Exam FAQ — C1000-179
Quick answers about the IBM Qiskit v2.X Developer exam. The exam facts below were checked against IBM's official exam page ↗ on 18 October 2026. IBM can change them at any time, so check that page before you book.
CertiQ is an independent community project, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by IBM.
What is exam C1000-179?
C1000-179 — Fundamentals of Quantum Computing Using Qiskit v2.X Developer is the one exam required for the credential IBM Certified Quantum Computation using Qiskit v2.X Developer — Associate (credential code C9008400, which replaces the earlier credential C0010300). It tests whether you can build and run quantum programs with the Qiskit SDK and Qiskit Runtime from Python.
How many questions, how long, and what is the passing score?
| Questions | 68 |
| Questions needed to pass | 47 (about 69 %) |
| Time allowed | 90 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Price shown for the United States | $200 USD (prices can differ by country) |
What does the exam cover?
Eight sections, weighted as follows on the official page:
| # | Section | Weight | ≈ Questions of 68 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perform quantum operations | 16 % | ~11 |
| 2 | Visualize quantum circuits, measurements, and states | 11 % | ~7 |
| 3 | Create quantum circuits | 18 % | ~12 |
| 4 | Run quantum circuits | 15 % | ~10 |
| 5 | Use the sampler primitive | 12 % | ~8 |
| 6 | Use the estimator primitive | 12 % | ~8 |
| 7 | Retrieve and analyze the results of quantum circuits | 10 % | ~7 |
| 8 | Operate with OpenQASM | 6 % | ~4 |
The question counts are our rounding of the weights, not official numbers. Each section has its own study page here, with the official objectives and curated resources.
How do I register?
Use Register for exam on the official exam page ↗.
What official preparation material does IBM offer?
The exam page links a Sample Test, a Study Guide PDF, an Assessment Exam (an online practice test with a score report, booked through Pearson VUE) and recommended courses. Take IBM's Sample Test once: it shows the question style better than any description can.
Which Qiskit version does it cover?
Qiskit SDK v2.x and Qiskit Runtime, including the Sampler and Estimator primitives.
Every CertiQ question is executed against a pinned stack (Qiskit 2.5.0, qiskit-ibm-runtime
0.48.0) with SamplerV2 and EstimatorV2. Newer qiskit-ibm-runtime releases (0.50 and later)
deprecate those classes in favour of new executor-based primitives. The exam objectives still
name the sampler and estimator primitives, so CertiQ stays on the V2 primitives until the exam
changes.
Is CertiQ official? Does it contain real exam questions?
No and no. CertiQ is unofficial. Its questions are written from the public exam objectives and the open Qiskit documentation, never from exam content. Each answer is backed by an executed proof or a cited documentation page.
How close is the CertiQ mock exam to the real one?
The mock exam uses the official format: 68 questions, 90 minutes and a pass line of 47. Its questions are sampled to match the official section weights and an easy/medium/hard mix, and about a fifth of them use figures (circuit drawings, histograms, Bloch spheres). Your score report shows which sections to revisit.
Is CertiQ free? Do I need an account?
It is free, with no account. Your progress stays in your browser and can be exported on the settings page. Start with Start here or the guided path.