Every ASWB exam is 170 multiple-choice questions in four hours—but only 150 of them are scored. The other 20 are unscored pretest items, and you’ll never know which is which.
The passing line isn’t fixed either. Here’s how to read that without letting it rattle you.
How many correct answers you need
The passing score varies by exam form to keep difficulty fair—typically you need somewhere in the range of 90 to 107 correct out of the 150 scored questions.
In practice, consistently scoring around 75% on full-length practice exams puts you comfortably above any form’s line.
Results before you leave
You get an unofficial pass/fail on screen at the test center, with official results following to your licensing board.
If you pass, the number stops mattering immediately—no employer will ever ask for it.
If you don’t pass
- A 90-day wait applies before retesting, and most boards require re-approval.
- Your result letter includes a content-area breakdown—let it choose what you study next.
- Repeat testing is common and carries no penalty on your eventual license.