Strategy Guide for Answering Difficult CISSP Questions
While the CISSP is one of the most widely recognized and respected certifications, exam questions can present challenges to even experienced security professionals. The exam’s reputation comes from its wide range of topics, adaptive testing engine, and challenging question composition.
To give yourself the best chance of passing on your first try, remember to use several different sources to get a balanced perspective. Emphasize the type of study media and modalities that best fit your learning style. Use practice tests to assess your current knowledge level and to find and explore areas of weakness.
Taking practice tests is an excellent way of gauging your weak areas as well as honing your test-taking strategy. The more practice questions you work through, the more relaxed you’ll be on the actual exam. The strategy below helps you become more proficient at approaching the exam’s notoriously difficult questions: identifying key elements and keywords, eliminating distractors, and selecting the best answer.
Remember, the exam isn’t about recalling trivia; it’s about analyzing scenarios, spotting what’s really being asked, and answering like a security manager, CISO, or owner.
Here’s a structured strategy you can use for every question:
1. Understand the Question First
Read the question carefully — once, slowly. Read the question without looking at the potential answers. If you could boil it down, what is the fundamental question? Try to identify the important context versus filler. In a perfect world, what answer would satisfy this question?
Security goal → What part of the CIA triad is the question referring to?
Many questions have subtle qualifiers. Watch for keywords like:
“BEST” → Optimal choice (business-first, preventive, strategic).
“MOST” → At least 2 choices will be correct (usually go with the broadest answer).
“FIRST” → The very first action you’d take (often assessment, not implementation).
“LEAST” → Eliminate extremes, pick the least risky/impactful option.
👉 Tip: Note these keywords — they can change the entire focus or meaning of the question.
2. Eliminate Distractors
Usually, two answers are obviously wrong, one is tempting, and one is best.
Remove answers that are:
Too technical (CISSP is managerial).
Out of scope (solution doesn’t match the problem).
Too extreme (e.g., “completely eliminate all risk”).
Reactive when a preventive step is available.
Addressing the wrong security goal (the question concerns Integrity, not Availability)
👉 Example:
Q: What is the FIRST step after discovering and verifying a security incident?
Wrong: “Rebuild affected systems immediately.” (too technical, reactive)
Wrong: “Fire the system administrator.” (out of scope)
Tempting: “Notify law enforcement.” (important, but not first)
Correct: “Activate the CIRT and assess the impact according to the response plan.”
3. Ask What’s Best for the Overall Business?
CISSP is a management-level exam. Don’t rush to configure firewalls, patch systems, or pull plugs.
Ask yourself:
Is it preventive rather than reactive?
Does it solve the issue with the least negative impact?
Is it role-appropriate for the party, and does it make sense in terms of scope and tailoring for the organization?
Is it cost-effective? If a control costs more than the risk itself, it’s not cost-effective → eliminate it.
👉 When faced with a complex scenario, frame your thinking around how to best protect the organization's mission and assets, not just a single system
4. Use Risk-Based Thinking
Asking “Which option best reduces risk for the organization?” gives you a north star.
Does the answer align with risk appetite, compliance, and governance?
👉 When no answer meets all requirements, use risk-based thinking and the order of priorities to choose: Protect human life/safety, then business continuity, then assets/data protection.
5. Watch for CISSP Traps
Buzzword distractions → Just because an answer mentions a familiar framework/tool doesn’t mean it’s right.
Legal/compliance angles → If laws/regulations apply, those usually outweigh internal policies.
Two right answers → Pick the one that’s:
More aligned with management.
Less disruptive and more preventive.
👉 In the real world, you might choose to implement multiple technologies. Unfortunately, for the test, you have to choose only one. So pick the most important/critical and move on.
6. Apply the “Process of Operations” Mindset
👉 When in doubt, ask: What would come first or next in a logical security process?
Assess → Plan → Implement → Monitor → Improve.
Example: Don’t implement controls before assessing risks and gaining management approval.
