The short version
DP-800 gives you 120 minutes. You need a scaled score of 700 on a scale of 1 to 1,000. The exam is proctored and scheduled through Pearson VUE. Microsoft does not publish the number of questions, and it does not name the question formats in advance.
Key numbers
| Item | What Microsoft says |
|---|---|
| Exam time | 120 minutes to complete the assessment |
| Seat time | Microsoft’s duration page lists 140 minutes of seat time for role-based exams that may contain labs |
| Passing score | 700 or greater, scale of 1 to 1,000 |
| Number of questions | Not published; most Microsoft exams have 40 to 60, and the number can change |
| Delivery | Proctored; you schedule through Pearson VUE |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, German, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish |
| First retake | After 24 hours |
Seat time is the time you should set aside. It includes the instructions, the candidate agreement, and the comments screen after the questions. Exam time is the clock you work against.
The exam page for DP-800 says you may have interactive components to complete. Microsoft explains that labs can be removed at any time, for example because of an Azure outage, so it does not publish a list of exams that have them. You see the exact exam time when you register, and the overview screens at launch tell you what to expect.
Question formats
Microsoft says it does not identify specific question formats before the exam. It does offer an exam sandbox that lets you try the interface with the different question types that can appear. Its duration page shows sample formats such as multiple choice, case studies, drag and drop, hot area, build list, and labs. Treat that as a list of what can appear, not a promise of what will.
For a SQL developer exam, a practical way to prepare is to practice three skills:
- Reading code. Spot the missing keyword or the wrong argument in a T-SQL snippet or a configuration file.
- Ordering steps. Know the sequence for tasks like creating an external model, then generating embeddings, then searching.
- Picking between near-identical options. Many topics on the skills list come in pairs, such as CDC versus Change Tracking, or ANN versus KNN.
Our sample questions show the multiple-choice and choose-two style.
Scoring
Microsoft reports a scaled score from 1 to 1,000, and 700 passes. A scaled score is not a percentage of questions answered correctly, so you cannot convert 700 into “70%”. On multi-part questions you usually earn one point per correct part, so partial credit is possible. Some questions may be unscored trial items, and you cannot tell which, so treat every question as counted. After the exam you get a score report with a bar chart per skill area, which is useful if you need to retake. It does not show which questions you missed.
Breaks and the clock
You may take unscheduled breaks without asking in advance. Microsoft builds five minutes of break time into the exam, but the clock keeps running while you are away, and you can take as long as you like within the exam time. Once you start a break, you cannot return to the questions you saw before it, even ones you flagged for review. Answer and review first. You cannot take a break in the middle of a lab or inside a problem-and-solution question set.
Microsoft Learn during the exam
For associate and expert exams, Microsoft says you can open Microsoft Learn inside the exam window. It is limited to the learn.microsoft.com domain (no Q&A, practice assessments, or profile), no extra time is added, and the clock keeps running while you read. It helps for a syntax detail you half remember. It does not help if you must look up every question. Practicing with the documentation open is a good habit, but do not count on it for speed.
Retakes
- If you do not pass, wait 24 hours before the second attempt.
- Waiting time between later attempts is 14 days, up to five attempts.
- You cannot take an exam more than five times in 12 months from the first attempt.
- You cannot retake an exam you have passed unless the certification has expired.
Renewal
The credential is an associate certification. Microsoft says associate certifications expire annually, and you renew by passing a free, unproctored, open-book assessment on Microsoft Learn during a six-month window before expiry. Passing extends the certification by one year.
English update on October 19, 2026
Microsoft says the English version of the certification is updated on October 19, 2026. The skills list changed only slightly: the change log marks four areas as “Minor” (database objects, AI-assisted tools, models and embeddings, intelligent search). Other languages follow about eight weeks after English. If your language is not available yet, you can ask for an additional 30 minutes.
More guides for DP-800
- DP-800 Domains Explained
- Is DP-800 Hard? An Honest Difficulty Check
- DP-800 Prerequisites and Required Skills
- DP-800 Renewal and Retakes Explained
- Is DP-800 Worth It? An Honest Look
- DP-800 Cheat Sheet: Key Facts to Review
- DP-800 vs DP-700: Which Exam First?
Next step
See how the time and scoring fit into a schedule on the study plan page. The DP-800 practice tests have timed attempts if you want to practice pacing.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on DP-800?
Microsoft does not publish the number. Plan around the general 40 to 60 range it gives for most exams, and expect that to vary.
Can I check my answers during the exam?
You can mark questions for review and return to them until you start a break. After a break you cannot go back to earlier questions.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
Microsoft’s scoring page says there is no penalty for a wrong answer. Answer every question.