Free IT Certification Practice Tests: The Complete 2026 Guide
Quick Reference: Best Affordable Practice Tests by Certification
Here is the short version. For each major certification, the best value practice test option in 2026 (all ReadRoost prices in USD): CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701): ReadRoost -- 511 questions, $14.99 CompTIA A+ (220-1201): ReadRoost -- 403 questions, $19.99 (220-1101 retired; use 220-1201 / 220-1202 for the current exam) AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals: ReadRoost -- 400 questions, $14.99 AWS Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02): ReadRoost -- 690 questions, $14.99 AWS Solutions Architect (SAA-C03): Tutorials Dojo or ReadRoost -- 509 questions, $19.99 CCNA (200-301): Boson ExSim ($99) or ReadRoost (500 questions, $19.99) CISSP: ReadRoost -- 1,000 questions, $24.99 CKA (Kubernetes): Killer.sh (included with exam) + ReadRoost (1,021 questions, $19.99) Lifetime Access to every ReadRoost pack is $79.99 one-time -- ~4 single-pack purchases gets you the entire 117-pack catalog.
Scroll down for detailed breakdowns, free options, and honest comparisons for each certification category.
Why Practice Tests Matter More Than Study Guides
Research on learning consistently shows that retrieval practice (testing yourself) produces better long-term retention than re-reading or watching videos. A 2023 meta-analysis in Educational Psychology Review found that practice testing improved exam performance by 0.5 standard deviations on average. That is the difference between a marginal pass and a comfortable one.
The best practice tests do three things: they match the format and difficulty of the real exam, they explain why each answer is right or wrong, and they track your progress so you know when you are ready. Free options often nail the first point but miss the other two.
CompTIA Certifications
CompTIA A+ (220-1201/1202) Free: CompTIA provides a small free practice assessment. Professor Messer offers free practice exams on his website. CertBlaster has a limited free trial. Affordable: The previous-generation 220-1101 has been retired. ReadRoost has the A+ Core 1 (220-1201) pack at $19.99 USD with 403 questions and 203 flashcards. The 220-1202 pack covers Core 2 at the same price. Premium: Jason Dion practice exams on Udemy ($15-20 on sale), CompTIA CertMaster Practice ($129).
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Free: Professor Messer practice exams, TryHackMe free tier for hands-on labs. Affordable: ReadRoost Security+ pack -- 511 questions, 405 flashcards, spaced repetition for $14.99 USD. This is the best value practice test for Security+ available anywhere. Premium: Jason Dion ($15-20), CompTIA CertMaster ($129), Kaplan IT Training ($119).
CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Free: Professor Messer free practice exams. Affordable: ReadRoost Network+ pack -- 500 questions, 300 flashcards for $14.99 USD. Premium: Jason Dion ($15-20), CompTIA CertMaster ($129).
CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-004) and PenTest+ (PT0-003) Free: Limited free resources available; these are intermediate-level certs with fewer free options. Affordable: ReadRoost offers both -- the new CySA+ V4 (CS0-004, launches around June 23, 2026) and PenTest+ (PT0-003) packs with 500 questions each for $19.99 USD. The previous CySA+ V3 (CS0-003) pack remains in the catalog until V3 retires (currently scheduled for late 2026). Premium: Jason Dion ($15-20), CertMaster ($129).
Microsoft Azure Certifications
AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals Free: Microsoft Learn provides a free practice assessment directly on the learning path page. This is the single best free practice test for AZ-900. Affordable: ReadRoost AZ-900 pack -- 400 questions, 200 flashcards for $14.99 USD. This is the highest-rated AZ-900 practice set on ReadRoost. Premium: MeasureUp official practice test ($99), Whizlabs ($20-30). ReadRoost advantage: spaced repetition means you review the questions you got wrong automatically, which MeasureUp and Whizlabs do not offer.
AZ-104: Azure Administrator Free: Microsoft Learn practice assessment. Affordable: ReadRoost AZ-104 pack -- 600 questions, 350 flashcards for $19.99 USD. Premium: MeasureUp ($99), Tutorials Dojo ($15-20).
AZ-305: Azure Solutions Architect Expert Free: Microsoft Learn practice assessment. Affordable: ReadRoost AZ-305 pack -- 1,031 questions, 500 flashcards for $19.99 USD. This is one of the largest AZ-305 question banks available at any price. Premium: MeasureUp ($99), Whizlabs ($30).
AZ-500, AZ-400, SC-series, and other Azure certs ReadRoost covers the entire Azure certification path with dedicated packs for AZ-500 (523 questions), AZ-400 (1,229 questions), SC-100 (1,102 questions), SC-200 (599 questions), SC-300 (795 questions), SC-401 (1,354 questions), and SC-500 (1,011 questions). Prices follow the standard tier model: $14.99 USD for foundation-level, $19.99 USD for associate-level, and $24.99 USD for professional/expert packs.
