What Are the Best CEH Resources for Self-Study?

Introduction

Every month hundreds of working professionals and college students clear CEH v13 by self-study while doing job or college. The only difference between them and those who fail is the correct sequence of resources and daily hands-on practice. At Ethical Hacking Training Institute we have mentored 5000+ self-learners — this guide contains the exact resources and 90-day plan they followed to score 90–98% in first attempt.

Best Free Video Courses (Watch in This Order)

• Practical Ethical Hacking – TCM Security (Heath Adams) – 25 hours – 100% free on YouTube
• CEH v13 Full Course 2025 – NetworkChuck + The Cyber Mentor playlist
• HackerSploit CEH v13 series – tool-focused tutorials
• John Hammond – malware & practical challenges
• STÖK – weaponization & post-exploitation
• LiveOverflow – deep technical concepts
• Ethical Hacking Training Institute free weekend masterclass recordings

Top Books & Official Material You Cannot Skip

The official EC-Council CEH v13 courseware (4 volumes) is still the bible because 80% questions come directly from it. Pair it with “CEH Certified Ethical Hacker All-in-One Exam Guide” by Matt Walker for scenario-based explanation. Many self-learners also use our institute’s 600-page concise notes that summarise all 20 modules with diagrams and mnemonics — perfect for last 15 days revision.

Free Lab Platforms That Replace Paid iLabs

• TryHackMe – Pre-Security → Complete Red Team path (free tier enough)
• Hack The Box Academy + Starting Point track
• PortSwigger Web Security Academy – world-class SQLi, XSS, SSRF labs
• PentesterLab free exercises + VulnHub machines
• OverTheWire Bandit → Wargames for Linux basics
• Root-Me – quick challenges for every module

Practice Exams & Question Banks (Aim 85%+)

Boson ExSim-Max for CEH 312-50 is the most accurate paid practice exam (99% students who score 85%+ here clear real exam). Free alternatives include ExamTopics, ITExams, and the 500-question bank shared in our Telegram group, and weekly mock tests conducted live at Ethical Hacking Training Institute for self-study students.

Must-Have Cheat Sheets & Quick References

• Nmap cheat sheet (all scan types + NSE scripts)
• SQL injection one-liner payload list
• Metasploit meterpreter commands
• Linux & Windows privilege escalation checklist
• Common ports + services table
• OWASP Top 10 2025 mind map
• Our institute’s 20-page colour cheat sheet bundle (free for registered students)

90-Day Self-Study Roadmap That Actually Works

Day 1–20 → Finish TCM Practical Ethical Hacking course + daily TryHackMe rooms
Day 21–45 → Read official CEH modules + PortSwigger labs side-by-side
Day 46–70 → Hack The Box easy/medium boxes + privilege escalation practice
Day 71–85 → Boson practice exams + revision using our institute notes
Day 86–90 → Full timed mocks + final doubt clearing in weekend live session

Best Communities & Doubt Support for Self-Learners

• Reddit r/CEH and r/netsecstudents
• Discord – TryHackMe, Hack The Box, TCM Security servers
• Ethical Hacking Training Institute Telegram & WhatsApp groups (daily doubt solving)
• Weekly free live doubt sessions every Sunday 8 PM
• Stack Overflow & Super User for tool errors

Conclusion: Self-Study + Smart Support = 100% Success

Self-study is completely possible and saves lakhs, but 90% students waste months because they miss structured guidance and lab access. That’s why even self-learners join Ethical Hacking Training Institute’s “Self-Study + Support Plan” — you study at your pace but get 24×7 labs, weekly live doubt sessions, updated notes, mock tests, and placement help. Enroll today and clear CEH v13 in first attempt with 90%+ score.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really clear CEH without coaching?

Yes. Thousands do every year with right resources.

How many hours daily needed?

3–4 hours daily for 3–4 months.

Is TCM course enough alone?

Yes for practical. Add official book for theory.

Best free lab combination?

TryHackMe + PortSwigger + HTB Starting Point.

Is Boson worth buying?

Yes — most accurate questions.

Do you provide notes for self-study?

Yes, 600-page concise notes + cheat sheets.

Weekend live sessions for self-learners?

Every Sunday 8 PM — free for registered students.

Can I get placement after self-study?

Yes. Add HTB profile + our placement assistance.

How to book exam?

We help you register on ECC Exam Center.

How to start today?

Enroll in our Self-Study + Support plan — get instant access to everything!