Introduction

I am an Information Security Analyst with 4 years of hands-on experience in VAPT, covering web, API, mobile, network, thick client, and cloud penetration testing. In August 2025, I sat for the OSCP exam and scored 100 points. The journey wasn’t easy, but with the right approach and consistent practice, I achieved my goal in about 3–4 months. In this blog, I’ll share exactly how I prepared, what worked, what didn’t, and my tips for anyone planning to take OSCP.

My Preparation Timeline

Structured Start and Self-Study Push
I started my OSCP journey in April 2025. At first, I felt the need to buy a laptop since I didn’t own one. I assumed that the OSCP is a demanding exam and required a capable system. So, I purchased a decent laptop with a 3050 graphics card that could handle the exam smoothly.

Next, I started using vuln hub free machines. Downloaded the machines and solved them on virtualbox or vmware. Some machines I could pwn. Some easy machines I could not. I referred walkthroughs only on parts where I got stuck.

I purchased pen 200 course in early May, one of the most valuable lessons was jumping straight into challenge labs from day one. That approach removed…