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Microsoft exam day

Microsoft exams are delivered by Pearson VUE, at a test center or online. Role-based exams can include case studies and, unusually, let you search Microsoft Learn during the exam.

Covers: Azure Fundamentals AZ-900, Azure Administrator AZ-104, AZ-802 AZ-802, SC-200 SC-200, SC-300 SC-300 (skills outline of April 27, 2026), SC-500 SC-500, AI-200 AI-200 (replaced AZ-204), Azure AI Fundamentals AI-900, Azure AI Engineer AI-102

How scoring works

Scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 1000, and the passing score is 700 for most exams.
The score is scaled, so 700 is not the same as seventy percent of questions correct. Question weights vary.
Some questions may be unscored items that Microsoft is evaluating. Answer everything as if it counts.

Question types

Multiple choice, multiple response, drag-and-drop, build-a-list ordering, hot area (click the right part of an image or table) and drop-down completion of statements or code.
Yes/No series: several questions share one scenario, each with a proposed solution. You cannot return to these after answering, so read each proposal carefully.
Case studies on associate and expert exams: a longer scenario with tabs for requirements and existing environment, followed by several questions. Once you leave a case study section you cannot go back to it.
Some exams have included interactive lab tasks. Check the exam's study guide for the current format.

Open-book access to Microsoft Learn

Role-based and specialty exams let you open Microsoft Learn in a restricted window during the exam. Fundamentals exams such as AZ-900 and AI-900 do not.
The time you spend searching comes out of your exam time. Use it to confirm a specific detail, such as a setting name or limit, not to learn a topic from scratch.
Practise finding things on Microsoft Learn before exam day so you know where the reference pages live.

Time and pacing

The exam may be split into sections. Before starting a section you are told whether you can return to it, so make sure you are finished before you move on.
Case studies take longer to read. Skim the question first, then look up only the tabs you need.
Microsoft offers a free exam sandbox that shows the interface and question types. It is worth ten minutes before your first exam.

Test center vs online

At a Pearson VUE test center, bring the ID named in your confirmation and expect a photo and locker for belongings.
Online exams run through Pearson VUE OnVUE with an ID check, workspace photos and a webcam room scan. Keep the desk clear and stay in view.
Breaks are generally not permitted during online exams. Check the current policy in your confirmation, since some exams have had different rules.

Booking, retakes and renewal

Book through your Microsoft Learn profile, which hands you over to Pearson VUE. Make sure the name on your profile matches your ID.
Microsoft has a retake policy with waiting periods that grow after repeated failures and an annual attempt limit. Check the current policy before booking a retake.
You see pass or fail on screen with a score report that breaks down performance by skill area. The credential appears on your Microsoft Learn profile shortly after.
Role-based certifications (associate and expert) are valid for one year and renew for free by passing an online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn in the months before expiry. Fundamentals certifications do not expire.

Policies change. Check the vendor's candidate handbook and your booking confirmation for the current rules.