Network+ N10-009 Exam Format and Scoring

The short answer

The Network+ N10-009 exam has up to 90 questions and lasts 90 minutes. You need a score of 720 on a scale of 100 to 900. It mixes multiple-choice and performance-based questions, and you can take it at a Pearson VUE test center or online.

Below are the details, each one taken from CompTIA’s own pages as of October 18, 2026. Check them again before you book, because vendors do change policies.

Questions and time

CompTIA lists a maximum of 90 questions. “Maximum” matters: you may see fewer than 90. The time limit is 90 minutes, and CompTIA says this does not include check-in time.

Do the math on a full 90 questions: that is one minute per question on average. But the question types are not equal. A short multiple-choice item may take 30 seconds. A scenario with a network diagram takes longer. Plan your time by type, not by an even split.

Question types

CompTIA states two types:

  • Multiple-choice. These include single-answer items and items where you pick more than one answer. Read the stem for phrases such as “choose two”, because the interface expects the exact number.
  • Performance-based questions (PBQs). These are hands-on tasks. Depending on the question, you may match items, place devices in a diagram or work through a simulated configuration. CompTIA does not publish how many you will get.

Our exam question types guide explains how each style works and how to approach it. In general, if a PBQ looks time-consuming, flag it, answer the quicker questions first, and return to it with the minutes you have left.

Passing score and scoring

The passing score is 720 on a scale of 100 to 900. This is a scaled score. It does not mean 80 percent of questions correct, and you cannot convert it to a simple percentage. CompTIA does not publish the number of correct answers needed, and it does not say how it weights individual questions.

What you can do with that:

  • Do not aim for “just enough”. Aim for solid, repeated results in practice across all five domains.
  • Do not skip a domain because it is small. Domain weightings run from 14% to 24%, so no domain is small enough to ignore.
  • Answer every question. There is nothing in CompTIA’s published details about a penalty for guessing, so an empty answer cannot help you.

Languages

CompTIA’s Network+ page lists English, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Language availability can vary by delivery method and region, and you choose your language while scheduling.

Delivery: test center or online

Both options are booked through your CompTIA account, which sends you to Pearson VUE to finish scheduling:

  • In person at a Pearson VUE test center.
  • Online through OnVUE, Pearson VUE’s remote proctoring service.

Online testing has its own technical and room requirements, so read them on the vendor site before you choose it. Our exam day guide covers ID, check-in and what to bring. The CompTIA scheduling page explains how to book.

Retake policy

CompTIA’s retake policy, as stated on its site:

  • If you fail, you can retake the exam right away. There is no waiting period before the second attempt.
  • Before a third attempt, and any attempt after that, you must wait at least 14 calendar days from your latest attempt.
  • Each attempt requires the full exam fee.
  • If you already hold a certification from an exam, you generally cannot retake that same exam code without CompTIA’s consent. You wait for a new version.

The vendor’s retake policy page is the authority here. Since you can retake immediately but each try costs money, it makes sense to prepare until your practice results are steady rather than test your luck. See the certification costs guide for planning the budget.

Version and retirement facts

  • N10-009, also called Network+ V9, launched on June 20, 2024.
  • It replaced N10-008. CompTIA says the English version of N10-008 retired in December 2024.
  • CompTIA says Network+ certifications are valid for three years.
  • CompTIA states the exam is usually retired about three years after launch and shows an estimated 2027 retirement for this version. It also posts a draft V10 objectives document with no dates. Treat any date as an estimate until CompTIA announces one.

If you are studying now, N10-009 is the right target. A new version would still reuse most core networking ideas, but check the objectives before booking late in a version’s life.

FAQ

How many questions are on the Network+ N10-009 exam?

A maximum of 90. You may get fewer, and the mix includes multiple-choice and performance-based questions.

What score do I need?

720 on a scale of 100 to 900. It is a scaled score, not a percentage.

Can I retake the exam immediately?

After a first failed attempt, yes. Before a third attempt, you wait at least 14 calendar days.

Can I take it at home?

Yes, through OnVUE online proctoring, if your region and your setup meet the requirements.

More guides for N10-009

Next step

Next, build your schedule with the study plan. When you want to practice under timed conditions, the N10-009 practice tests give you original practice questions across all five domains.

Try the N10-009 practice exams