United States
Hong KongWhat is the NMLS exam pass mark?
75%. It is published, it is in the federal regulation, and it is a raw percentage rather than a scaled score. It applies to the 115 scored questions, so 87 correct passes. Aim for 90 of 120, because you cannot tell which five do not count.
75%.
This is one of the few exams where that sentence needs no hedging. The mark is not a scaled score, not a provider's estimate, and not something we worked out. It is written into federal regulation: a test score of not less than 75 percent correct answers, at 12 CFR 1008.105(e)(1).
75% of what
Of the scored questions, which is where it gets slightly more interesting.
You sit 120 questions. Five of them are unscored pretest items, so 115 count. Seventy-five percent of 115 is 86.25, which rounds up to 87 correct answers.
- Questions administered
- 120
- Questions scored
- 115
- Pass mark
- 75%
- Correct answers needed
- 87 of 115
- What to work to
- 90 of 120
Why 90 rather than 87
Because you cannot see the five that do not count. They are distributed at random and they are indistinguishable from the rest.
If you answer 87 of 120 correctly, you do not know whether you cleared the bar. Some of those 87 might have been pretest items, in which case your scored total is lower. Working to 90 of 120 removes the question.
It is not. The pass mark is 75%, and 87 of 115 is what that means in questions. Ninety is a target with a margin built into it. The distinction matters if anyone ever quotes you back.
The number that is not the pass mark
You will see 53% attached to this exam constantly. It is not a score requirement and it never has been.
53% is the first-time pass RATE - the share of candidates who passed on their first attempt, as of 31 December 2024. It describes other people. The pass MARK describes you.
| Figure | What it is | Published by |
|---|---|---|
| 75% | The pass mark. What you must score | NMLS, and 12 CFR 1008.105(e)(1) |
| 53% | The first-time pass rate. How many people managed it | NMLS Resource Center |
Anyone who tells you the exam is graded on a curve, or that you need 53%, has confused the two. Both numbers are real and they answer different questions.
No scaling, no curve
A raw percentage is unusual in this catalog. Most credentialing exams scale their scores, so the number of questions you need moves with the difficulty of the form you happened to sit.
This one does not. Seventy-five percent of the scored items, every form, every sitting.
Common questions
What is the NMLS exam pass mark?
75% of the scored questions. It is published by NMLS and set in federal regulation at 12 CFR 1008.105(e)(1).
How many questions do you need right to pass the NMLS exam?
87 of the 115 scored questions. Because five of the 120 administered are unscored and unidentifiable, work to 90 of 120.
Is the NMLS exam scaled or curved?
Neither. It is a raw percentage of the scored items, so the requirement is the same on every form.
Is the NMLS pass mark 53%?
No. 53% is the first-time pass rate, meaning the share of candidates who passed on their first attempt. The pass mark is 75%.
Does the pass mark change by state?
No. The 75% requirement is federal and applies wherever you are seeking a state license.