OSCP® and OSCP+™ Exam Prep Blog
News, scoring changes and prep guides from our team.
·14 min read
Is the OSCP Worth It in 2026? Salary, Jobs and Interview Questions
Is the OSCP worth it in 2026? Sourced pentester pay in the US, UK and India, what job ads ask for, remote and entry-level roles, 12 interview questions.
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·11 min read
OSCP vs OSCP+: What's the Difference, and Does the OSCP+ Expire?
OSCP vs OSCP+: one exam earns both. The OSCP never expires, the OSCP+ lasts 3 years. How renewal works, what happens if it lapses and how to list both.
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·15 min read
OSCP vs CPTS: Which to Take First, Plus PNPT, CEH, CISSP and OSEP
OSCP vs CPTS: exam format, report, price, expiry and who each suits, plus how the OSCP compares with PNPT, CEH, CISSP, OSEP and PenTest+.
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·20 min read
OSCP Report Template: How to Write the Exam Report (OffSec or SysReptor)
OffSec's official OSCP report template, how to write it in SysReptor, and every report rule in one table: proof screenshots, exploit code and the upload.
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·12 min read
How to Take OSCP Notes: Obsidian vs CherryTree vs Notion
How to take OSCP notes: methodology vs engagement notes, a structure that works, and Obsidian, CherryTree and Notion compared against OffSec's exam rules.
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·17 min read
OSCP-Like Machines: TJ Null's List and How to Use It
OSCP-like machines explained: TJ Null's and LainKusanagi's lists, where to practice and what it costs, and how to work each box like the exam.
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·17 min read
Pentest Report Template: What Goes in a Penetration Testing Report
A pentest report template explained: every section, a sample finding scored in CVSS v3.1 and v4.0, free report generators and bug bounty report tips.
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·17 min read
Nmap Cheat Sheet: Commands, Flags and an OSCP Scanning Workflow
Nmap cheat sheet with the commands you'll use most: -Pn, all ports, -sV and -sC, UDP, timing and output, plus an exam-style workflow for OSCP students.
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·15 min read
OSCP+ Roadmap 2027: How to Prepare From Scratch to Exam Day
OSCP roadmap and study path for 2027: five phases from Linux basics to exam day, what to learn in each, a free resource per step, and scaled scoring.
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·8 min read
OSCP+ Scaled Scoring Explained: What Changes on December 1, 2026
OSCP+ passing score from Dec 1, 2026: 70 raw points before, a scaled score of 400 (100 to 500) after. How it works and what to change on exam day.
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·11 min read
Free OSCP+ Course: The Full 2-Hour Video Course and How to Use It
Free OSCP course: our full 2-hour OSCP+ video training, what each part covers, how to practice with it, and whether you can get certified for free.
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·17 min read
OSCP+ Exam Tips: Format, Rules and a 24-Hour Exam-Day Strategy
OSCP exam guide and tips: the OSCP+ format at a glance (23h 45m, 3 standalones, an AD set, open book), a 24-hour exam-day plan and the report.
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·10 min read
The OSCP+ Active Directory Set: How to Approach the Assumed-Breach Chain
The OSCP AD methodology we teach for the assumed-breach set: 3 linked machines, a 7-step loop, the topics students skip, and free AD chains to practice.
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·14 min read
How Hard Is the OSCP? An Honest Look for Beginners
How hard is the OSCP? What makes it hard, if it suits beginners, why there is no pass rate, the passing score, the open-book rule and a readiness test.
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·16 min read
How Much Does the OSCP Cost? Exam, Retakes, Renewal and Prep
OSCP price, checked Nov 3, 2026: exam $1,699, bundle $1,749, Learn One $2,749 a year ($2,199 on offer), plus retakes, renewal, India and Black Friday.
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·12 min read
Free OSCP Labs: Practice Active Directory Chains Like the Exam
Free OSCP labs for the Active Directory set: what our free AD chains train, how to practice them like the exam, and which walkthrough parts to watch.
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·7 min read
Chain_01, First Contact: A Free OSCP-Style Active Directory Lab
Chain_01 (First Contact) is a free OSCP-style Active Directory lab: how it compares with the exam AD set, how to run it like the exam, and its walkthrough.
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·6 min read
Chain_03, BleedWide: A Free OSCP-Style Active Directory Lab
Chain_03 (BleedWide) is a free OSCP-style Active Directory lab with a full walkthrough: what it trains, how to run it like the exam, and report practice.
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·14 min read
OSCP+ Allowed Tools: What's Banned, What's Fine and How to Check
Is the OSCP open book? Yes. OffSec's OSCP+ exam rules on tools: what's banned, the Metasploit one-target limit, the AI ban and how to judge unlisted tools.
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·8 min read
Can You Pass the OSCP+ Without Active Directory?
Can you pass the OSCP without Active Directory? Standalones max out at 60 points and bonus points are gone. The AD math and what scaled scoring changes.
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·8 min read
OSCP+ Lab Requirements: What Computer You Need to Practice at Home
How much RAM OSCP labs need (8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended for a home AD lab), plus CPU, disk and hypervisor, and options for a weaker laptop or Mac.
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·8 min read
OSCP on a Mac: Apple Silicon (M1 and Newer) Setup, Limits and Lab Options
Can you do the OSCP on an Apple Silicon Mac? Yes, with Kali ARM64 in VMware Fusion. What OffSec says, the ARM rough edges, and which labs won't run.
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·10 min read
OSCP+ Exam Proctoring: What to Expect From Check-In to Results
OSCP proctoring rules from OffSec, in exam-day order: PC and webcam requirements, monitors, ID, check-in, breaks, disconnects, the 24-hour report, results.
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·8 min read
Do You Need the eJPT or Security+ Before the OSCP?
eJPT vs OSCP and Security+ vs OSCP: what each exam tests and costs, why OffSec sets no prerequisites, and the free foundations that matter more.
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