What is the FE exam passing score?

Checked against the sources below on October 20, 2026.

How the FE is scored, in NCEES’s words

• Results are based on the number of questions answered correctly. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a question blank.
• The raw count is converted to a scaled score. Scaling evens out small differences in difficulty between exam forms, which is why NCEES says the passing score varies slightly from form to form and is not published.
• The scaled score is compared with a minimum ability level — a standard set in advance, not a curve. NCEES states there is no predetermined percentage of examinees who should pass or fail.
• First-time and repeat takers are graded to the same standard.
• Results are reported as pass or fail, typically within 7–10 business days. If you fail, you also get a diagnostic report by knowledge area.

Is it 70%? Is it 50%?

You will see figures like "about 50–60% correct" or "70%" on forums and prep sites. None of them comes from NCEES, and NCEES says the passing score cannot be worked out from the diagnostic report either. Treat any specific percentage as somebody’s estimate. The defensible statement is the one above: a fixed standard, a scaled score, and a result of pass or fail.

What this means for how you practise

• Answer every question. With no deduction for wrong answers, a blank is always worth less than a guess.
• Practise on the clock. The exam is 110 questions in 5 hours 20 minutes of exam time — under three minutes each — so a target score on untimed practice tells you little.
• Weigh areas by size. Each knowledge area carries a range of questions in the specification; in FE Civil, Ethics carries 4–6 and Structural Engineering 10–15. Raising a heavy area moves your total further.