About Spencer
Spencer Fricks designs the kind of exam questions that separate candidates who actually understand the material from candidates who only memorized it. With more than a decade writing performance-based questions for major IT certification vendors, Spencer holds an MS in Educational Measurement and a BS in Information Technology. He writes about why PBQs are the hardest part of CompTIA exams, how they are scored, and how to actually prepare for them.
PBQsCompTIAExam StrategyAssessment Design
Articles by Spencer
CompTIA
Are PBQs Enough to Pass CompTIA Exams?
How performance-based questions are scored and why mastering them is non-negotiable for CompTIA success.
Mar 18, 2026 11 min read
CompTIA
Why PBQs Are the Hardest Part of CompTIA Exams
PBQs require applied skill, not memorization. Here is why they trip up most candidates.
Mar 6, 2026 12 min read
Security+
Common Reasons People Fail Security+ (And How to Avoid Them)
The recurring patterns behind first-attempt Security+ failures, and what to do differently.
Feb 22, 2026 12 min read