CND (EC-Council Certified Network Defender) — Free Online Mock Test
CND · 100 Q in 240m. Defense-in-depth, network security controls, perimeter/endpoint protection, monitoring, incident response & threat intelligence. · Official language: English.
CND exam at a glance
CND key facts & eligibility
| Conducting body | EC-Council |
|---|---|
| Official website | eccouncil.org ↗ |
| Mode | The Certified Network Defender (CND, exam 312-38) — an EC-Council, vendor-neutral network-defence (“blue team”) certification built around a Protect, Detect, Respond and Predict framework across networks, endpoints, cloud, applications and OT. It is a computer-based exam delivered via the ECC Exam Portal (also available through Pearson VUE). |
| Frequency | Offered year-round by appointment. |
| Scoring & marking | The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours. EC-Council uses a variable (cut) passing score set per exam form (typically in the 60–85% range), so there is no single fixed pass percentage. It covers network defence — protecting, detecting, responding to and predicting threats. |
| Score validity | EC-Council certifications are valid for 3 years and maintained through the EC-Council Continuing Education (ECE) scheme. |
| Language | English. |
Who is eligible for CND?
Recommended foundational networking knowledge; sit via official EC-Council training or an approved experience-based eligibility route (typically about two years in information security).
Last verified July 2026 against EC-Council — Certified Network Defender (CND). Always confirm current details on the official website before you register.
CND section breakdown
The CND mock test on Wrexa Edge replicates the real exam's section structure — same names, same question count per section, same time limits. No inter-section breaks — the timer runs continuously.
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CND (60 Q)
CND scoring & marking scheme
Strategy: CND has no negative marking. Attempt every question — blank answers cost you potential marks but cannot pull your score down.
Scale: CND (pass 700/1000).
How CND is conducted
- Mode
- Test format
- Backtracking
- Mark for review
CND time strategy
With 60 questions in 180 minutes, you have about 180 seconds per question on average. Successful candidates aim for the following pacing on each section:
- CND (60 Q)
Wrexa Edge's analytics show your actual time-per-question after every mock so you can spot which sections you're losing time on.
CND topics covered
Across the 50 Wrexa Edge variants of CND, the following topics appear most often (sample distribution from one variant):
CND (60 Q)
- D2 — App vulnerabilities · 7
- D2 — Social attacks · 6
- D2 — Malware · 6
- D3 — Network architecture · 4
- D1 — Cryptography · 3
- D2 — Network attacks · 3
- D2 — Cryptography attacks · 3
- D2 — Credential attacks · 3
CND difficulty calibration
Advanced tier. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep.
CND · 100 Q in 240m. Defense-in-depth, network security controls, perimeter/endpoint protection, monitoring, incident response & threat intelligence. · Official language: English.
Verified content — Wrexa Edge's CND bank has been deeply curated with real exam-aligned content (estimated 100% syllabus coverage).
How Wrexa Edge prepares you for CND
- Real test-day interface
- 50 distinct variants
- Detailed analytics
- Spaced repetition (Notebook)
- Optional proctoring
- Free to start
Expert take: what CND really tests
The Certified Network Defender (CND, exam 312-38), from EC-Council, is a vendor-neutral network-defence (“blue team”) certification built on a Protect, Detect, Respond and Predict framework across networks, endpoints, cloud, applications and OT. It has 100 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours; EC-Council uses a variable (cut) passing score per exam form (typically 60–85%), so there is no single fixed pass percentage. It is valid for three years.
Preparation tips
- Master defensive controls across endpoints, cloud, applications and OT.
- Because the pass mark varies by form, be strong across every domain.
- Focus on detection and incident response, not just prevention.
⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid
- Chasing a fixed "70%" pass mark — the cut score varies by form.
- Treating it as an offensive/hacking exam — CND is defensive (blue team).
CND study plan
A phase-by-phase roadmap from your first concept to test-ready. Stretch or compress each phase to fit the time you have before your attempt.
