CySA+ Passing Score: 750 out of 900 (CS0-003) Explained
The CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 passing score is 750/900 — about 83%. See the 4 domain weights, how many questions you can miss, and how to know you're ready.
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Table of Contents
The CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003) passing score is 750 out of 900 — roughly 83%. That's the same threshold as Security+ and PenTest+, and it tells you something: CySA+ is a cybersecurity-track exam, and CompTIA holds those to a higher standard than the foundation certs. Here's exactly what 750 means, how the four domains are weighted, and how many questions you can afford to miss.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Passing score | 750 / 900 |
| Approximate % | ~83% correct |
| Total questions | Up to 85 |
| Time limit | 165 minutes |
| Question types | Multiple choice + performance-based (PBQ) |
| Domains | 4 |
| Exam code | CS0-003 |
| Exam cost | $439 (2026) |
How Is the CySA+ Exam Scored?
CompTIA uses a scaled scoring system from 100 to 900. Your raw number of correct answers is converted onto that scale, so not every question is worth the same. The performance-based questions (PBQs) — where you interpret logs, analyze a vulnerability scan, or work through an incident-response scenario — likely carry more weight than a single multiple-choice item.
CompTIA does not publish the exact conversion formula, so "~83%" is an approximation of the 750/900 line, not a fixed raw-score cutoff. Two candidates with the same number correct could see slightly different scaled scores depending on the exam form they were served. The practical takeaway: don't aim for exactly 750 — build a margin.
CySA+ CS0-003 Domain Weights
CS0-003 has four domains, and they are front-loaded toward analyst operations. Security Operations and Vulnerability Management alone are 63% of the exam:
| Domain | Weight | ~Questions (of 85) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 Security Operations | 33% | ~28 |
| 2.0 Vulnerability Management | 30% | ~26 |
| 3.0 Incident Response and Management | 20% | ~17 |
| 4.0 Reporting and Communication | 17% | ~14 |
If your study time is tight, front-load domains 1 and 2. For the full sub-objective checklist and study order, see the CySA+ CS0-003 exam objectives.
How Many Questions Can You Miss?
With up to 85 questions and an ~83% threshold, you need roughly 71 correct, giving you a miss budget of about 14 questions. But scaled scoring and PBQ weighting mean that budget isn't spread evenly — botching a multi-step PBQ can cost more than missing a single multiple-choice question.
Why This Matters
CySA+ is analysis-heavy. The exam rewards people who can read telemetry and prioritize findings, not just recall definitions. Practicing with realistic scenario questions — not flashcards alone — is what closes the gap on exam day.
How to Know You're Ready
Run through this checklist before you book CS0-003:
- Score 85%+ on at least 3 full-length practice exams — consistency beats a single lucky run.
- No domain below 75% — one weak domain can sink an otherwise-strong average.
- You can interpret a scan and a log — the heart of CySA+ is analysis. Practice reading real output, not just picking terms.
- PBQ comfort — you've worked through scenario questions under time pressure.
- Timed conditions — you've completed a full exam inside the 165-minute window.
SecuSpark has 1,785 CySA+ practice questions (3 full exams free to start), and premium AI deep dives explain why each answer is right or wrong so you learn from every miss. Practice on the CySA+ practice test.
CySA+ Passing Score vs Other CompTIA Exams
| Certification | Passing Score | ~% |
|---|---|---|
| A+ Core 1 / Core 2 | 675 / 700 | ~75% / ~78% |
| Network+ | 720 | ~80% |
| Security+ | 750 | ~83% |
| CySA+ | 750 | ~83% |
| PenTest+ | 750 | ~83% |
CySA+ shares the 750/900 line with Security+ and PenTest+ — the cybersecurity-track certs all demand ~83%. If you're deciding between them, read Security+ vs CySA+ vs CISSP.
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