- The computer-delivered exam has 90 questions: 80 scored, 10 unscored, in 2 hours 18 minutes.
- Passing is 550 scaled points out of 750, not a fixed percentage of questions correct.
- Six Sigma Fundamentals (20 questions) and Analyze Phase (17) carry the largest allocations.
- The exam is open book: securely bound references and notes are allowed, and tabs are permitted.
The One-Glance Exam Snapshot
This page condenses the facts that matter most for the ASQ Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt exam into a format you can scan the night before your appointment. Everything here refers specifically to the credential issued by the American Society for Quality (ASQ), administered through ASQExcellence, and not to any other provider's Yellow Belt program. Where a fact is not published by ASQ, this sheet says so rather than guessing.
| Item | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Certifying body | ASQ (administration by ASQExcellence) |
| Body of Knowledge | 2022 CSSYB Body of Knowledge |
| Computer-delivered format | 90 multiple-choice questions: 80 scored, 10 unscored |
| Exam time | 2 hours 18 minutes within a 2 hour 30 minute appointment |
| Paper-and-pencil alternative | 80 questions, 2-hour examination |
| Language | English only |
| Delivery | Prometric test centers or ProProctor live remote proctoring in eligible locations |
| Prerequisites | None: no education or work-experience requirement |
| Passing score | 550 scaled points out of 750 |
| Recertification | None: lifetime certification |
If you are still deciding whether to sit the exam at all, the overview in What Is CSSYB Certification? covers the credential's purpose, and CSSYB Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify confirms there is no experience gate to clear first.
Where the 80 Scored Questions Come From
ASQ publishes the number of scored questions per domain rather than percentage weights. That distinction matters: the allocations below are official counts, and any percentage you see elsewhere is a calculation, not an ASQ-published weight.
| Domain | Scored Questions |
|---|---|
| Domain 1: Six Sigma Fundamentals | 20 |
| Domain 2: Define Phase | 14 |
| Domain 3: Measure Phase | 15 |
| Domain 4: Analyze Phase | 17 |
| Domain 5: Improve and Control Phases | 14 |
| Total scored | 80 |
Fundamentals and Analyze together account for 37 of the 80 scored items, which is a little under half the exam. The remaining three domains split the rest almost evenly, so no domain is safe to skip. For a deeper walk through each content area, see CSSYB Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Domain-by-Domain Fact Sheet
ASQ notes that the explanatory subtext under each Body of Knowledge heading is not all-inclusive of possible exam content. Use the lists below as high-priority anchors, then confirm coverage against the official 2022 Body of Knowledge in the certification brochure.
Domain 1: Six Sigma Fundamentals (20 questions)
The biggest single allocation, and the vocabulary that every later domain depends on.
- What Six Sigma is and the logic of reducing variation and defects in a process
- The DMAIC phases and how each one hands off to the next
- Lean concepts, including the identification and removal of waste
- Roles on a project team, and where a Yellow Belt fits relative to other belt levels
- The voice of the customer and the link between customer requirements and process outputs
- Basic quality concepts such as cost of poor quality and the value of process thinking
Domain 2: Define Phase (14 questions)
Framing the problem so the team improves the right thing.
- Project charters: problem statement, scope, goals, and stakeholders
- Identifying customers and translating their needs into measurable requirements
- High-level process mapping tools such as SIPOC
- Project selection logic and basic stakeholder awareness
Domain 3: Measure Phase (15 questions)
Establishing what the process currently does, with data you can trust.
- Data types and basic data collection planning
- Process maps that show how work actually flows
- Basic descriptive statistics: mean, median, mode, range, and standard deviation
- Reading simple graphs such as histograms, run charts, and Pareto charts
- The idea of measurement system reliability and why bad measurement undermines everything downstream
Domain 4: Analyze Phase (17 questions)
The second-largest allocation: finding and confirming causes of the problem.
- Cause-and-effect tools such as fishbone diagrams and the 5 Whys
- Identifying sources of variation and separating common-cause from special-cause thinking
- Reading basic relationships in data, including scatter plots and the difference between correlation and causation
- Waste and non-value-added activity analysis
- Using data displays to prioritize which causes deserve action
Domain 5: Improve and Control Phases (14 questions)
Two phases combined into one domain: making the fix, then making it stick.
- Generating and selecting solutions, including simple pilot-and-test thinking
- Mistake-proofing and other defect-prevention approaches
- Standard work, visual management, and 5S-style workplace organization
- Control plans, simple control charts, and monitoring to detect drift
- Documentation and handoff so gains are sustained after the project closes
Question style you should expect
Every question is multiple choice. Expect a mix of definition-recognition items ("which tool is used to...") and short scenario items where you identify the right phase, tool, or interpretation of a chart. Because the exam is open book, pure recall is less decisive than knowing where to find an answer quickly and recognizing which concept a scenario is testing. For a realistic sense of how demanding that feels, read How Hard Is the CSSYB Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Scoring and Passing Facts
The passing criterion is 550 scaled points out of 750. This is a scaled score, not a fixed raw percentage of questions answered correctly, so you cannot translate it into "I need exactly X of 80 right." Scaling accounts for differences in difficulty between exam forms. The full explanation lives in CSSYB Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Open-Book, Calculator, and ID Rules
The open-book policy is one of the most useful features of this exam, but only if you prepare your reference material properly.
