What it takes to pass CCNA
Cisco does not publish a fixed cut score for 200-301. Here is what is known, and how to prepare when the target is not a number.
What an unpublished cut score means
Cisco states that the passing score for 200-301 is variable and does not publish it. The exam uses scaled scoring, and the cut can shift between exam revisions as questions are recalibrated.
In practice, candidates prepare for this the same way as for a published cut: score consistently high on full-length practice under exam conditions before booking. Without a published line to aim at, the honest target is a comfortable margin, not a precise number.
The exam, in numbers
- QuestionsApproximately 100
- Time limit120 minutes
- FormatMultiple choice, drag-and-drop, and lab simulations
- Exam fee$300 USD
Figures from the official exam page. Cisco exam page ↗
If you miss it
A retake costs another $300, which is why sitting practice exams until you clear the line consistently is the cheapest part of preparing.
Know before you book
The candidates who pass on the first attempt treat the cut score as a rehearsal target, not a day-of surprise. Sit a full-length CCNA practice exam under the real time limit, scored against a realistic cut, and book the real exam when you clear it consistently rather than once.
Keep reading
CCNA practice questions
Free sample questions with the full explanation on every answer.
Free CCNA practice test
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CCNA exam objectives
The full official blueprint, with practice pages on covered objectives.
How hard is CCNA?
An honest difficulty read from the format, the clock and the weights.
What CCNA costs
The voucher price, the retake, and what renewal costs across the cycle.
CCNA guide
Who it is for, study plans by experience level, and whether it is worth it.
CCNA Subnetting Reference
A printable reference table, free.
CCNA vs Network+
Side by side on cost, difficulty, and which one to take first.
Practise CCNA for free while you decide
Original questions written from the published objectives, with the concept, the reasoning, and a note on every wrong option. No account needed to start.
Start free CCNA questions