1.1 ACP Illustrator Exam Structure, Delivery, and Scoring
Key Takeaways
The ACP Illustrator exam lasts 50 minutes: a Questions section of selected-response items followed by a Tasks section performed live inside Illustrator.
Certiport lists 30–35 questions for the Illustrator exam, and Adobe requires a passing score of 700 out of 1,000.
The 2026 (v30.x) and 2025 (v29.x) exams share one objective domain with five domains and 21 objectives; Adobe publishes no percentage weights.
Online OnVUE delivery is English-only and costs US$150 in the United States, while Certiport Authorized Testing Centers set their own prices.
After a first failed attempt, candidates wait 24 hours; after a second, at least five calendar days before each later attempt.
1.1 ACP Illustrator Exam Structure, Delivery, and Scoring
Quick Summary: The Adobe Certified Professional in Graphic Design & Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator exam is a 50-minute, proctored Certiport exam with a Questions section of selected-response items followed by a Tasks section completed live inside Illustrator. Certiport lists 30–35 questions, and you need 700 out of 1,000 to pass. The credential is valid for three years.
The Credential and Who It Is For
Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) is Adobe's industry certification for Creative Cloud applications, delivered exclusively through Certiport, a Pearson VUE business. Before June 2021 the program was called Adobe Certified Associate (ACA); valid ACA certifications earned through live-in-the-app exams (CC 2018 or later) automatically took the Adobe Certified Professional title. The Illustrator credential's official name is Adobe Certified Professional in Graphic Design & Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator.
Adobe describes the target candidate as someone with about 150 hours of instruction and hands-on experience with Illustrator who is familiar with product features and relevant career concepts and can perform routine design and production tasks with limited help.
Exam Versions and the Current Objective Domain
Certiport's exam-release table currently lists English versions of the Illustrator exam for 2024 (v28.x), 2025 (v29.x), and 2026 (v30.x, recently released). Certiport publishes one objective domain for the 2026 and 2025 exams, and Adobe's exam guide states that it is based on the 2025 version. That domain is organized into five domains and 21 objectives:
| Domain | Objectives | What it covers | Where this guide teaches it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Working in the Design Industry | 1.1–1.4 | Purpose and audience, design communication, project management, copyright and licensing, digital graphics terminology, design principles | Chapter 2 |
| 2. Document Management | 2.1–2.4 | Document settings and presets, artboards, placing and linking assets, saving, exporting, and packaging | Chapters 3–4 |
| 3. Workflow and Interface Customization | 3.1–3.5 | Workspace, preferences, design aids, swatches and gradients, brushes, symbols, styles and patterns, layers | Chapters 5–6 |
| 4. Working with Objects, Paths, and Text | 4.1–4.4 | Pen and drawing tools, shapes, Image Trace, generative vectors, path editing, type | Chapters 7–8 |
| 5. Modifying Object Appearance and Position | 5.1–5.4 | Selections and transformations, appearance, effects, graphic styles, opacity and masks, alignment and objects on a path | Chapters 7, 9, and 10 |
Adobe does not publish percentage weights for these domains, and it notes that the listed key terms, tools, and concepts are examples rather than a complete list. Study every objective rather than guessing which domain is "worth more."
Note
If your voucher or test center schedules the 2024 or 2023 version, Certiport's older objective domain applies. Its domain names are Working in the Design Industry, Project Setup and Interface, Organizing Documents, Creating and Modifying Visual Elements, and Publishing Digital Media. The underlying skills overlap heavily with the current list, and every topic in that older outline is also taught in this guide. Confirm the exam version when you book.
Exam Format and Timing
- Length: 50 minutes.
- Structure: a Questions section with selected-response items, followed by a Tasks section with live-in-the-app activities inside Illustrator. Both sections must be completed within the 50 minutes.
- Number of items: Certiport's exam-length table lists 30–35 questions for the Illustrator exam; Adobe's FAQ says each ACP exam includes 30 questions. Plan your pacing for up to 35.
- Pacing math: 50 minutes ÷ 35 items ≈ 86 seconds per item, or 100 seconds per item at 30 items. Live tasks usually take longer than selected-response items, so answer the Questions section briskly to bank time.
Selected-response items test vocabulary, legal concepts, design principles, and knowledge of where features live. Tasks ask you to produce a specific result in a live copy of Illustrator, such as setting artboard dimensions, applying a swatch, moving objects to a named layer, or exporting with given settings. Certiport does not publish how individual tasks are scored, so treat every stated name, value, unit, and location as a requirement. Certiport also publishes exam tutorials; review the official tutorial to learn the exam interface rather than relying on third-party descriptions.
Scoring and Results
- The passing score is 700 out of 1,000. Adobe and Certiport report a scaled score and do not publish a conversion from raw items to the scale, so do not assume 700 means exactly 70% of items.
- You receive a score report immediately after the exam.
- Each certification is valid for three years from the date of issue and is not tied to a specific application version.
- Passing both the Illustrator and Photoshop exams earns an additional Visual Design specialty credential.
Delivery Options
Adobe lists two ways to test:
- Online through Certiport's OnVUE remote-proctoring solution, booked through your Certiport.com account. OnVUE delivery is English only.
- In person or online through a Certiport Authorized Testing Center (CATC). Many schools are private CATCs, so students should ask about free or discounted exams before booking elsewhere. Candidates outside North America can contact their regional Certiport solution provider.
Cost
Adobe states that the cost of an OnVUE exam depends on the candidate's location and currency, and that in the United States the price is US$150 per exam. Each CATC sets its own prices for vouchers and proctoring fees and may bundle retakes, practice tests, or training. Adobe does not publish one fixed worldwide price, so confirm the current price with your delivery channel.
Retake Policy
Certiport's retake policy for Adobe Certified Professional exams is:
| Attempt | Required wait |
|---|---|
| Second attempt after a first failure | One day: 24 hours after the first attempt was started |
| Third and each later attempt | At least five calendar days after the last attempt |
Retake vouchers must be used within 60 days of the initial failed exam, and results that violate the retake policy are not awarded the credential. The policy applies at both voucher-based and site-license-based test centers.
Quick Reference
| Fact | Official detail |
|---|---|
| Official name | Adobe Certified Professional in Graphic Design & Illustration Using Adobe Illustrator |
| Delivery | Certiport: OnVUE (English only) or a Certiport Authorized Testing Center |
| Time | 50 minutes for both sections |
| Items | 30–35 questions (Certiport exam-length table) |
| Passing score | 700 / 1,000 |
| Recommended preparation | About 150 hours of instruction and hands-on experience |
| U.S. OnVUE price | US$150 per exam |
| Validity | Three years from issue |
| Retakes | 24 hours after a first failure; at least five calendar days before later attempts |
What passing standard does Adobe set for the Adobe Certified Professional Illustrator exam?
70% of items answered correctly on a raw-score basis
A ranking in the top half of candidates who tested that month
A scaled score of 800 out of 1,000
A scaled score of 700 out of 1,000
A candidate fails the Illustrator exam on a first and then a second attempt. Under Certiport's retake policy, how long must they wait before a third attempt?
24 hours after the second attempt started
14 days
At least five calendar days
30 days with proof of retraining
How is the 50-minute ACP Illustrator exam organized?
A Tasks section in Illustrator first, then a separate 50-minute Questions section
A portfolio of Illustrator files uploaded before the exam and scored later by Adobe staff
Only multiple-choice questions about Illustrator screenshots
Questions (selected response) first, then live-in-the-app Tasks, all within 50 minutes
For how long is an Adobe Certified Professional certification valid?
Until the next major Illustrator release
One year
Three years from the date of issue
For life
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.