AZ-104 Exam Format, Scoring and Retakes

The short version

AZ-104 gives you 100 minutes and a passing score of 700 on a scale of 1 to 1,000. It is proctored, scheduled through Pearson VUE, and you may open Microsoft Learn during the exam. Microsoft does not publish the number of questions. This page uses Microsoft pages checked on October 18, 2026, and the vendor pages win if anything changes.

Time and number of questions

Microsoft’s AZ-104 page says you have 100 minutes to complete the exam. Microsoft’s exam experience page gives two timings for associate-level role-based exams: 100 minutes for exams without labs and 120 minutes for exams that may contain labs. It also explains that seat time, which includes reading the instructions and accepting the candidate agreement, runs about 20 minutes longer than exam time.

Microsoft does not list how many questions AZ-104 has. It says only that most Microsoft exams have between 40 and 60 questions, and that the number can change when the exam is updated. Treat any other number you read online as a guess.

Microsoft also says it does not list which exams include labs, because labs can be removed at any time, for example during an Azure outage. When you launch the exam, the overview screens tell you what to expect, including whether labs are included. Read them, because they decide how you spend your time.

Question styles

The AZ-104 page says the exam may have interactive components. Microsoft’s exam experience page shows sample screens for active screen, build list, case studies, drag and drop, hot area, multiple choice, and labs. Microsoft also says it does not name the exact formats on a specific exam in advance. The practical advice is to open the free exam sandbox, which has the same interface and every question style, so nothing looks new on the day.

Some question sets present a problem and ask whether a given solution solves it. Microsoft notes that you cannot take a break in the middle of one of those sets or in the middle of a lab.

Microsoft Learn during the exam

On associate and expert exams you can open Microsoft Learn in a split screen. You get the whole learn.microsoft.com domain except Q&A, practice assessments, and your profile. Extra time is not added, and the clock keeps running while you read. Microsoft says it is meant for the odd question where you need to look something up, and that leaning on it for every question means you will run out of time.

A fair way to use it: know the main features and limits by heart, and use Learn to confirm a rarely used setting, a command parameter, or a tier limit.

Breaks

Five minutes of break time are built into the exam time. You can take longer breaks and more than one, but the exam clock keeps running. Once you start a break you cannot go back to questions you saw before it, even if they were unanswered or marked for review. Answer and review first, then break.

Scoring

  • Scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 1,000, and 700 or greater passes.
  • The score is scaled, so it does not equal 70 percent of the points. Easier question sets need more points to pass and harder ones need fewer.
  • On multi-part questions you usually get one point for each correct part, so partial credit exists.
  • There is no penalty for guessing, so answer everything.
  • Some questions may be unscored trial questions, and you cannot tell which.

For most exams you get results within minutes. Exams with labs take about 30 minutes to score. The score report shows your overall number, pass or fail, and a bar chart per skill area. It does not show which questions you missed, and the bars cannot be converted into a count of correct answers.

Languages and delivery

Microsoft lists 10 languages: English, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese (Traditional), and Italian. English is updated first. Other languages follow about eight weeks later. If your language is not offered, you can request an additional 30 minutes.

The exam is proctored and scheduled through Pearson VUE. Microsoft recommends registering with a personal Microsoft account, because exam records tied to a work or school account can be lost when you leave the organization. The price depends on the country or region where you take the exam, so check it when you book. For the day itself, see our exam day guide.

Retakes and renewal

  • If you fail, you can retake after 24 hours.
  • Between all later attempts you wait 14 days, for up to five attempts.
  • You cannot take the exam more than five times in 12 months from your first attempt.
  • You cannot retake an exam you have passed unless the credential has expired.
  • A retake is paid again where a fee applies.

Renewal is a different process. The credential has a 12-month renewal frequency. Within a six-month window before it expires, you pass a free, unproctored, open-book online assessment on Microsoft Learn, and the credential extends by one year from the expiration date. Microsoft says there is no limit on renewal attempts.

What changes between versions

Microsoft updates its exams from time to time. The current outline is dated April 17, 2026, and the change log marks the changes from the previous version as minor, for example in virtual machines, containers, virtual networks, and Azure Monitor. If you studied from older material, compare it with the current study guide before you rely on it.

More guides for AZ-104

Next step

Now see what the five domains contain on the domains explained page. To practice under timed conditions, try the AZ-104 practice tests.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Microsoft Learn in the AZ-104 exam?

Yes, on associate-level role-based exams. It opens next to the question, the clock keeps running, and Q&A, practice assessments, and your profile are blocked.

Is there a penalty for wrong answers?

No. Microsoft says no points are deducted for incorrect answers, so leave nothing blank.

How long until I know my result?

For most exams, within minutes. Exams with labs take about 30 minutes to score.

Try the AZ-104 practice exams