New York Notary Exam Myths, Checked Against the Rule Text
Claims about the New York notary exam that circulate in study materials, each checked against the official text. Verdicts quote the source word for word.
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| Claim | Verdict |
|---|---|
| The New York notary exam has 40 questions. | Not published by the state |
| You need 70%, or 28 of 40, to pass. | Not published by the state |
Does the New York notary exam have 40 questions?
The claim: “The New York notary exam has 40 questions.”
Not published by the state. The Department of State says the exam is multiple choice and allows 1 hour, but it does not publish a question count. Any fixed number is unofficial.
“The exam is multiple choice.”
Source: NY Department of State: July-December 2026 notary written exam information and schedule
“Applicants will be allowed 1 hour to complete the exam.”
Source: NY Department of State: July-December 2026 notary written exam information and schedule
Do you need 70% to pass the New York notary exam?
The claim: “You need 70%, or 28 of 40, to pass.”
Not published by the state. The Department of State reports results only as passed or failed, with no numerical score, and does not publish a passing percentage.
“All exam results are reported as either passed or failed; you will not get a numerical score.”
Source: NY Department of State: July-December 2026 notary written exam information and schedule
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Independent study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any state agency, exam vendor or course provider. All questions are original practice questions written from official public sources; they are not actual exam questions. Laws and fees change, so confirm details with the official source before you rely on them. Official sources: NY DOS: Become a notary public, Notary Public License Law (study booklet).
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