United States
Hong KongHow long is the NASCLA exam?
330 minutes of testing time inside a 360-minute appointment. That is about 158 seconds per question across the 125 administered.
330 minutes. Five and a half hours.
One of the longest licensing examinations there is, and the length is a genuine part of the difficulty.
The appointment
Three hundred and sixty minutes in total. The extra thirty covers check-in, book verification and a tutorial.
Book checking takes longer than most candidates expect, particularly with around two dozen references to verify against the approved list.
The pace
About 158 seconds a question. That is comfortable on average and misleading as a plan, because the range is enormous.
| Question type | Realistic time |
|---|---|
| Answerable from knowledge | 20 to 40 seconds |
| Lookup in a well-tabbed book | 45 to 90 seconds |
| Lookup in an untabbed book | 3 to 5 minutes |
| Calculation | 2 to 4 minutes |
Concentrating for five and a half hours is its own skill. A candidate who has practiced in one-hour blocks discovers at question ninety that their attention has gone, and there is no way to find that out except by sitting the full thing.
Breaks
None scheduled. Leaving follows the center's rules and the clock keeps running.
Eat properly beforehand and think about what you can drink under the center's rules, because five and a half hours is a long time without either.
Plan the day around it
A morning slot means arriving early with two dozen books and finishing in the afternoon. An afternoon slot means concentrating through the part of the day most people flag.
Pick the time you are sharpest. It matters more here than on a two-hour paper, and the booking system usually offers a choice.
Common questions
How long is the NASCLA exam?
330 minutes of testing inside a 360-minute appointment.
How much time per question?
About 158 seconds on average, though lookups take far longer than questions you know.
Is there a break?
None scheduled. Leaving follows the center rules and the clock keeps running.
What are the extra 30 minutes for?
Check-in, book verification and a tutorial.
How do I prepare for the length?
Sit at least one full timed mock. Concentration across five and a half hours is a skill in itself.