If you’re preparing for CISSP, the first questions are often the same: How hard is the CISSP exam? How should you interpret the 700 / 1000 passing score? And can the CISSP passing-rate figures you see online be trusted? After reading different CISSP exam experiences, it is easy to end up with more conflicting answers, not fewer.
The most misunderstood point comes first: ISC2 does not publish a global CISSP pass rate and has stated that it does not disclose pass-rate data to training providers. Figures such as 20%, 30% or other claims about the CISSP first-time pass rate are therefore unofficial and should not be treated as formal statistics. What can be verified from official sources is that the current CISSP exam is a 3-hour CAT exam with 100 to 150 items, a passing standard of 700 / 1000, and a standard Asia-Pacific exam fee of US$749.
1. CISSP 2026 Exam at a Glance
First, here is the exam format, fee and passing standard in one place:
| Item | 2026 CISSP Exam Information |
| Exam duration | 3 hours |
| Number of items | 100-150 |
| Exam format | Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) |
| Item types | Multiple-choice and Advanced Item Types |
| Passing standard | 700 / 1000 |
| Standard exam fee in Asia-Pacific | US$749 (taxes vary by exam location) |
| Exam coverage | 8 domains |
| Testing centers | ISC2-authorized Pearson VUE Testing Centers |
CISSP uses CAT, which means the number and difficulty mix of items can vary from one candidate to another. After the minimum 100 items, the system can end the exam once the scoring algorithm has enough statistical confidence to determine whether the candidate’s ability is above or below the passing standard. That is why you cannot estimate your result simply by counting how many questions you think you answered correctly.
2. How Much Does the CISSP Exam Cost?
Hong Kong falls under ISC2’s Asia-Pacific pricing region. The current CISSP exam fee is US$749. Rescheduling an exam costs US$50, while cancelling an exam costs US$100. Applicable taxes vary by exam location.
If you do not pass on your first attempt, there is no discounted retake fee. ISC2 states that candidates must pay the full exam fee for each attempt unless their exam voucher includes Peace of Mind Protection.
The current retake waiting periods are:
- After the first unsuccessful attempt: wait at least 30 days before retaking the exam
- After the second unsuccessful attempt: wait 60 days from the most recent attempt
- After the third and subsequent unsuccessful attempts: wait 90 days from the most recent attempt
- A candidate may attempt the same ISC2 certification exam up to four times within a 12-month period
So, when calculating the overall cost of CISSP, it is worth considering not only the initial US$749 fee but also the possible cost and waiting time of a retake. If you plan to sit the exam in Hong Kong, you can also review our 2026 Hong Kong CISSP exam registration and test-center guide for Pearson VUE booking, test-center and exam-day arrangements.
3. What Are the CISSP Passing Score and Pass Rate?
Does 700 / 1000 Mean You Need 70% Correct?
No. ISC2 publishes a CISSP passing standard of 700 / 1000, but this does not mean that answering 70% of the questions correctly guarantees a pass. CISSP uses CAT, and the system continuously estimates candidate ability based on performance across the exam before comparing that estimate with the passing standard.
At the end of the exam, candidates receive a Pass / Fail result rather than a numeric score. Candidates who do not pass receive domain-level proficiency information to help identify weaker areas for future preparation.
What Is the CISSP Passing Rate?
If you search for the CISSP passing rate, first-time pass rate or failure rate, you will find many different figures online. ISC2, however, does not publish an official global pass rate. It also states that training providers should not guarantee a high pass rate because ISC2 does not disclose this information to them.
Instead of focusing on an unofficial percentage, it is more useful to assess how much of the eight-domain syllabus your work experience already covers and whether you can adapt to the management judgement and CAT decision-making style required by the exam.
4. How Hard Is the CISSP Exam?
CISSP exam difficulty is real, but different candidates find different parts difficult. A Network Security engineer may already be comfortable with Communication and Network Security. Someone from a Technology Risk or Audit background may find Governance and Risk more familiar, but may need more work on Security Architecture or Software Development Security.
Difficulty 1 – Breadth Across 8 Domains
| CISSP Domain | Weight |
| Security and Risk Management | 16% |
| Asset Security | 10% |
| Security Architecture and Engineering | 13% |
| Communication and Network Security | 13% |
| Identity and Access Management (IAM) | 13% |
| Security Assessment and Testing | 12% |
| Security Operations | 13% |
| Software Development Security | 10% |
The current ISC2 Exam Outline covers all eight domains above. For many candidates, the real challenge is not a complete lack of information security knowledge, but the fact that their professional experience is usually concentrated in only a few areas.
For example, a network specialist may have less exposure to Software Development Security; someone in Security Operations may work less often with Asset Classification; and an Audit or Risk professional may need to strengthen Architecture, IAM or Network Security. CISSP is therefore difficult to tackle through a single area of strength. If you want to allocate study time across the eight domains, see our CISSP Study Guide 2026: 90-Day Study Plan and 8 Domains.
Difficulty 2 – It Tests Technical Knowledge and Management Judgement
CISSP is designed for experienced security practitioners, managers and executives, and ISC2 positions the certification around both technical and managerial knowledge. That means the exam is not always asking which technical control is strongest. In many scenarios, the more important question is: given the role, risk, policy and business context, which action is most appropriate?
For example, during a security incident, a technical practitioner may instinctively want to isolate the system or change a configuration immediately. A CISSP scenario may instead require you to consider the incident response process, evidence integrity, management responsibility or business impact first. This is often one of the biggest adjustments for candidates from highly technical backgrounds.
Difficulty 3 – CAT Does Not Let You Go Back
In the CISSP CAT format, the system re-estimates candidate ability after each response and selects the next item accordingly. Once you submit an answer, you cannot return to review or change it. This is very different from exams where you can skip uncertain questions and revisit them later.
ISC2 also explains that the CAT algorithm selects questions that a candidate is estimated to have roughly a 50% chance of answering correctly. As a result, even strong candidates may feel that the exam remains challenging throughout. You need to get comfortable making a decision with the information available, submitting the answer and moving on.
5. Is CISSP Hard? Start With Your Background
Rather than judging your chances from an unofficial CISSP pass rate, ask yourself three more practical questions:
- How many of the eight domains are already part of your professional strengths? If your experience is concentrated in one or two technical areas, allow more time to strengthen the others.
- When you answer scenario questions, do you jump straight to the technical solution? If so, you may need more practice with Risk, Governance, Process and a Management Perspective.
- Are you comfortable with the CAT format, where you cannot go back to change an answer? If you rely on skipping questions and reviewing them later, you will need to change that habit before exam day.
If you are still comparing different information security certifications, you may also find our CISSP vs CISA career guide useful when deciding which direction best fits your current responsibilities and longer-term goals.
For CISSP eligibility, Pearson VUE registration in Hong Kong, study time and self-study planning, it is better to treat registration and preparation as a separate stage. Those topics will be covered in our companion article, CISSP Exam 2026 | Eligibility and Preparation.
6. Planning to Prepare for the CISSP Exam?
KORNERSTONE currently offers a 48-hour instructor-led CISSP course covering all eight domains, with Real Case Study Analysis, Mock Exam and Exam Drill included in the training. View the KORNERSTONE CISSP course for current course details and schedules.
If you would like to understand how your background affects CISSP preparation, or want to check course dates, fees or study arrangements, you are welcome to contact our training consultants through Course Enquiry.
