- The CAC passing score is a fixed 664 on a 300-900 scaled score, not a percentage.
- The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours 30 minutes, delivered through NCBAC's remote-proctoring process.
- Behavior (18-22%) and Communication (15-20%) carry the most weight of the eight content areas.
- The scaled score means raw "number correct" doesn't map 1:1 to your final result.
The Passing Score Number, Explained
If you're preparing for the Certified Alzheimer Caregiver (CAC) credential through the National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care (NCBAC), the single most important number to understand isn't a percentage - it's 664. That's the passing score on a scaled range of 300-900. There is no "70% to pass" shortcut here, and treating the CAC exam like a percentage-based test can lead candidates to misjudge how close they actually are to certification.
This distinction matters because a scaled score isn't a raw count of correct answers. NCBAC converts your performance across 100 multiple-choice questions into a scaled result that accounts for question difficulty and distribution across the eight official content areas. Two candidates who answer the same number of questions correctly could technically end up with different scaled scores if the mix of questions they answered correctly (or missed) skewed toward higher- or lower-weighted domains.
For a full breakdown of how the underlying content is weighted, see the CAC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 8 Content Areas, which walks through each of the eight areas in depth.
How the 300-900 Scale Actually Works
Scaled scoring is common across many certification exams because it lets the certifying body adjust for slight variations in test form difficulty without changing the meaning of a "pass." For CAC candidates, the practical takeaway is simple: don't try to reverse-engineer "how many questions I can miss" using simple percentage math. Instead, focus on mastering the content itself - the scaling process is designed to reward genuine competency across all eight domains, not test-taking arithmetic.
NCBAC does not publish a public conversion table showing exactly how many raw correct answers map to each scaled score point, and CAC Exam Prep will not speculate on numbers that aren't part of the official record. What is confirmed is this:
- The scale runs from 300 (lowest possible) to 900 (highest possible).
- 664 is the minimum scaled score required to pass.
- The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions administered in a single 2 hour 30 minute sitting.
Key Takeaway
Prepare to answer confidently across the entire question bank rather than trying to calculate a "safe number to miss." The scaled score rewards broad content mastery, not narrow test-taking tricks.
If you're still deciding whether the scoring model and overall format make this exam more or less demanding than you expected, How Hard Is the CAC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 compares the format against candidate expectations in more detail, and CAC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows looks at what's publicly known about candidate outcomes.
Why Domain Weighting Matters More Than the Score Itself
Because the passing threshold is a single scaled number covering all 100 questions, your real strategic lever is domain preparation. NCBAC organizes the CAC exam into eight official content areas, each with its own percentage range of the total question count:
| Domain | Approximate Weight |
|---|---|
| Behavior | 18-22% |
| Communication | 15-20% |
| Knowledge of Disease | 12-16% |
| Activities | 10-14% |
| Health | 5-10% |
| Patient Rights | 5-8% |
| Safety | 4-6% |
| Caregiver Needs | 2-5% |
Notice that Behavior and Communication together can account for as much as 42% of the exam. That means these two domains deserve the largest share of your preparation time. A candidate who is strong in Knowledge of Disease but shaky on de-escalating agitation or communicating with a person experiencing memory loss is leaving a disproportionate number of points on the table.
Domain 4: Behavior (18-22%)
This is the single largest content area on the exam. Candidates must understand common dementia-related behavioral expressions - agitation, wandering, repetitive questioning, resistance to care - and appropriate caregiver responses.
- Recognizing triggers behind behavioral changes
- Non-confrontational redirection techniques
- Environmental adjustments that reduce distress
Domain 2: Communication (15-20%)
The second-largest domain focuses on how caregivers exchange information with someone experiencing cognitive decline, as well as with families and care teams.
- Adapting language and tone for different disease stages
- Nonverbal communication cues
- Coordinating updates with family members and other caregivers
For question-by-question strategy on all eight areas - not just the top two - see the CAC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 8 Content Areas. And if you want a condensed, at-a-glance reference while you study, the CAC Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is built specifically for last-week review.
Exam Format: Questions, Timing, and Delivery
Understanding the scoring model only matters if you also understand how the exam is actually delivered. The CAC exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, and candidates are given 2 hours 30 minutes to complete it. At roughly 1.5 minutes per question on average, pacing is comfortable for most candidates who have studied the material - but it still rewards decisiveness over second-guessing.
