AZ-104 exam format: questions, score and cost

AZ-104 gives you 100 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.

The five domains

Identity and compute together can make up half the exam. Compute is also the domain with the most objectives: ARM templates and Bicep, virtual machines, scale sets, containers and App Service all sit inside it. If you only have time to go deep on two areas, pick those two.

Monitoring and backup is the smallest domain at 10–15%, but it is not optional. At that weight it is still several questions, and they are some of the most predictable on the exam.

The April 2026 update

Microsoft revised the skills outline on April 17, 2026. The change log marks the domain structure as unchanged and every sub-section change as “minor”: small edits to files and blob storage, virtual machines, containers, virtual networks and monitoring. If you studied from material written in 2025, most of it still applies. Check it against the current outline anyway, objective by objective.

The English version is always updated first. Localised versions follow roughly eight weeks later, so if you sit the exam in another language shortly after an update, you may get the previous outline.

The practice assessment is available

Unlike some newer Microsoft exams, AZ-104 has a free official practice assessment on Microsoft Learn. Use it once early, to find your weakest domain, and once late, to confirm you are ready. It shows the style and difficulty of the questions, though not their exact format.

The exam sandbox is worth ten minutes as well. It shows the interface and question types without testing any content.

Question types

Expect the usual Microsoft mix:

• Single-answer and multiple-answer multiple choice
• Drag-and-drop ordering, for example the steps to move a VM to another region
• Dropdown completion of PowerShell, CLI, ARM template or Bicep snippets
• Yes/no statement series about one scenario, where you usually cannot go back once answered
• Case studies with several questions sharing one long scenario

Microsoft notes that the exam “may have interactive components”. The administrator audience profile names PowerShell, the Azure CLI, the portal, ARM templates or Bicep files and Microsoft Entra ID, so expect to read commands and templates, not just pick a service name.

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 material rather than trying to work out a margin.

Time management

100 minutes is enough if you do not get stuck. The risk is the case study: long scenarios with network diagrams and requirement tables eat time. A practical approach is to move steadily through the standalone questions, keep a rough reserve for the case study, and never spend more than a couple of minutes on one item. If a question needs arithmetic, such as how many usable addresses a subnet has, do the sum once and move on.

Preview features

Most questions cover generally available features, but Microsoft states that preview features may appear if they are commonly used. Read the current documentation rather than old blog posts, especially for Entra ID, Container Apps and Azure Monitor, which change often.

Languages and extra time

AZ-104 is offered in ten languages. If the exam is not available in your preferred language, you can request an additional 30 minutes. Arrange that before you book.

Retakes and renewal

If you fail, you can retake after 24 hours. Later retakes carry longer waiting periods under Microsoft’s retake policy. Once you pass, the certification is valid for 12 months and renews through a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn, which you can take in the months before it expires.

For what to do on the day itself, see the exam day guide.