HTB CPTS exam-day guide

The CPTS exam is delivered remotely and you will work in a lab environment for a long session, so connectivity is critical. Test your primary connection the day before, and have a fallback ready (mobile hotspot or tethering with sufficient data). Run a short video call or large file transfer to confirm upload and download speeds, not just browsing.

Access to the exam lab typically goes through a VPN. Install the client in advance, import any provided profile, and confirm you can connect before exam day. If your setup uses a specific client version, confirm the supported version with the provider rather than assuming.

Use a VM you know well. Update tools a few days before, take a snapshot you can revert to, and verify the core toolchain works: nmap, a web proxy such as Burp Suite, an SMB/AD toolset, and a note-taking app. Avoid updating tools on exam morning, since a broken dependency mid-engagement costs time.

You will need to document findings, commands, credentials, and screenshots as you go, because the final deliverable is a report. Prepare a structured template (hosts, services, credentials, exploitation steps, evidence) before the exam so you capture evidence in real time instead of reconstructing it afterward.

Set up a screenshot tool with a hotkey and a dedicated evidence folder. Capture proof of each flag or objective and the command or request that produced it. Evidence taken at the moment of exploitation is far more reliable than memory.

Most proctored exams require identity verification. Have a valid photo ID ready and confirm in advance which forms of ID the provider accepts and whether the name must match your registration exactly.

Proctoring typically requires a private space free of notes, other screens, or people. Clear your desk, close other applications, and tell household members not to enter. Confirm the provider's specific room and camera requirements beforehand.

Locate the email with your exam link, lab access details, and any token or voucher. Save it offline (screenshot or PDF) in case webmail is unavailable during the session. Confirm the start time in your local time zone.

This is a long practical session. Keep water and easy food at your desk, and plan short breaks. Confirm with the provider whether you may leave the camera view during the exam and how breaks affect your time.

Charge your laptop, keep the charger plugged in, and test that your machine can run your VM with adequate RAM and disk. A laptop that thermally throttles or runs out of disk mid-exam is a common avoidable failure.

Review the provider's current exam guide for scope, allowed tools, flag/objective submission, and reporting requirements. Policies change, so read the version issued with your booking rather than relying on older write-ups.

Decide in advance how long you will spend on a stuck objective before moving on. Write the rule down and follow it; a practical exam rewards breadth of completed objectives over perfection on one host.