When you prepare for the CompTIA CySA+ certification exam, which is more than an IT workforce certification, you’ll face a mix of multiple-choice questions and performance-based questions (PBQs). PBQs can be particularly daunting, requiring strategic problem-solving skills in threat management. How should you handle them?
This article is your guide to navigating these unique questions effectively. We’ll introduce you to the format of CySA+ performance based questions, the topics they cover, and share our best tips for tackling them successfully. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge needed to excel in your CySA+ exam.
Answering each performance-based question quickly and accurately is crucial to getting your CySA+ certification. Please remember to share this resource with a fellow student after you’ve read it. Let’s dive in!
- Interactive Performance Based Questions
- What Are Performance-Based Questions?
- How Many Performance-Based Questions Can I Expect?
- How Are Performance Based-Questions Scored?
- What Do CySA+ Performance-Based Questions Look Like?
- What Skills Are Tested in CySA+ Performance-Based Questions?
- Sample CySA+ Performance-Based Questions
- What Is the Best Way to Approach CySA+ Performance-Based Questions?
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Try These Interactive CompTIA CySA+ Performance Based Questions
- How Many Performance-Based Questions Can I Expect?
- How Are Performance-Based Questions Scored?
- What Do CySA+ Performance-Based Questions Look Like?
- What Skills Are Tested in CySA+ Performance-Based Questions?
- Sample CySA+ Performance-Based Questions
- What Is the Best Way to Approach the CySA+ Performance-Based Questions?
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Try These Interactive CompTIA CySA+ Performance Based Questions
The following simulate the types of questions you will see on the CySA+ exam. While these are not actual exam questions, they share the type of wording and structure common to CompTIA performance based questions. We have two questions per domain.
Domain 1: Security Operations
Domain 2: Vulnerability Management
Domain 3: Incident Response Management
Domain 4: Reporting & Communication
What Are Performance-Based Questions?
Most questions on the CySA+ certification exam take the form of multiple-choice questions, where one or more answers may apply. A solid understanding of the material, coupled with effective test-taking strategies, will enable you to excel in this section.
A key reason for the recognition of CompTIA certifications is the inclusion of performance-based questions (PBQs). These PBQs evaluate your practical skills in cyber security, assessing your ability to navigate real-world scenarios. Excelling in these tasks demonstrates your competency as a candidate.
As a CySA+ candidate, you will focus on solving simulated lab work (the PBQs) presented on the computer during your exam. You can skip and revisit them at any time throughout the exam. Additionally, you have the option to reset any simulation PBQs, ensuring you can fully showcase your knowledge and skills.
How Many Performance-Based Questions Can I Expect?
The CySA+ exam consists of a maximum of 85 questions and has an allotted time of 165 minutes. While this may suggest an average of just under two questions per minute, keep in mind that performance-based questions (PBQs) require more in-depth thinking, so you’ll likely need to spend more time on them than on multiple-choice questions.
Expect to encounter between one and six PBQs at the beginning of the exam, with an average expectation of around two to three. CySA+ PBQs take a rather long time to complete, and you’ll need to manage your time wisely during your practice tests because you won’t know which ones are more challenging until you see them.
How Are Performance-Based Questions Scored?
The CySA+ exam lasts 165 minutes and features a maximum of 85 questions. Consequently, the more performance-based questions (PBQs) you encounter, the fewer multiple-choice questions you will have.
CompTIA maintains the confidentiality of exam questions and the scoring scheme. However, they acknowledge that multiple approaches exist for solving PBQs. Their scoring system accommodates different methods and may grant partial credit. Two or more correct solutions to a PBQ may exist, and any of them can earn you points.
There can be multiple ways to solve a question or challenge posed in a PBQ. Scoring addresses different possible approaches. Partial credit may be given to virtual PBQ, as it is for simulation PBQs.
— Performance-based Questions Explained, CompTIA
What Do CySA+ Performance-Based Questions Look Like?
Each performance-based question (PBQ) appears on your screen, featuring instructions and navigation buttons. You’ll use the next and previous buttons to move between questions, while the reset button allows you to return a question to its original state if you need a fresh start.
In the simulation PBQs found on the CySA+ exam, you can choose to hide the instructions to see the entire PBQ layout. You can bring the instructions back up whenever needed to recall your tasks. Some PBQs may require you to press an additional Done, Save, or Submit button, so read the instructions carefully. Some will provide a scratch pad for notes or calculator, depending on the requirements of the task.
PBQs can take several forms:
- Fill-in-the-Blank: These questions require you to input the correct answers directly.
- Drag-and-Drop: In this format, you move items, such as images or text boxes, into designated areas to match larger layouts or concepts.
- Scenario: These detailed questions involve open dialog boxes or configuration windows where you need to configure various elements as instructed.
Having a solid grasp of foundational knowledge enables you to respond accurately and quickly during the exam. Therefore, mastering the core concepts in CySA+ through diligent study and practice is essential.
