- The AZ-B1 Passing Score, Explained
- Exam Format and Scoring Mechanics
- Domain Weighting and Where Points Live
- What You Actually Need to Master by Domain
- Approved References and Tools During the Exam
- Registration, Fees, and Retake Mechanics
- A Domain-Weighted Study Timeline
- Mistakes That Quietly Cost You Points
- Frequently Asked Questions
- You need 70% correct on 100 scored questions to pass the AZ-B1 trade exam.
- PSI may slip in 5 to 10 unscored experimental questions you can't identify, so answer every item fully.
- Concrete (14%) and Metals (13%) are the two heaviest of the 10 domains - prioritize them.
- The exam is open-book with only OSHA 1926, the 2018 IBC, and 2018 IRC allowed - know how to navigate them fast.
The AZ-B1 Passing Score, Explained
The Arizona B-1 General Commercial Contractor Trade Examination has one passing benchmark: 70% correct on 100 scored questions, administered under a 4-hour time limit through PSI. There's no partial-credit curve, no domain-by-domain minimum, and no separate cut score for individual sections like Concrete or Masonry. Your overall raw score across all 10 domains is what matters - score 70 or higher out of 100 scored items and you pass.
Where this gets tricky is the unscored questions. PSI can insert 5 to 10 experimental items into your exam that don't count toward your score but are indistinguishable from the real thing on screen. You will not know which questions are scored and which aren't, so the only reliable strategy is to treat every question - from Sitework to General Building Code - as if it counts.
If you're still assembling your eligibility paperwork before you even get to the scoring conversation, the AZ-B1 Requirements guide walks through the experience, education, and application steps the Arizona Registrar of Contractors expects from a qualifying party.
Exam Format and Scoring Mechanics
The AZ-B1 trade exam is computer-delivered and open-book, and PSI offers both test-center and remote-proctored delivery, so you can choose the environment that suits how you concentrate best. The current PSI candidate bulletin, dated February 18, 2026, governs check-in procedures, ID requirements, and reference-material rules, while the underlying B-1 content outline has been effective since May 9, 2024.
Because the exam is multiple-choice and open-book, scoring rewards two skills equally: knowing the material well enough to recognize the correct answer quickly, and knowing your approved references well enough to verify or locate an answer under time pressure. With a 4-hour limit across 100-plus questions (including unscored items), you generally have a little under two and a half minutes per question if you use the full window - but many candidates finish with time to spare once they've internalized the code structure.
Key Takeaway
Don't burn your 4 hours flipping through the IBC or IRC cover-to-cover on every question. Know the general chapter locations for structural, fire, and life-safety provisions ahead of time so lookups take seconds, not minutes.
For a broader sense of how difficult candidates actually find this exam relative to the format and time pressure, the How Hard Is the AZ-B1 Exam guide breaks down the format's real challenges beyond just the passing number.
Domain Weighting and Where Points Live
The AZ-B1 content outline organizes the trade exam into 10 domains. Two are explicitly the heaviest: Concrete at 14% and Metals at 13% - together representing roughly a quarter of your scored questions. The remaining eight domains cover Sitework, Masonry, Carpentry, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Doors and Windows, Finishes, Safety, and General Building Code, filling out the rest of the outline.
| Domain | Relative Weight | Strategic Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | 14% (highest) | Top priority - formwork, mix specs, curing, reinforcement |
| Metals | 13% (second highest) | High priority - structural steel, fasteners, connections |
| Sitework | Moderate | Grading, excavation, utilities sequencing |
| Masonry | Moderate | Block, brick, mortar, reinforcement details |
| Carpentry | Moderate | Framing, rough carpentry, finish carpentry basics |
| Thermal and Moisture Protection | Moderate | Insulation, waterproofing, roofing systems |
| Doors and Windows | Lower-moderate | Installation, hardware, code clearances |
| Finishes | Lower-moderate | Drywall, flooring, painting, ceiling systems |
| Safety | Moderate | OSHA 1926 fall protection, excavation, PPE |
| General Building Code | Moderate | IBC occupancy, egress, fire ratings |
For a domain-by-domain breakdown of every topic under each of these 10 headings, the AZ-B1 Exam Domains guide is the companion resource to this one - read it alongside your practice sessions.
What You Actually Need to Master by Domain
Passing 70 of 100 questions means you need functional command of practical jobsite knowledge, not just code memorization. Here's what tends to separate a pass from a retake within the two heaviest domains.
Concrete (14%)
This is the single largest domain, so gaps here are the most expensive gaps you can carry into test day.
- Formwork design, bracing, and stripping timing
- Mix design, water-cement ratios, and curing requirements
- Reinforcement placement, splicing, and cover requirements
- Slab-on-grade prep, joints, and finishing tolerances
Metals (13%)
Structural steel and light-gauge metal questions test both installation sequencing and code compliance simultaneously.
