace up & complete the preparation.
During this time, I completed 2 other certifications & 1 training that definitely helped me be comfortable with the domain content.

My Study Plan (in that order):

+ Finished Shon Harris CBT/DVD
+ Completed one 100-question quiz for each domain as I completed the domain from SH CBT
+ Read Shon Harris AIO 4th edition
+ Complete Q&A at the end of each AIO Chapter.+ Revise each domain through Notes/Aide Memoire available at www.cccure.org CISSP forum.
+ Read cccure.org forum posts, questions & responses, the reasoning behind the solution!
+ Complete Full Length quizzes for individual domain(s)
+ Read OIG
+ Complete Gold Edition Advanced Sample Q&A
+ Complete 10 Full Length quizzes (group of 3 & 4 domains)
+ Read my notes

Important points that will help you:

+++Pre-Booking+++

+ Be mentally prepared before you begin preparation.

+ Share your plan with your family or friends or both. At a point in time of preparation, you may find yourself face-to-face with high work load at office, unexpected but important official/unofficial events, & may lose focus/direction from the task. This is the time your family/friends will be of great help.

Remember, it is extremely important to keep yourself motivated to go on.

+ Book the exam after 2 weeks of preparation. This will help you understand what you have to complete & how long can it take for you to prepare.

+++Exam-Preparation+++

+ Complete all domains. No matter how many years you have been in the industry, you should always complete all the domains.

+ Think from the Management perspective. Remember this is not a 100% technical exam. You need to know technical stuff but it tests your decision-making using your knowledge of technical concepts.

+ Do quizzes from different sources. And know the reason why the correct answer is correct & the incorrect answer is incorrect.

+ Use google & wikipedia for reading on topics.

+ Use CCCure.org CISSP forum.

+++Day before the Exam+++

+ Organize all the documents required for the exam day & keep it in your bag - Admission Ticket, ID cards - Driving Licence / Passport, Company ID etc.

+ Ensure that you have 2 HB #2 pencils, 2 dust-free erasors, a sharpner, 2 pens (not required though) & a jacket / a light woolen-wear for the exam - temperature may be too cold or tool warm for you to feel comfortable.

+ Eat a healthy, heavy breakfast. Take at least 1 water bottle, some energy bars or preferably energy drinks with you. Believe me you will need these in the Exam and you will not like to move your a$ even a bit out of the hall after looking at the question paper!!

+ Do NOT Smoke before or during the exam. You must be relaxed all this while and smoking isn't going to help you.

+ The CISSP Exam is as mentally exhaustive as it is physically demanding. Therefore relax on the day before the exam.

+++Day of Exam+++

+ First Rule of tackling this Exam - Attempt All Questions.

+ Read through 25 questions first and then take the second round answering them.

+ Eliminate the choices & then apply the concepts on the final 2 choices - from the Management perspective.

+ Mark the 25 answers against the respective 25 questions - in the question sheet. Once you have completed 25 questions, start filling in the bubbles on the answer sheet.

+ Be very careful while filling in the answer sheet. You will agree it's been a long time when you last filled those bubbles with a pencil. Your fingers will start aching if you decide to fill in 50/100 questions in one go. So choose to complete 25/30 questions in one go.

+ Mark the questions you are unsure of, or finding tough to answer or taking too long to answer. Come back to them once you are done with all other questions.

+ Once you complete all questions, go to the first page & start reviewing the questions you marked above. You should be able to solve them now. If not, refer to the Ist rule of tackling this exam above.

+ After you have completed all questions including marked ones, it's time to review. Go to the first page of the question sheet & start reviewing each question one-by-one.

+ By this time, after review, you will have most certainly changed some of your answers. Do a review now of your answer sheet to make sure that you filled 'correct answers in the correct bubble.'

+ After you submit the Answer sheet, go & get fresh. Wash your face to get freshen up, & go eat something. I am sure you will be damn hungry by now.

+++Post Exam+++

+ Catch up with your family, friends.
+ Relax & enjoy coz you have done your part.
+ The most important of all: Think Positive.

Best Regards.