- 100 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours
- Variable (cut) passing score per form
- Blue-team focus: Protect, Detect, Respond, Predict
- Network security controls and monitoring
- Endpoint, cloud, application and OT defence
- Incident detection and response
- Full CND practice exams
- Review weak domains
- Since the pass mark varies, master everything
Where CND can take you
A strong CND result opens up these careers and higher-study paths:
- Network defender (blue team)
- 3-year validity
Best books & official prep for CND
- CND courseware & study guides — EC-Council / Various
- CND practice tests — Various
Official practice: Prepare from the official EC-Council CND courseware on eccouncil.org; since the pass mark varies by form, aim to master the full Protect/Detect/Respond/Predict framework.
Previous-year papers: EC-Council provides exam blueprints; commercial CND practice tests are widely used.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the CND exam pattern?
- EC-Council Certified Network Defender contains 60 questions across 1 section: CND (60 Q). Total duration is 180 minutes (about 180 seconds per question).
- Does CND have negative marking?
- No — CND has no negative marking. Each correct answer is worth 1 mark, so attempt every question.
- How is CND scored?
- Scaled score range: 100 to 1000. CND (pass 700/1000).
- How can I practise CND online for free?
- Wrexa Edge gives you 10 free full-length CND mock tests — with instant scoring, detailed explanations and analytics — plus 40 more with Pro. Start practising in under a minute, no card required.
- What is the difficulty level of CND?
- CND is rated Advanced difficulty on Wrexa Edge. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep. CND · 100 Q in 240m. Defense-in-depth, network security controls, perimeter/endpoint protection, monitoring, incident response & threat intelligence. · Official language: English.
- How long is the CND exam?
- CND runs for 180 minutes total. On Wrexa Edge the timer is enforced exactly as on the real exam — including no inter-section breaks.
- What topics are covered in CND?
- CND is split into: CND (60 Q). Each section is timed and weighted separately. CND · 100 Q in 240m. Defense-in-depth, network security controls, perimeter/endpoint protection, monitoring, incident response & threat intelligence. · Official language: English.
- What tools or aids are allowed during CND?
- No special tools are required. Note: real exam is proctored — Wrexa Edge mirrors this with a webcam-based proctoring flow you can enable.
- Is the CND test adaptive?
- No — CND is a fixed-form (linear) test. Every candidate sees the same number of questions per section.
- How many CND mock tests does Wrexa Edge offer?
- Wrexa Edge generates 50 distinct CND variants — each with different question content, not just shuffled options — the first 10 free for everyone and 40 more with Pro. That's 3000 unique practice questions in the real test-day interface.
- Is there a free CND test series 2026?
- Yes. The Wrexa Edge CND test series for 2026 gives you 10 free full-length mock tests (50 in total) plus subject-wise and topic-wise tests — instant scoring and detailed analysis, no card required.
- Are CND previous year question–style papers included?
- Every CND mock is modelled on the official exam pattern and the style of previous years' papers — the same 60-question structure, sections and marking — so your practice mirrors the real paper you'll sit.
- Which is the best free CND mock test online?
- Wrexa Edge's CND mock test replicates the real exam interface, timing and marking scheme, with instant score, section-wise analysis and 50 fresh variants — a strong free choice for 2026 preparation.
- Can I take the CND mock test on mobile?
- Yes. CND mock tests run in any browser on mobile, tablet or desktop — no app or download needed. Start on your phone and your progress and analytics sync when you sign in.
- What is the CND syllabus?
- The CND syllabus maps to its 1 section: CND (60 Q). Wrexa Edge's mock tests cover the complete syllabus topic by topic — see the topics-covered breakdown above — so you practise every area at real exam difficulty.
- What is the eligibility for CND?
- Eligibility for CND — age, qualification and number of attempts — is set by the official conducting body and can change each cycle, so always confirm the current official notification before applying. Wrexa Edge focuses on realistic CND practice: 10 free full-length mocks in the exact exam pattern, ready whenever you are.
- When is the CND exam and how should I prepare?
- Official CND exam dates are announced by the conducting body for each cycle — check the latest notification for the current schedule. To be ready, follow a phased study plan and take full-length timed mocks; Wrexa Edge gives you 10 free CND mocks with instant scoring so you can track your readiness week by week.
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