What it takes to pass Security+
The published passing score for SY0-701, what kind of number it is, and what happens if you miss it.
SY0-701 passing score
750 (scale 100-900)
Stated on the official Security+ exam page. CompTIA exam page ↗
A scaled 750 is not 75 percent
SY0-701 reports results on a scale from 100 to 900, and 750 is the line on that scale, not a percentage of questions. CompTIA converts your raw performance to the scale with a model it does not publish, which weights questions by difficulty. Two candidates can answer the same number of questions correctly and land on different scaled scores.
That has one practical consequence: nobody outside CompTIA can tell you exactly how many questions you can miss. Any site that gives you a precise miss budget is guessing. What you can do is practice against the same cut score: our Security+ practice exams score on the published 750 line, so a practice result reads the same way the real one will.
The exam, in numbers
- QuestionsMaximum of 90
- Time limit90 minutes
- FormatMultiple choice and performance-based
- Exam fee$425 USD
Figures from the official exam page. CompTIA exam page ↗
If you miss it
No waiting period before your second attempt. From the third attempt onward, CompTIA requires a 14-day wait between attempts. A retake costs another $425, which is why sitting practice exams until you clear the line consistently is the cheapest part of preparing.
Know before you book
The candidates who pass on the first attempt treat the cut score as a rehearsal target, not a day-of surprise. Sit a full-length Security+ practice exam under the real time limit, scored against the published line, and book the real exam when you clear it consistently rather than once.
Keep reading
Security+ practice questions
Free sample questions with the full explanation on every answer.
Free Security+ practice test
Ten real questions, playable now. No account, no card.
Security+ exam objectives
The full official blueprint, with practice pages on covered objectives.
How hard is Security+?
An honest difficulty read from the format, the clock and the weights.
What Security+ costs
The voucher price, the retake, and what renewal costs across the cycle.
Security+ guide
Who it is for, study plans by experience level, and whether it is worth it.
Common Ports & Protocols
A printable reference table, free.
Security+ vs CISSP
Side by side on cost, difficulty, and which one to take first.
Practise Security+ for free while you decide
Original questions written from the published objectives, with the concept, the reasoning, and a note on every wrong option. No account needed to start.
Start free Security+ questions