OSWA Study Plan

Your first structured pass through the web attack surface. A free, day-by-day OSWA schedule built from the official WEB-200: Foundational Web Application Assessments with Kali Linux syllabus, scaled to your exam date and weekly hours.

Approx. cost: $1,749–$2,749
Difficulty: ♥♥♥♥♥
Study time: about 89h
Start level: Beginner

▶ Build my OSWA plan

> How long does OSWA take?

The plan assumes about 89 study hours. Here is how that stretches across different weekly schedules.

Hours per week	Time to finish
5 hours	about 18 weeks (4.2 months)
10 hours	about 9 weeks (2.1 months)
15 hours	about 6 weeks (1.4 months)
20 hours	about 5 weeks (1.2 months)
30 hours	about 3 weeks (0.7 months)

> OSWA exam format

OffSec · WEB-200: Foundational Web Application Assessments with Kali Linux

24-hour hands-on exam against a set of black-box web applications
Identify and exploit vulnerabilities to reach specific objectives
Report submission required after the hands-on window
A solid on-ramp before attempting OSWE
OSWA certification does not expire

Official OSWA page ↗

> OSWA syllabus and study hours

Every topic in the plan, in order, with its baseline hours. The planner shrinks or stretches these to fit your dates.

Web Fundamentals

Get comfortable with the protocol and the proxy before attacking anything.

HTTP protocol & browser mechanics refresh5h · learn
Using Burp Suite & web proxies5h · learn

WEB-200 Course

Work through the official modules and their exercises.

Web Application Assessment Methodology5h · learn
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)8h · learn
Cross-Origin Attacks (CORS & CSRF)6h · learn
SQL Injection8h · learn
Command Injection5h · learn
Authentication Attacks6h · learn
Directory Traversal & File Inclusion6h · learn
Session Security5h · learn

Training Grounds

Reinforce every module without a walkthrough.

Redo course labs without notes10h · lab
Beginner web boxes on HTB / PortSwigger Academy10h · lab

Final Boss Prep

Recon discipline and a timed dry run.

Web recon & exploitation checklist4h · review
Timed mock exam6h · review

> Where to practise for OSWA

Each task in your plan lists practice labs for its own topic. These are the best places to put in extra hands-on hours:

All Web Security Academy labs (PortSwigger)
Mystery lab challenge (PortSwigger)
Juice Shop (practice app) (OWASP)

> OSWA exam-day checklist

General logistics for exam week. The official exam guide always takes priority if it differs.

One to two weeks before

Schedule your exam and add the start time, time zone and deadline to your calendar
Read the official exam guide end to end: rules, allowed and banned tools, and what counts as proof
Have a web recon and exploitation checklist ready for black-box apps
Complete a full-length timed practice run (24 hours if you can) on your exam setup
Finalize your note-taking setup and templates (see the notes starter below)
Build and review your cheat sheets and command references
Arrange time off, tell people you will be unavailable, and plan your meals ahead
Check your ID is valid and matches the name on your exam account

Machine and network

Charge and test a backup device or phone hotspot, and know how to contact support if your connection drops
Plug in your laptop and turn off sleep, updates and notifications for the exam
Test the VPN or lab connection early and know how to reconnect after a drop
Update your attack VM, take a clean snapshot and keep a spare
Install and test every tool you plan to use, and check none of them are banned
Test your screenshot hotkeys and make sure you have plenty of free disk space

Proctoring and room

Test your webcam, microphone and screen sharing on the proctoring platform
Clear your desk and room as the rules require, and tell housemates not to interrupt
Confirm what is allowed at your desk (second monitor, phone, notes, paper) and follow it exactly
Learn the rules for breaks and for leaving the camera view
Have your ID ready and know the check-in steps

During the exam

Sleep well the night before, and skip last-minute cramming
Prepare food and water, and set timers for break reminders
Read the brief and scope carefully before you touch anything
Write notes and capture proof as you go, not at the end
Time-box each target and move on when stuck. You can come back later
Stop new attacks with enough time left to verify your evidence

Report and submission

Copy your report template and fill in the easy parts (scope, methodology) while you work
Check every finding has reproducible steps and screenshots
Proofread: could someone else follow each step?
Export in the exact format and naming the exam guide requires
Submit with a buffer before the deadline and confirm it was received

Suggested exam-day rhythm

Hour 0 to 0:30. Connect, confirm the VPN, read the brief and set up your notes.
Hour 0:30 to 2. Enumerate everything first. Rank targets by points and how promising they look.
Through the day. Work in blocks of about 90 minutes with a 10-minute break after each. Time-box each target and rotate when stuck.
Meals. Eat real meals away from your desk roughly every 5 to 6 hours.
Around hour 12. Decide on a sleep window of 4 to 6 hours. A rested brain spots what a tired one misses.
Last 3 hours. Stop new attacks unless you are very close. Verify proof, collect screenshots and outline the report.
After the hands-on part. Write the report in one focused block, proofread, and submit with a buffer before the deadline.

▶ Open the interactive OSWA exam kit

The kit lets you tick items off, download a notes starter and report template, and see a readiness score from your plan progress.

> Passed OSWA with PWN PATH

No OSWA debriefs yet

Passed a cert? A short debrief helps the next learner plan their own run, and it only takes a couple of minutes.

▶ Share my debrief

Debriefs are self-reported. See all pass stories.

> Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to prepare for OSWA?

PWN PATH builds the OSWA plan on about 89 study hours. At 10 hours a week that is roughly 9 weeks, and at 20 hours a week roughly 5 weeks. Your own timeline depends on how much of the material you already know.

What is the OSWA exam like?

24-hour hands-on exam against a set of black-box web applications. Identify and exploit vulnerabilities to reach specific objectives. Report submission required after the hands-on window. A solid on-ramp before attempting OSWE. OSWA certification does not expire.

How hard is OSWA?

We rate OSWA 1 out of 5. It suits newcomers who want a structured web-testing foundation and a step towards OSWE. Basic HTTP and some scripting.

How much does OSWA cost?

OffSec bundles start around $1,749 (course, 90 days of labs, one exam attempt); Learn One is about $2,749 per year with two attempts. Prices are approximate, in US dollars unless a currency is shown, and change often. Confirm with the vendor before you buy.

What should I study first for OSWA?

Start with the "Web Fundamentals" phase: HTTP protocol & browser mechanics refresh, Using Burp Suite & web proxies. The planner puts topics in a sensible order and scales the hours to the time you have.

What are the prerequisites for OSWA?

Basic HTTP and some scripting.

What should I do the week before the OSWA exam?

Re-read the official exam guide for rules and banned tools, test your machine, network and VPN or lab connection, finish a full timed practice run, finalize your notes and cheat sheets, and plan your meals, breaks and sleep. The exam-day checklist on this page covers it step by step.

How should I handle breaks and sleep during the OSWA exam?

Hour 0 to 0:30: Connect, confirm the VPN, read the brief and set up your notes. Hour 0:30 to 2: Enumerate everything first. Rank targets by points and how promising they look. Through the day: Work in blocks of about 90 minutes with a 10-minute break after each. Time-box each target and rotate when stuck. Meals: Eat real meals away from your desk roughly every 5 to 6 hours.

What should I take after OSWA?

Common next steps are BSCP, OSWE. See the roadmap to compare them.

Is the PWN PATH study planner free?

Yes. There are no accounts and no sign-up. Your plan and progress are saved in your browser, and you can export a backup file, add the schedule to your calendar or print it.

> Plan your path

Where it leads: