How I Passed CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-003) in 1.5 Months

If someone had told me a few months ago that I’d clear the updated CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-003) exam in just 1.5 months, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. This version is tougher, more modern, and far more realistic than the older one. It brings cloud exploitation, AI-based attacks, real-world reporting scenarios, and deeper coverage of how pentesting engagements actually work. But somehow, with structure, consistency, and plenty of real hands-on experience, I did it.

Before diving into my preparation journey, it’s important to mention something that helped me tremendously: I’ve worked on many practical security projects across SAST, DAST, SCA, research, and offensive tooling like BurpSuite and Metasploit. This foundation became my biggest advantage because PenTest+ isn’t a theory exam — it rewards real practical experience.

Here’s how my 1.5-month journey went, and how you can prepare too.

My PenTest+ Journey

I didn’t start with a perfect plan. I started with curiosity… and a bit of panic. The PT0-003 update includes cloud attacks, AI threats, advanced enumeration, and more emphasis on the business side. But instead of getting overwhelmed, I leaned on the practical skills I’d already built through real-world security work.

Over the past year, I worked deeply across:

• SAST (static analysis of source code)

• DAST (dynamic scanning of running applications)

• SCA (software composition analysis)

• Security research

• Manual testing using BurpSuite

• Network and host exploitation with Metasploit

These weren’t just tools for me — they were part of my day-to-day workflow. And when I started preparing for PenTest+, I realized that most of the exam objectives directly map to what I was already doing in practice.

Still, the exam needed structured preparation. So here's how I broke down my 1.5 months.

Week 1–2: Learning the Professional Side of Pentesting

The first two weeks were all about understanding how pentesting engagements work outside the terminal. I focused on:

• planning

• scoping

• authorization

• rules of engagement

• communication

• documentation

This part is often underestimated, but it’s crucial. Real pentesters spend a surprising amount of time writing, planning, and talking before they ever run a scan.

Alongside that, I refreshed recon and enumeration — which came naturally thanks to my DAST/SAST/SCA background. I practiced modifying small Python, Bash, and PowerShell scripts to automate recon tasks. This made enumeration feel smooth and predictable.

Week 3–4: Exploitation, Vulnerabilities, and Breaking Things

These were the most intense weeks. Even though I had experience with BurpSuite and Metasploit, I treated these weeks like bootcamp.

I practiced:

• privilege escalation

• authentication attacks

• MITM attacks

• IAM and container misconfigurations

• cloud exploitation patterns

• scripting recon automation

• SAST vs DAST vs SCA in hands-on scenarios

My real experience helped a lot — running DAST scans teaches you how apps behave dynamically, while SAST gives you intuition about where code usually breaks.

Platforms I used:

• TryHackMe

• HackTheBox

• VulnHub

• My own local vulnerable lab

Every machine I solved gave me a clearer understanding of the exam objectives.

Week 5: Post-Exploitation

Pentest+ focuses heavily on reporting. This week was all about:

• documenting attack flows

• writing executive summaries

• presenting risks clearly

• creating remediation steps

If exploitation is the “fun” part, reporting is the “professional” part. And honestly, it’s just as important.

I also practiced lateral movement and pivoting — skills that tied together everything I’d learned from SAST, DAST, and infrastructure testing.

Week 6: PBQs, Full-Length Practice, and Final Review

The last week was dedicated to:

• solving PBQ-style tasks

• reviewing cloud and AI attack techniques

• practicing exploitation chains

• analyzing vulnerability scan results

• refining weak domains

By the time I walked into the exam, I wasn’t expecting perfection — but I felt prepared. And it paid off.

The Updated PenTest+ PT0-003 Domains

1. Engagement Management (13%) — The Human Side of Pentesting

Before touching a tool, you need:

• rules of engagement

• scoping and target selection

• legal approvals

• NDAs

• communication paths

• escalation procedures

• clean reporting

This ensures you know how to operate professionally and ethically.

2. Reconnaissance & Enumeration (21%) — Listening Before Attacking

You gather information through:

• OSINT

• passive recon

• active scanning

• DNS/SMB/LDAP enumeration

• script modification

Tools include Nmap, Wireshark, Shodan, theHarvester, Netcat.

This domain builds the foundation for everything that follows.

3. Vulnerability Discovery & Analysis (17%) — Finding Weak Spots

You learn to:

• run authenticated/unauthenticated scans

• perform SAST and DAST

• interpret results

• remove false positives

• prioritize issues using CVSS

Tools include Nessus, OpenVAS, Nikto, and BurpSuite.

Your SAST/DAST/SCA experience directly helps here.

4. Attacks & Exploits (35%) — The Core of the Exam

This is the heart of PenTest+.

You’ll cover:

• VLAN hopping

• MITM attacks

• brute forcing

• privilege escalation

• credential dumping

• SQLi, XSS, IDOR, directory traversal

• cloud IAM and metadata exploitation

• AI threats like prompt injection and model manipulation

It’s huge — and hands-on experience helps more than any book.

5. Post-Exploitation & Lateral Movement (14%) — After the Break-In

Once you’re inside a system, you must:

• establish persistence

• escalate privileges

• pivot across networks

• extract data

• cover your tracks

• document everything

This is where Metasploit skills shine.

My PenTest+ Exam Experience — Honest & Real

When I sat for the PT0-003 exam, one thing immediately stood out: it was long — very long.

The exam began with Performance-Based Questions (PBQs), and each PBQ had several layers inside it. Some had:

• multiple subsections

• additional nested tasks

• matching questions

• multi-response items

• code snippets followed by “select the correct output”

You’ll also face scenarios involving real-world tools, logs, packets, and exploit chains. The PBQs alone take time, and if you're not careful, you can burn a big chunk of your exam window before even reaching the MCQs.

My advice? Stay calm, manage time, and don’t get stuck on any single PBQ. This exam truly measures practical understanding — not memorization.

Final Thoughts — Yes, You Can Pass This Too

PenTest+ isn’t just a certification — it’s a mindset shift. It teaches you to think like a professional pentester.

What helped me most?

• My hands-on experience with SAST, DAST, SCA

• Real manual testing through BurpSuite

• Exploit development and host attacks using Metasploit

• Consistent lab practice

• And clear, structured preparation

If you’re preparing for PT0-003, trust me: Consistent practice beats perfect theory every single time.