Passed Linux+ XK0-005
- By Rick Butler
- CompTIA Linux+
- 22 Replies
Congrats on your win, mate. Some certs are easy, some are hard fought. I believe the latter are the most precious, because of the time invested. Well done pally.
I like to next level my certification exam experiences. LOL!!Wow, talk about white-knuckling your way through it--that was a lot of stuff going on to make the toughest CompTIA exam even more challenging! Thanks for sharing your study strategies. I've passed this one once but already dreading the next time I need to take it.
Awesome Sauce! Big congratulations @Nathan Miller Masiku !!smashed the exam today!
Huge thanks to CIN and a big shoutout to @Stephen Schneiter & CompTIA for making it happen.
On to the next one! SecurityX![]()
ISC2 officially shortened the CISSP exam from 125-175 questions to 100-150 questions (for the CAT version) and reduced the time limit from four hours to three hours, effective April 15, 2024When I did the CISSP it stopped 100 question. Still waiting for DataX and CloudNetX voucher
When I did the CISSP it stopped 100 question. Still waiting for DataX and CloudNetX voucherThe only current CompTIA exams I haven't completed are Linux+ and DataX. I've got DataX scheduled within a month.
I also passed the CISSP with the minimum number of questions, which was 125 at the time before they shortened the exam by 25 questions last year.
Looking forward from you to also share DataX exam experience, above all, all the best and congratulations in advance!The only current CompTIA exams I haven't completed are Linux+ and DataX. I've got DataX scheduled within a month.
I also passed the CISSP with the minimum number of questions, which was 125 at the time before they shortened the exam by 25 questions last year.
I looked at a GIAC syllabus once and had to lie down afterwardsYou can always do GIAC certification, much more challenging . ISC2 / ISACA / ComTIA are very good but the GIAC training goes deeper
Fair enough answer.Exams are easy or difficult based on your level of experience. Two decades ago, I thought Security+ was easy. Now I find it incredibly simple after passing six different versions of the exam.
The second question is impossible to answer because all jobs are role-specific and have their own needs. A data scientist would have no need for A+ and an entry-level help desk employee would have no need for CloudNetX.
You can always do GIAC certification, much more challenging . ISC2 / ISACA / ComTIA are very good but the GIAC training goes deeperIt really shows how deep experience makes a big difference.
Exams are easy or difficult based on your level of experience. Two decades ago, I thought Security+ was easy. Now I find it incredibly simple after passing six different versions of the exam.What would be your scale of CompTIA exams from #1 the hardest to the #10 the easiest?
And, if you were an IT organization looking for certifications - what would be your certification requirements for getting hired?
What would be your scale of CompTIA exams from #1 the hardest to the #10 the easiest?Congratulations! In my opinion, SecX is a bit easier than PenTest+ because you don't have to know 50+ different tool sets. Good luck!
I started my IT Certification journey when I was 26 years old and at the time I was working on the old school Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification. I had a tooth extraction that morning and sat for the 6th exam that afternoon (Internetworking with TCP/IP) dull, sore, achy, and just miserable and even back then I passed that test in the first attempt!Excellent job, Jason. Congrats. I have back problems so I can relate to taking exams through discomfort.
Best,
-Moez
The only current CompTIA exams I haven't completed are Linux+ and DataX. I've got DataX scheduled within a month.Well done! I found that exam to be the toughest CompTIA exam and was thrilled to pass it. I passed A+, N+, Sec+, PenTest+, CySA+, Data+, DataX, Cloud+, CISSP (passed after 100 questions). Remaining targets: Linux+, CloudNetX hopefully in 2026.
Congratulations! In my opinion, SecX is a bit easier than PenTest+ because you don't have to know 50+ different tool sets. Good luck!smashed the exam today!
Huge thanks to CIN and a big shoutout to @Stephen Schneiter & CompTIA for making it happen.
On to the next one! SecurityX![]()
congratulationsThis has been quite the journey — one that started back in November!
Between work and life in general, I finally just said, "Screw it... I'm going to sit down with this material, digest it, take the exam, and pass it!"
Let me tell you — the Linux+ XK0-005 exam is not for the faint of heart. For someone with VERY LITTLE experience (aside from what’s needed for Network+), I was honestly surprised at how well I did.
I must've watched the Linux+ XK0-005 Train the Trainer videos at least three times, dissected the CompTIA objectives, used ChatGPT as my study partner (which sometimes went off the rails until I had to yell, “HEY! FOCUS ON…”), and jumped in and out of several Linux VM distros just to get a feel for what I was getting myself into. In the end, I felt prepared and confident going into the exam.
