Waiting for Your Results

Perhaps the most painful part of the CISSP examination is waiting for the results. You can expect to come out of the CISSP examination, at best, with no idea of whether you have passed or failed . . . or worse, with the sinking feeling that you bombed it miserably. Take heart - this is an almost universal reaction, caused by mental fatigue, but it’s certainly not the universal result.

(ISC) ² officially states that you can expect your exam results via first class mail within 4–6 weeks of your examination date. However, (ISC) ² is getting more efficient and often has results out within 1–2 weeks. No results are given out via telephone. If you don’t receive your results within 6 weeks, you should contact (ISC) ² to inquire about the status.

Your results will be simply Pass or Fail. No score is given, and your domain strengths/weaknesses aren’t identified. You just receive an official letter informing you of your results. When you pass, you receive your CISSP certification number, CISSP certificate, wallet card, lapel pin, and username/ temporary password for access to the secure (ISC) ² Web site.

 Tip   While waiting for your results, assume the worst and prepare for the retest. Recall specific problem areas from the examination. Write them down and study those areas again. If you fail the examination, this effort will pay huge dividends when you try again. And if you find out that you did pass the examination, you’ll be a better CISSP!

 Cross-Reference   Chapter 3 reviews what to do after you earn your CISSP certification.