The short version
You need 700 on a scaled score of 1 to 1,000. Microsoft does not publish the number of questions for AZ-400, and the exam page does not state the exam time. You are told the time when you register. Expert exams may let you open Microsoft Learn during the test, which is useful and also a trap.
What Microsoft publishes for AZ-400
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Passing score | 700 or greater, on a scale of 1 to 1,000 |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese (Traditional), Italian |
| Retirement date | None listed |
| Last English update | July 27, 2026 |
| Number of questions | Not published |
| Price | Varies by the country or region where the exam is proctored |
Microsoft says localized versions are updated about eight weeks after the English version, though the schedule can slip. If the exam is not offered in your language, you can request an extra 30 minutes.
Exam time and number of questions
Microsoft’s general timing table has one row for associate and expert exams. Without labs, the exam time is 100 minutes and the seat time is 120 minutes. For exams that may contain labs, the exam time is 120 minutes and the seat time is 140 minutes. Seat time includes reading instructions, accepting the candidate agreement, and leaving comments at the end.
Microsoft does not list which exams contain labs, because labs can be removed at any time. The page for AZ-400 does not say which row applies, so read the time shown when you book and again on the exam’s overview screens. Microsoft also says that most exams have 40 to 60 questions but that the number varies and can change. Do not plan around a specific count.
Question types
Microsoft does not name the question formats for a given exam before test day. Its general description of role-based exams shows these types in the exam sandbox: multiple choice, drag and drop, hot area, build list, active screen, review screens, case studies, and labs. Some questions are problem-and-solution sets, where you judge whether a proposed solution works. Some questions can have several parts.
The exam sandbox lets you try the interface for free. Use it once, so the screens are not new on exam day.
Breaks
Five minutes are built into the exam time for unscheduled breaks. You can take as many breaks as you like, but the clock keeps running, and once you start a break you cannot return to the questions you saw before it. You can break between questions, but not in the middle of a lab or inside a problem-and-solution set. Plan to take a break only when you need one.
Using Microsoft Learn during the exam
Microsoft says you can open Microsoft Learn during associate and expert exams. You can browse the learn.microsoft.com domain, but not Q&A, practice assessments, or your profile. No extra time is added and the clock continues. Microsoft states that the feature is meant for the occasional lookup, and that using it for every question means you will not finish. Think of it as a way to confirm one parameter name, not a way to learn a topic.
Scoring
- Scores are scaled. 700 does not equal 70% of the points.
- Multi-part questions usually give one point per correct part, so you can earn partial credit.
- There is no penalty for guessing. Answer every question.
- Some questions are unscored and are used to gather data. You will not know which, so treat each one as scored.
- Most exams return a result within minutes. Exams with labs take about 30 minutes to score.
Your score report shows a numeric score, 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 percentage of correct answers.
Retakes
If you fail, you must wait 24 hours before the second attempt. After that, you wait 14 days between attempts. You can sit a given exam at most five times in 12 months, counted from the first attempt. You cannot retake an exam you have passed unless the certification has expired, and you pay for each retake where applicable.
Delivery
Microsoft schedules role-based exams through Pearson VUE. This guide has not verified whether your region offers online proctoring, a test center, or both for AZ-400, so look at the options when you book.
More guides for AZ-400
- AZ-400 Study Plan: 4-Week and 8-Week
- AZ-400 Sample Questions With Answers
- Is AZ-400 Hard? An Honest Difficulty Check
- AZ-400 Prerequisites and Skills Self-Check
- AZ-400 Renewal and Retakes Explained
- Is AZ-400 Worth It? An Honest Look
- AZ-400 Cheat Sheet: Key Facts to Review
- AZ-104 vs AZ-400: Which First?
- AZ-305 vs AZ-400: Which Exam First?
Next step
The domains explained page shows what the five skill areas look like in practice. To practice the format and timing, see our AZ-400 practice tests. Microsoft’s AZ-400 exam page is the authority on the current rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is the passing score 70%?
No. It is 700 on a scale of 1 to 1,000. Because the scale is adjusted for question difficulty, a percent-correct figure does not tell you whether you passed.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers?
No. A wrong answer earns no points, but nothing is subtracted.
Can I see which questions I missed?
No. Microsoft only gives you per-skill-area bars and your overall score.
How long must I wait to retake it?
24 hours after the first failed attempt, then 14 days between later attempts, up to five attempts in 12 months.