7. Try to Identify the Core Domain Being Tested
While it’s true that many questions rely on your understanding of cross-domain concepts, each question has a basis in one or more of the 8 domains. Spotting the questions’ primary domain can help narrow the scope. Example:
Mentions of roles, policies, ethics → Security & Risk Management.
Encryption, hashes, keys → Security Architecture & Engineering.
Access control, authentication → IAM.
Logs, testing, assessments → Security Assessment & Testing.
8. Pace Yourself with Confidence
The adaptive exam is 100–150 questions in 3 hours.
Don’t panic if early questions feel tough — the algorithm is adjusting to your level.
Remember that there are 25 un-scored (beta) questions on the test, so expect to see some questions that you just don’t know.
👉 Use first instinct — unless you misread the question, your first choice is often correct.
🔑 Suggestions for Applying These Strategies
Practice “Question Deconstruction”
Take 10 practice questions and use the method above to identify:
The keyword (BEST, FIRST, LEAST, MOST).
The CIA focus (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability).
Which answers are distractors and why.
This trains your brain to slow down and analyze logically.
Think Like a Manager or Owner, Not a Technician
When an answer looks like something you’d do as a sysadmin, pause.
The CISSP exam expects strategic, business-aligned choices — not hands-on troubleshooting.
Simulate Exam Conditions
Take at least 2–3 full-length practice tests in a quiet environment.
Time yourself and get used to the adaptive question style.
Track which domains you consistently miss and review them.
Develop a “Reset Ritual”
If you get stuck, don’t panic.
Take a breath, re-read the question, re-identify the keyword, and start fresh.
Staying calm preserves mental energy for later questions.
❓ CISSP Exam Strategy FAQ
Q1: Should I answer questions quickly or spend more time analyzing?
A: Balance is key. Using the above strategy, make sure and read the question, identify the qualifiers and keywords. Eliminate incorrect answers. Don’t rush, but don’t overthink. On average, try to spend no more than ~72 seconds per question before moving on.
Q2: What if two answers both look correct?
A: This is intentional. Pick the answer that is:
More managerial (policy/risk over technical fixes).
More preventive than reactive.
More aligned with business goals and compliance.
If you still can’t determine the answer, choose the one that is the most important/critical.
Q3: How do I handle questions I have no idea about?
A: Use elimination. Remove obvious distractors, look for keywords, and align with risk-based thinking. Remember, 25 questions are un-scored beta items, so don’t get discouraged.
Q4: Do I need to memorize technical details (ports, algorithms, etc.)?
A: The CISSP isn’t your typical memorization and reproduction exam. Instead, it tests the application of concepts, combining a technical understanding with a managerial or ownership approach to protecting the business. The exam mostly tests conceptual understanding and application in scenarios, not trivia. Focus on why a control is used, not just what it is.
Q5: How many practice tests should I take before the real exam?
A: At least 1–2 full-length exams plus many smaller sets. The goal isn’t to memorize questions but to practice applying strategy and eliminating distractors under time pressure.
✅ Summary Stategy
Read the question → Read the question without review the potential answers:
Spot the keyword → BEST, FIRST, MOST, LEAST.
Identify the goal → CIA
In a perfect world, what would your answer be?
Eliminate distractors → Remove extreme, reactive, or irrelevant answers.
What’s best for the business → What’s non-reactive and most cost-effectively reduces risk?
Use risk-based thinking → Protect human life/safety, then business continuity, then assets/data. Policy, risk, business first; tech second.
Watch for traps → What’s more aligned, less disruptive, more preventative?
Process of operations → What would come first or next in a logical security process?
Identify the domain → What CISSP knowledge domain is this testing?
Pace yourself, have confidence → Don’t panic, keep going, stay positive.
While the CISSP is one of the most widely recognized and respected certifications, exam questions can present challenges to even experienced security professionals. The exam’s reputation comes from its wide range of topics, adaptive testing engine, and challenging question composition.
To give yourself the best chance of passing on your first try, use practice tests and the formula above to break down challenging questions.
Reach out if you need help or want a customized study plan.