- Structural steel erection sequencing and bolted vs. welded connections
- Fastener selection and load-bearing considerations
- Light-gauge framing details and corrosion protection
- Anchor bolts, base plates, and column-to-footing details
Beyond those two, expect Safety questions to lean heavily on OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 - fall protection, excavation and trenching, and scaffolding are perennial favorites. General Building Code questions draw on the 2018 IBC and 2018 IRC for occupancy classification, fire-rated assemblies, and means-of-egress calculations. If you want a condensed reference of the highest-yield facts across all 10 domains right before test day, bookmark the AZ-B1 Cheat Sheet.
Approved References and Tools During the Exam
Because the AZ-B1 trade exam is open-book, the passing score isn't just about memorized knowledge - it's about efficient lookup under a ticking clock. PSI permits exactly three references at the test center:
- OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 - for Safety domain questions
- 2018 International Building Code (IBC) - for General Building Code and cross-domain code questions
- 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) - for residential-scale building questions
A basic silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator is also allowed for quantity, load, and measurement calculations. Candidates who score well typically practice navigating these three references before test day rather than during it - flagging chapter tabs, memorizing table numbers, and knowing roughly where structural, fire, and egress provisions live in each book.
Key Takeaway
Treat your three approved references as scoring tools, not safety nets. If you have to read a full chapter to answer one question, you've already lost time you needed for the next ten.
Registration, Fees, and Retake Mechanics
The trade-exam fee is $66 per attempt, separate from the broader licensing costs. Qualifying parties generally need four years of practical or management trade experience, including two years within the preceding ten years, though approved technical education can substitute for up to two of those four years. Beyond the trade exam, applicants must also complete the Arizona Statutes and Rules Training Course and Exam, pass a background check, secure a bond, and finish the application itself.
One detail that trips up candidates who test early and then delay their paperwork: passing exam results must be used for the license application within two years. If you let that window close, you'll need to retest. B-1 applicants also have the option to substitute the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam in place of the Arizona trade exam, which is worth considering if you already hold or are pursuing that credential.
For the complete fee breakdown across every step - training course, bond, application, and renewal - see the AZ-B1 Certification Cost guide. And if you're still weighing whether the licensing investment pays off relative to the work it opens up, the Is the AZ-B1 Certification Worth It analysis covers that question directly.
A Domain-Weighted Study Timeline
Generic study techniques only help if you point them at the right domains. Since Concrete and Metals together carry more scored weight than any other pairing, a study plan should front-load them rather than moving through all 10 domains in outline order.
Concrete and Metals
- Drill formwork, mix design, and reinforcement scenarios daily
- Practice structural steel connection and fastener questions
- Build quick-reference tabs in the 2018 IBC for both domains
Safety and General Building Code
- Work through OSHA 1926 fall protection and excavation rules
- Study IBC occupancy classification and egress calculations
- Time yourself locating answers in the open-book references
Remaining Six Domains
- Sitework, Masonry, Carpentry, Thermal/Moisture, Doors/Windows, Finishes
- Full-length timed practice exams simulating the 4-hour window
- Review missed questions by domain to find remaining weak spots
This sequencing isn't a generic template - it's built around the actual weighting of the AZ-B1 outline. For a fuller walkthrough of pacing, practice-question strategy, and first-attempt preparation, see the AZ-B1 Study Guide, and pair it with focused practice at our AZ-B1 practice test platform to simulate the real scoring pressure before test day.
Mistakes That Quietly Cost You Points
Most candidates who fall short of 70% aren't missing knowledge across the board - they're bleeding points in a few predictable ways:
- Underweighting Concrete and Metals. Spending equal time on all 10 domains ignores that these two alone carry 27% of scored questions combined.
- Treating the open-book format as a crutch. If you haven't practiced locating information in OSHA 1926, the 2018 IBC, and the 2018 IRC beforehand, lookups eat your 4-hour limit.
- Skipping unscored-question discipline. Since you can't tell which 5 to 10 questions are experimental, rushing through "easy-looking" items can cost you real points.
- Testing before paperwork is ready. Passing scores expire after two years for license-application purposes - plan your exam date around your broader application timeline.
If you want to see how these scoring pressures compare against candidate outcomes more broadly, the AZ-B1 Pass Rate guide puts this passing-score data in context. And once you're licensed, the AZ-B1 Jobs guide and AZ-B1 Salary Guide outline what the credential opens up on the commercial side of Arizona construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
You need 70% correct on the 100 scored questions. Unscored experimental questions (5 to 10 of them) don't count toward that score, but you can't identify which ones they are.
No. The 70% passing score applies to your overall total across all 10 domains - Sitework, Concrete, Masonry, Metals, Carpentry, Thermal and Moisture Protection, Doors and Windows, Finishes, Safety, and General Building Code. There's no separate minimum per domain.
The exam has a 4-hour time limit for the full set of scored and unscored multiple-choice questions, delivered by computer at a test center or through remote proctoring via PSI.
Yes, the exam is open-book, but only OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, the 2018 IBC, and the 2018 IRC are permitted, along with a basic silent, nonprinting, nonprogrammable calculator.
Passing results must be used toward your license application within two years. If that window lapses, you'll need to retake the trade exam before applying.
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