Scoring, question types, and exam-day logistics
Lesson 3 of 4 in The MLA Exam: Blueprint, Logistics, Strategy.
The standard MLA-C02 exam is 65 questions, of which 50 are scored and 15 are unscored experiments AWS mixes in unlabeled. Results land on a scaled score of 100–1,000 with a pass line at 720. Scoring is compensatory: you need 720 overall, not a pass in every domain — a strong Domain 1 can carry a weak Domain 4.
Question formats are multiple choice (one correct of four) and multiple response (two or more correct of five or more — the stem tells you how many, and partial credit does not exist). The C01 experiment with ordering, matching, and case-study items is gone in C02. Unanswered questions score as wrong, so never leave a blank.
From raw answers to a scaled score
- 65 items answered
Blanks score as wrong and guessing carries no penalty — so every item gets an answer, flagged or not.
- 15 unscored items dropped
The unlabeled pilot items are removed before scoring; only the 50 scored items count. You cannot tell which were which, so every question was worth full effort.
- Statistical equating
AWS adjusts for the difficulty of your particular form, so a harder draw of questions does not cost you — and 720 never literally means 72%.
- Scaled to 100–1,000
One compensatory total across all four domains — there is no per-domain minimum to clear.
- 720 or above?
- Pass — valid 3 years
Full validity from the day you pass, beta sittings included.
- Fail — report flags weak sections
The score report shows section-level performance for your own study; it never changes the result.
| MLA-C01 (retired for English) | MLA-C02 beta (now) | MLA-C02 standard (GA) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Questions | 65 (50 scored + 15 unscored) | 85 | 65 (50 scored + 15 unscored) |
Time | 130 min | 170 min | TBD at GA |
Cost | $150 | $75 (beta pricing) | TBD at GA |
Types | MC, MR, ordering, matching, case study | multiple choice + multiple response | multiple choice + multiple response |
Languages | JA / KO / zh-CN only (EN ended 2026-09-28) | English only | All languages at GA |
Where and how is it delivered?
Pearson VUE testing centers or online proctoring. Online proctoring means a locked-down room, one webcam, no second monitor, and ID checks — rehearse the setup before exam day.
Is there a penalty for guessing?
No. Unanswered and wrong score identically, so a guess strictly dominates a blank. Flag what you skip and sweep back before time expires.
Do I need to memorize full service names?
No — the exam uses short names (e.g. "Amazon S3") and provides a full-name reference via the Help button. What it does test is knowing which service answers which scenario.
How long is the credential valid?
Three years from the day you pass — beta passers included, with full validity. Recertify by retaking the current exam version.
Interactive checkpoint quiz (2 questions) — open this page in a browser to take it.