BCBA passing score: how the exam is really scored

The short answer: there's no fixed percentage you need to pass the BCBA exam. The BACB sets a passing score for each version of the exam, and the number of correct answers needed can change from one version to another. The BACB doesn't publish that number or report how many questions you got right.

That's frustrating when you just want a target. Here's how the scoring works, and what to aim for instead.

How the passing score is set

The BACB uses the modified Angoff method. In plain terms:

A panel of BACB-certified subject matter experts reviews the questions.
For each question, they judge how a minimally competent, entry-level behavior analyst would do on it.
Those judgments are combined into a passing score, which the BACB's Board of Directors approves.

The method is criterion-referenced. You're measured against a standard of entry-level knowledge, not against the people testing alongside you. The exam isn't curved. In the BACB's words, your performance "is not dependent on the performance of those taking the examination with you."

The BACB sets a new passing score when there's a significant change, such as a new test content outline. The 6th edition outline came into use in 2025.

Why the number of correct answers changes

The BACB uses more than one version (form) of the exam. Some forms are slightly harder than others. To keep things fair, the number of correct answers needed to pass is adjusted for each form. The BACB says the number "may vary depending on the form."

So someone who passed on one form and someone who failed on another can have answered a similar number of questions correctly. Neither result says anything about the other.

Raw scores and scaled scores

Your raw score is the number of scored questions you answered correctly. The BACB doesn't report it.

A scaled score is your raw score mathematically converted onto a common scale, so results from different forms can be compared. The BACB is clear on three points:

The pass/fail decision is always made by comparing your number of correct answers with the passing score for your form.
Scaling doesn't change whether you pass or fail.
Scaling doesn't change how candidates rank against each other.

The BACB's public examination page and handbook don't list a scale range or a scaled passing number.

The 175 scored questions and 10 unscored ones

The exam has 185 questions. 175 are scored and 10 are unscored pilot questions that the BACB is trying out for future use. All scored questions carry equal weight, and each has four options with one correct answer. Pilot questions are mixed in with the rest, so treat every question as if it counts.

Your result is based on your overall performance. You don't have to pass each content area separately.

The myths: "76%" and "400"

You'll see both of these on forums and some prep sites.

"You need 76%" (or 70%, or 80%). The BACB doesn't publish a percentage, and because the passing point is set separately for each form, no single percentage could be right for every candidate. Treat any fixed figure as a guess.
"400 is passing." Some third-party sites describe a scaled passing score of 400. We haven't found that number in the BACB's current public materials, so we don't repeat it as fact. Even if your form used a particular scale, the scaled number is just the raw pass/fail decision expressed differently. It doesn't give you a percentage to aim for.

The problem with chasing a magic number is that it pulls attention away from the thing that actually decides your result: how much of the outline you can apply correctly under time pressure.

What your score report shows

If you pass, you get notice that you passed and no further report.
If you don't pass, your report shows the percentage of questions you answered correctly in each content area, with the number of questions in each area. It doesn't show your total correct or which questions you missed.

Our guide to reading a BCBA score report explains how to turn those percentages into a study plan.

What to aim for instead

Since there's no published target, build a margin you can see in your own practice data.

Consistent results on fresh questions. Scores on questions you've seen before mostly measure memory. Judge yourself on questions that are new to you.
No content area far behind the others. An area well below your average drags the overall score down, especially a big one like Behavior-Change Procedures (25 questions) or Concepts and Principles (24).
Results that hold up under time pressure. Full-length, timed practice at about 78 seconds per question.
Mistakes you can explain. For each miss, you can say why the right answer is right and why yours was wrong.

To see where you stand by content area right now, take our free diagnostic.

FAQ

What percentage do you need to pass the BCBA exam? There isn't a fixed one. The BACB sets the passing score for each exam form with the modified Angoff method, and the number of correct answers needed can vary by form. It doesn't publish a percentage.

Is the BCBA exam curved? No. The passing score is criterion-referenced. Other candidates' results don't affect yours.

Do the 10 unscored questions count against me? No. Only the 175 scored questions count towards your result. You can't count on spotting the pilot questions, so answer every question as if it's scored.

Do I need to pass every content area? No. The BACB bases your result on your overall performance, not on each area. A very weak area still costs you marks, though, so don't leave one behind.

Sources

BACB, Examination Information: https://www.bacb.com/examination-information/ (modified Angoff method, criterion referencing, scaled scores, number of correct answers varying by form, raw score not reported, score report contents)
BACB, Board Certified Behavior Analyst Handbook (updated 06/2026): https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BCBAHandbook_260529-2-a.pdf (scoring methodology, Board approval, new passing score with a new outline, 175 scored and 10 unscored questions, equal weighting, overall-performance rule, questions per content area)
BACB, BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.): https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bcba-outline-6thEd (10 unscored pilot questions; in use from 2025)

Facts last checked against BACB publications on 2026-10-25. Rules can change, so always confirm in your BACB account. Spot a mistake? Email support@abaexamcoach.com.