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California Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR)
Professional Exam QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
California Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) Professional Examination
10 MOST-TESTED EXAM COVERAGE AREAS
10-point coverage
1. Reporting Proceedings — obtaining case information, identifying parties, setting up
proceedings, creating a verbatim record, managing exhibits, handling speakers, objections,
interruptions, read-backs, and reporting technology.
2. Transcribing Proceedings — accurate transcription, transcript formatting, speaker identification,
punctuation, spelling, parentheticals, Q-and-A format, quotations, corrections, and certification.
3. Transcript Management — ordering transcripts, delivery, notices, fees, copies, exhibits,
confidential materials, transcript corrections, storage, retention, and record security.
4. Professional Ethics — impartiality, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, gifts, professional
conduct, independence, fairness, and avoiding improper relationships.
5. California CSR Laws and Regulations — Business and Professions Code, California Code of
Regulations, scope of practice, licensing requirements, professional responsibilities, and Board
authority.
6. Court and Deposition Procedures — court proceedings, depositions, arbitrations, hearings,
grand-jury proceedings, attorneys, witnesses, parties, and judicial instructions.
7. Transcript Standards and Certification — certification requirements, transcript format, page
numbering, appearance pages, exhibits, indexes, reporter identification, and accurate
certification.
8. Technology and Electronic Records — stenographic equipment, voice writing, CAT software,
electronic files, backups, secure transmission, remote proceedings, and technology problems.
9. Records, Exhibits, and Confidential Information — handling exhibits, sealed or confidential
material, original records, electronic documents, privacy, secure storage, and proper
distribution.
10. Licensure and Professional Administration — examination requirements, licensing, renewal,
firm registration, address changes, discipline, examination security, and Board requirements.
The Board states that California CSR licensure involves English, Professional Practice, and skills
requirements, subject to applicable qualification pathways and current rules.
(courtreportersboard.ca.gov)
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250 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
Questions 1–50
1.
A reporter is preparing for a deposition and needs the correct case information before transcription
begins. What should the reporter do first?
A. Ask the witness for the case number
B. Obtain the case caption and proceeding information from reliable sources
C. Wait until the attorney gives the information after the deposition
D. Use information from another reporter's transcript
Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter should obtain accurate case and caption information before preparing the
transcript. Reliable sources include the court calendar, case information, and other authorized sources.
2.
During a court proceeding, the judge makes a ruling that is followed by an attorney's objection. What
should the reporter record?
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A. Only the judge's ruling
B. Only the attorney's objection
C. Both the ruling and the objection accurately
D. Neither statement because they are not testimony
Answer: C
Rationale: A verbatim record includes testimony, objections, rulings, exceptions, arguments, and other
required oral statements made during the proceeding. (courtreportersboard.ca.gov)
3.
A witness speaks very quickly and the reporter cannot confidently capture every word. What is the best
professional response?
A. Guess the missing words later
B. Ignore the missing words
C. Request that the speaker repeat the statement
D. Ask another reporter to supply the missing words
Answer: C
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Rationale: Accuracy is essential. When a reporter cannot hear or understand a statement, requesting
repetition is safer than guessing or reconstructing testimony.
4.
A reporter notices that two speakers are talking at the same time during an important answer. What
should the reporter do?
A. Select whichever speaker sounds clearer
B. Accurately indicate the interruption and seek clarification when necessary
C. Record only the attorney
D. Remove both statements from the record
Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter must preserve the record accurately. Overlapping speech should not simply be
omitted or guessed.
5.
A reporter is asked to certify a transcript that contains several words the reporter knows were entered
incorrectly. What should happen before certification?
California Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR)
Professional Exam QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
California Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) Professional Examination
10 MOST-TESTED EXAM COVERAGE AREAS
10-point coverage
1. Reporting Proceedings — obtaining case information, identifying parties, setting up
proceedings, creating a verbatim record, managing exhibits, handling speakers, objections,
interruptions, read-backs, and reporting technology.
2. Transcribing Proceedings — accurate transcription, transcript formatting, speaker identification,
punctuation, spelling, parentheticals, Q-and-A format, quotations, corrections, and certification.
3. Transcript Management — ordering transcripts, delivery, notices, fees, copies, exhibits,
confidential materials, transcript corrections, storage, retention, and record security.
4. Professional Ethics — impartiality, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, gifts, professional
conduct, independence, fairness, and avoiding improper relationships.
5. California CSR Laws and Regulations — Business and Professions Code, California Code of
Regulations, scope of practice, licensing requirements, professional responsibilities, and Board
authority.
6. Court and Deposition Procedures — court proceedings, depositions, arbitrations, hearings,
grand-jury proceedings, attorneys, witnesses, parties, and judicial instructions.
7. Transcript Standards and Certification — certification requirements, transcript format, page
numbering, appearance pages, exhibits, indexes, reporter identification, and accurate
certification.
8. Technology and Electronic Records — stenographic equipment, voice writing, CAT software,
electronic files, backups, secure transmission, remote proceedings, and technology problems.
9. Records, Exhibits, and Confidential Information — handling exhibits, sealed or confidential
material, original records, electronic documents, privacy, secure storage, and proper
distribution.
10. Licensure and Professional Administration — examination requirements, licensing, renewal,
firm registration, address changes, discipline, examination security, and Board requirements.
The Board states that California CSR licensure involves English, Professional Practice, and skills
requirements, subject to applicable qualification pathways and current rules.
(courtreportersboard.ca.gov)
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250 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
Questions 1–50
1.
A reporter is preparing for a deposition and needs the correct case information before transcription
begins. What should the reporter do first?
A. Ask the witness for the case number
B. Obtain the case caption and proceeding information from reliable sources
C. Wait until the attorney gives the information after the deposition
D. Use information from another reporter's transcript
Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter should obtain accurate case and caption information before preparing the
transcript. Reliable sources include the court calendar, case information, and other authorized sources.
2.
During a court proceeding, the judge makes a ruling that is followed by an attorney's objection. What
should the reporter record?
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A. Only the judge's ruling
B. Only the attorney's objection
C. Both the ruling and the objection accurately
D. Neither statement because they are not testimony
Answer: C
Rationale: A verbatim record includes testimony, objections, rulings, exceptions, arguments, and other
required oral statements made during the proceeding. (courtreportersboard.ca.gov)
3.
A witness speaks very quickly and the reporter cannot confidently capture every word. What is the best
professional response?
A. Guess the missing words later
B. Ignore the missing words
C. Request that the speaker repeat the statement
D. Ask another reporter to supply the missing words
Answer: C
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Rationale: Accuracy is essential. When a reporter cannot hear or understand a statement, requesting
repetition is safer than guessing or reconstructing testimony.
4.
A reporter notices that two speakers are talking at the same time during an important answer. What
should the reporter do?
A. Select whichever speaker sounds clearer
B. Accurately indicate the interruption and seek clarification when necessary
C. Record only the attorney
D. Remove both statements from the record
Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter must preserve the record accurately. Overlapping speech should not simply be
omitted or guessed.
5.
A reporter is asked to certify a transcript that contains several words the reporter knows were entered
incorrectly. What should happen before certification?
