How hard is the ASNT NDT Level II exam?

The format, from ASNT

ASNT's examinations page, read 26 October 2026, lists these computer-based, multiple-choice exams:

• General exam: 50 items in 2 hours for UT, MT and PT. It covers the fundamentals and principles of the method.
• Specific exam: 40 items in 2 hours, for general industry or pressure equipment sectors. It covers codes, applications and techniques.

That is about 2.4 minutes per General item. ASNT's psychometrics page says passing scores are criterion-based cut scores and that its exams are typically in the 70% to 80% range. It does not publish the exact cut score for each exam. Employers handle the practical and visual acuity exams separately.

Where the difficulty really is

Breadth. The UT General outline for exams up to 5 February 2027 has six topics, from ultrasonic techniques to weldments and bonded structures. MT and PT have their own lists. ASNT does not publish topic weights, so you cannot skip a topic safely.

Calculations. UT asks for geometry and decibel work: refraction, skip distance, near field and amplitude ratios. MT adds current and field rules. If algebra and trigonometry are rusty, this is where time goes. The math refresher rebuilds those skills.

Conventions. Two good sources can write a formula differently, for example the beam edge constant or the direction of a decibel ratio. A question will name its convention. You need to notice it.

Applying, not reciting. A question gives you a part, a probe or a field direction and asks what to do. Knowing the definition is not enough, and the UT worked examples show the style.

Experience gaps. ASNT requires days of method experience before you can apply: 120 for UT, 40 for MT and 30 for PT. People with field hours often find the concepts familiar and the math rusty. People coming from a classroom often have the reverse problem.

Which method is hardest?

ASNT publishes no comparison, so any ranking is opinion. What the requirements show is scale: UT asks for 12 training days and 120 days of method experience, PT asks for 2 training days and 30 days. That tells you how much ASNT expects you to have done, not how hard its test is. If you are choosing, read which method to certify in first.

Find your own difficulty level in three steps

1. Take one free check cold. Ten questions with no notes tells you which topics are weak.
2. Run a timed set. Fifty items in two hours, with a calculator layout like the exam's, shows whether pace or knowledge is the problem. The pacing guide has a plan.
3. Sort your misses. Mark each one as a concept gap, a math slip or a misread. Fix them in that order of size.

No practice score predicts a result, but a clean sort of your misses tells you where the next week of study should go.

Start with the free check

Take the free 10-question UT check to see how the real format feels. It needs no signup and explains every answer. When you are ready for timed exams and a plan built around your date, see the plans. Inside the course, Echo, the AI study buddy, can walk through why an answer is right and what to drill next.

FAQ

What is the pass mark on the ASNT NDT Level II exam?

ASNT says passing scores are criterion-based and typically in the 70% to 80% range, and it does not publish an exact cut score per exam. Check the ASNT psychometrics page for current wording.

Is the Specific exam harder than the General exam?

ASNT does not say. The General exam tests method fundamentals and the Specific exam tests codes, applications and techniques for a sector, so they stress different skills. Prepare for both.

Can I use a calculator?

Pearson VUE says a calculator is built into the exam software and that you should not bring your own. Our exam day guide describes the on-screen calculator.

How long should I study?

It depends on your starting point. A 30, 60 and 90 day UT plan and a short MT or PT plan are in this blog.

Sources

• ASNT NDT Level II Examinations, ASNT Certification Services: item counts, time limits and topics, read 26 October 2026.
• ASNT NDT Level II Certification, ASNT Certification Services: training and experience requirements.
• Psychometrics Information, ASNT Certification Services.
• Pearson VUE's ASNT page, Pearson VUE: the built-in exam calculator.