AWS Certifications
CLF-C02: AWS Cloud Practitioner Free: AWS Skill Builder offers a free 20-question practice exam. This is a good starting point but too short for real preparation. Affordable: ReadRoost CLF-C02 pack -- 690 questions, 365 flashcards for $14.99 USD. Premium: Tutorials Dojo ($15), Jon Bonso practice exams on Udemy ($15-20).
SAA-C03: Solutions Architect Associate Free: AWS Skill Builder free practice (20 questions). Affordable: ReadRoost SAA-C03 pack -- 509 questions, 300 flashcards for $19.99 USD. Premium: Tutorials Dojo ($15-20), Adrian Cantrill course with practice exams ($40). Tutorials Dojo is considered the gold standard for AWS practice exams and is well worth the price.
Professional and Specialty AWS Certs ReadRoost covers SAP-C02 (508 questions), DOP-C02 (1,065 questions), SCS-C03 (1,026 questions), MLA-C01 (500 questions), and AIP-C01 (AWS Generative AI Developer Professional, the newest pro-tier cert, GA March 2026). All professional-tier packs are $24.99 USD. For AWS specialty certs, Tutorials Dojo and ReadRoost are the two best affordable options.
Google Cloud Certifications
Cloud Digital Leader and Associate Cloud Engineer Free: Google Cloud Skills Boost has some free lab content, but dedicated practice exams are limited. Affordable: ReadRoost CDL pack (402 questions, $19.99 USD) and ACE pack (500 questions, $19.99 USD). Premium: Tutorials Dojo ($15-20), official Google practice exams.
Professional Google Cloud Certs ReadRoost offers comprehensive packs for PCA / Professional Cloud Architect (1,454 questions, $24.99 USD), PDE / Professional Data Engineer (525 questions, $19.99 USD), PMLE / Professional ML Engineer (1,020 questions, $19.99 USD -- being refreshed for the new Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform exam version that launched June 1, 2026), PCSE / Professional Cloud Security Engineer (526 questions, $19.99 USD), and more. Google Cloud professional certs have fewer free practice test options than AWS or Azure, making affordable paid options especially valuable.
Cisco Certifications
CCNA (200-301) Free: Cisco offers a few sample questions. Boson is the gold standard for Cisco practice exams but is not free. Affordable: ReadRoost CCNA pack -- 500 questions, 300 flashcards for $19.99 USD. Premium: Boson ExSim ($99), Pearson practice tests ($30-40). Note: For CCNA, Boson ExSim is widely considered the closest to the real exam. ReadRoost is a strong complement for daily spaced repetition practice. A new CCNA v2.0 blueprint was announced May 20, 2026 with the new exam landing February 3, 2027 -- the current 200-301 pack remains valid until then.
CCNP and CCIE ReadRoost offers CCNP Enterprise (1,000 questions, $24.99 USD) and CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure (500 questions, $24.99 USD). These are among the largest CCNP/CCIE question banks available at any price point.
Cybersecurity Certifications (ISC2, ISACA, EC-Council)
CISSP Free: ISC2 offers a small official practice quiz. Free CISSP practice tests online tend to be low quality. Affordable: ReadRoost CISSP pack -- 1,000 questions, 500 flashcards for $24.99 USD. Given that the CISSP exam costs $749 USD, spending $25 on quality practice questions is a no-brainer. Premium: Boson ($99), Sybex official practice tests ($40), Destination Certification MindMap + practice.
CCSP, SSCP, and ISC2 CC ReadRoost covers CCSP (1,050 questions, $24.99 USD), SSCP (500 questions, $19.99 USD), and ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (450 questions, $19.99 USD). The ISC2 CC exam costs $199 USD as of June 2026 -- the One Million Certified in Cybersecurity (1MCC) free voucher program closed for new enrolments on May 20, 2026 (existing voucher holders have until December 31, 2026 to sit the exam). At $19.99 USD the ReadRoost CC pack is still the most affordable serious prep.
ISACA: CISM, CISA, CRISC, CGEIT ISACA certifications have notoriously expensive official practice resources. ReadRoost offers all four: CISM (1,006 questions), CISA (1,003 questions), CRISC (1,050 questions), and CGEIT (1,077 questions) at $24.99 USD each. Compare this to ISACA QAE databases at $199-399 USD.
CEH and OSCP ReadRoost covers CEH (1,126 questions, $24.99 USD) and OSCP (1,000 questions, $24.99 USD). OSCP is primarily a hands-on exam, so practice questions are best used to reinforce theory alongside lab work.
