DP-600 Exam Format, Scoring and Retakes

The short version

DP-600 gives you 100 minutes of exam time and a pass mark of 700 on a scale of 1 to 1,000. It is proctored and scheduled through Pearson VUE. Microsoft does not publish the number of questions. This page uses Microsoft’s certification page, exam-experience page, scoring page, retake policy and renewal page, all checked on October 18, 2026.

Time and number of questions

Microsoft’s exam page says you have 100 minutes. Its exam-experience page lists 100 minutes of exam time and 120 minutes of seat time for associate and expert exams without labs. Seat time includes reading the instructions, accepting the candidate agreement, and leaving optional comments at the end. The same page lists a longer 120-minute exam time for exams that may contain labs, and says Microsoft does not publish which exams have labs. The DP-600 page quotes 100 minutes. Read the time shown when you book.

The number of questions is not published for DP-600. Microsoft says most of its exams have between 40 and 60, and that the number can change. Treat that as a general range and not a promise. Questions on some exams are unscored trial items, and you cannot tell which.

Passing score and how scoring works

  • Scores run from 1 to 1,000, and 700 or higher passes.
  • The score is scaled, so 700 does not equal 70% of the points. Microsoft sets it from the skills needed and the difficulty of the questions.
  • Multi-part questions usually earn one point per correct part, so you can earn partial credit.
  • There is no penalty for guessing. Answer every question.

After the exam you get a score report with a number, a pass or fail result, and a bar chart for each skill area. Microsoft says the chart cannot be used to count correct answers, and it does not tell you which questions you missed. A small skill area can show a very low bar after only a few questions.

Question types

Microsoft deliberately does not list question formats before the exam. It does say that you may have interactive components, and its public exam sandbox shows the interface and the types of questions you might see. Try the sandbox once so the buttons, review screen, and “mark for review” feature feel familiar. The exam question types page explains common formats in general terms.

Languages

Microsoft lists seven languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), German, French, Spanish, and Portuguese (Brazil). The English exam is always updated first, and other languages follow about eight weeks later. If your language is not available, you can request 30 extra minutes. Microsoft states this in its study guide.

Delivery and what you may use

DP-600 is proctored. You schedule it through Pearson VUE, and Microsoft’s page tells you to register with a personal Microsoft account, because exam records tied to a work or school account can be lost if you leave that organization. Microsoft prints the price by country but not as one number, so check at booking.

On role-based exams, you can open Microsoft Learn in a split screen. Microsoft says you may use everything on learn.microsoft.com except Q&A, practice assessments, and your profile. No extra time is added, and the timer keeps running. Use it for a syntax detail or setting, not for every question.

Breaks

You may take unscheduled breaks. Five minutes are built into the exam time, but the clock keeps running during a break, however long it lasts. Once you start a break, you cannot go back to questions you saw before it, even ones marked for review. You cannot take a break in the middle of a lab or a problem-solution question set. Answer and review what you need before you press “Take a break”. See the exam day guide for the practical side.

Retakes

  • Fail once: wait 24 hours.
  • Later attempts: wait 14 days between attempts.
  • No more than five attempts in 12 months from the first attempt.
  • You cannot retake a passed exam unless the credential has expired.
  • Retakes cost money, if applicable.

Renewal

Microsoft’s certification page lists a 12-month renewal frequency for this credential. Microsoft’s renewal page says renewal is free and uses an online assessment on Microsoft Learn that is unproctored and open book. You can take it during the six months before expiry, and passing extends the credential by one year from the expiration date. Fundamentals credentials do not expire, but this one is not a fundamentals credential.

The October 19, 2026 update

The English exam changes on October 19, 2026. The study guide’s change log, as we could read it, marks the “Query and analyze data” area as a minor change. Check the vendor’s study guide for the full comparison.

More guides for DP-600

Next step

Now plan your weeks with the study plan. When you want a timed run, the DP-600 practice exams have five sets with time limits, though they are our own format and not a copy of Microsoft’s.

Frequently asked questions

Is 700 the same as 70%?

No. It is a scaled score. A percentage will not tell you whether you passed.

Can I use Microsoft Learn during the exam?

Yes, on role-based exams such as this one, within the limits above. The timer keeps running.

Is there a penalty for wrong answers?

No. Microsoft says no points are deducted for incorrect answers.

Try the DP-600 practice exams