CNA Passing Score: What You Need on the State Exam

Who decides the CNA passing score?

Your state, usually on the advice of its test vendor. The vendor runs a standard-setting study, the state approves a cut-off, and the candidate handbook states it, sometimes as a percentage and sometimes only as pass or fail.

That is why two websites can quote different numbers and both be describing a real state. NCSBN publishes the NNAAP content outline but not a national cut-off, and the vendors publish passing standards state by state inside their handbooks. Some handbooks give the number; others only say you need a "passing score".

The written test is scored only on the 60 scored questions. The 10 pretest questions do not count either way, but you cannot tell which they are, so answer every question.

How many questions can I miss on the CNA written exam?

On the 60 scored NNAAP questions, a 70% cut-off lets you miss 18 and an 80% cut-off lets you miss 12. You never know which questions were the unscored ten, so plan for every question to count.

Correct answers needed out of 60 scored questions, by cut-off (our arithmetic, rounded up)
Cut-off	Correct needed	Can miss
60%	36 of 60	24
65%	39 of 60	21
70%	42 of 60	18
72%	44 of 60	16
75%	45 of 60	15
78%	47 of 60	13
80%	48 of 60	12

How is the CNA skills test passed?

Skill by skill. Each skill has a checklist and some steps are critical; miss a critical step and that skill fails no matter what else you did. You must pass all five skills, hand hygiene and the measurement skill included.

For a measurement skill, your reading must match the evaluator's within a set tolerance, for example a few beats a minute on a pulse or a few millimeters of mercury on a blood pressure. Write the number down straight away and in the right units; a correct reading written wrong is a wrong reading.

The evaluator cannot coach you, but you can correct a mistake as long as you say so and redo the step before moving on to the next skill.

What score should I aim for in practice?

Aim for 85% on full-length timed practice, and hold it across two or three mocks. That clears the highest reported cut-off with room for nerves, unfamiliar wording and the unscored questions.

Practice scores run a little high when you know the format, and real exam days run a little low. A margin of five to ten points is what stops a near miss. On a 70-question mock, 85% is 60 correct.

If you are under 75%, do not book yet. Drill your weakest section first: the free CNA practice test shows your section scores, and each section guide has a free drill.

Practise until 85% is normal

8 full mocks with no repeated questions, so a rising score means real progress, not memory.

The CNA Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 16 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 CNA Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.

See what is inside the CNA Pass Pack How our questions are built and checked

8
timed mocks: 16
topic drills: 1
score predictor

How do I find out if I passed the CNA exam?

Results come from your state's vendor, usually through its online portal, and passing both parts adds you to the state nurse aide registry, which employers check.

Many test centers give an unofficial result the same day; the official result and registry listing follow. If you fail a part, the score report usually shows which areas or skills you missed, which is the best study guide you will get for the retake.

Federal rules give at least three chances to pass the competency evaluation, and your state sets the time limits and whether retraining is needed. Book the retake while the material is fresh.

What wins the most marks on the written test?

Three rules decide a large share of questions: safety first, the client's rights and dignity always, and report anything new, abnormal or outside your role to the nurse.

If an option has you doing something only a nurse may do (giving medicine, changing a sterile dressing, changing an oxygen setting), it is wrong.
If an option waits until the end of the shift to report a change in a client, it is wrong.
If an option protects privacy, choice or independence and is safe, it is usually right.
If two options look right, pick the one that makes the client safe first.

These rules and the traps that test them are worked through in the CNA test questions, and the full plan is in how to pass the CNA exam.

Frequently asked questions

What is the passing score for the CNA test?

It depends on your state. Reported written cut-offs are mostly 70% to 80%. Your state candidate handbook has the official figure.

Is 70% passing on the CNA exam?

In some states, yes, and in others the bar is higher. Treat 70% as a floor, not a target.

Do the pretest questions count?

No. Ten of the 70 NNAAP questions are unscored pretest items, but they look identical to the others, so answer every one.

Can I fail the skills test and pass the written test?

Yes. They are scored separately and you retake only the part you failed, within your state's time limits.

What happens if I fail the CNA exam three times?

Federal rules give at least three attempts; after that many states require you to retrain before testing again. Your state handbook sets the rule.

Clear the bar with room to spare

8 full mocks, 16 section drills and a reason behind every answer, in one payment.