CERTIFIED GENERAL APPRAISER EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Verified Questions with Answers and Detailed Rationales
2025/2026 Q&A | Instant Download PDF
Q1. An appraiser is asked to provide a "range of value" without a point estimate.
Under USPAP, this assignment is:
A) Prohibited because all appraisals must conclude a single point value
B) Permitted as an appraisal if the range is not overly broad and the appraiser can
develop a credible opinion
C) Only permitted for review assignments
D) Must be reported as a consulting assignment, not an appraisal
Rationale: USPAP does not require a single point value. An opinion of value can be
expressed as a range, provided the appraiser can develop and report a credible conclusion.
The range must be supported by market data .
Q2. Which of the following is a violation of the Ethics Rule?
A) Accepting an assignment with a predetermined value
B) Developing an appraisal that is not credible
C) Basing a fee on the value conclusion when the fee is paid by a third party not
involved in the transaction
D) Including a hypothetical condition without disclosure
Rationale: Accepting an assignment with a predetermined value is a direct violation of
the Ethics Rule. USPAP prohibits appraisers from accepting assignments where the value
conclusion is predetermined. A fee based on value is permitted if disclosed and not
contingent upon the amount of value .
,Q3. An appraiser performs an appraisal for mortgage lending purposes. Two years
later, the same appraiser is asked to perform a retrospective appraisal of the same
property as of the original effective date. What is the appraiser's obligation
regarding workfile retention?
A) No need to retain a new workfile since the original file exists
B) Must retain a new workfile for at least five years after the new report's
preparation
C) Must retain the new workfile for at least two years
D) Only required to retain the original workfile for five years from the original effective
date
Rationale: USPAP requires that each assignment's workfile be retained for at least five
years after the date the appraiser prepares the final report. The retrospective assignment is
a separate assignment, requiring its own workfile retention period .
Q4. A certified general appraiser accepts an assignment to value a regional
shopping mall. The appraiser has experience with retail properties but has never
appraised a mall with more than 500,000 square feet. Under USPAP, the appraiser
must:
A) Decline the assignment due to lack of specific experience
B) Disclose the lack of experience and take steps to become competent
C) Engage a mall specialist as a co-signer on the report
D) State in the report that no warranty is made regarding the value
Rationale: The Competency Rule requires an appraiser to have the necessary knowledge
and experience to complete an assignment competently, or alternatively, disclose the lack
of competency before accepting the assignment and take steps to become competent (e.g.,
research, education, assistance) .
Q5. Which statement is TRUE regarding the Jurisdictional Exception Rule?
A) It allows an appraiser to ignore any USPAP requirement if the client requests
B) It applies only when laws or regulations conflict with USPAP and override those
specific USPAP requirements
,C) It permits appraisers to avoid disclosing prior services performed for the property
D) It is only applicable in federally related transactions
Rationale: The Jurisdictional Exception Rule (JER) applies when compliance with a specific
USPAP requirement is contrary to law or public policy. In such cases, the appraiser must
comply with the law, but must disclose the exception in the report .
Q6. Which of the following is TRUE regarding the Scope of Work Rule?
A) The scope of work is determined solely by the client
B) The scope of work must be determined based on the intended use and the
appraiser's judgment
C) A restricted appraisal does not require a scope of work disclosure
D) The scope of work must be the same for all assignments
Rationale: The Scope of Work Rule requires appraisers to determine the appropriate level
of research and analysis based on the intended use of the appraisal and their professional
judgment. The scope of work must be disclosed in the report .
Q7. Under USPAP, what must be disclosed if an appraiser uses extraordinary
assumptions?
A) Only the final value conclusion
B) The assumption's nature and potential impact on the valuation
C) The appraiser's personal beliefs about the assumption
D) No disclosure is required
Rationale: The appraiser must disclose the extraordinary assumption, its nature, and how
it could affect the appraisal. This ensures that intended users understand the basis for the
value conclusion .
, Q8. A reviewer is asked to review an appraisal performed by another appraiser.
The reviewer finds significant errors and concludes the original appraisal is not
credible. The reviewer must:
A) State the conclusion without further commentary
B) Provide specific reasons and support for the conclusion that the original
appraisal is not credible
C) Contact the original appraiser and ask them to revise the report before issuing the
review
D) Refuse to issue the review because it is a violation of professional courtesy
Rationale: USPAP Standard 3 requires the reviewer to provide sufficient information to
support the review opinion, including specific reasons why the original appraisal is or is
not credible. Silence or vague statements are not permitted .
Q9. An appraiser discovers that the client's intended use of the appraisal is for
syndication, which requires a review by a third-party appraiser under state law.
The appraiser is not certified in that state. The appraiser should:
A) Decline the assignment or obtain certification in that state
B) Proceed because the law applies to the reviewer, not the original appraiser
C) Issue the report as a restricted appraisal to avoid the requirement
D) Subcontract the work to a local appraiser and sign as supervisor
Rationale: Under the Competency Rule and state licensing laws, an appraiser must be
licensed or certified in the jurisdiction where the property is located if the intended use
requires so. The appraiser must either become competent (get certified) or decline .
Q10. An appraiser provides a restricted appraisal report. Which of the following is
NOT required in that report?
