IT certification passing scores, by exam
Certification exams almost never report a percentage. They report a scaled score, and the number you need is fixed per exam. Here is the cut line for every exam on this site, alongside the scale it sits on and how long you get.
| Exam | Code | Scale | Pass | Exam length | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA A+ Core 1 | 220-1201 | 100–900 | 675 | 50 + 3 | 90 min |
| CompTIA A+ Core 2 | 220-1202 | 100–900 | 700 | 66 + 4 | 90 min |
| CompTIA Network+ | N10-009 | 100–900 | 720 | 50 + 3 | 90 min |
| CompTIA Security+ | SY0-701 | 100–900 | 750 | 60 + 4 | 90 min |
| Cisco CCNA | 200-301 | 100–1000 | 825 | 60 + 6 | 120 min |
| AWS Certified AI Practitioner | AIF-C01 | 100–1000 | 700 | 57 + 8 | 90 min |
| AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner | CLF-C02 | 100–1000 | 700 | 65 | 90 min |
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate | SAA-C03 | 100–1000 | 720 | 65 | 130 min |
| Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals | AZ-900 | 100–1000 | 700 | 40 + 5 | 45 min |
| Microsoft Certified Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals | SC-900 | 100–1000 | 700 | 40 + 5 | 45 min |
| Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate | AZ-104 | 100–1000 | 700 | 50 + 6 | 100 min |
Cisco does not publish the CCNA cut score or question count, and both can vary by exam form; the figure above is the one candidates consistently report and what this site scores against. Every other number comes from the vendor's own exam page.
Why it is not a percentage
Different candidates see different question sets, and questions differ in difficulty. A raw count would therefore mean something different on every version of the exam. Scaling converts your raw performance onto a common range so that the same scaled score represents the same level of knowledge whichever form you sat.
Two consequences catch people out. The scale starts at 100, not zero, so a 675 out of 900 is not "75 percent". And the conversion is not linear, which is why CompTIA publishes a cut score but no corresponding percentage of questions.
Performance-based questions are worth more
On CompTIA and Cisco exams, simulations carry more weight than a single multiple-choice question, and they award partial credit: getting three of four configuration steps right scores three quarters of that item rather than zero. They are also usually presented first, which is why running out of time on them hurts disproportionately. AWS and Azure interactive items work differently — ordering and matching questions are all-or-nothing and weighted like any other question.
The simulator here follows each vendor's rule, so a practice score is scored the way the real one will be.
Common questions
Why is the passing score not a percentage?
Most certification exams report a scaled score, not a raw percentage. Questions differ in difficulty and different candidates see different question sets, so the raw count is converted onto a common scale that means the same thing across every version of the exam.
Does that mean I need 675 out of 900 correct?
No. The scale runs from 100, not zero, and the conversion is not linear. A 675 on CompTIA A+ Core 1 does not correspond to any fixed percentage of questions answered correctly, which is why CompTIA does not publish one.
Do performance-based questions count for more?
On CompTIA and Cisco exams, yes: simulations carry more weight than a single multiple-choice question and award partial credit for the parts you get right. AWS and Azure interactive items are all-or-nothing and weighted like a normal question.
Does Cisco publish the CCNA passing score?
No. Cisco does not publish the cut score or the exact question count for the CCNA 200-301, and it can vary between exam forms. A scaled score around 825 of 1,000 is the figure widely reported by candidates, and it is what this site scores against.
More free practice tests
- Free CompTIA Security+ Practice Test (SY0-701)
- Free AWS Cloud Practitioner Practice Test (CLF-C02)
- Free Azure Fundamentals Practice Test (AZ-900)
- Free Microsoft SC-900 Practice Test (Security, Compliance & Identity)
- Free Cisco CCNA 200-301 Practice Test
- Free Microsoft AZ-104 Practice Test (Azure Administrator)
- Free AWS Solutions Architect Associate Practice Test (SAA-C03)
- Free AWS AI Practitioner Practice Test (AIF-C01)
- Free CompTIA A+ Practice Test (220-1201 & 220-1202)
- Free CompTIA A+ Core 1 Practice Test (220-1201)
- Free CompTIA A+ Core 2 Practice Test (220-1202)
- Free CompTIA Network+ Practice Test (N10-009)
- Free CompTIA PBQ Practice: Simulated Performance-Based Questions
- Free IT Certification Practice Tests (CompTIA, Cisco, AWS, Azure)
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