- References: securely bound reference books and notes are allowed. Book tabs are permitted under ASQ's rules.
- Calculator: the computer-based exam provides an on-screen scientific calculator, and approved non-programmable handheld calculators are also permitted.
- Identification: bring government-issued photo identification where the name and signature match your registration.
Scratch paper depends on how you test
This is the detail candidates most often mix up, so keep the two delivery modes separate:
| Delivery Mode | Scratch Work |
|---|---|
| Prometric test center | Scratch paper and pencils are provided |
| ProProctor live remote proctoring | Physical scratch paper and writing implements are prohibited; you use the electronic Scratchpad instead |
If you choose remote testing, practice working through calculations in an on-screen scratch tool beforehand. ASQ's remote-proctoring FAQ notes the physical scratch-paper restriction took effect July 1, 2022, and the current computer-based testing page lists country restrictions for remote delivery, so confirm eligibility in your location before you build a plan around it.
Key Takeaway
Build your bound reference around the five domain names, with tabs placed at each one. Index the formulas and tool definitions you are least sure of, since time spent searching a poorly organized binder costs more than the answer is worth.
Fees, Retakes, and Lifetime Status
The 2026 Computer-Based Testing Exam Application lists the following, and ASQ notes fees are subject to change:
| Attempt | ASQ Member | Nonmember |
|---|---|---|
| Initial exam | USD 334 | USD 434 |
| Retake | USD 234 | USD 234 |
Reduced-rate retakes must occur within two years of your last attempt, and a retake cannot fall in the same testing window as the attempt it follows. Each retake incurs the applicable fee. Scheduling mechanics are covered in CSSYB Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling, and a full cost walkthrough is in CSSYB Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Once earned, the Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt is a lifetime certification. There are no recertification units to log and no renewal requirement, which distinguishes it from credentials that require ongoing maintenance.
A Four-Week Review Order Built Around the Domains
If you only want one study framework, make it this one. The order below follows the logic of the exam itself: build the vocabulary first, then move through the phases in sequence, then finish with the allocation-heavy analysis material and a full run-through. For a broader plan, see CSSYB Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Six Sigma Fundamentals and Define Phase
- Learn DMAIC, Lean waste, and team roles first, since every later question assumes them
- Cover charters, SIPOC, and voice-of-the-customer language
Measure Phase
- Drill data types, descriptive statistics, and reading histograms, run charts, and Pareto charts
- Practice the arithmetic with the same calculator you will use on exam day
Analyze Phase
- Spend extra time here: at 17 scored questions it is the second-largest domain
- Practice choosing the right cause-analysis tool for a given scenario
Improve and Control Phases, then full review
- Cover mistake-proofing, standard work, control plans, and basic control charts
- Finish with a timed full-length practice run and finalize your tabbed reference
Because the exam has 80 scored items across 2 hours 18 minutes, you have a little under two minutes per question on average. Timed practice matters mainly so you learn how quickly you can consult your reference without losing your pace.
Where the Credential Gets Used
The Yellow Belt is a foundation-level credential, so it tends to appear in roles where employees participate in improvement projects rather than lead them: operations, manufacturing, quality assurance, supply chain, healthcare administration, and service or transactional process teams. It signals that you can speak the DMAIC language, contribute to data collection and process mapping, and support a Green or Black Belt-led project. It typically complements a core job function rather than defining one.
Specific earnings depend heavily on role, industry, and region, and this sheet does not quote a figure. For a measured look at how the credential relates to pay and opportunity, see CSSYB Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis, CSSYB Jobs, and Is the CSSYB Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026.
Quick Answers (FAQ)
The computer-delivered exam has 90 multiple-choice questions, of which 80 are scored and 10 are unscored. The paper-and-pencil alternative has 80 questions with a two-hour examination time. Both are in English only.
You need 550 scaled points out of 750. This is a scaled score rather than a fixed percentage of correct answers, so there is no single raw-score cutoff you can calculate in advance.
Yes. The exam is open book with securely bound references and notes, and book tabs are permitted. Calculators are also allowed: an on-screen scientific calculator is provided in computer testing, and approved non-programmable handheld calculators are permitted.
No. Test centers provide scratch paper and pencils, but remote ProProctor testing prohibits physical scratch paper and writing implements. Remote candidates use the electronic Scratchpad instead.
No. The Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt is a lifetime certification with no recertification units or renewal requirement. If you need a refresher on the credential itself, start with What Is CSSYB? or the broader CSSYB Certification overview.
Bookmark this page, verify any fee or policy detail against ASQ's current published materials before you register, and use the domain allocations above to decide where your review hours should go. Then test yourself against realistic questions at CSSYB Exam Prep before your appointment.