STS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass

The Number: 75% and What It Means

If you are preparing for the Basic Smart Technology Systems (STS) certification from ETA International, the single most important figure to know is the passing score: 75%. That is the threshold ETA publishes for the Basic STS written knowledge examination. Score at or above it and you pass; fall below it and you do not.

That sounds simple, and in one sense it is. But a passing score is only useful when you understand the exam it applies to. This article breaks down what the 75% figure means in practice, what ETA does and does not disclose about scoring, and how to build a preparation plan that puts you safely above the line. If you want the full picture of the credential first, start with What Is STS Certification? and then return here.

What the Published Facts Do and Do Not Tell You

Being precise about what is publicly documented will save you from chasing myths. Here is a clear split between the verified details and the gaps.

Two of those gaps matter for how you think about the score. First, ETA gives a range of 75-80 questions rather than a fixed count, so you cannot say with certainty how many items you will see or how many you can miss. Second, the scored versus unscored split is not specified, so any claim about an exact number of "allowed misses" would be a guess. For a closer look at what is and is not known about candidate outcomes, see STS Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.

Format, Timing, and Testing Conditions

The Basic STS is a proctored written knowledge examination. ETA lists a two-hour time limit, and the question count sits in the 75-80 range. There is no hands-on assessment for this certification, which means your score comes entirely from how well you handle knowledge-based questions drawn from the published competencies. ETA states that its examination questions derive from those competencies.

An item-type specification (for example, whether every question is multiple choice) was not verified in the sources reviewed, so do not assume a particular question style. Prepare for the content rather than a format guess.

Delivery options

• In-person: through ETA Certification Administrators using Trapeza online testing, or paper and pencil at an approved test site.
• Remote: ExamRoom.AI is available for remote proctoring, which requires a webcam, microphone, a suitable computer, and reliable connectivity, with registration arranged through ETA.

Rules on exam day

• A proctor and photo ID are required.
• ETA permits scratch paper and a nonprogrammable or scientific calculator; used scratch paper must be surrendered.
• Personal electronic devices such as phones are prohibited.
• ETA's general rules prohibit leaving the room after testing starts, so plan accordingly before you begin.

Scheduling specifics, including windows and deadlines, are covered in STS Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.

Turning 75% Into a Working Target

Because you cannot know the exact scored-item count, the safest approach is to treat 75% as a floor, not a goal. If you aim to land exactly on it, normal exam-day variation can push you under. Instead, aim to score comfortably above 75% on practice material across every domain.

Here is a practical way to think about it. Since ETA publishes no domain weights, you cannot safely ignore any of the 12 areas on the theory that it is "low value." A weak spot in a single domain can cost you several questions, and with a 75-80 question range those losses add up quickly. The smarter target is balance: no domain where you are consistently scoring near or below the threshold.

You can measure that kind of consistency with timed sets on the STS practice test site. Track results by domain rather than only as one overall percentage, because a strong average can hide a weak area.

The 12 Domains Your Score Is Built From

ETA's competency document lists twelve top-level areas, numbered 1.0 through 12.0. The document is unweighted, so ETA does not tell candidates which areas carry more questions. Your score is the sum of performance across all of them. For a deeper domain-by-domain walkthrough, read STS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 12 Content Areas. Below is how to think about each one from a scoring standpoint.

Because no single domain is identified as heaviest, resist the temptation to over-invest in the areas you already enjoy. Troubleshooting and customer documentation, for example, are easy to skim and just as easy to lose points on.

Fees, Remote Proctoring, and the Free Retake

Money and retakes are directly connected to your passing-score strategy, because they shape how much risk you carry on a first attempt.

• Exam fee: USD 105. ETA does not publish separate member and nonmember exam prices.
• Half-price option: ETA offers the core STS exam at half price when taken at the same time as at least one endorsement.
• Remote proctoring: two-hour remote proctoring adds USD 16. Local proctor charges are not quoted.
• Retake: one free eligible retake is available within one year of the first exam session. Remote-proctoring charges remain payable on the retake.

The free retake is a genuine safety net, but it is not a reason to sit the exam unprepared. You still use up time, and remote-proctoring fees apply again. For a full cost picture, including preparation resources, see STS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.

Sequencing Your Prep Around the Domains

Since your goal is to clear 75% across twelve unweighted areas, schedule your weeks by dependency rather than by preference. Foundations first, applied topics next, and the judgment-heavy domains last, when you can lean on everything you have already learned. This is a sample sequence; stretch or compress it to match your own timeline and the 2-hour exam limit you will face.

For a broader plan, including how to handle review cycles, see the STS Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you want a fast reference to lean on during review, the STS Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts condenses the essentials.

After You Pass: Term and Maintenance

Passing at 75% or above earns a certification with a four-year term, and maintenance is required to keep it active. General non-hands-on maintenance requires the maintenance form and USD 25 per year (USD 100 over the four years), along with either 10 continuing-education contact hours per year (40 across the cycle) or an Employer Verification Form completed by a supervisor. ETA recommends annual submission rather than waiting until the end of the term.

Whether that investment pays off depends on your career path. For the earnings and hiring side, read the STS Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis, browse STS Jobs, or weigh the full decision in Is the STS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026. And if you are still confirming whether you qualify to sit the exam, STS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify explains that Basic STS is a stand-alone certification with no mandatory degree or membership, though ETA highly recommends prior certifications such as CAT, DCI, DVE, FOI, FOT, FOT-OSP, or TTT.

When you are ready to test yourself against the 75% line under timed conditions, head to the STS Exam Prep practice tests. And for a sense of how demanding the material feels to most candidates, How Hard Is the STS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 is a useful companion read.

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