Current delivery uses NCBAC's browser-based remote-proctoring process, meaning most candidates test from home or another private location rather than a physical test center. Requirements for remote testing include:
- Government-issued photo identification
- A working camera
- Reliable internet connection
- A supported computer or Chromebook (phones and tablets are not supported)
Because the process is browser-based, there's no software to install ahead of time - you access the exam directly through your browser once your identity and equipment checks are complete. If you haven't scheduled your session yet, review the eligibility windows and scheduling mechanics in CAC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling before locking in a test date.
Building a Score-Focused Study Plan
Because 664 is a fixed target regardless of how "easy" or "hard" a particular test form feels, your best move is to build a preparation schedule that mirrors the actual domain weighting rather than spending equal time on all eight areas. A short, focused plan built around weight - not alphabetical order or personal comfort - tends to produce steadier scaled-score outcomes.
Behavior & Communication
- Work through behavioral response scenarios (agitation, wandering, resistance)
- Practice communication techniques for different dementia stages
- These two domains alone can represent up to 42% of the exam
Knowledge of Disease & Activities
- Review disease progression stages and cognitive/physical symptoms
- Study appropriate activity planning for varying ability levels
Health, Patient Rights, Safety, Caregiver Needs
- Cover the remaining four smaller-weighted domains
- Focus on caregiver self-care principles and patient rights basics
Full Review & Mock Testing
- Take timed practice questions to build stamina for the 2.5-hour session
- Revisit weak domains identified during practice
- Confirm remote-testing equipment (browser, camera, internet) works ahead of exam day
This weighted approach - front-loading the highest-percentage domains and saving general review for the final week - is one of the core methods covered in the CAC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you haven't confirmed your eligibility path yet (the standard route requires 15 hours of weekly direct dementia care for one year, reduced to six months for a CNA, LPN, or RN, plus 25 hours of dementia-care training within the prior two years), check CAC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before you schedule anything.
Practicing with realistic multiple-choice questions modeled on the actual domain breakdown - rather than generic dementia-care trivia - is one of the fastest ways to see where your scaled score is likely to land. You can start building that familiarity with timed practice questions on the main CAC practice test platform.
What Happens If You Miss 664
Not every candidate clears the passing score on the first attempt, and that's not unusual for a scaled, multi-domain exam covering everything from Behavior to Patient Rights. If your scaled score falls short of 664, the practical response is to treat it as domain-level diagnostic information rather than a generic failure. Since NCBAC's content areas are clearly weighted, a shortfall is often concentrated in one or two domains - frequently the higher-weighted Behavior or Communication areas simply because they contain more questions overall.
Before re-testing, it's worth revisiting:
- Which domains felt least familiar during the exam
- Whether your training hours adequately covered Behavior and Communication scenarios, not just disease facts
- Whether your remote-testing setup (equipment, environment, timing) affected your pacing across all 100 questions
For a broader look at how candidates perform on this exam and how the format compares to expectations, review CAC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the CAC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026. Both are useful context if you're deciding whether to adjust your study allocation before a second attempt.
Key Takeaway
Use a missed score as a domain map, not a discouragement. Identify which of the eight content areas needs the most rework, then rebuild your next study block around that gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
You need a scaled score of 664 on NCBAC's 300-900 scale. This is not a percentage of correct answers - it's a converted scaled result based on your performance across all 100 questions.
No. The exam only has 100 questions total. The 664 figure refers to a scaled score on a 300-900 range, not a raw count of correct answers.
Behavior (18-22%) and Communication (15-20%) carry the most weight of the eight official content areas, so they deserve the largest share of your study time, followed by Knowledge of Disease (12-16%) and Activities (10-14%).
Candidates are given 2 hours 30 minutes to complete the 100 multiple-choice questions through NCBAC's browser-based remote-proctoring process.
Use your results to identify which content areas need more preparation before scheduling another attempt, paying particular attention to the higher-weighted Behavior and Communication domains.
Understanding the 664 passing score is only half the equation - the other half is building a study routine that reflects how heavily each of the eight domains is actually weighted. For everything else related to eligibility, pricing, and what the credential can do for your career once you've cleared that scaled score, explore Is the CAC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and CAC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.