CISSP exam format: domains, weightings and length
CISSP is examined across 8 domains. The weightings below decide how much of the exam each domain is worth — and therefore where preparation time pays off.
Domains and weightings
| Domain | Exam weight | Our questions |
|---|---|---|
| Security and Risk Management | 16% | 192 |
| Communication and Network Security | 13% | 156 |
| Identity and Access Management (IAM) | 13% | 156 |
| Security Architecture and Engineering | 13% | 156 |
| Security Operations | 13% | 156 |
| Security Assessment and Testing | 12% | 144 |
| Asset Security | 10% | 120 |
| Software Development Security | 10% | 120 |
Length and number of questions
- Time: 180 minutes
- Questions: about 137 according to the vendor — the vendor gives a range rather than a fixed count, so treat this as approximate.
- Passing score: 700 on a scale of 0–1000 — what CISSP needs to pass →
Question formats in our CISSP bank
These are the formats among the 1,200 CISSP questions we publish. They describe our bank, not the vendor's blueprint.
- single choice: 1,080 questions
- multi choice: 120 questions
All 1,200 CISSP practice questions, every option explained →
Know which domain is costing you marks
The weightings tell you what the exam rewards. A readiness check tells you where you stand in each one.
Test your CISSP readiness — freeMore on CISSP
- CISSP certification: requirements, cost and exam format →
- CISSP passing score →
- CISSP exam cost →
- CISSP practice questions by domain →
Domain weightings as published by the exam vendor · Question counts are from the Certsqill CISSP bank (1,200 questions).