What Skills Are Tested in CySA+ Performance-Based Questions?
The primary purpose of performance-based questions (PBQs) in the CySA+ exam is to evaluate your practical skills as a cyber security analyst and ensure your expertise meets industry standards. PBQs assess your problem-solving abilities in security operations, vulnerability management, incident response and management, and reporting and communication, including:
- Detecting and analyzing indicators of malicious activity.
- Understanding threat hunting and threat intelligence concepts.
- Using appropriate tools and methods to manage, prioritize, and respond to attacks and vulnerabilities.
- Performing incident response processes.
- Understanding reporting and communication concepts related to vulnerability management and incident response activities.
As you review your materials, focus on practical applications and ensure you solve numerous PBQs in practice tests to solidify your understanding. Just as a high school science student must conduct experiments to demonstrate competence, you, too, must be able to apply your knowledge practically as a CySA+ candidate.
Sample CySA+ Performance-Based Questions
As CompTIA keeps its exam questions confidential, the following sample CySA+ performance-based questions (PBQs) are not actual exam questions but illustrate what you can expect during your test. Familiarizing yourself with these samples will help minimize unwanted surprises on exam day.
We’ll showcase examples of different PBQ types you might encounter in the CySA+ exam, from straightforward problem-solving tasks to more complex scenarios. The more acquainted you are with these formats, the better prepared you’ll be to navigate the exam confidently.
Fill-In-The-Blank Question
As continuous security monitoring is a huge part of network security, CySA+ PBQs often involve reading logs to extract information. This question is about incident response reporting and communication, asking you to input the essential details of a cyber security breach, and it looks simple at first glance:
Answers
The entire question revolves around how well you understand the acronyms (MTTD, MTTA, MTTR) and performing data analysis on security data.
| Metric | Incident 1 | Incident 2 | Incident 3 | Average |
| MTTD (start → detection) | 8 | 7 | 33 | 13 |
| MTTA (detection → acknowledgement) | 30 | 4 | 75 | 4.33 |
| MTTR (start → recovery) | 1 | 2 | 15 | 47.67 |
Even though it’s a fill-in-the-blank question requiring upper elementary to middle school mathematics, the calculation can be time-consuming depending on the complexity. Therefore, it’s important to master innocuous PBQs like this one.
Drag-And-Drop Question
We’re delving into a question on the Cyber Kill Chain, this time adapted for a tech support scam. The following situation highlights the dangers of outsourcing IT support, as it often involves social engineering and advanced persistent threats (APTs). It has drag-and-drop and scenario components, combining the most challenging aspects of both.
For extended reading, refer to this article to learn about cyber kill chains tailored to scams, often inspired by the attack methodology frameworks outlined in the CySA+ learning objectives.
Answer:
The draggable elements are the drag-and-drop aspect of this question, while the drop-down menu is its scenario aspect. The correct answer is as follows:
Explanation:
- No pre-targeting or opportunistic attack refers to the absence of proactive steps to single out the victim for the attack.
- The malicious pop-up in the advertisement resulted in code execution of full-screen mode pop-up messages. Their latent existence on the computer would be due to frequent access to the dodgy website before its execution, perhaps downloaded stealthily (via a drive-by download).
- The persistent messages displaying the tech support number are adware.
- The director grants RDP access in error.
- The monetary loss to scammers posing as IT support is a form of financial fraud.
- “Consolation” isn’t a step in the kill chain, although in practice, you would try to lessen the director’s anxiety regarding this APT. Refrain from selecting it in the PBQ.
Such PBQs often take inspiration from real-life cyber attacks, so it’s a good idea to keep up with relevant cyber security news.
Scenario Question
The following PBQ tests your knowledge of tools such as Wireshark in cyber security operations. The command below is quite tricky to remember.
Answer:
Now that we’ve covered the three types of PBQs, let’s talk about how to ace them.
What Is the Best Way to Approach the CySA+ Performance-Based Questions?
Performance-based questions (PBQs) appear first in the CySA+ exam, followed by multiple-choice questions. Should you tackle them first or last? This decision hinges on your testing style, highlighting the importance of practice tests.
- If your practice indicates you may lose points due to time constraints with PBQs, begin with them.
- On the other hand, if you perform well on multiple-choice questions and feel confident about completing the PBQs later, consider addressing them last.
If you experience a mental block with a PBQ, use the “Mark Question” option so that you can return to it later. Keep in mind that marking doesn’t mean you’ve answered it, so ensure you review all marked questions before time runs out.
Carefully read the instructions to answer correctly in both scenarios. If you make an error, you can reset the simulation, but you can’t regain any lost time. Ultimately, the best strategy for handling CySA+ PBQs depends on your time management and personal comfort level.
Conclusion
Although the CySA+ exam is by no means easy, it is achievable for anyone dedicated to investing the necessary time and effort. This article on CompTIA CySA+ performance-based questions provides you with valuable insights for your preparation, enabling you to proudly display your CySA+ Certification on your profile and advance your IT career.
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