ASE passing score: how ASE tests are scored
ASE does not publish a passing percentage. Each test is scored pass or fail against a standard that a panel of technicians and experts sets for that test, and the 10 research questions on every test do not count. Prep sites quote figures around 65% to 70%, but those are estimates; aim for 70% or more on each test in practice to give yourself a margin.
- Pass / fail
- how each test is reported
- No %
- published by ASE
- 10
- unscored questions per test
- 70%
- our practice target
Last checked · Scoring from ASE's study guide (2026); the target is ours
By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated · How we check facts · How this is scored
What score do you need to pass an ASE test?
There is no published percentage. You pass if your score on the scored questions meets the standard ASE sets for that test.
ASE sets its passing standards with panels of working technicians and subject experts, who judge what a qualified technician should get right. Because test forms change and some are harder than others, a fixed percentage would not be fair across forms, so ASE reports pass or fail rather than a percentage.
Figures you see online, such as "about 66%" or "roughly 30 of 45", are estimates from prep providers. Treat them as a floor, not a target.
| Who gives it | The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), by appointment at Prometric test centersPublished by the ownerASE, "Testing": registration and Prometric test centers |
|---|---|
| How it is split | One test per system (A1 Engine Repair to A9 Light Vehicle Diesel). Each test is booked, timed and scored on its ownPublished by the ownerASE, "Automobile & Light Truck Certification Tests, A Series: A1-A9" |
| Questions | 40 to 50 scored multiple-choice questions per test, plus 10 unscored research questions you cannot tell apartPublished by the ownerASE, "The Official ASE Study Guide: ASE Automobile Tests" (2026) |
| Time | 60 to 90 minutes per test, depending on the testPublished by the ownerASE, "The Official ASE Study Guide: ASE Automobile Tests" (2026) |
| Passing score | Not published as a percentage. A panel sets the standard for each test, and you get pass or fail with a breakdown by content areaPublished by the ownerASE, "The Official ASE Study Guide: ASE Automobile Tests" (2026) |
| Cost | A $34 registration fee plus a fee for each test; 2026 guides quote about $62 per standard test. Check ase.com before you bookSourcedTorquePrep, "ASE Certification Cost 2026: Test Fees & Renewals" |
| Certification | A pass plus 2 years of hands-on work experience (a two-year automotive degree can count for one). Certifications last 5 yearsSourcedUniversal Technical Institute, "ASE Certification: How To Become ASE Certified" |
How many questions do you need to get right on an ASE test?
ASE does not say. As a planning guide only, the table shows what 65% and our 70% target would mean on each test's scored questions. Your real standard depends on the form you get.
| Test | Scored questions | 65% would be | 70% would be |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Engine Repair | 45 | 30 right | 32 right |
| A4 Suspension and Steering | 40 | 26 right | 28 right |
| A5 Brakes | 45 | 30 right | 32 right |
| A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems | 50 | 33 right | 35 right |
| A8 Engine Performance | 50 | 33 right | 35 right |
The point of the table is the margin, not the exact line. On A1 or A5, the difference between 65% and 70% is only two or three questions, which is about one careless reading of a two-technician question and one half-remembered spec. A technician who aims for the line usually lands just under it; one who aims for 75% to 80% in practice usually passes with room to spare.
Two things make the margin matter more. First, you cannot tell which ten questions are unscored research items, so you cannot count your way to a pass during the test. Second, test forms differ: one A6 form may lean on networks and another on charging, and a panel-set standard takes that into account in ways a single percentage cannot.
So use a percentage the way a shop uses a wear limit: as the point you never want to be near. If your practice scores sit at 70% or higher on two mocks of questions you have not seen, you are in a good place to book.
Do the research questions count on ASE tests?
No. Every test has 10 unscored research questions that ASE is trying out for future forms. They look exactly like the scored ones, so answer every question as if it counts.
| Test | Real questions | Real time | Our mock |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Engine Repair | 55 (45 scored) | 75 minutes | 20 in 27 minutes |
| A4 Suspension and Steering | 50 (40 scored) | 60 minutes | 20 in 24 minutes |
| A5 Brakes | 55 (45 scored) | 75 minutes | 20 in 27 minutes |
| A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems | 60 (50 scored) | 90 minutes | 20 in 30 minutes |
| A8 Engine Performance | 60 (50 scored) | 75 minutes | 20 in 25 minutes |
What does an ASE score report show?
Pass or fail for each test, and how you did in each content area of the test. A failed test still shows which areas to study.
Why does LifeScore use 70% as the ASE practice target?
Because it sits at or above the estimates people quote and leaves a margin for a harder form on the day. A practice score is never a prediction of an ASE result.
| Band | From | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Early practice | 0% | A starting point: learn the diagnosis order for the weakest test |
| Building | 55% | The basics are there; drill the weakest test |
| Close | 65% | Close to our target; build a margin before you book |
| On target | 70% | At or above our target; check each test cleared it on its own |
| Strong | 85% | Strong under practice conditions; confirm on a fresh mock |
Clear 70% on a test in two different mocks before you book it. The free ASE practice test scores all five tests in one sitting.
Prove you are over 70%
Eight full ASE-style mocks and four drills for each of five tests, scored test by test against our 70% target.
The ASE Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 20 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.
Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The ASE Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.
- 8
- timed mocks
- 20
- topic drills
- 1
- score predictor
What happens if you fail an ASE test?
You can register and take it again, paying the test fee again. Use the score report to find the weak content areas, study them, and take a timed mock before you rebook.
ASE sets rules on how soon you can retake a test you failed; check the current policy on ase.com when you register. Plan the retake around study, not around the soonest date: a second fail costs the same again.
The fastest way back is the content area you scored lowest in, then the two-technician format, which is where careful readers win points. The full plan is in how to pass the ASE test.
Is the ASE recertification test scored the same way?
Recertification tests are shorter and also scored pass or fail. Certification lasts 5 years, so you recertify each test before it lapses.
Recertification covers the same systems, with more weight on newer technology. The same practice works: a timed mock, then a drill on the weak areas. Details are in the ASE certification test guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ASE passing score 70%?
Is there a penalty for wrong answers?
Do I get a number score?
Are all ASE tests scored the same way?
Walk in over the line
Eight full ASE-style mocks, four drills for each of five tests and every answer explained, for one payment.
The ASE Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 20 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.
Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The ASE Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.
- 8
- timed mocks
- 20
- topic drills
- 1
- score predictor