Tennessee Insurance Exam: Passing Score, Format, and What You Need to Know

Understanding exactly what the Tennessee insurance exam requires removes uncertainty and lets you prepare strategically. Here's the complete breakdown of scoring, format, and what to expect.

Passing Score Requirements

Tennessee requires a scaled score of 70% or higher to pass each insurance licensing exam. This standard applies across all license types administered through Pearson VUEEn Tn Insurance.html UsEn Tn Insurance.html Us.

What does "scaled score" mean? Raw scores are converted to a standardized scale to account for slight variations in exam difficulty across different test forms. The 70% threshold represents demonstrated competency regardless of which specific questions you receive.

Important: For exams with multiple sections (like Property & Casualty, which has separate Property and Casualty components), you must achieve 70% on each section. You cannot compensate for weak performance in one area by excelling in another.

Exam Format by License Type

Life, Accident & Health Exam

• Total questions: Approximately 68 scored questions plus pretest questions
• Time limit: 2 hours (120 minutes)
• Passing score: 70%
• Content split: General knowledge (70-75%) and Tennessee-specific (25-30%)

Property & Casualty Exam

P&C licensing requires two separate exams that can be taken in one session:

Property Exam:

• 68 scored questions plus pretest questions
• 105 minutes
• 70% passing score

Casualty Exam:

• 68 scored questions plus pretest questions
• 105 minutes
• 70% passing score

Combined option: Book both exams together for a single testing fee (approximately $59 total vs. $59 each if booked separately). Total time: 210 minutes (3.5 hours).

Personal Lines Exam

• Total questions: 111 (100 scored, 11 pretest)
• Time limit: 2 hours
• Passing score: 70%

Other License Types

Tennessee offers additional license types (Title, Public Adjuster, etc.) with varying exam formats. Check the Pearson VUE Tennessee pageEn Tn Insurance.html UsEn Tn Insurance.html Us for specific details on less common license types.

Understanding Pretest Questions

Each exam includes "pretest" questions—items being evaluated for potential use on future exams. These questions:

• Are scattered randomly throughout the exam
• Do not count toward your score
• Are indistinguishable from scored questions

Because you can't identify which questions are pretest, treat every question as if it counts. The pretest questions exist for exam development purposes and won't affect your pass/fail outcome.

Content Breakdown

Each Tennessee insurance exam tests two content areas:

General/National Content (70-75%)

These questions cover fundamental insurance concepts applicable across all states:

• Insurance principles and concepts
• Policy types and provisions
• Underwriting basics
• Claims procedures
• Federal regulations
• Ethics and market conduct

Tennessee-Specific Content (25-30%)

These questions focus on Tennessee insurance law and regulations:

• Tennessee insurance statutes
• Department rules and regulations
• Licensing requirements
• Consumer protection laws
• Policy cancellation and renewal rules
• Unfair trade practices specific to Tennessee

Don't underestimate state-specific content. Many candidates focus heavily on general concepts and neglect Tennessee regulations—then fail because they missed too many state questions.

For detailed preparation strategies, explore our guide on how to study for the licensing examPre License How To Study Insurance Licensing Exam Resources.

Question Types

All questions are multiple choice with four answer options (A, B, C, D). You'll encounter several styles:

Direct knowledge questions: Test definitions, facts, and concepts directly.

Scenario-based questions: Present a situation and ask you to apply your knowledge to determine the correct outcome or action.

Calculation questions: Require you to perform calculations (premiums, benefits, coinsurance, etc.). An on-screen calculator is provided.

Regulatory questions: Test your knowledge of Tennessee-specific laws and requirements.

Scenario and application questions are often more challenging because they require understanding rather than memorization. Focus your study on how concepts work in practice, not just definitions.

Time Management

With approximately 68-111 questions and 2-3.5 hours, you have roughly 90 seconds per question on average. This is adequate time if you're prepared, but requires awareness:

• Don't linger on difficult questions. Flag them and move on—return after completing easier questions.
• Pace yourself. Check your progress at the halfway point. If you're running behind, pick up speed on straightforward questions.
• Leave time for review. Aim to finish with 10-15 minutes remaining to revisit flagged questions and check for errors.

How Scoring Works

During the Exam

The exam is computer-based. You answer questions one at a time, with the ability to flag questions for later review. You can change answers before final submission.

Immediate Results

When you finish and submit your exam, you'll receive results immediately:

If you pass: Your score report displays "Pass." Tennessee does not provide numeric scores for passing candidates. Your results are transmitted to the Tennessee Department of Insurance within a few business days.

If you don't pass: You'll receive a numeric score showing how close you were to 70%. This information helps identify how much additional preparation you need.

Score Reports

You'll receive a printed score report at testing centers, or an electronic report for online testing. Keep this document—you may need it for your license application or records.