Ever since I was in 11th standard, I’ve been deeply curious about computers — how they work, how systems connect, and yes, how they can be cracked (ethically, of course). That craving to understand and explore is what led me into the world of cybersecurity.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot on my own and even helped a few people using my hacking skills. But the more I learned, the more I realized — cybersecurity never stops evolving, and I have to keep updating myself day by day.

That’s when I decided to go deeper and prove my skills through a certification that focuses on real-world penetration testing.

Why I Chose eJPTv2

I didn’t want a theoretical certification — I wanted something that truly tested what I can do.

After researching and talking to a few experts, I found that eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester v2 (eJPTv2) was a perfect fit. It’s 100% practical and challenges you with real hands-on labs instead of multiple-choice questions.

So, after some thought (and saving up), I finally bought the eJPTv2 course.

My Preparation (Real, Messy, and Honest)

Balancing between academics, exams, and organizing CTF events made it really hard to study consistently. But I didn’t give up.

Along the way, I also completed the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate (Coursera) and several Udemy courses to strengthen my basics.

Even though I couldn’t complete every single eJPT module due to time limits, I focused heavily on the labs — because that’s where the real learning happens.

During my preparation:

• I wrote 152 pages of handwritten notes and 162 pages of soft notes.
• Those notes became my secret weapon during revision.
• I planned to finish the course before my subscription expired on October 15, 2025.

Since I had my academic exams around the same time, I took two days of on-duty leave after my exams to fully focus on preparation and complete the lab sections.

Exam Day — October 15, 2025

I started my exam sharply at 8:00 AM after making sure everything was ready — stable internet, quiet place, water, and chargers.

The first few questions were easy and boosted my confidence. But soon, the difficulty level increased — especially with pivoting, which initially gave me a tough time.

After several hours of focus and enumeration, I discovered all the machines in the network:
WinServer1, WinServer2, and WinServer3.

On my first day, I managed to solve 33 questions out of 35.
On the next day (October 16, 2025), I found two flags and completed the exam around 10:00 AM.

When I submitted my answers and saw 82% on the screen, it felt like a wave of relief and satisfaction.

Challenges I Faced

It wasn’t a smooth ride — here are some issues I ran into:

• Internet Disconnects:
  While brute-forcing passwords in the INE virtual machine, my mobile hotspot kept disconnecting because of heavy packet transmission. I had to reconnect multiple times during the exam.
• Unresponsive Services:
  At one point, SMB on WinServer1 showed an open port but wouldn’t connect. Restarting the virtual machine fixed it — a reminder that patience and troubleshooting are part of the job.

These experiences taught me to expect the unexpected and stay calm during real-world pentests.

Key Lessons Learned

1.Notes are your best weapon.
My handwritten notes helped me quickly recall commands and concepts under pressure.

2.Focus on labs over theory.
Hands-on practice builds real confidence — especially when time is short.

3.Always test your setup beforehand.
Check your network, VM performance, and tools before starting.

4.Be mentally ready for failures.
Services will hang, connections will drop — just restart, retry, and keep going.

5.Time management matters.
Prioritize easier or high-value tasks first, then tackle the harder ones.

Tips for Future eJPTv2 Candidates

• Practice network enumeration, pivoting and privilege escalation more than anything else.
• Keep both handwritten and digital notes.
• Familiarize yourself with common services like SMB, FTP, and web enumeration.
• Don’t panic if something doesn’t work — recheck configurations or restart the lab.
• Treat this exam like a real engagement — plan, test, report.

Final Thoughts

My eJPTv2 journey was not just about getting certified — it was about proving to myself that I can stay focused, patient, and determined through challenges.

Scoring 82% after around 16 hours of deep focus felt amazing. But I see this as just the beginning of a long path in cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity is a field that never stops growing .

If you’re preparing for eJPTv2 or any hands-on certification, remember:

Learn practically, make good notes, test everything yourself, and keep moving forward no matter how tough it gets.

Written by

Aruvasaga Chithan A

Ethical Hacker & Cybersecurity Enthusiast.