AB-900 exam format: questions, score and cost
AB-900 gives you 45 minutes, requires a scaled score of 700 out of 1000 to pass, and is priced per country at the booking step. Microsoft does not publish the number of questions. Here is everything else it publishes, and what it means for your preparation.
| Exam title | Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals |
| Certification | Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals |
| Level | Fundamentals (beginner) |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Passing score | 700 on a scale of 1–1000 |
| Number of questions | Not published by Microsoft |
| Languages | English, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish |
| Delivery | Proctored; Pearson VUE, or Certiport for students and educators |
| Price | Set per country or region; shown at booking |
| Renewal | None; fundamentals certifications do not expire |
| Practice assessment | Available free on Microsoft Learn |
The three domains
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Identify the core features and objects of Microsoft 365 services | 30–35% |
| Understand data protection and governance tasks for Microsoft 365 and Copilot | 35–40% |
| Perform basic administrative tasks for Copilot and agents | 25–30% |
The data protection domain can reach 40% on its own. It is also the domain with the most named tools: Purview Information Protection, DLP, Insider Risk Management, Communication Compliance, DSPM for AI, Data Lifecycle Management, Compliance Manager, Data Explorer, activity explorer, eDiscovery Content search and SharePoint Advanced Management. Expect questions that describe a problem and ask which of those tools finds or fixes it.
The Copilot and agents domain is the smallest, at 25–30%. That surprises people who book the exam because of the word Copilot in its title. Plan your time by the weights, not by the name.
Forty-five minutes is short
Forty-five minutes is the standard length for a Microsoft fundamentals exam, and it leaves no room for dwelling. Most questions are short scenarios: a user cannot sign in, a file is being overshared, a department wants an agent. You either recognise the right tool or you do not. If a question stalls you, mark it for review and move on.
The October 14, 2026 update
Microsoft’s study guide lists the skills measured “as of October 14, 2026”, and the certification page says the English version will be updated on that date. The change log marks the audience profile and the core features domain as unchanged, and the core security features objective group as a minor change. In practice that group now covers Entra ID, conditional access, SSO, troubleshooting sign-ins, Identity Secure Score, audit logs, Privileged Identity Management, and app registrations versus enterprise applications.
Localised versions are updated roughly eight weeks after the English one. If you sit the exam in another language shortly after the update, the questions may still follow the earlier outline for a while.
Question types
Expect the usual Microsoft mix:
- Single-answer and multiple-answer multiple choice
- Drag-and-drop matching, for example tools to the problems they solve
- Dropdown completion of a sentence or a short scenario
- Yes/no statement series about one scenario
Microsoft notes that the exam may have interactive components. The exam sandbox shows the interface and question types without testing any content, and is worth ten minutes before the day.
The free practice assessment
Unlike some newer exams, AB-900 already has a free practice assessment on its Microsoft Learn certification page. Use it as a style check: it shows how Microsoft words questions and how deep they go. Do not use it as your only measure of readiness, because the question pool is small and repeats quickly.
The passing score is scaled
700 of 1000 is not 70% correct. Microsoft scales scores and weights questions differently, and does not publish the conversion. Aim for a consistent 80% or more on realistic practice questions rather than trying to calculate a margin.
Preview features
Most questions cover generally available features, but Microsoft states that preview features may appear if they are commonly used. Copilot administration changes quickly — admin center pages move, billing options are added, agent management grows new controls — so check the current Microsoft Learn documentation rather than screenshots from a year ago.
Extra time and accommodations
If the exam is not available in your preferred language, you can request an additional 30 minutes. Other accommodations, such as assistive devices or extra time for other reasons, are requested through Microsoft’s accommodations process. Arrange either one before you book, not on the day.
Retakes and renewal
If you fail, you can retake after 24 hours. Later retakes carry longer waiting periods under Microsoft’s retake policy, and each attempt is charged again unless you have a retake offer such as Exam Replay.
Once you pass, there is nothing to renew. Microsoft’s annual renewal applies to associate, expert and specialty certifications; fundamentals certifications do not expire.
Booking tip
Microsoft recommends registering with a personal Microsoft account rather than a work or school account. Exam records tied to an organisational account can be lost if you leave that organisation. That matters here more than usual, because many AB-900 candidates are booked through an employer.
For what to do on the day itself, see the exam day guide. For how to spend the weeks before it, see the four-week study plan.