Passing Score
Minimum Score
700 out of 1000Required to earn certification
Scale Range
100 to 1000 pointsScaled scoring system
How Scoring Works
Scored vs. Unscored Questions
The exam includes 65 total questions, but not all count toward your final score:50 scored questions determine your exam result
15 unscored questions are for statistical analysis only
15 unscored questions are for statistical analysis only
Unscored questions are used by AWS to evaluate new questions for future exams. They appear identical to scored questions and are randomly distributed throughout the exam.
Why Unscored Questions?
AWS includes unscored questions to:- Test new content before including it in official scoring
- Maintain exam quality through statistical analysis
- Ensure fairness by validating question difficulty
- Update content to reflect evolving AWS services
Scaled Scoring Explained
What is Scaled Scoring?
AWS uses scaled scoring rather than simple percentage-based scoring. This means:- A score of 700 doesn’t mean you got 70% of questions correct
- Different exam versions may have slightly different difficulty levels
- Scaling ensures consistent standards across all exam versions
- Your score reflects your ability level, not just raw correct answers
Score Calculation Process
Score Ranges and What They Mean
| Score Range | Performance Level | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 900-1000 | Exceptional | Outstanding mastery of all domains |
| 800-899 | Strong | Solid understanding with minor gaps |
| 700-799 | Passing | Adequate knowledge to earn certification |
| 600-699 | Near Pass | Close but needs more preparation |
| Below 600 | Needs Work | Significant gaps in multiple domains |
700+
PassYou earn the certification
650-699
CloseReview weak domains and retake
Below 650
Needs StudyMore preparation required
Domain-Level Scoring
Your score report provides a breakdown by exam domain:Score Report Format
Overall Score: 750/1000 - PASSDomain Performance:
- Domain 1 (Cloud Concepts): 80%
- Domain 2 (Security): 70%
- Domain 3 (Technology): 75%
- Domain 4 (Billing): 85%
Understanding Domain Percentages
Domain scores are reported as percentages showing your performance in that specific area:- 90-100%: Excellent mastery
- 80-89%: Strong understanding
- 70-79%: Adequate knowledge
- 60-69%: Weak area needing review
- Below 60%: Significant gaps
You can pass the exam even with one or two lower-scoring domains, as long as your overall scaled score reaches 700. However, focus your study on domains where you scored below 70%.
No Penalty for Wrong Answers
AWS exams use rights-only scoring, which means: ✅ Correct answers add to your score❌ Wrong answers don’t subtract from your score
⚠️ Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect
Strategy Implication
How Many Questions Can You Miss?
While exact calculations aren’t possible due to scaled scoring, here’s a rough guideline:Rough Estimation
If we assume approximately 70-75% of scored questions correct is needed to pass:- 50 scored questions on the exam
- Need roughly 35-38 correct to reach 700
- Can miss approximately 12-15 scored questions
This is a rough estimate. Actual required correct answers vary based on question difficulty and scaling. Some candidates pass with fewer correct answers if they answer harder questions correctly.
By Domain (Rough Estimates)
| Domain | Questions | Can Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1 (24%) | ~12 | 3-4 |
| Domain 2 (30%) | ~15 | 4-5 |
| Domain 3 (34%) | ~17 | 5-6 |
| Domain 4 (12%) | ~6 | 1-2 |
These estimates assume evenly distributed performance. In practice, you might do better in some domains and worse in others while still passing overall.
Multiple-Response Question Scoring
Multiple-response questions (select TWO or THREE correct answers) are scored all or nothing:Scoring Rules
❌ Partial credit is NOT awarded✅ You must select ALL correct answers
✅ You must NOT select any incorrect answers
❌ Selecting some correct + some incorrect = 0 points Example:
Question: Which are benefits of cloud computing? (Select TWO)A. Trade CapEx for variable expense ✓
B. Maintain data centers
C. Economies of scale ✓
D. Limited global reachScoring:
B. Maintain data centers
C. Economies of scale ✓
D. Limited global reachScoring:
- Select A + C only = 1 point ✅
- Select A only = 0 points ❌
- Select A + B + C = 0 points ❌
- Select B + C = 0 points ❌
When You Receive Your Score
Immediately After Exam
- Pass/Fail notification appears on screen
- Brief preliminary report (usually just pass/fail status)
- No detailed domain breakdown yet
Within 5 Business Days
- Official score report available in AWS Certification account
- Detailed breakdown by domain
- Numeric score (100-1000 scale)
- Recommendations for improvement (if failed)
Digital Badge
- Issued within 5 business days after passing
- Shareable on LinkedIn, email signature, resume
- Includes verification link
- Valid for 3 years
Access your official score report by logging into your AWS Certification account at aws.amazon.com/certification
If You Don’t Pass
Understanding Your Results
Your score report will show:- Overall scaled score (e.g., 650/1000)
- Performance by domain (as percentages)
- Areas needing improvement
Identify Weak Domains
Focus on domains where you scored below 70%
Retake Strategy
Wait 14 days, study weak areas, then retake
Retake Policy
- 14-day waiting period before retaking
- $100 fee for each attempt
- No limit on number of attempts
- Previous scores are not averaged
Focused Preparation for Retake
- Review score report to identify specific weak domains
- Use this app’s Domain Mastery Tests to practice targeted areas
- Study AWS documentation for services you missed
- Take full simulations until consistently scoring 80%+
- Focus on multiple-response questions (commonly missed)
Target Scores for Practice Exams
This Application’s Simulations
To be confident for the real exam:Minimum Target
70-75%Basic readiness
Recommended Target
80%+Strong readiness
Ideal Target
85%+Very confident
Consistency Matters
Don’t schedule your exam based on a single high score:- Take at least 3 full simulations
- Aim for consistent 80%+ across all attempts
- Review explanations for every question you miss
- Understand WHY correct answers are correct
Practice exam scores are usually slightly higher than real exam scores due to test anxiety, unfamiliar question formats, and exam pressure. Build in a buffer.
Score Improvement Tips
Before the Exam
- Master the Big Three Services: EC2, S3, and IAM appear frequently
- Understand Use Cases: Know when to use which service
- Learn Security Fundamentals: Shared Responsibility Model is critical
- Practice Time Management: 1.38 minutes per question
- Focus on Weak Domains: Use practice results to guide study
During the Exam
- Read Questions Carefully: Watch for keywords like “MOST cost-effective” or “LEAST operational overhead”
- Eliminate Wrong Answers: Narrow down to 2 options before choosing
- Flag and Move On: Don’t waste time on hard questions
- Answer Everything: No penalty for guessing
- Review Flagged Questions: Use remaining time wisely
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
❌ Overthinking simple questions❌ Not reading all answer options
❌ Confusing similar services (EBS vs EFS vs S3)
❌ Missing keywords like “serverless” or “managed”
❌ Selecting too many or too few answers on multiple-response questions
Practice Scoring in This App
Domain Mastery Tests
- 30 questions per domain
- Immediate feedback shows if you’re correct
- Track accuracy percentage per domain
- Detailed explanations help you learn
Full Exam Simulation
- 65 questions matching real exam distribution
- 90-minute timer for realistic practice
- Final score and domain breakdown
- Review mode with all explanations
Interpreting Your Practice Scores:
- 85%+ (55+ correct): Excellent, ready to schedule exam
- 80-84% (52-54 correct): Good, nearly ready
- 75-79% (49-51 correct): More practice needed
- 70-74% (46-48 correct): Study weak domains
- Below 70% (< 46): Significant review required