A) The intended use
B) Summary of the supporting information
C) The appraiser's signature and certification
D) The scope of work performed
Verified Questions with Answers and Detailed Rationales
2025/2026 Q&A | Instant Download PDF
Q1. An appraiser is asked to provide a "range of value" without a point estimate.
Under USPAP, this assignment is:
A) Prohibited because all appraisals must conclude a single point value
B) Permitted as an appraisal if the range is not overly broad and the appraiser can
develop a credible opinion
C) Only permitted for review assignments
D) Must be reported as a consulting assignment, not an appraisal
Rationale: USPAP does not require a single point value. An opinion of value can be
expressed as a range, provided the appraiser can develop and report a credible conclusion.
The range must be supported by market data .
Q2. Which of the following is a violation of the Ethics Rule?
A) Accepting an assignment with a predetermined value
B) Developing an appraisal that is not credible
C) Basing a fee on the value conclusion when the fee is paid by a third party not
involved in the transaction
D) Including a hypothetical condition without disclosure
Rationale: Accepting an assignment with a predetermined value is a direct violation of
the Ethics Rule. USPAP prohibits appraisers from accepting assignments where the value
conclusion is predetermined. A fee based on value is permitted if disclosed and not
contingent upon the amount of value .
,Q3. An appraiser performs an appraisal for mortgage lending purposes. Two years
later, the same appraiser is asked to perform a retrospective appraisal of the same
property as of the original effective date. What is the appraiser's obligation
regarding workfile retention?
A) No need to retain a new workfile since the original file exists
B) Must retain a new workfile for at least five years after the new report's
preparation
C) Must retain the new workfile for at least two years
D) Only required to retain the original workfile for five years from the original effective
date
Rationale: USPAP requires that each assignment's workfile be retained for at least five
years after the date the appraiser prepares the final report. The retrospective assignment is
a separate assignment, requiring its own workfile retention period .
Q4. A certified general appraiser accepts an assignment to value a regional
shopping mall. The appraiser has experience with retail properties but has never
appraised a mall with more than 500,000 square feet. Under USPAP, the appraiser
must:
A) Decline the assignment due to lack of specific experience
B) Disclose the lack of experience and take steps to become competent
C) Engage a mall specialist as a co-signer on the report
D) State in the report that no warranty is made regarding the value
Rationale: The Competency Rule requires an appraiser to have the necessary knowledge
and experience to complete an assignment competently, or alternatively, disclose the lack
of competency before accepting the assignment and take steps to become competent (e.g.,
research, education, assistance) .
Q5. Which statement is TRUE regarding the Jurisdictional Exception Rule?
A) It allows an appraiser to ignore any USPAP requirement if the client requests
B) It applies only when laws or regulations conflict with USPAP and override those
specific USPAP requirements
,C) It permits appraisers to avoid disclosing prior services performed for the property
D) It is only applicable in federally related transactions
Rationale: The Jurisdictional Exception Rule (JER) applies when compliance with a specific
USPAP requirement is contrary to law or public policy. In such cases, the appraiser must
comply with the law, but must disclose the exception in the report .
Q6. Which of the following is TRUE regarding the Scope of Work Rule?
A) The scope of work is determined solely by the client
B) The scope of work must be determined based on the intended use and the
appraiser's judgment
C) A restricted appraisal does not require a scope of work disclosure
D) The scope of work must be the same for all assignments
Rationale: The Scope of Work Rule requires appraisers to determine the appropriate level
of research and analysis based on the intended use of the appraisal and their professional
judgment. The scope of work must be disclosed in the report .
Q7. Under USPAP, what must be disclosed if an appraiser uses extraordinary
assumptions?
A) Only the final value conclusion
B) The assumption's nature and potential impact on the valuation
C) The appraiser's personal beliefs about the assumption
D) No disclosure is required
Rationale: The appraiser must disclose the extraordinary assumption, its nature, and how
it could affect the appraisal. This ensures that intended users understand the basis for the
value conclusion .
, Q8. A reviewer is asked to review an appraisal performed by another appraiser.
The reviewer finds significant errors and concludes the original appraisal is not
credible. The reviewer must:
A) State the conclusion without further commentary
B) Provide specific reasons and support for the conclusion that the original
appraisal is not credible
C) Contact the original appraiser and ask them to revise the report before issuing the
review
D) Refuse to issue the review because it is a violation of professional courtesy
Rationale: USPAP Standard 3 requires the reviewer to provide sufficient information to
support the review opinion, including specific reasons why the original appraisal is or is
not credible. Silence or vague statements are not permitted .
Q9. An appraiser discovers that the client's intended use of the appraisal is for
syndication, which requires a review by a third-party appraiser under state law.
The appraiser is not certified in that state. The appraiser should:
A) Decline the assignment or obtain certification in that state
B) Proceed because the law applies to the reviewer, not the original appraiser
C) Issue the report as a restricted appraisal to avoid the requirement
D) Subcontract the work to a local appraiser and sign as supervisor
Rationale: Under the Competency Rule and state licensing laws, an appraiser must be
licensed or certified in the jurisdiction where the property is located if the intended use
requires so. The appraiser must either become competent (get certified) or decline .
Q10. An appraiser provides a restricted appraisal report. Which of the following is
NOT required in that report?
A) The intended use
B) Summary of the supporting information
C) The appraiser's signature and certification
D) The scope of work performed
