CertifyDeckMS-102 is the exam for Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert and is passed with 700 points out of 1,000. It retires on 30 November 2026, so the calendar matters. The exam is broad, and the fast route is to study Microsoft 365 as a connected system: an incident can start in an identity, show up in Defender XDR and end in a Purview policy. The exam tests those administrator decisions, not isolated screens.
Before you book the MS-102 exam
Passing MS-102 is part of Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert, but the Expert credential also requires one of these associate certifications: Endpoint Administrator (MD-102), Teams Administrator (MS-700), Identity and Access Administrator (SC-300) or Information Security Administrator (SC-401). Check on the official page that yours is registered before paying for the exam.
The exam and the certification retire on 30 November 2026. Deadlines and what happens to a certification you already hold are in MS-102 retires on 30 November 2026. You also need experience with a Microsoft 365 tenant, Entra ID, Exchange, SharePoint, Teams and security and compliance concepts; if a piece is missing, a test tenant is the cheapest way to cover it.
Where to concentrate your study
Defender XDR is the largest domain (30–35%), followed by tenant deployment and Entra identity (25–30% each); Purview completes the outline with 10–15%. Do not read Purview's smaller percentage as permission to skip it: its questions tend to be the most specific. The blocks are in the MS-102 study guide.
Study tenant, domains, roles and synchronization first; then identity, MFA and Conditional Access; continue with incidents, alerts and threats in Defender; finish with labels, DLP, retention and eDiscovery in Purview.
Lab and calendar
Set up a test tenant, assign roles with least privilege, create a Conditional Access policy in report-only mode and walk through a Defender incident. Then design a sensitivity label and a DLP policy.
With daily experience, five focused weeks can be enough. Without it, use eight or more: a week per large block, another for integration and two for mock exams and review. Count back from 30 November and leave room for a second attempt.
How to practise MS-102 on CertifyDeck
Start with a diagnostic test on the MS-102 page, then work by category and finish with mixed mock exams. Group your mistakes by cause (license, role, portal, order of operations or wrong product) to find patterns a percentage hides. The MS-102 cheat sheet gathers those limits and differences.
Frequently asked questions
Does MS-102 have prerequisites?
The exam can be taken without prior requirements, but the Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert credential also requires one of these associate certifications: MD-102, MS-700, SC-300 or SC-401.
What is the passing score for MS-102?
700 points out of 1,000.
Which domain weighs most in MS-102?
Security and threats with Microsoft Defender XDR, at 30–35%. Tenant deployment and Entra identity follow with 25–30% each, and compliance with Purview is 10–15%.
Until when can I take MS-102?
Until 30 November 2026. After that date the exam cannot be booked and the Administrator Expert certification cannot be earned or renewed.
Can I retake MS-102 if I fail?
Yes, 24 hours after the first attempt. After a second fail, Microsoft applies longer waiting periods.