Platform Developer II Exam: Cost, Passing Score and How Hard It Is (2026)

Hey friends,

The Platform Developer II exam costs US$200 to register and US$100 to retake, plus applicable taxes. You get 60 scored multiple-choice questions (plus up to five unscored ones) in 120 minutes, and you need 70% to pass. The Salesforce Certified Platform Developer certification is required first.

Every fact here is from the official Platform Developer II exam guide on Salesforce Help. Fees in other currencies (the guide also lists JPY) are on that page.

What are the Platform Developer II exam facts?

How many questions do you need right?

70% of 60 scored questions is 42. The unscored questions are mixed in at random and don't count, so treat every question as if it counts. If you want to play with the math, try my exam score calculator.

How is the exam weighted?

Question counts are my rounding of the weights against 60, not official numbers.

How hard is Platform Developer II?

It's one of the harder developer exams, because it tests judgment, not syntax. Salesforce describes the target candidate as having 2 to 4 years of development experience, at least 1 on the platform, and expects you to handle large data volumes (roughly 300,000 to 480,000 records), async Apex, integrations, complex sharing and Jest tests.

What makes it feel hard:

• Most questions are scenarios with code, where two answers both work and one is better at scale.
• It reaches back into Visualforce and Aura, not just Lightning web components.
• The passing score is 70%, higher than the 68% on Platform Developer I.

How do you avoid paying the retake fee?

1. Pass Platform Developer I solidly first. My Platform Developer I first-try guide helps if you haven't yet.
2. Map your weak spots against the Platform Developer II study guide.
3. Spend extra time on the 27% section: Batch Apex, integration patterns and platform events.
4. Take practice questions until you're consistently above 70%, and read every explanation.
5. Book the exam when your practice scores are steady, not when you've finished reading.

What mistakes cost people the exam?

• Treating it like Platform Developer I. More depth on design and scale, plus a whole Performance section.
• Ignoring the Recommended Training list. The guide lists a Trailmix and superbadges like Apex Specialist.
• Forgetting maintenance. Miss the yearly badge and the certification expires.

Here's why I care about practice questions so much. I earned 17 Salesforce certifications, and Focus on Force was a big part of that. My early approach was study guide first, tests later. Flipping it, taking practice tests fast and often, cut my study time way down. Cert Lab is my version of that: fast testing with explanations that link to current Salesforce docs.

FAQ

How much does the Platform Developer II exam cost?

US$200 to register and US$100 to retake, plus applicable taxes.

What is the Platform Developer II passing score?

70%.

How long is the Platform Developer II exam?

120 minutes for 60 scored questions plus up to five unscored questions.

Is there a prerequisite?

Yes: the Salesforce Certified Platform Developer certification.

Do I need to complete superbadges?

The exam guide lists superbadges as recommended self-study, not as a requirement. The only prerequisite it lists is the Platform Developer certification.

Where should you go next?

• Platform Developer I vs II.
• Salesforce certification cost across every exam.
• The Platform Developer II study guide.

Nick Frates, a senior Salesforce developer with 17 certifications, built the Platform Developer II Cert Lab at nickfrates.com: rapid-fire practice questions for every exam section, each answer explained.

Hope this helps!

Best,

Nick