Are Security+ PBQs Hard? What to Expect on Exam Day (and How Beginners Can Prepare)

If you search anything about the CompTIA Security+ exam, one topic comes up again and again: Performance-Based Questions, often called PBQs. They are frequently described as stressful, confusing, or the reason people fail.

This blog explains what PBQs actually are, how many you can expect on the exam, why they cause anxiety, and whether beginners with no IT experience should be worried. Everything here reflects real exam experiences and common questions seen online.

What Are Security+ PBQs

Performance-Based Questions are hands-on style questions that test how you apply security concepts, not just whether you can recognize definitions.

Instead of selecting a multiple-choice answer, PBQs may ask you to:

• Configure a firewall rule

• Match attacks to mitigations

• Analyze a security scenario and choose the correct response

• Identify vulnerabilities in a simulated environment

• Place controls in the correct order

PBQs are designed to test decision-making and understanding, not memorization.

Why Security+ PBQs Cause Anxiety

PBQs are often the most intimidating part of the exam for three reasons.

First, they usually appear at the beginning of the exam. Many test takers open the exam and immediately see a complex scenario, which raises stress levels before they even get to the multiple-choice questions.

Second, PBQs feel unfamiliar. People who study mostly with videos or flashcards often say they did not practice this type of question enough.

Third, PBQs look harder than they are. The layout can feel overwhelming at first glance, even when the underlying concepts are basic.

This combination is why PBQs are talked about so much online.

Are Security+ PBQs Actually Hard

The honest answer is that PBQs are not harder than the rest of the exam, but they are different.

Most people who struggle with PBQs are not failing because the content is advanced. They struggle because:

• They have not practiced hands-on scenarios

• They panic when they see a long prompt

• They try to be perfect instead of choosing the best available answer

PBQs reward calm reasoning and familiarity with exam-style tasks. They do not require deep technical expertise or real-world job experience.

How Many PBQs Are on the Security+ Exam

This is one of the most searched exam-day questions.

Most Security+ exams include between 2 and 5 PBQs, depending on the exam version and test form. CompTIA does not publish an exact number, and it can vary from one exam to another.

What matters more than the number is this:
PBQs are only a portion of the exam score. They are important, but they are not the entire exam.

Many people pass Security+ even if they feel unsure about one PBQ.

What PBQs Usually Cover

PBQs commonly focus on:

• Threat identification

• Network security controls

• Access control decisions

• Incident response steps

• Basic configuration logic

They rarely require advanced command-line usage or complex configurations. The focus is on understanding security concepts and applying them correctly.

What to Expect on Exam Day

On exam day, PBQs typically appear first. A common and effective strategy is to flag them, move on to the multiple-choice questions, and return later.

This allows you to:

• Build confidence with familiar questions

• Manage time more effectively

• Return to PBQs with a clearer head

The exam gives enough time to review flagged questions if you manage pacing.

Security+ PBQs for Beginners With No IT Experience

One of the biggest misconceptions is that PBQs are only manageable for people already working in IT.

That is not true.

Beginners pass PBQs every day by:

• Understanding core concepts rather than memorizing definitions

• Practicing lab-style scenarios

• Learning how CompTIA frames questions

PBQs do not assume job experience. They assume you understand the exam objectives.

At ASM Educational Center, PBQ preparation is built into training through hands-on labs and guided scenarios. This helps students know what PBQs look like before exam day, which significantly reduces anxiety. Many ASM students pass the Security+ exam on their first attempt because they are not seeing PBQs for the first time during the exam.