CTS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

The Number: 350 on a 0-500 Scale

If you are preparing for the Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) credential from AVIXA, the single most important number to understand is the passing score: 350 on a scale of 0 to 500. Your exam result is reported as a scaled score, and a result at or above 350 earns the credential. Anything below it means you did not pass this attempt.

That sounds simple, and in one sense it is. But the way a scaled score relates to the number of questions you answered correctly is where most candidates get confused. This article walks through what the passing score means, how the exam that produces it is built, and how to translate that knowledge into a realistic preparation plan. If you are still deciding whether to sit the exam at all, our overview of CTS requirements and eligibility is a good place to start, and for a candid look at the challenge level, see how hard the CTS exam really is.

Why 350 Is Not a Fixed 70% Raw Mark

It is tempting to look at 350 out of 500 and conclude you need 70% of the questions right. Do not do that. The official scaled-scoring guidance makes clear that the passing score is not a fixed percentage of raw points. Instead, the exam uses scaled scoring so that results are comparable across different versions (forms) of the test.

What scaled scoring is doing for you

Any certification program that rotates multiple exam forms faces a fairness problem: one form might include a slightly harder mix of questions than another. If the pass mark were a flat raw number, candidates who drew the harder form would be penalized. Scaled scoring solves this by converting your raw number of correct answers into a common scale, adjusting for the difficulty of the specific form you received.

The practical consequences for you are:

• The raw number of correct answers needed can differ from form to form. On a tougher form, a somewhat lower raw count can still convert to 350; on an easier form, the raw requirement may be a bit higher.
• You cannot reverse-engineer a precise raw target. Any blog, forum post, or study group claiming "you need exactly 70 of 100" is guessing. The scaled score FAQ published by AVIXA exists precisely to correct this assumption.
• A scaled score is not a percentage. A 350 does not mean 350/500 = 70% correct, and a 420 does not mean 84% correct.

What the Score Is Built From: 100 Scored Items

The CTS exam contains 115 multiple-choice questions, but only 100 of them are scored. The remaining 15 are unscored pilot items: new questions being evaluated for possible future use. They are mixed in with the scored items, and you will not be told which are which. Each question has four alternatives and exactly one best answer.

Why the pilot items matter to your strategy

Because you cannot tell scored from unscored questions, treat every question as if it counts. A question that feels unusually obscure or oddly worded may be a pilot, and that is fine; do not let one strange item drain your confidence or your clock. Make your best choice, mark it if you want to return, and move on. No fixed domain allocation is published for the 15 pilot items, so you cannot infer anything about which topics they cover.

There is no separate hands-on practical component and no adaptive format specified for the general CTS exam. It is a straightforward, fixed-length, closed-book multiple-choice test. For a deeper breakdown of how the content is organized, see our complete guide to the four CTS exam domains.

Where the Points Come From: The Four Duties

Your scaled score is built from performance across four weighted exam-objective duties drawn from the current CTS Exam Content Outline. The outline is based on the 2022 job task analysis, and the headings and weights are repeated in Appendix A of the August 2026 candidate handbook. The handbook revision does not establish a new blueprint, so the weights below remain the official ones.

Because the scoring is cumulative, a weak area does not automatically sink you, but it does cost points you must recover elsewhere. A candidate who is strong on design and implementation can absorb some losses in the smaller duties, while a candidate who neglects the 35% domain faces a steep climb. For the full topic list in each area, read our CTS domains guide.

Pass Rate Context and What It Does Not Tell You

Candidates often ask whether the passing score is "easy" or "hard" to hit, and they look to pass rates for an answer. Here is what the official sources actually say, and where they stay silent.

• A historical official-hosted AVIXA administration page reported an averaged CTS pass rate of 67% as of May 30, 2024.
• That figure comes without a stated denominator, averaging window, or breakdown of how many were first-attempt candidates.
• The current administration page does not disclose a 2026 pass rate. It does report 11,466 general CTS holders as of April 17, 2026, but that is a count of credential holders, not annual candidate volume.

Test-Day Mechanics That Protect Your Score

Your scaled score reflects what you know, but it can be undermined by avoidable logistics. These CTS-specific rules are worth internalizing before exam day.

Time and navigation

• 150 minutes is the scored-exam time limit. Tutorial and survey time is additional, and breaks do not stop the timer, so any time you spend away from your seat comes out of your 150 minutes.
• You can mark and return to questions, which lets you bank easy points first and revisit harder items.
• That works out to a little over a minute per question across all 115 items, so there is little room for lingering.

What you may and may not use

• The exam is closed book. Personal calculators and reference materials are prohibited.
• An on-screen calculator and a non-erasable note board are supplied. Practice with an on-screen calculator beforehand so the interface does not slow you down on calculation-style questions.

Arrival and identification

• Bring two valid IDs, including a government-issued photo and signature ID, subject to the country-specific alternatives in the handbook's Appendix I.
• Arrive 30 minutes early.
• Your exam eligibility window lasts 120 days, so schedule with that clock in mind. Our CTS exam dates and scheduling guide covers the logistics in depth.
• If you need to reschedule, do so through Pearson at least 24 hours beforehand. Telephone scheduling, rescheduling, or cancellation costs $10 per call, while online scheduling is free.

If You Miss 350: Retest Rules and Costs

A score below 350 is not the end of the road. AVIXA provides a structured retest path with reduced fees, and understanding it helps you plan your first attempt with less pressure.

1. Two reduced-fee retests are allowed, with attempts at least 30 days apart.
2. To receive the reduced fee, apply within 120 days of your last attempt, and each retest authorization lasts 120 days.
3. The retest fee is $150.
4. After two retests, you must wait 90 days before restarting the application process.

Fees are stated before applicable taxes and come from the currently linked Certification Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2025. For the full picture of what you will spend, including optional membership and prep purchases, see our CTS certification cost breakdown.

Weighting Your Prep Around the Scoring Blueprint

Knowing that the passing line is scaled and that 65% of scored items sit in two duties should shape how you allocate study time. This is the one place where a simple schedule is useful, and it is tied directly to the CTS blueprint rather than generic advice. The plan below is a sample sequence, not a required timetable.

Rather than chasing a specific percentage, track your performance per domain on practice sets from the CTS practice test site. If you are consistently strong across the board and especially solid in the 65% pair, you are building the margin that makes crossing 350 likely regardless of which form you draw. For a fuller roadmap, our CTS study guide lays out a first-attempt approach, and the CTS cheat sheet is handy for a final-week review of must-know facts.

After You Pass: Validity and Renewal

Once you reach 350 or higher, the Certified Technology Specialist credential is valid for three years. Keeping it active is a separate task from earning it, so it is worth knowing the terms upfront.

• Renewal requires 30 approved renewal units (RUs) earned within the cycle, supporting records, ethics reaffirmation, and the renewal fee.
• There is no carryover, and no credit for pre-certification coursework.
• As an alternative, you may renew by passing the current CTS exam at the current exam fee. Once you choose that route, renewal must be completed through testing, including any necessary retakes, by the renewal deadline.

Details are in the Certification Renewal Handbook (internally dated August 27, 2026) linked from the current AVIXA renewal page. If you are weighing the long-term value of the credential, our CTS ROI analysis and CTS salary guide cover the career side of the equation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The passing score is clear, but the path to it rewards preparation over arithmetic. Focus on the weighted duties, rehearse the real exam conditions, and use realistic practice from the CTS practice test site to build a comfortable margin above 350.