1.3 Scoring and State Passing Requirements
Key Takeaways
ParaPro raw scores (the number of scored questions answered correctly) are converted to a scaled score on a range of 420 to 480.
ETS does not set a national passing score; each state or district chooses its own cutoff, from 440 to 467 in the ETS 2026–27 bulletin.
There is no penalty for guessing — every blank is a wasted chance, so answer all 90 questions.
You can retake the ParaPro once right away; after that, wait 7 days after the most recent attempt before the next two attempts, paying the full fee each time.
Official scores are sent about one week after the test date, and ETS reports scores from the last ten years, though agencies may apply their own score-age rules.
How the ParaPro Is Scored
Your ParaPro result is a scaled score, not a raw percentage. The process works in two steps. First, ETS counts your raw score — the number of scored questions you answered correctly. Second, that raw score is converted to a scaled score on a range of 420 to 480.
Scaling exists so that scores mean the same thing across different test forms: if one form happens to be slightly harder than another, the conversion adjusts for it, so a 460 earned today represents the same ability as a 460 earned on a different version. ETS does not publish a fixed percentage-correct cutoff, so you cannot predict your exact scaled score from a practice percentage.
Score Scale at a Glance
| Element | Value |
|---|---|
| Raw score | Number of scored questions answered correctly |
| Scaled score range | 420–480 |
| Passing score | Set by each state/district (no national cutoff) |
| Qualifying scores | 440–467 in the ETS 2026–27 bulletin |
| Guessing penalty | None — wrong answers do not subtract points |
| Score report timing | Official scores about 1 week after the test date |
There Is No Penalty for Guessing
This is one of the most important and most actionable scoring facts on the exam: a wrong answer counts exactly the same as a blank — zero. There is no deduction for incorrect responses. The strategic consequence is absolute: never leave a question unanswered. Even a blind guess on a four-option question gives you a 25% chance of a free point, and an educated guess after eliminating one or two choices does much better. Before time expires, sweep through and fill in an answer for every remaining item.
Example — guessing math: Suppose you reach the last two minutes with five hard questions left. If you leave them blank, you earn 0 from them with certainty. If you guess on all five, probability says you'll get about one or two correct on average — pure points you would otherwise have thrown away. Always guess.
State and District Passing Scores
A point that confuses many candidates: ETS does not decide whether you pass. ETS reports your scaled score, but each state or school district sets its own minimum passing score within the score range. That means the same scaled score might be "passing" in one state and "not passing" in the next. The ETS 2026–27 bulletin lists ParaPro qualifying scores from 440 (Martin County, Florida) to 467 (Texas Education Service Center Region 19), and many states now accept only ParaPathways, so you must confirm the exact test and number with your state's Department of Education or your hiring district before you test.
Illustrative Passing-Score Tiers
The table below shows the kind of range you will encounter. Always verify your own state's current requirement — cutoffs change, and districts may add their own rules on top of the state minimum.
| Scaled score | What it generally means |
|---|---|
| Below 440 | Below every ParaPro cutoff in the ETS 2026–27 bulletin |
| 440–454 | Meets only the lowest cutoffs (for example, Martin County, Florida at 440 or Lee County, Florida at 450) |
| 455–460 | Meets many statewide cutoffs (for example, Kansas and Maryland at 455; Colorado and Illinois at 460) |
| 461–467 | Needed for the highest cutoffs (for example, Massachusetts at 464 and Texas Education Service Center Region 19 at 467) |
Because the bar varies, the safest preparation goal is not "hit exactly the minimum" but aim comfortably above the highest cutoff you might face — roughly the mid-460s or better. That cushion protects you against a stricter-than-expected district requirement and against the small form-to-form variation in scaling.
Your Score Report
About one week after testing, ETS makes your official score available in your online account and sends it electronically to one eligible score recipient. The report shows:
- Your total scaled score for the whole exam
- Diagnostic information by content area (Reading, Mathematics, Writing), so you can see relative strengths and weaknesses
- Whether you met the requirement for the state or score recipient you designated
If you took the test for a specific state or district, ETS sends your score there automatically when you list it as a recipient at registration. ETS reports scores from test dates within the last ten years, though a state or employer may apply its own recency expectations, so check if your test is several years old.
Retake Policy
If you do not meet your state's cutoff — or simply want a higher score — you can retake the ParaPro. The key rules:
- Retake once right away. ETS lets you retake the ParaPro once as soon as you like.
- Then wait 7 days. If you need another retake, wait 7 days after your most recent attempt; you can then test two more times before the same 7-day wait applies again.
- Pay the full fee again. There is no reduced "retake" price; each attempt requires the standard test fee.
- Re-register normally. You schedule a retake exactly the way you scheduled your first attempt, through your ETS account.
The practical lesson is to prepare thoroughly the first time. A retake costs another full fee and can delay your hiring timeline — so use this guide and full-length practice to be ready before you sit.
Who decides the passing score for the ParaPro Assessment?
ETS sets a single national passing score for all test-takers
Each state or district sets its own cutoff within the score range
The federal Department of Education sets one cutoff for all states
The test-taker chooses a target score before testing
Because the ParaPro has no penalty for guessing, what is the best strategy when time is almost up?
Leave hard questions blank to avoid lowering your score
Answer only the questions you are certain about
Fill in an answer for every remaining question, even a guess
Skip the math questions and focus on reading
After your first immediate retake, you must wait ___ days after your most recent attempt before taking the ParaPro again.
Type your answer below
Put the ParaPro scoring process in the correct order, from taking the test to receiving results.
Arrange the items in the correct order
You answer the 90 questions on test day
Your official score is sent to you and your designated recipient in about 1 week
ETS converts your raw score to a scaled score (≈420–480)
ETS counts the number of scored questions you got right (raw score)
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.