Best Practices for How to Prepare

GIAC Exam Prep At a Glance

Using your study hours wisely and utilizing practice tests for additional learning opportunities can help you get an invite to the GIAC Advisory Board, a community of professionals trading tips, suggestions, and resources.

Start with Training

The best way to prepare for any GIAC certification is with the affiliated SANS training course. Each SANS training course is a deep dive into critically-needed security skills that are then validated by a GIAC certification. SANS courses are currently offered either Live Online or OnDemand, so no matter which training format you choose, you can meet your preparation goals while maintaining your responsibilities at work and at home.

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Training Best Practices

No matter how you prepare for your GIAC certification, follow these two steps to help you pass your exam.

Actively Participate

It’s not enough to just be a passive bystander in your training course. Students that actively participate –by asking questions, taking notes, and talking to their instructor – are the students that learn the most, retain information better, and have a higher chance of success on their GIAC exam down the road.

Apply Lessons to Real-World Scenarios

While training, take new concepts you’ve learned and try applying them to real-world scenarios. Think about how they might fit into to your daily work. Then, try and explain what you’ve learned to a colleague or friend. If you can teach someone else how a concept works, you’ve successfully mastered that idea or skill.

Four Months to Study for Your Exam

Don't wait! Start studying right after you finish training for best results.

Open Book Exams

GIAC exams are open book. Use your study time to reread material, highlight and index key concepts. Use practice tests to identify weak areas and strengthen your knowledge base. All printed books, notes, and study guides are allowed (no digital items).

Indexing

An essential part of the studying process is creating your index. An index is a systematic, color-coded guide that you create, allowing you easily find the material you need during the exam. The biggest benefit of the index beyond being a quick directory? The process of creating your index is guaranteed to help you learn and master the concepts you need for your exam.

Practice Tests

GIAC Practice tests mimic the certification exams. After your first in-depth run through of the course material, take a practice test. You’ll receive a report once your practice test is completed showing you which objectives you need to revisit. Take an additional practice test once you feel ready for the real thing. Review any last-minute concepts that you need to brush up on.

Exam Day Tips

Make sure to have your index, textbooks, and any other printed materials you might need with you whether you’re testing remotely or at an in-person center. Find out more about scheduling and exam day policies.

Scheduling Guide Day of Exam Information

More Exam Preparation Resources

I don’t ever take two practice tests in one day. I fix my index up, study sections I am weak on, and sleep on it.

Lesley Carhart

GCIH, GREM, GCFE, GCFA, GPEN

The whole point in building your own index is so you’ll learn and retain the material. Asking for mine or taking someone else’s is a shortcut that will likely lead to your own disappointment come exam time.

Eric Ooi

GCIA, GCIH

1. Don’t procrastinate 2. Don’t skip making an index 3. Don’t skip taking the practice exams 4. Don’t squander your time during the exam 5. Don’t beat yourself up

Chris Crowley

SANS Instructor

Best Practices for GIAC Exam Preparation