Look, I’m not one to hype up every “free” thing that pops up online, but this one’s actually worth your time. Udemy just made a bunch of cybersecurity and programming practice exam courses free for the next 5 days. No strings attached, no credit card required, just straight-up free access to prep materials that normally cost money.
You’ve got until January 7th before these go back to paid. So if you’ve been thinking about getting certified or just want to test where you stand, now’s the time.
Here’s What You Can Grab
ISC² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) – Practice Exams: Set 1
The ISC² CC certification is designed specifically for people who are new to cybersecurity or looking to make a career transition into the field. It’s an entry-level cert, which means it doesn’t assume you have years of experience already. The exam covers five main domains: security principles, business continuity, disaster recovery, access controls, and network security.
What makes this cert valuable is that it comes from ISC², the same organization behind the CISSP, which is basically the heavyweight championship belt of cybersecurity certs. Having an ISC² credential on your resume, even an entry-level one, carries weight. The exam itself has 100 questions and you need to score at least 700 out of 1000 to pass. This first practice exam set will help you get familiar with the question style and identify where you need to focus your studying.
ISC² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) – Practice Exams: Set 2
This is a second set of practice questions for the same CC certification. Why would you want both? Simple: repetition and variety. The actual exam pulls from a huge question bank, so the more practice questions you go through, the better prepared you’ll be. Different question sets also phrase things differently, which helps you understand the concepts from multiple angles instead of just memorizing answers.
If you’re serious about passing the CC exam on your first try, having two complete practice exam sets is basically a no-brainer, especially when they’re both free. Use the first set to assess where you’re at, study the areas you’re weak in, then use the second set to confirm you’ve improved.
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) – Practice Tests
Security+ is the cert that keeps coming up in job postings. Seriously, go look at cybersecurity job listings and count how many mention it. The SY0-701 is the latest version of the exam, updated to cover current threats and technologies. It’s vendor-neutral, meaning it’s not tied to any specific product or company, which is why employers love it.
The exam covers a lot of ground: threats and vulnerabilities, security architecture, operations, security program management, and governance. You need to know about different types of attacks, how to secure networks, cryptography basics, identity and access management, and how to respond to incidents. It’s 90 questions, mix of multiple choice and performance-based questions where you actually have to do things like configure a firewall or analyze network traffic.
The exam costs around $400, and you need to score 750 out of 900 to pass. That’s why practice tests matter. You don’t want to find out you weren’t ready after you’ve already paid. Security+ is also one of those certs that meets requirements for government jobs (it’s on the DoD 8570 list), so if you’re interested in government or contractor work, this one’s essential.
PCEP (30-02) – Practice Exams
https://www.udemy.com/course/pcep-30-02-practice-exams/?couponCode=2178D3AB1E194D128B92
PCEP stands for Python Certified Entry-Level Programmer. It’s the foundational certification for Python programming from the Python Institute. Now, you might be wondering why a Python cert is in a list of cybersecurity resources. Here’s why: Python has become the go-to language for security work.
Security automation? Python. Writing scripts to analyze logs? Python. Building tools to test for vulnerabilities? Python. Processing data from security tools? You guessed it, Python. Even if you’re not going to be a full-time developer, being able to write basic Python scripts makes you way more effective in security roles.
The PCEP exam tests your understanding of Python basics: data types, operators, loops, functions, lists, and basic programming concepts. It’s 30 questions, you need 70% to pass, and it’s all multiple choice. The cert costs about $60 to take, which isn’t crazy expensive, but why not practice for free first? Even if you don’t plan to get certified, working through these practice questions will make you better at Python, which makes you better at security work.
ISACA CISM – Domain Tests
Now we’re moving into the big leagues. CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) is not an entry-level certification. This is for people who are already working in information security and want to move into or prove they’re ready for management roles. ISACA, the organization behind CISM, focuses on governance, risk, and audit.
The CISM exam covers four domains, and this course gives you practice tests for each domain separately. Domain 1 is Information Security Governance (how security aligns with business goals). Domain 2 is Information Risk Management (identifying, assessing, and managing risks). Domain 3 is Information Security Program Development and Management (building and running a security program). Domain 4 is Information Security Incident Management (detecting, responding to, and recovering from security incidents).
What makes CISM different from technical certs like Security+ is the focus. CISM is about managing security programs, not necessarily doing the hands-on technical work. You need to know how to talk to executives, manage budgets, align security with business objectives, and oversee teams. The actual exam is 150 questions, you need 450 out of 800 to pass, and it costs $575 for ISACA members or $760 for non-members. Having domain-specific practice tests lets you focus on one area at a time, which is helpful when you’re studying.
ISACA CISM – Practice Exams
This is the full practice exam version for CISM. While the domain tests let you drill down on specific areas, these full-length practice exams simulate the actual testing experience. You sit down, set a timer for four hours (that’s how long the real exam is), and work through 150 questions just like you would on exam day.
Full-length practice exams serve a different purpose than domain tests. They help you build stamina (four hours is a long time to stay focused), learn to manage your time (you’ve got about 1.6 minutes per question), and see how the different domains interconnect. In the real exam, questions aren’t neatly separated by domain. A question about incident management might also involve governance considerations. These full practice exams prepare you for that.
One more thing about CISM: you need work experience to get certified. Even if you pass the exam, you need at least three years of information security management work experience (or five years of general infosec experience) to actually receive the certification. So this is definitely not for beginners. But if you’re working in security and eyeing management positions, CISM is one of the most respected credentials you can get.
