- The Passing Score NCEES Does Not Publish
- How the Exam Is Actually Scored
- What the Dated Pass-Rate Table Shows
- Where the Points Live: Six Official Domains
- Format, Clock, and Why They Affect Your Score
- A Domain-Weighted Study Sequence
- Fees, Attempts, and Board Mechanics
- Why the Score Matters to Employers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- NCEES publishes no numerical passing score; you pass by meeting its minimum-competence standard on a scaled score.
- The exam has 80 questions, an 8-hour testing clock, and no deduction for wrong answers or partial credit.
- Mechanics of Materials (17-26 questions) and Mechanical Components and Assemblies (16-24) carry the most questions.
- First-time examinees passed at 61% (401 people) versus 39% for repeaters (140), January-June 2026.
The Passing Score NCEES Does Not Publish
If you searched for the exact number of questions you must answer correctly on the PE Mechanical: Machine Design and Materials exam, here is the direct answer: there isn't a published one. NCEES does not release a numerical passing score for this exam. The result you receive is simply pass or fail, and the pass decision rests on a scaled score that meets the NCEES minimum-competence standard.
That sounds evasive, but it follows from how the exam is built. The exam is delivered year-round through linear-on-the-fly exam assembly (LOFT), meaning different candidates see different combinations of questions. Because individual forms vary in difficulty, a raw count of correct answers would not be a fair yardstick across candidates. Scaling adjusts for that, and the standard is anchored to what a minimally competent mechanical engineer should be able to do in machine design and materials, not to a curve against other test takers.
For a broader picture of how the first-time and repeat populations perform, see our breakdown of the PE-M:MD&M pass rate and what the data shows.
How the Exam Is Actually Scored
No Penalty, No Partial Credit
Every scored item is graded correct or incorrect. There is no deduction for a wrong answer, so you should never leave an item blank. There is also no partial credit, which matters more than it first appears: the exam includes alternative item types, not only standard four-option multiple choice. These include multiple-correct, point-and-click, drag-and-drop, and numerical fill-in formats. On a multiple-correct item, getting most of the selections right earns nothing. On a numerical fill-in, an arithmetic slip or wrong unit conversion zeroes the item even if your method was sound.
Unscored Pretest Items
The 80 questions include unidentified unscored pretest items. You cannot tell which ones they are, so treat all 80 as live. A strange, unusually difficult item may be a pretest question, but you gain nothing by trying to guess which, and you can lose time by agonizing over it.
Pass/Fail Reporting
Results are reported as pass or fail. That means you will not get a precise percentage to tell you how close you came, which is one reason repeat candidates should plan their second attempt around domain-level honesty rather than a score gap. Our difficulty guide for the PE-M:MD&M exam covers how to diagnose where an unsuccessful attempt likely went wrong.
What the Dated Pass-Rate Table Shows
NCEES updated its pass-rate table in July 2026, covering the January-June 2026 testing population for this exam. The figures are small samples, so read them as a snapshot rather than a long-run law.
| Examinee Group | Pass Rate | Examinees |
|---|---|---|
| First-time takers | 61% | 401 |
| Repeat takers | 39% | 140 |
Two takeaways stand out. First, a majority of first-time candidates pass, which suggests the exam is demanding but beatable for engineers who prepare against the right specification. Second, repeat takers pass at a noticeably lower rate. That gap is a warning: simply re-reading the same material and trying again is not an effective retake strategy. A repeat attempt should begin with an honest audit of which domains cost you points.
Where the Points Live: Six Official Domains
NCEES does not publish fixed percentage weights for this exam. Instead, the current specification (effective beginning with the October 2025 examinations, the CBT32 file) gives question-count ranges for each numbered domain. Because there is no minimum score to hit per domain, what matters is that the ranges tell you where an 80-question form concentrates its items. For a deeper treatment, see our complete guide to all 6 PE-M:MD&M content areas.
| Domain | Official Question Range |
|---|---|
| 1. Basic Engineering Practice | 11-17 |
| 2. Mechanics of Materials | 17-26 |
| 3. Mechanical Attachments | 9-14 |
| 4. Power Transmission | 9-14 |
| 5. Mechanical Components and Assemblies | 16-24 |
| 6. Supportive Knowledge (Machine Design and Materials) | 8-12 |
Domain 2: Mechanics of Materials (17-26 questions)
The largest single block. Expect stress, strain, deflection, and failure analysis applied to real machine members, not abstract textbook beams.
- Static and fatigue failure reasoning for shafts and structural members
- Combined loading and stress transformation
- Material property selection tied to a design constraint
Domain 5: Mechanical Components and Assemblies (16-24 questions)
The second-largest block, and the one that rewards candidates who think at the assembly level rather than the single-part level.
- How components interact within an assembly and where loads travel
- Selection and sizing of standard components
- Tolerance, fit, and functional considerations across mating parts
Domains 3 and 4: Mechanical Attachments and Power Transmission (9-14 questions each)
Smaller blocks individually, but together they account for a meaningful slice of the exam.
- Attachments: fasteners, joints, and connection design under load
- Power transmission: shafts, gears, belts, chains, and related drive elements
Domains 1 and 6: Basic Engineering Practice and Supportive Knowledge
Domain 1 (11-17 questions) covers the practice-of-engineering foundation, while Domain 6 (8-12 questions) is the smallest block and supports the machine design and materials work in the other domains. Do not skip these: with no partial credit and no per-domain cut score, easy points here protect you against a hard form elsewhere.
