Practice Mode vs Exam Mode
Two modes for two different stages of your study plan — here's when to use each.
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What is Practice Mode?
Practice Mode is designed for active learning. After you submit each answer, you immediately see whether you were right and read a detailed explanation.
Practice Mode features
- Instant answer feedback after every question
- Full explanation for correct and incorrect choices
- No time limit — take as long as you need
- Free to use for all 21 certifications (40 questions)
- Navigate between questions freely, skip and return
- Session saved for 7 days if you close the browser
Best for: Learning new material, understanding why answers are correct, filling knowledge gaps.
What is Exam Mode?
Exam Mode replicates the conditions of the real Microsoft exam. There is no feedback during the quiz — you only see your results after finishing or when time expires.
Exam Mode features
- 2-hour countdown timer (matches real Microsoft exam time)
- No feedback until the quiz is complete
- Results and explanations shown after submission
- Starts a fresh session (any existing in-progress session is ended)
- Requires full access (not available on the free tier)
- 500 questions available with full access
Best for: Final exam readiness checks, testing time management, simulating exam pressure.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Practice Mode | Exam Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Instant answer feedback | ✓ | ✗ |
| Detailed explanations | After each question | After completion |
| Time limit | None | 2 hours |
| Skip questions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Questions (free) | 40 | — |
| Questions (full access) | 500 | 500 |
| Available on free tier | ✓ | ✗ |
| Session resume | ✓ (7 days) | ✗ (new session each time) |
Which mode should I use?
Early in your study plan → Practice Mode
When you are first learning a certification's material, Practice Mode accelerates your learning. The instant feedback and explanations teach you the reasoning behind each answer, not just facts to memorize. Use it until you are scoring consistently above 75%.
1–2 weeks before your exam → Both modes
Mix both modes. Continue using Practice Mode to shore up weak topics, and run one or two Exam Mode sessions per week to practice pacing yourself under time pressure.
Final readiness check → Exam Mode
In the last few days before your exam, run a full Exam Mode session. If you score 75%+ comfortably within the time limit, you're in good shape. We recommend targeting 80%+ before booking your real exam.
Free vs full access
Exam Mode requires full access. Full access is a one-time purchase per certification and unlocks Exam Mode plus 500 questions (vs 40 free). See the Plans & Pricing guide for details.