How Many Questions Are on the NMLS Exam? 120, Not 125
The SAFE MLO Test, the National Test with Uniform State Content, has 120 questions. 115 are scored. The other 5 are unscored pretest items, being trialled for future tests, and you cannot tell which ones they are. You get 190 minutes inside a 225-minute appointment, and you need 75% to pass (NMLS Testing Handbook, test specifications as of April 5, 2021, checked 11 Oct 2026).
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 120 multiple choice | NMLS Testing Handbook 1.0 |
| Scored questions | 115 | NMLS Testing Handbook 1.0 |
| Unscored pretest questions | 5 | NMLS Testing Handbook 1.0 |
| Testing time | 190 minutes (225-minute appointment, including tutorial and optional survey) | NMLS Testing Handbook 1.0 |
| Passing score | 75% | 12 U.S.C. 5104(d)(3)(A); NMLS Testing Handbook 9.0 |
| Test fee | US$110 | NMLS Testing Handbook 1.0 |
Why some sites say 125 or 100
Older articles describe earlier versions of the test, and some prep pages count the pretest items wrongly (for example, "125 questions with 10 unscored"). The current NMLS figure is 120 in total with 5 unscored. If a source gives another number, check its date and whether it cites the NMLS handbook.
How many do you need to get right
NMLS does not publish a fixed number of correct answers. Each candidate gets a different form of the test (Linear on the Fly Testing), and NMLS statistically equates every form to a standard form so that all administrations are on equal ground (Testing Handbook 9.0). As arithmetic, 75% of 115 is 86.25, so on a form of average difficulty that is roughly 87 correct. Treat it as an estimate, not a target: aim well above it.
How the 115 scored questions split
| Content Outline section | Weight | About how many scored items |
|---|---|---|
| Federal mortgage-related laws | 24% | 28 |
| Uniform State Content | 11% | 13 |
| General mortgage knowledge | 20% | 23 |
| Mortgage loan origination activities | 27% | 31 |
| Ethics | 18% | 20 |
What it means for pacing
- 190 minutes for 120 questions is just over 1.5 minutes a question.
- Answer every question. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, and you cannot tell which 5 are unscored.
- Practice at full length. Our full practice exams are 120 questions in 190 minutes, weighted like the outline, and the free practice test is a 20-question sample.
Exam trap
Exam takeaway
Frequently asked questions
Is the NMLS exam 120 or 125 questions?
120. 115 are scored and 5 are unscored pretest items (NMLS Testing Handbook, checked 11 Oct 2026).
How many questions can you miss on the NMLS exam?
NMLS does not publish a fixed number, because each form is statistically equated. 75% of the 115 scored items is 86.25, so roughly 28 misses on a form of average difficulty; treat that as an estimate.
How long is the NMLS exam?
190 minutes of testing time in a 225-minute appointment.
How many math questions are on the NMLS exam?
NMLS does not publish a count. Financial calculations sit inside the Mortgage loan origination activities section (27%) of the Content Outline.
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