Why Bother With Practice Exams?
Here’s the thing about these certification exams: they’re expensive. Security+ costs around $400 just to take the test. CISM is even more. Failing means paying again. Practice exams let you figure out if you’re actually ready or if you need to hit the books harder before dropping that kind of cash.
Plus, they help you get familiar with how questions are worded. Cert exams have a specific style, and if you’re not used to it, you might know the material but still get tripped up by how they ask the questions. Sometimes they use double negatives, sometimes they ask for the “best” answer when multiple answers seem correct, and sometimes they throw in irrelevant information to distract you. Practice exams teach you to spot these tricks.
Another benefit: practice exams show you which topics you actually understand versus which ones you’ve just memorized definitions for. When you see a question and immediately know the answer, that’s understanding. When you have to try to remember exactly how the textbook phrased something, that’s memorization, and it won’t hold up under exam pressure. Practice tests expose these gaps while you still have time to fix them.
The Clock’s Ticking
Start: January 2nd, 2026 (7:55 PM PST)
End: January 7th, 2026 (7:55 PM PST)
That’s it. Five days. Once you enroll during this window, the courses stay in your account even after they go back to paid. So grab them now even if you’re not ready to study yet. You can come back to them whenever you’re ready.
Which Ones Should You Get?
Honestly? If you have the time, grab all of them. They’re free and they’ll stay in your account. But if you want to prioritize based on where you’re at in your career:
Starting out in cybersecurity? Get both ISC² CC practice exam sets and the Security+ practice tests. These are your foundation. Start with CC if you have zero experience, or jump straight to Security+ if you’ve been working in IT and want to move into security. Don’t skip the Python cert either. Even basic programming skills will set you apart from other entry-level candidates.
Already working in security but want to level up? If you don’t have Security+ yet, grab those practice tests. A lot of employers still want to see it even if you have experience. Then look at the CISM materials if you’re thinking about moving into management or already have a few years under your belt. CISM opens doors to security manager, security director, and CISO positions.
More technical than management-focused? You might find CISM less relevant. In that case, focus on Security+ for the foundation, then look into more technical certs later (like CEH, OSCP, or cloud security certs). But still grab the CISM materials anyway. Understanding the management perspective makes you better at your technical job, and you never know when you might want to move into leadership.
Interested in the business side of security? CISM is exactly what you want. It’s all about governance, risk management, and running security programs. Pair it with Security+ for technical credibility.
How to Actually Use These Practice Exams
Grabbing the courses is step one. Actually using them effectively is step two. Here’s what works:
First, take a practice exam cold. No studying first, just see where you stand. This establishes your baseline and shows you which topics need the most work. Don’t worry if you do poorly. That’s the point of practice.
Second, go study the topics where you struggled. Use official study guides, watch video courses, read articles, whatever works for your learning style. Don’t just memorize the answers from the practice exam. Understand the concepts behind them.
Third, take another practice exam and see if you’ve improved. If you’re consistently scoring above the passing threshold (and understanding why answers are correct, not just guessing), you’re probably ready. If not, keep studying and keep practicing.
Also, pay attention to the explanations for answers, not just whether you got it right or wrong. Good practice exams explain why the correct answer is correct and why the wrong answers are wrong. That’s where the real learning happens.
Real Talk About Certifications
Practice exams aren’t magic. They won’t teach you everything you need to know. You still need to study, get hands-on experience, and actually understand the concepts. But they’re a damn good reality check on whether you’re ready to take the actual exam.
And when they’re free? No reason not to take advantage.
The cybersecurity job market is still strong. Companies are desperate for people who know what they’re doing. Having recognized certs helps you stand out, especially if you’re trying to break into the field or move up from where you are now. But here’s the thing: certs alone won’t get you a job. You need practical skills too. Use these practice exams as part of your overall learning, not as a replacement for actually doing security work.
If you’re still in school or just starting out, look for internships, contribute to open-source security projects, set up a home lab, or do CTF (Capture The Flag) competitions. If you’re already working in IT, start taking on security-related tasks at your current job. Volunteer to help with security audits, learn to use security tools, offer to help with incident response. Experience plus certifications is what gets you hired and promoted.
A Note on Exam Costs and ROI
Let’s talk money for a second. These exams aren’t cheap:
- ISC² CC: Free exam (ISC² offers it for free right now, but you still want to pass on first attempt)
- CompTIA Security+: $400
- PCEP Python: $60
- CISM: $575-$760 depending on ISACA membership
If you fail and need to retake, you’re paying those amounts again. Practice exams that cost $15-$50 normally don’t seem so expensive when you consider they might save you hundreds by helping you pass on the first try.
But right now they’re free, which is basically found money if you were planning to get certified anyway.
As for return on investment, Security+ can increase your salary by $5,000-$15,000 compared to non-certified positions, depending on location and role. CISM holders often make $20,000-$40,000 more than non-certified security professionals at the same experience level. These numbers vary widely based on location, industry, and your specific role, but the point is that certifications can pay for themselves many times over.
Bottom Line
Free practice exams for major certs, available for 5 days. If this aligns with where you want to go career-wise, it’s worth the 2 minutes it takes to enroll in these courses. Don’t overthink it, just grab them while you can.
Then actually use them. Letting them sit in your account doesn’t help anyone. Set a study schedule, take the practice exams seriously, and use them to guide your preparation. Whether you’re trying to break into cybersecurity, level up in your current role, or move into management, these practice materials can help you get there.
The opportunity is here for 5 days. What you do with it after that is up to you.