Kubernetes and Cloud Native Certifications
CKA, CKAD, and CKS Free: Killer.sh provides two free practice exam sessions with each exam registration from the Linux Foundation. These are excellent and should be used. Affordable: ReadRoost CKA pack (1,021 questions, $19.99 USD), CKAD (519 questions, $19.99 USD), CKS (1,003 questions, $24.99 USD). Use these for daily practice alongside Killer.sh for full simulation. Premium: KodeKloud courses with labs ($15-30/month).
KCNA and KCSA ReadRoost offers KCNA (625 questions, $19.99 USD) and KCSA (400 questions, $19.99 USD). These are associate-level certs with fewer practice test options available elsewhere.
Other Notable Certifications
HashiCorp Terraform Associate ReadRoost offers TA-004 (508 questions, 300 flashcards, $19.99 USD). Free Terraform practice tests are rare and often outdated. PMP (Project Management Professional) ReadRoost PMP pack: 608 questions, 300 flashcards for $19.99 USD. PMP practice questions typically cost $30-100 from providers like PMI, Prepcast, or TIA. Note: PMI is rolling out a major PMP exam revision on July 9, 2026 (Business Environment domain 8% → 26%, 185 questions, practicum format) -- the ReadRoost PMP pack is being refreshed for the new ECO.
How to Choose the Right Practice Tests
Not all practice tests are equal. Here is what to look for: 1. Question quality: Do they match the real exam format and difficulty? Avoid tests that are too easy or test obscure trivia. 2. Explanations: Every question should explain why the correct answer is right AND why the wrong answers are wrong. 3. Progress tracking: You need to know which domains you are weak in so you can focus your study time. 4. Spaced repetition: The most efficient way to retain information. Questions you get wrong should reappear more often. 5. Up-to-date content: Certification exams update regularly. Practice tests from 2022 may not cover current exam objectives.
ReadRoost is the only platform that combines all five of these features at price points under $25 USD per certification. Most competitors offer some but not all: MeasureUp and Boson have quality questions but no spaced repetition. Anki has spaced repetition but no exam-specific question banks. Quizlet has flashcards but no progress tracking or exam-format questions.
The Brain Dump Warning
Avoid sites that claim to have "real exam questions" or "exam dumps." These are brain dumps -- memorised questions from actual exams, shared in violation of exam NDAs. Using them can result in your certification being revoked, a lifetime ban from the certification provider, and termination from employers who discover it.
More practically, brain dumps are increasingly ineffective. Certification providers actively rotate their question pools and use AI to detect candidates who have memorised answers without understanding concepts. The exam questions you see in a dump may not even appear on your exam.
Invest in legitimate practice questions that teach you the material. It costs a few dollars more and produces knowledge that actually transfers to the job.
The ReadRoost Difference
ReadRoost offers practice questions and flashcards for 117+ IT certifications with features that most competitors charge 5-10x more for: - Spaced repetition: automatically resurfaces questions you struggle with - Domain-by-domain progress: see exactly which exam areas need more work - Streak tracking and XP: gamification that keeps you studying daily - Timed exam simulations: practice under real exam conditions - Detailed explanations: learn from every question, not just the ones you get right
Single packs start at $14.99 USD for foundation-level certs ($19.99 USD for associate, $24.99 USD for professional). Or grab Lifetime Access at $79.99 USD one-time -- about the price of four single-pack purchases -- and unlock every current and future pack. Compare this to $99-399 for MeasureUp, Boson, or ISACA QAE databases per certification.
Browse all 117+ certification packs at readroo.st/marketplace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free practice tests good enough to pass a certification exam?
Free practice tests are a good starting point but usually insufficient on their own. They tend to have limited question pools (20-50 questions), no progress tracking, and may be outdated. Supplement free tests with at least one quality paid option for the best results.
How many practice questions should I do before taking the exam?
Aim to complete at least 2-3x the number of questions on the actual exam. For a 60-question exam, work through at least 150-200 practice questions. More importantly, you should be consistently scoring 85%+ on practice exams before booking the real thing.
Are exam dumps worth using?
No. Exam dumps violate certification NDAs, can result in certification revocation and lifetime bans, and are increasingly ineffective as providers rotate question pools. Use legitimate practice questions instead.
What is spaced repetition and why does it matter for certification study?
Spaced repetition is a learning technique that shows you information at increasing intervals based on how well you know it. Questions you get wrong appear more often; questions you get right appear less often. Research shows it is 2-3x more effective than traditional study methods for long-term retention.
How does ReadRoost compare to MeasureUp or Boson?
MeasureUp and Boson offer high-quality practice exams at $99+ per certification. ReadRoost offers comparable question quality with spaced repetition, progress tracking, and flashcards at $14.99-24.99 USD per certification (or $79.99 USD one-time for Lifetime Access to all packs). The main trade-off is that MeasureUp and Boson have more polish in their exam simulation interfaces.
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Practice questions, flashcards, and timed exams for 57 certifications.
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