CCNA (200-301) Passing Score
The figure everyone quotes is ~825 out of 1000 — but Cisco does not publish the exact passing score, and it is a scaled number, not 82.5% of questions correct. Here is how CCNA scoring actually works, the six domain weights, what practice score means you are ready, and the retake policy.
01 The short answer
Note: the mark above is positioned at the estimated ~825 cut. Cisco does not publish the exact passing score, so the true line may sit a little higher or lower than shown.
02 How CCNA scoring actually works
Two facts about Cisco's scoring model explain almost every argument you will see online about “the CCNA passing score.”
1. It is a scaled score — and the cut is not disclosed
Cisco converts your raw result into a scaled score, reported on a range commonly cited as 300 to 1000. Scaling equates results across different forms of the exam that may be slightly harder or easier, so every candidate is held to the same standard regardless of which set of questions they drew. Crucially, Cisco does not publish the passing score — their stated reason is that the cut, like the questions, can change at any time without notice. The ~825 figure you see everywhere is the candidate community's best estimate from reported pass and fail results; it is a useful target, not a guarantee.
2. A scaled 825 is not 82.5% correct
Because the score is scaled, an 825 does not map cleanly to getting 82.5% of questions right. Depending on how hard your particular form was, the raw percentage you needed could land a little above or below that. This is exactly why you will see people quote different “passing percentages” for the CCNA — they are each reverse-engineering a percentage from one form's difficulty, and no single number holds across forms. Aim well clear of the estimated line so form difficulty never decides your result.
03 The six domains and their weights
Since only the overall scaled score is documented, the smart move is to weight your study toward the heaviest domains. IP Connectivity is the single biggest slice, and the top three domains together make up two-thirds of the blueprint.
04 What practice score means you are ready
Because the real exam is scaled and the cut is undisclosed, the best readiness signal is a repeatable score on fresh, full-length, timed practice exams — not one lucky run. Use this scale.
05 If you fail: the retake policy
Missing the cut is not the end — but Cisco makes you wait and pay again, so it is worth being ready first.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Waiting period | Five calendar days before you can retake a failed exam, counted from the day after your attempt |
| Attempt limit | No cap on total attempts (the five-day wait applies between each) |
| Cost per attempt | The full exam fee every time — there is no discounted retake |
| Your score report | Shows a per-section bar chart — use it to target your weakest domain before rebooking |
06 FAQ
What is the CCNA passing score?
Cisco does not publish the exact passing score for the CCNA 200-301 exam. The community-accepted estimate is around 825 out of 1000 on a scaled range commonly cited as 300 to 1000. Treat 825 as a target to clear comfortably rather than an official figure, because Cisco can change the cut and the questions at any time without notice.
Is the CCNA scored as a raw percentage?
No. Cisco uses a scaled scoring model that equates results across exam forms of slightly different difficulty, so a scaled 825 does not map directly to 82.5 percent of questions answered correctly. That is also why people quote different passing percentages — the raw percentage needed shifts with the difficulty of your particular form.
Do I need to pass each CCNA domain separately?
There is no published per-domain minimum for the CCNA 200-301. Cisco reports a single overall scaled score and a per-section bar chart for feedback, but the documented requirement is the overall score — a strong area can offset a weaker one. Because no per-domain cut is published, you should still aim to be solid across all six domains rather than banking on one.
How long do I wait to retake the CCNA if I fail?
Cisco requires a five-day waiting period before you can retake a failed CCNA exam, counted from the day after your attempt. There is no cap on the total number of attempts, but you pay the full exam fee each time, so it pays to be genuinely ready before rebooking.
