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Open free ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor prep resources ↗Exam facts & prep options
PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor (exam)
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, with direct links to official sources.
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Questions80 multiple-choice questions across seven competency domains — 13/8/14/12/18/7/8 per domain — split 40 questions measuring comprehension/application/analysis and 40 measuring evaluation
Testing time3 hours (plus 30 additional minutes on request for candidates taking the exam in a non-native language)
ScoringPassing score of 70%
Exam feeUSD 1,000 for the Lead Exam taken standalone, plus a USD 500 certification application fee; when booked through a PECB partner, the training fee includes the first exam attempt, one free retake, the certification application fee, and the first year of the Annual Maintenance Fee
Prep options
Study resources for ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- PECB
- Category
- Technology Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Current version
- ISO/IEC 27001-based Lead Auditor exam (multiple-choice edition); Candidate Handbook Version 1.5, ©2026
- Where it applies
- Global
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- 0–100% (per-domain question/point weights shown in the handbook content table; results reported as pass/fail only)
- Testing provider
- PECB (self-delivered via the remotely invigilated PECB Exams application and its partner network)
- Format
- Multiple-choice, open-book — standalone and scenario-based questions (each scenario followed by five questions); allowed references are a hard copy of the main standard, training course materials, personal notes, and a hard-copy dictionary; delivered online via the PECB Exams application (remotely invigilated) or paper-based through a PECB authorized partner
- Availability
- Scheduled online exam sessions posted on the PECB Exam Events page (sessions listed in multiple countries), or paper-based on Day 5 of partner-led training courses / dates arranged with the partner
- Results
- Instant result with exact grade for online multiple-choice exams; two to four weeks for paper-based multiple-choice exams
- Remote testing
- Available
Exam structure
80 multiple-choice questions across seven competency domains with handbook weights: Fundamental principles and concepts of an ISMS (16.25%); ISMS and ISO/IEC 27001 requirements (10%); Fundamental audit concepts and principles (17.5%); Preparing an ISO/IEC 27001 audit (15%); Conducting an ISO/IEC 27001 audit (22.5%); Closing an ISO/IEC 27001 audit (8.75%); Managing an ISO/IEC 27001 audit program (10%)
Where rules vary
PECB delivers the same exam worldwide through its international partner network and online via the PECB Exams application; the candidate handbook lists no jurisdiction-specific variants (only a 10-minute non-native-language accommodation).
Eligibility
No mandatory prerequisite to sit the exam (training is recommended but not required for certification exams); the credential tiers set experience requirements — Provisional Auditor (none), Auditor (2 years incl. 1 in ISM + 200 audit hours), Lead Auditor (5 years incl. 2 in ISM + 300 audit hours), Senior Lead Auditor (10 years incl. 7 in ISM + 1,000 audit hours)
Retake policy
Unlimited retakes; 15-day wait after a failed first attempt; candidates who trained with a PECB partner get one free retake within 12 months of course completion, otherwise retake fees apply