1.1 OGEA-103 Exam Structure, Gradient Scoring & Open-Book Strategy
Key Takeaways
OGEA-103 has 48 questions in 150 minutes: a closed-book Part 1 section (40 questions, 60 minutes maximum) followed directly by an open-book Part 2 section (8 scenarios, 90 minutes maximum), with no break.
Each section must reach 60% (24 of 40 points); Part 2 awards 5, 3, 1, or 0 points per scenario, so eight second-best answers exactly reach the 24-point pass mark.
The Open Group fee schedule from February 1, 2026 lists OGEA-103 at $610 booked directly with Pearson VUE or $640 by retail voucher; OGEA-101 and OGEA-102 are $405 or $435 each.
Failing one section means no certification, but only the matching exam (OGEA-101 or OGEA-102) is retaken, after The Open Group's one-month retake wait.
The Part 2 open book is the TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge, opened with the Reference button; Part 1 cannot be revisited once it is completed.
1.1 OGEA-103 Exam Structure, Gradient Scoring & Open-Book Strategy
The TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Combined Part 1 and Part 2 Exam (OGEA-103) is the single-sitting route to the TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Practitioner certification. It is built on the TOGAF Standard, 10th Edition, and it packages two separately scored sections into one Pearson VUE appointment. Understanding exactly how those sections are timed, scored, and retaken is the first thing to get right, because several popular study notes still repeat TOGAF 9 rules or guesswork.
The Official Exam Facts
The figures below come from The Open Group's TOGAF Examinations summary and its examination fee schedule applicable from February 1, 2026.
| Item | Part 1 section (Level 1) | Part 2 section (Level 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 40 simple multiple-choice | 8 complex, scenario-based multiple-choice |
| Scoring | 1 point per correct answer | Gradient: 5, 3, 1, or 0 points per question |
| Pass mark | 60% = 24 of 40 | 60% = 24 of 40 points |
| Maximum time | 60 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Book policy | Closed book | Open book: an electronic copy of the TOGAF Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge, opened with the Reference button |
- Total: 48 questions and 150 minutes. There is no break; Part 2 follows Part 1 directly, and once you complete Part 1 you cannot return to it.
- Delivery: Pearson VUE test centers or OnVUE online proctoring. No hardcopy books are allowed; the only reference material is the electronic Body of Knowledge built into Part 2.
- Prerequisites: none for OGEA-103.
- Non-native English speakers: The Open Group notes that additional time may be provided for English-language exams taken by candidates whose first language is not English (an ESL version of OGEA-103 is listed).
- Appointment length: Pearson VUE appointments run longer than the exam time because registration, the tutorial, and a survey add roughly 15 minutes.
Fees
The Open Group lists two prices for OGEA-103 (local taxes may apply):
- Exam Booking Fee: $610 when you book directly with Pearson VUE and pay by credit card.
- Retail Voucher Fee: $640 for a voucher bought in The Open Group Shop.
For comparison, the separate Part 1 (OGEA-101) and Part 2 (OGEA-102) exams are each $405 booked directly or $435 by voucher. Accredited training courses include the examination in the course fee.
Pass, Fail, and Retakes
You must pass both sections to be certified; a strong Part 1 score cannot offset a weak Part 2 score. If you fail either section, no certification is awarded, but you only retake the exam that corresponds to the failed section: OGEA-101 for a failed Part 1 section, or OGEA-102 for a failed Part 2 section. The Open Group's retake policy requires you to wait one month before retaking any TOGAF examination; a result obtained earlier is void.
Certification Validity
The duration of certification is indefinite. Certification is to a given version of the Body of Knowledge and does not expire, so there are no re-certification or renewal requirements.
What Each Section Covers
Part 1 (Level 1) draws its 40 questions from the Level 1 syllabus in these proportions, published in The Open Group's TOGAF portfolio FAQ:
| Level 1 area | Questions |
|---|---|
| Concepts | 8 |
| Introduction to the ADM | 14 |
| Introduction to the ADM Techniques | 6 |
| Introduction to Applying the ADM | 4 |
| Introduction to Architecture Governance | 3 |
| Architecture Content | 5 |
Part 2 (Level 2) questions are drawn from eight Level 2 topic areas: The Context for Enterprise Architecture; Stakeholder Management; Phase A, the Starting Point; Architecture Development (Phases B, C, D); Implementing the Architecture (Phases E, F, G); Architecture Change Management (Phase H); Requirements Management; and Supporting the ADM Work. The Open Group warns that some questions draw on several areas at once, so a scenario about a stalled migration plan may also test stakeholder management and governance.
