How Many Questions Can I Get Wrong and Still Pass?
You’re sitting in front of a 40-question test. You know the material — mostly. But there are 8 questions you’re genuinely unsure about. The question running through your head isn’t “what’s the answer?” — it’s “how many can I afford to miss?”
Knowing your maximum wrong answers before you sit a test changes how you approach every uncertain question. It turns panic into strategy. Instead of spiralling on a hard question, you know exactly how much margin you have — and whether you can afford to move on.
Enter your test details below for the instant answer. Then check the reference tables for every common test size.
Wrong Answers Calculator
Enter your test size and passing threshold to find the maximum questions you can get wrong.
The Formula — How to Calculate It Yourself
Two steps. That’s all there is to it:
One rounding rule that matters: if Step 1 gives you a decimal, always round up. If you need 17.5 correct answers, you need 18 — you can’t get half a question right. Rounding down would give you a score below passing.
Real Situations — When This Calculation Actually Matters
Aisha had 8 questions she genuinely wasn’t sure about. Her course required 70% to pass. She calculated: 50 × 0.70 = 35 correct needed. Max wrong = 15. With a margin of 15, she could afford to skip and return to all 8 uncertain questions — knowing she still had 7 wrong answers to spare even if she got all 8 uncertain ones wrong.
Mr. Torres writes a 25-question quiz and needs to tell students how many wrong answers are acceptable. At his school’s 60% pass threshold: 25 × 0.60 = 15 correct minimum. Max wrong = 10. He writes “you can miss up to 10 and still pass” on the paper — reducing anxiety and helping students prioritize which questions to attempt first.
Daniel’s driving theory test has 50 questions and requires 86% to pass (43 correct). Maximum wrong: 7. He knew going in that his margin was tight — so he answered every confident question first, flagged uncertain ones, and returned with remaining time rather than getting stuck on hard questions.
Reference Tables — Maximum Wrong Answers by Test Size
Find your test size below. The number in each column is the maximum wrong answers allowed at that passing percentage:
| Questions | 33% pass | 40% pass | 50% pass | 60% pass | 70% pass | 75% pass | 80% pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 15 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 20 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| 25 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| 30 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| 40 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| 50 | 34 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 13 | 10 |
| 60 | 41 | 36 | 30 | 24 | 18 | 15 | 12 |
| 75 | 51 | 45 | 38 | 30 | 23 | 19 | 15 |
| 100 | 67 | 60 | 50 | 40 | 30 | 25 | 20 |
| 150 | 101 | 90 | 75 | 60 | 45 | 38 | 30 |
Passing Thresholds by Country and Test Type
The passing percentage matters as much as your total questions. Using the wrong threshold gives you the wrong margin. Here’s what different systems require:
Most programs: 70% (C grade)
Nursing/Medical: 75–80%
Driving theory: 80%
HEC universities: 50%
Most universities: 50%
Professional programs: 60%+
GCSE Standard Pass: Grade 4
A-Level minimum: Grade E
Driving theory: 86% (43/50)
Most universities: 40–45%
Professional programs: 50%+
Credit: 65%+
Distinction: 75%+
High Distinction: 85%+
PMP: Varies by version
IELTS / TOEFL: Band-based
NCLEX (nursing): Adaptive
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Tools
Maximum wrong answer calculations use the standard formula: Minimum Correct = Total Questions × (Passing % ÷ 100), rounded up to the nearest whole number. Passing thresholds referenced from US, UK, Pakistan HEC, India CBSE, and Australian university grading standards. Always verify your specific course’s passing threshold before calculating.