If you’re getting ready to take a CompTIA exam (such as the Security+ exam) that has performance-based questions, these answers to some performance-based question FAQs might help you.
Note: These questions and answers come directly from CompTIA.
Q. The instructions window in the sample performance based question covers part of the workspace. If I close this window in the real exam to answer the question, can I reopen it if needed?
A. The instructions are in a separate window, but this window cannot be closed during testing. It can, however, be moved around to allow you to see the entire environment as needed.
Q. What does the Reset button do? Does it restart the question, or the entire exam—and will it delete any work that I have already completed?
A. The Reset button inside a performance based question will reset that question only. It will remove any work you have completed for that question, but nothing else. Selecting the Reset button allows you to begin the question again.
Q. If I select the Done button in a question, does it end the exam? Or does it mean that I am done with that question, even if I haven’t finished my answer? If I select the Done button and have completed some work in the question, is my work saved?
A. The Done button means that you want to move on from that performance based question to the next question in the exam.
- If you select the Done button and have completed any work toward your answer, your work will be saved.
- Once you have clicked the Done button, whether or not you have performed any work toward your answer, you can mark the question for review. If there is time left on the clock at the end of the exam, you can return to the flagged question and continue working.
Q. I don’t see a timer in the sample question. Isn’t there a timer in the exam, so I know how much time I have left?
A. There is a timer in all CompTIA exams, so that you know how much time you have left to complete the exam. However, when you are inside a performance based question, which is an environment simulated by software, the timer is not visible. You are advised to use your time wisely, marking the question for review if you do not feel confident to provide the correct answer in a short timeframe. The timer is visible for all parts of the exam except the performance based questions.
Q. If there is more than one way to get to a correct answer on a particular question, does the exam scoring address that?
A. There may be questions for which there is more than one way to get to a correct answer. In that case, the test taker will receive a correct score as long as the correct solution to the problem is achieved.
CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-501 Study Guide
Q. Is partial credit given if I answer part of a performance based question correctly?
A. There may occasionally be a question for which partial credit is offered. However, exam questions are confidential to CompTIA, so no further information can be provided regarding which questions may offer partial credit.
Here are some additional links for performance-based question blogs.
- 5 Performance-based Questions Tips
- Security+ Performance Based Questions
- Performance Based Questions Might Lock Up
- Firewall Configuration Performance Question
- Security+ WAP Performance Based Questions
- Security+ Performance-Based Questions Video
- Security+ Forensic Performance Based Question
- Network+ Performance Based Questions
- Network+ WAP Performance Based Questions