The Level 1 and Level 2 syllabi together contain 16 learning units: 8 at Level 1 (63 learning outcomes) and 8 at Level 2 (68 learning outcomes). This guide's chapters follow those units.
How Gradient Scoring Works
Each Part 2 scenario has four answers ranked by the examiners: the best answer scores 5, the second-best 3, the third-best 1, and the distracter 0. Eight questions give a maximum of 40 points, and 24 points passes.
- All second-best: 8 × 3 = 24 points, which is exactly the pass mark.
- Four best + four second-best: 20 + 12 = 32 points (80%).
- Two of each grade: 10 + 6 + 2 + 0 = 18 points (45%), which fails.
The arithmetic shows why the most damaging habit is choosing distracters. A distracter in Part 2 usually ignores the stated purpose of the work, skips a governance step, or acts outside the phase the scenario places you in.
Pacing and the Open-Book Reference
Because each section has its own maximum, think of two separate clocks: about 1.5 minutes per Part 1 question and about 11 minutes per Part 2 scenario. Finishing Part 1 early gives you a calmer start in Part 2, not extra Part 2 minutes, so do not rush Part 1 to "bank" time.
The Part 2 reference is valuable but slow. Use it defensively:
- Diagnose first. Read the scenario, the question stem, and all four answers before searching. Identify which ADM phase, technique, or governance process the scenario is about.
- Search for exact TOGAF terms such as "Architecture Contract", "Transition Architecture", or "Business Transformation Readiness Assessment", not general words.
- Verify, do not study. Use the reference to confirm a step, input, output, or definition, then return to ranking the answers.
- Timebox searches to a minute or two per scenario.
Common Test-Taking Pitfalls
- Ignoring the stated purpose. Many Part 2 scenarios say what the architecture is for: supporting strategy, portfolio, project, or solution delivery. The strongest answer usually serves that purpose at the right level of detail.
- Skipping governance. Answers that bypass the Architecture Board, a compliance review, or stakeholder agreement are usually the distracter.
- Premature solutions. Selecting products before requirements, gaps, and building blocks are understood is rarely the best answer outside Phase E.
- Studying TOGAF 9 terms. The 10th Edition uses names such as the Standards Library, Governance Repository, and Enterprise Metamodel; older names still circulate in third-party material.
According to The Open Group's description of OGEA-103, which statement about timing is accurate?
Unused Part 1 minutes are added to the Part 2 clock, so finishing the 40 multiple-choice questions quickly buys extra time for the scenarios
A scheduled 15-minute break separates the two sections, and candidates may return to revise their Part 1 answers once the break ends
Each section has its own maximum (60 and 90 minutes), there is no break, and Part 1 cannot be revisited once completed
Candidates may move freely between Part 1 and Part 2 until the combined 150-minute clock expires, as on a single-section exam
Under the gradient scoring methodology utilized in Part 2 of the examination, what minimum raw score across the 8 scenario questions is required to pass?
20 raw points out of 40 possible points
22 raw points out of 40 possible points
24 raw points out of 40 possible points
28 raw points out of 40 possible points
When using the built-in reference during the Part 2 section, which approach best avoids losing time?
Search every proper noun in the scenario before reading the question, so that no relevant reference passage is overlooked when ranking
Read the chapter covering the relevant ADM phase from start to finish before ranking the answers, because partial reading misses context
Avoid opening the reference at all, because time spent searching it reduces the gradient score awarded for that scenario
Read the scenario and all four answers first, then search exact TOGAF terms only to confirm a specific step, input, output, or definition
A candidate scores 27 of 40 on the Part 1 section of OGEA-103 and 19 of 40 points on the Part 2 section. What is the outcome under The Open Group's published rules?
No certification is awarded; the candidate needs to pass only the Part 2 exam (OGEA-102), and must wait one month before retaking
The candidate is certified as a Practitioner, because the combined score of 46 out of 80 points is above the 50% threshold for the exam
The candidate must retake the whole OGEA-103 combined exam, including Part 1, after a two-week waiting period has passed
The candidate may retake Part 2 the next day, because the combined exam counts as a single attempt for retake purposes
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.