CCNA Exam Format: 120 Minutes, Labs and Other Question Types, and No Published Question Count

Two numbers usually define an exam: its time limit and its question count. For the CCNA, Cisco publishes only the first. Everything below separates what Cisco states from what candidates and prep sites estimate, because the two get mixed together online.

CCNA exam format at a glance

As listed on Cisco's CCNA, exam and exam topics pages, checked October 27, 2026:

One detail differs between pages: the exam box on Cisco's CCNA certification page says "Languages: English," while its FAQ, the 200-301 exam page and both exam topics pages list English and Japanese.

CCNA question types Cisco names

Cisco describes the item types in two places. Its exam tutorial page says candidates may see "multiple-choice single answer, multiple-choice multiple answers, drag & drop, and labs." The v1.1 and v2.0 exam topics pages say to expect "performance-based questions, multiple choice, and drag-and-drop."

What that means in plain terms:

• Multiple choice, single answer: one correct option.
• Multiple choice, multiple answers: more than one option to select.
• Drag and drop: matching or ordering items.
• Labs, or performance-based questions: tasks you carry out rather than recognize. Cisco's CCNA FAQ is blunt about why this matters for study: "You can't pass the CCNA by just reading a book."

Cisco doesn't describe the lab interface in writing. Its tutorial page offers a video walkthrough of the question types for Associate and Professional exams. Watch it before test day so the screens aren't new to you.

What the CCNA v2.0 format adds

The duration and listed question types stay the same in v2.0. Two official statements describe what changes in how you're assessed:

• Practical assessments. Cisco's Learning Network post Steps to the Future: The Modern CCNA says practical assessments replace pure memorization and that the new exam includes hands-on, practical skill assessments.
• AI output. The v2.0 exam topics PDF says you may be required to evaluate output and recommendations from agentic AI and digital network assistants during operations and troubleshooting.

The pages checked don't say how many practical items an exam includes or how they're scored. Original practice written to these themes is planned: see how planned CCNA prep covers AI prompt scenarios and the other v2.0 domains. Which version you'll sit depends on your date, as the CCNA v1.1 vs v2.0 guide explains.

How many questions are on the CCNA?

Cisco doesn't say. None of the pages checked for this guide, the CCNA page, the exam page, both exam topics pages or the policies page, gives a count. Ranges you'll find online, often something like "about 100 to 120," come from candidates and prep sites. They are estimates, not Cisco figures.

Cisco's exam policies also explain why a single fixed number is unlikely to help: exam questions and passing scores are subject to change and may vary from exam to exam without notice. A count that someone saw on their exam describes their exam.

Pacing 120 CCNA minutes without a question count

Since you can't divide 120 minutes by a known number, pace by habits instead. This is Passy's approach, not Cisco guidance:

1. Make routine items fast. Subnet math, reading a routing table and spotting a duplex mismatch should take seconds, not minutes. Speed here is what buys time for labs.
2. Set a personal cap for any single item in practice. Decide in advance how long you will spend before choosing your best answer and moving on, and rehearse that decision.
3. In a lab, read every requirement before you type. Then verify with show commands before you leave it.
4. Don't plan on coming back. The Cisco pages checked don't say whether you can return to an earlier question. Learn the navigation from the tutorial video rather than from forum posts.

CCNA test-day rules that affect your time

• The agreement comes first. Cisco's exams page says you must acknowledge the Cisco Certifications and Confidentiality Agreement before you answer any question. Declining ends the exam without a refund.
• Online check-in starts early. Cisco's online testing FAQ, dated April 2020 and still linked from the policies page, says check-in opens 30 minutes before your appointment and that being more than 15 minutes late means you can't start.
• No scheduled break. The same FAQ says Cisco exams have no scheduled break and that leaving your computer during an online exam ends the session.
• No paper online. It says scratch paper and pens aren't allowed online, though OnVUE may offer an on-screen whiteboard.
• Test center check-in. At a Pearson VUE center, you show two IDs and sign Cisco's candidate rules agreement before you enter the room, per Cisco's policies.

Because the online FAQ is from 2020, confirm current rules in your Pearson VUE confirmation email. Parts of it are already outdated: it says proctors speak English only, while Pearson VUE's current Cisco page lists English and Japanese support. Near your date, a calm Test Day checklist of format reminders is planned for full CCNA prep.

Practice that matches the CCNA format

Two kinds of practice cover the format. For labs, Cisco's CCNA FAQ points to Cisco Packet Tracer and Cisco Modeling Labs, and the exam page says you can get started with Modeling Labs for free. For question-based items, the 20 free CCNA practice questions are original v2.0 scenarios with an explanation for each answer, and 19 of them also fit v1.1.

For a larger bank, exam-style CCNA questions with an explanation for every answer are planned for launch. Checkout isn't open yet. How the result is reported, and why Cisco keeps the pass mark private, is covered in the CCNA passing score guide.