AZ-900 Exam Format: What to Expect
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals exam is 40–60 questions in about 45 minutes of test time, mixing multiple choice with drag-and-drop and hotspot formats — no case studies and no labs. Here is exactly what the exam looks like on screen, the question types, what exam day feels like, and how the 700/1000 score works.
01 The format in one minute
Below is a close approximation of what a single question looks like in the Pearson VUE test engine. The header shows your position and the countdown clock; the footer holds the flag-for-review toggle and navigation:
A company wants to move to the cloud but keep paying only for the compute it actually uses, with no servers to patch or manage. Which cloud service model best meets this requirement?
Illustration of the test-engine layout — not an actual exam question.
That single screen captures most of what makes AZ-900 tick: concise concept-and-service scenarios, four plausible options where the wording of the requirement — “pay only for what you use,” “no servers to manage” — points to the one best answer, and a clock that gives you roughly 60 seconds per item. Get comfortable reading and eliminating under that pace and the format stops being a surprise.
02 Question types you'll face
Microsoft keeps AZ-900 approachable in form — the difficulty is in knowing the concepts and services, not in exotic interactions. The exam mixes a few question types, and knowing how each is marked changes how you answer.
Multiple choice
Four options, exactly one correct. The other three are plausible distractors that fall down on cost, management overhead, or the exact requirement in the stem. The bulk of the exam.
Most questionsMultiple response
Several options where the stem says how many to pick (“select all that apply”). You must choose every correct option and no wrong ones — there is no partial credit on a single item.
Some questionsDrag-and-drop / build-list
Match terms to definitions, or drag steps into the correct order. Used to test whether you can map Azure services to scenarios or sequence a process correctly.
Some questionsHotspot / dropdown
Active-screen items with statements you mark true/false or in-line dropdowns where you pick the best word to complete each line. Common for “yes/no” concept checks.
Some questions03 Timing, structure & skills measured
You get about 45 minutes of test time for the questions, but plan for roughly 65 minutes of total seat time once you include the non-disclosure agreement, instructions, and the optional survey. The exact question count varies by form (commonly 40–60), and your score is compensatory: there is one overall pass mark, and you do not have to clear each skill area individually. The exam is organised around three skill areas:
| Skill area | Weight | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Describe cloud concepts | 25–30% | Benefits of cloud, IaaS / PaaS / SaaS, public / private / hybrid models, CapEx vs OpEx |
| 2. Describe Azure architecture and services | 35–40% | Regions, availability zones, core compute, networking, storage and database services |
| 3. Describe Azure management and governance | 30–35% | Cost management, governance & compliance, monitoring tools, and management tooling |
04 What exam day actually looks like
You can sit the AZ-900 two ways: at a Pearson VUE test centre, or online with a remote proctor from home. The exam itself is identical; the check-in is what differs. Here is the typical flow for an online-proctored sitting.
Log in and launch early
Open the OnVUE software, run the system test, and start check-in up to 30 minutes ahead. Late arrivals can be refused.
ID & room scan
Photograph your government ID and your workspace from four angles. Your desk must be clear — no notes, phone, second monitor, or drinks unless explicitly allowed.
NDA & instructions
Accept the non-disclosure agreement and read the on-screen instructions. The ~45-minute clock does not start until you begin the actual questions.
The exam
40–60 questions, your clock counting down. Flag, skip, and revisit freely — there are no locked sections on AZ-900. A proctor monitors by webcam, so looking away or speaking can trigger a warning.
Submit & short survey
Submit when done or when time expires. An optional survey follows; it does not affect your score.
Provisional result
A pass/fail message appears on screen. Your official score report and badge land in your Microsoft Learn certification profile, usually within a few days.
Allowed
- A valid, unexpired government photo ID
- Reviewing and changing any answer before you submit
- Flagging questions to revisit at the end
- Requesting accommodations or a different language at booking
Not allowed
- Phones, smartwatches, headphones, or second screens
- Notes, books, or scratch paper (online proctoring)
- Other people entering or talking in the room
- Leaving your seat without proctor permission
05 How scoring & results work
AZ-900 is reported on a scaled range up to 1000, and you need 700 to pass. Because the score is scaled and compensatory, a strong showing in one skill area can offset a weaker one — you do not have to clear a bar in each area, only overall.
You will see an immediate provisional pass/fail on screen, and the full score report — including a per-skill-area breakdown — arrives in your Microsoft Learn certification profile shortly after. If you do not pass, Microsoft requires a 24-hour wait before your second attempt; later retakes have escalating waits, you are capped at five attempts in any 12-month period, and you pay the $99 fee again each time.
06 FAQ
How many questions are on the AZ-900 exam?
Typically 40 to 60 questions, with the exact count varying by exam form. You get about 45 minutes of test time, and total seat time is near 65 minutes once instructions and the agreement are included. Treat every question as scored and pace yourself for roughly one minute each.
What types of questions are on the AZ-900?
Multiple choice (one correct answer), multiple response (choose all that apply), drag-and-drop and build-list ordering, hotspot or active-screen dropdowns, and best-answer questions. As a Fundamentals exam, AZ-900 has no case studies and no hands-on labs — those appear on associate exams such as AZ-104.
What is the passing score for the AZ-900 and is there negative marking?
You need 700 out of 1000 to pass. The score is scaled, so 700 is not the same as getting 70% of questions right. There is no negative marking, so never leave a question blank, and you can review and change any answer before you submit — AZ-900 has no locked sections.
How much does the AZ-900 cost and what is the retake policy?
The fee is $99 USD in the United States, though Microsoft prices it by region. If you fail, you must wait 24 hours before a second attempt; subsequent retakes have escalating waits, and you are limited to five attempts within a 12-month period.
