Data+ DA0-002 Exam Format: Questions, Time, PBQs, and Passing Score Explained

Knowing exactly how the exam is built lets you walk in with a plan instead of nerves. This article covers how the CompTIA Data+ DA0-002 exam is structured — the question count, the time, the performance-based questions, and the scoring, including the higher passing score that surprises people coming from V1.

For the wider certification picture, start with the complete Data+ guide. This piece zooms in on format.

The core numbers

Here's the structure of the current DA0-002 (V2) exam:

• Up to 90 questions. Ninety is the maximum; your exam may have slightly fewer.
• 90 minutes. Roughly one minute per question on average — a real constraint, since PBQs take longer.
• Multiple-choice and performance-based questions (PBQs).
• Passing score of 720 on a scale from 100 to 900.

The passing score went up

Worth flagging clearly: DA0-002 requires 720, up from DA0-001's 675. The format is otherwise familiar — same 90 questions, same 90 minutes, same mix of question types — but the bar is slightly higher on V2. If you've read older study advice built around the 675 threshold, adjust your target accordingly.

The 720 mark sits on a 100–900 scale and is weighted by question difficulty, so it isn't a clean percentage, and the result is a simple pass or fail. Don't try to reverse-engineer "how many can I miss" — aim for solid competence across all five domains, especially Data Analysis (24%) and Data Acquisition and Preparation (22%), which together are nearly half the exam. The full weighting is in the domains breakdown.

What the performance-based questions look like

PBQs are the part that surprises candidates. Instead of picking an answer, you do the work: interpret a dataset, choose the right chart for a scenario, match a statistical method to a business question, or clean a messy field. Some are drag-and-drop; some are calculation-based. They reward people who have actually worked with data rather than people who memorized definitions.

That's why hands-on practice matters so much here — a little time in SQL and a BI tool goes a long way. We cover exactly how in the PBQ and hands-on practice guide.

Pacing strategy for test day

With about a minute per question and PBQs eating more, pacing matters:

1. Triage the PBQs. Do the quick ones; if one is a time-sink, flag it and move on rather than burning ten minutes early.
2. Work multiple-choice steadily. Read business-scenario questions carefully — identify what's actually being asked before weighing options.
3. Return to flagged items with your remaining time.
4. Leave nothing blank. There's no penalty for a wrong answer, so always commit to your best judgment.

Rehearse under a 90-minute timer so the pace feels routine.

Where you'll sit the exam

Data+ is delivered through Pearson VUE, either at a testing center or online with a remote proctor through OnVUE. For the online option, begin check-in early — there's an ID check, room scan, and system test before the exam unlocks.

Retake rules

If you don't pass, you can retake after a failure, and each attempt requires a new voucher — unless you bought a voucher with retake assurance up front, which covers a second attempt. Standard CompTIA retake spacing applies (a wait period kicks in from the third attempt onward).

Where format prep fits

Format familiarity is the finishing layer over real skill. Learn the objectives, get hands-on with data, then rehearse full-length timed sessions. Our study plan sequences all of it.

Adaptive practice tells you honestly when you're ready.

Gauge your readiness: CompTIA Data+ CertMaster Practice (DA0-002) adapts to your weak areas so you know when you're clearing your target. When you are, book with a Data+ exam voucher, or choose the voucher-plus-retake bundle. As an Authorized CompTIA Partner, materials are official.

A note on voucher eligibility: Voucher eligibility depends on your exam testing location, per CompTIA policy. Testing in an emerging-market region? We don't sell those here — contact us.

FAQ

What's the passing score for DA0-002? 720 on a 100–900 scale — up from 675 on DA0-001. It's a scaled score weighted by difficulty, and the result is pass or fail.

Will I get exactly 90 questions? Ninety is the maximum. Your specific exam may have fewer.

How much time per question? About one minute on average, but PBQs take longer — triage them and keep moving.

What are the PBQs like? Applied data tasks: interpret a dataset, pick the right chart, match a statistical method to a scenario, or clean a messy field. Drag-and-drop and calculation items are common.

Can I take Data+ online? Yes. It's delivered at Pearson VUE test centers or online via OnVUE with a remote proctor.

Is there a penalty for guessing? No. Always answer every question, even if it's a best guess.