The AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer Associate (MLA-C02) exam has 65 questions in 130 minutes, a passing score of 720 on a 100 to 1,000 scale, and only two question types: multiple choice and multiple response. It is an associate-level exam covering both traditional ML and generative AI on AWS.
Last updated September 2026.
| MLA-C02 | |
|---|---|
| Level | Associate |
| Total questions | 65 (50 scored, 15 unscored) |
| Time limit | 130 minutes |
| Passing score | 720 (on a 100 to 1,000 scale) |
| Scoring model | Compensatory (overall score, not per domain) |
| Question types | Multiple choice, multiple response |
| Cost | $150 USD (standard associate fee; the beta is offered at a reduced price) |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE test center or online proctored |
| Languages | English during the beta; more languages expected for the standard release |
Question count, scoring, and question types are from the official MLA-C02 exam guide. Confirm the current price and available languages when you register, since the beta terms differ from the standard exam.
The MLA-C02 guide lists exactly two question formats, and knowing the difference changes how you answer under time pressure.
One correct response and three distractors. The distractors are written to be plausible: usually a valid AWS service used for the wrong job, or a right service with a wrong setting. The skill is picking the best answer for the scenario's constraints (cost, latency, or a stated requirement), not the only technically possible one.
Two or more correct responses out of five or more options, and you must select all the correct ones to get any credit: there is no partial marking. These are the questions that quietly eat your clock, so read how many answers the question asks for and treat each option as a separate true-or-false decision.
That is the complete list. MLA-C02 does not use ordering, matching, or case-study formats, so there is nothing exotic to prepare for beyond reading scenarios carefully.
Of the 65 questions, only 50 are scored. The other 15 are unscored items AWS is trialing for future exams; they are not marked on screen and do not affect your result, so answer every question as if it counts. There is no penalty for guessing and unanswered questions are scored as incorrect, so never leave a blank.
Your result is a scaled score from 100 to 1,000, and 720 is the minimum to pass. Scoring is compensatory: you pass on the overall score, not by clearing a separate bar in each domain, so a weak area can be offset by strong ones. The score report may include section-level feedback, but that is guidance, not a per-domain pass requirement.
MLA-C02 launched as a beta exam (beta code ME1-C02). Two practical differences apply during a beta window. First, results are delayed: AWS reports beta scores after the beta closes and the standard pass or fail designation does not apply during the beta, per the exam guide. Second, AWS typically prices beta exams below the standard fee. If you want your result quickly, or a lower price is the deciding factor, weigh those against sitting the standard exam once it is generally available.
Always confirm the version, price, and language on the booking page itself, because those are the details most likely to change between the beta and the standard release.
The MLA-C02 exam has 65 questions, of which 50 are scored and 15 are unscored. The unscored questions are not identified during the exam, so you should answer all 65 as if they count.
You get 130 minutes, and the minimum passing score is 720 on a scaled range of 100 to 1,000. That is about two minutes per question, and scoring is compensatory across the whole exam.
Only two: multiple choice (one correct answer of four) and multiple response (two or more correct answers of five or more, with no partial credit). MLA-C02 does not use ordering, matching, or case-study questions.
The standard AWS associate exam fee is $150 USD, and AWS typically offers beta exams at a reduced price. Confirm the current price on the registration page, since beta and standard pricing can differ.
During the beta period, AWS reports results after the beta closes rather than immediately, and the standard pass or fail designation does not apply. Once MLA-C02 is generally available, results follow the normal timing.
Certified's MLA-C02 course includes timed practice exams built from the official guide, with the same multiple choice and multiple response formats you will see on test day.
Open the MLA-C02 course →