Note the ranges overlap and the form you receive is assembled on the fly, so the number of items you see per domain will fall somewhere inside these bands. The subtopics NCEES lists under each domain are illustrative, not exhaustive, so treat any prep material built around an older eight-topic summary or the superseded 2020 outline with suspicion. For the most reliable blueprint, use the current October 2025 specification.
Format, Clock, and Why They Affect Your Score
Your effective "passing score" depends partly on logistics you control. The exam is computer-based and administered in person at approved Pearson VUE test centers.
- Testing time: 8 hours of exam time.
- Appointment length: 9 hours, including a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial, and a 50-minute scheduled break.
- Two sections, one clock: The two sections share the testing clock, and once you submit a section you cannot reopen it.
- Closed book: You get a supplied, searchable electronic reference handbook. Personal reference materials are prohibited.
- Calculator: One NCEES-approved calculator only.
- Units: Both SI and USCS units appear, so unit fluency is a quiet source of lost points.
Key Takeaway
Because submitted sections cannot be reopened, finish each section with a deliberate final pass before you submit. Flag uncertain items early, answer everything (no wrong-answer penalty), and use leftover time inside the section you are in, not hoping to return later.
The searchable handbook is a skill in itself. Practice finding formulas, tables, and material properties quickly, because time spent hunting for a constant on a numerical fill-in is time you cannot recover. Our one-page PE-M:MD&M cheat sheet pairs well with this habit as a concept refresher, though remember you cannot bring personal notes into the room.
A Domain-Weighted Study Sequence
Since there is no single number to chase, sequence your preparation by where the question ranges are largest and where your engineering background is thinnest. This is the one place where we recommend a structured schedule. A full walkthrough lives in our PE-M:MD&M study guide for first-attempt success.
Mechanics of Materials
- Largest question range (17-26), so it earns the earliest and longest block
- Drill failure theories, fatigue, and combined loading with both SI and USCS units
Mechanical Components and Assemblies
- Second-largest range (16-24); practice assembly-level load paths
- Build fluency finding component data in the searchable handbook
Attachments and Power Transmission
- Fasteners, joints, shafts, gears, belts, and chains, each 9-14 questions
- Work numerical fill-in problems, since arithmetic slips earn zero credit
Basic Engineering Practice, Supportive Knowledge, and Full Simulation
- Close gaps in Domains 1 and 6 for dependable points
- Sit timed practice that mimics the 8-hour clock and the two-section structure
For realistic practice, the official NCEES e-book practice exam costs $59.95 and contains 80 questions with solutions, including 24 new questions with alternative item types, aligned to the October 2025 specifications. If you use the printed practice exam, check the posted errata (the April 1, 2026 file for the 2025 edition) so you are not learning from a corrected mistake. For a fuller set of timed, domain-tagged questions, try the PE-M:MD&M practice tests on our main site.
Fees, Attempts, and Board Mechanics
The NCEES exam fee is US$400 per attempt, and a separate application fee may apply through your state or territorial licensing board. Because repeat candidates pass at a lower rate in the dated table, each attempt carries real financial weight on top of the study hours. Our PE-M:MD&M certification cost breakdown itemizes what to budget.
Eligibility is not set by NCEES alone. The licensing board you apply through controls who may sit for the exam and what approval is required. A common licensure pathway runs through an EAC/ABET-accredited engineering bachelor's degree, the FE exam, four years of acceptable engineering experience, and then the PE exam, but that is a typical route rather than a universal prerequisite for sitting the exam. Some applications also involve an NCEES Record, which uses five U.S.-licensed engineer references, yet this too depends on board requirements. Confirm the specifics in our PE-M:MD&M requirements guide and with your board before you pay for anything. For timing, see the PE-M:MD&M exam dates and scheduling guide; because testing is year-round, your scheduling window is driven largely by board approval and test-center availability.
Why the Score Matters to Employers
The PE license in mechanical engineering, with this exam as the machine design and materials track, matters most where engineers sign and seal designs: machinery and equipment design, mechanical components manufacturing, product and structural-mechanical analysis, and consulting firms that take on liability-bearing work. Employers care that you passed the exam and hold the license; they never see a numerical score, because none exists to report.
On compensation, be careful not to over-read the data. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $104,110 for mechanical engineers as of May 2025. That figure covers the whole occupation. It is not a salary specific to this exam track, and it is not a measured PE licensure premium. For a measured look at how licensure may influence career outcomes, read our PE-M:MD&M salary guide and the analysis of whether the certification is worth it.
Key Takeaway
Stop searching for a magic raw score. Your pass depends on clearing the NCEES minimum-competence standard, so spread your preparation across all six domains, weighted by the official question ranges, and protect easy points in the smaller domains.
Frequently Asked Questions
NCEES does not publish a numerical passing score. You pass by earning a scaled score that meets the NCEES minimum-competence standard, and results are reported only as pass or fail.
No. There is no deduction for wrong answers, so answer every question. Scored items receive correct or incorrect credit only, with no partial credit, even on multiple-correct and other alternative item types.
The exam has 80 questions, which include unidentified unscored pretest items. You cannot tell which ones are unscored, so treat every question as if it counts toward your result.
Mechanics of Materials has the largest official range at 17-26 questions, followed by Mechanical Components and Assemblies at 16-24. NCEES publishes question-count ranges rather than fixed percentage weights.
For January-June 2026, NCEES reported 61% for first-time examinees (401 people) and 39% for repeat examinees (140). These are snapshot figures, not a personal prediction, but they suggest a retake needs a genuinely revised plan.
Mastering the passing standard means mastering the blueprint, not decoding a hidden cut score. Build breadth across all six domains, rehearse the 8-hour clock and the searchable handbook, and check your board's rules and the current October 2025 specification at the official NCEES exam page before you register.