I am currently working through a 90 day study plan to pass the CompTIA Pentest+ (PT0-003) certification. The primary goal is to pass the exam quickly to better support my growing family, and work on getting to my degree next.

Stage 1 is the learn phase which should last for 20–30 days. My daily routine starts with making coffee and using Freeplane to create chapter mindmaps from the Sybex Study Guide. I aim to cover 20–25 new pages per day. I then use Gemini AI to convert these mindmaps into a CSV table, which I import into Anki to create flashcards. I review these materials throughout the day while balancing work and family life. When the day ends, I'll read and highlight the next chapter of the book for the next morning.

Stage 2 is the review phase which should take around 10 days. During this time, I focus on reviewing my flashcards and mindmaps. I also use Jason Dion practice tests on Udemy to identify any areas that need more work. I've also seen there is practice labs on try hack me for Pentest+, but I'm hoping that my work experience and previous experience from SANS courses should help me skip this.

Stage 3 is the test phase. I plan to take the exam at a physical test center instead of online. On the day of the test, I will do a final review of my flashcards before going in. Once I pass, I intend to create a blog post sharing my findings.