On July 22, 2025, I sat for the Linux+ XK0-005 certification exam. I had 67 questions in total: 3 PBQs and 64 multiple-choice, with 90 minutes to complete them. I didn’t exactly take the test under ideal conditions either — I had a cortisone shot in my left knee the day before (7/21/25), and if you’ve ever experienced the flare-ups afterward... you know. I was gripping the desk during some parts of the test. But I muscled through it.
My strategy: I answered all the multiple-choice questions first, skipping the PBQs and marking them for review. Once I finished those, I had plenty of time left to circle back, carefully work through the PBQs, and then do a full review of the entire exam. I went question by question — reading, re-reading, marking answers, cross-referencing topics on my whiteboard, and analyzing each one thoroughly. I don’t usually recommend this strategy to my students (I’m a high school teacher who offers CompTIA certification classes), but in this case… it paid off. After completing the post-exam survey, the screen popped up: “CONGRATULATIONS — YOU PASSED!”
If you’re new to Linux — stick with it. I did, and it paid off.
Excellent job, Jason. Congrats. I have back problems so I can relate to taking exams through discomfort.This has been quite the journey — one that started back in November!
Between work and life in general, I finally just said, "Screw it... I'm going to sit down with this material, digest it, take the exam, and pass it!"
Let me tell you — the Linux+ XK0-005 exam is not for the faint of heart. For someone with VERY LITTLE experience (aside from what’s needed for Network+), I was honestly surprised at how well I did.
I must've watched the Linux+ XK0-005 Train the Trainer videos at least three times, dissected the CompTIA objectives, used ChatGPT as my study partner (which sometimes went off the rails until I had to yell, “HEY! FOCUS ON…”), and jumped in and out of several Linux VM distros just to get a feel for what I was getting myself into. In the end, I felt prepared and confident going into the exam.
On July 22, 2025, I sat for the Linux+ XK0-005 certification exam. I had 67 questions in total: 3 PBQs and 64 multiple-choice, with 90 minutes to complete them. I didn’t exactly take the test under ideal conditions either — I had a cortisone shot in my left knee the day before (7/21/25), and if you’ve ever experienced the flare-ups afterward... you know. I was gripping the desk during some parts of the test. But I muscled through it.
My strategy: I answered all the multiple-choice questions first, skipping the PBQs and marking them for review. Once I finished those, I had plenty of time left to circle back, carefully work through the PBQs, and then do a full review of the entire exam. I went question by question — reading, re-reading, marking answers, cross-referencing topics on my whiteboard, and analyzing each one thoroughly. I don’t usually recommend this strategy to my students (I’m a high school teacher who offers CompTIA certification classes), but in this case… it paid off. After completing the post-exam survey, the screen popped up: “CONGRATULATIONS — YOU PASSED!”
If you’re new to Linux — stick with it. I did, and it paid off.
Happy birthdayPlease Wish Kayode Adeagbo from Nigeria
Happy brithday
friends
View attachment 2364
this is your cake
View attachment 2365
Way to get in there and get it done! Nice job!smashed the exam today!
Huge thanks to CIN and a big shoutout to @Stephen Schneiter & CompTIA for making it happen.
On to the next one! SecurityX![]()
congratulationThis has been quite the journey — one that started back in November!
Between work and life in general, I finally just said, "Screw it... I'm going to sit down with this material, digest it, take the exam, and pass it!"
Let me tell you — the Linux+ XK0-005 exam is not for the faint of heart. For someone with VERY LITTLE experience (aside from what’s needed for Network+), I was honestly surprised at how well I did.
I must've watched the Linux+ XK0-005 Train the Trainer videos at least three times, dissected the CompTIA objectives, used ChatGPT as my study partner (which sometimes went off the rails until I had to yell, “HEY! FOCUS ON…”), and jumped in and out of several Linux VM distros just to get a feel for what I was getting myself into. In the end, I felt prepared and confident going into the exam.
On July 22, 2025, I sat for the Linux+ XK0-005 certification exam. I had 67 questions in total: 3 PBQs and 64 multiple-choice, with 90 minutes to complete them. I didn’t exactly take the test under ideal conditions either — I had a cortisone shot in my left knee the day before (7/21/25), and if you’ve ever experienced the flare-ups afterward... you know. I was gripping the desk during some parts of the test. But I muscled through it.
My strategy: I answered all the multiple-choice questions first, skipping the PBQs and marking them for review. Once I finished those, I had plenty of time left to circle back, carefully work through the PBQs, and then do a full review of the entire exam. I went question by question — reading, re-reading, marking answers, cross-referencing topics on my whiteboard, and analyzing each one thoroughly. I don’t usually recommend this strategy to my students (I’m a high school teacher who offers CompTIA certification classes), but in this case… it paid off. After completing the post-exam survey, the screen popped up: “CONGRATULATIONS — YOU PASSED!”
If you’re new to Linux — stick with it. I did, and it paid off.