AAERT CER EXAM – 100-QUESTION PRACTICE TEST
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES
(2026 UPDATE)
PART 1 – QUESTIONS 1–50
Question 1. The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into how many regional
circuits?
A. 11
B. 12
C. 25
D. 50
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 94 federal district courts are organized into 12 regional circuits . These
circuits include 11 numbered circuits and the District of Columbia Circuit. Each circuit
has a Court of Appeals that reviews decisions from the district courts within its
geographical area.
Question 2. If the top tier is number one, place the following court systems in the
correct order from highest to lowest: Municipal Courts, Court of Appeals, State Supreme
Court, Circuit or District Courts.
A. State Supreme Court → Circuit or District Courts → Court of Appeals → Municipal
Courts
B. State Supreme Court → Court of Appeals → Circuit or District Courts → Municipal
,Courts
C. Court of Appeals → State Supreme Court → Circuit or District Courts → Municipal
Courts
D. Circuit or District Courts → State Supreme Court → Court of Appeals → Municipal
Courts
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The hierarchy of state court systems, from highest to lowest, is typically State
Supreme Court (court of last resort), Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate court),
Circuit or District Courts (trial courts of general jurisdiction), and Municipal Courts (trial
courts of limited jurisdiction) . This structure allows for appeals to move upward through
the system.
Question 3. Which of the following is a requirement to sit for the AAERT CER exam?
A. A college degree in court reporting
B. One year of experience as a reporter or transcriber
C. A high school diploma or its equivalent and eligibility for a notary public commission
D. A current certification as a Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: To sit for the AAERT CER exam, candidates must be eligible for a notary
public commission and have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent . While
one year of experience or completion of a course of study is recommended for a greater
likelihood of passing, it is not a strict requirement to take the exam .
Question 4. What is the ethical obligation of a Certified Electronic Reporter regarding
their role in the legal proceedings?
A. To provide legal advice to the parties involved
B. To act as an impartial, non-party to the case
C. To testify as an expert witness on the evidence
D. To mediate disputes between the parties
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A digital reporter's fundamental ethical duty is to be an impartial, non-party
to the case . Their role is to capture and preserve a verbatim record of the proceedings
by recording and annotating, and they must be fair and impartial toward each
participant, always being truthful and accurate . Providing legal advice, mediating, or
acting as an expert witness would violate this impartiality.
Question 5. What is the primary purpose of a log note (annotation) during electronic
reporting?
A. A note from the judge to the court clerk
B. A timestamped annotation identifying speakers, events, or proceedings
C. A maintenance log for recording equipment
D. A written request for a transcript
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A log note is a timestamped annotation entered by the electronic reporter
during proceedings to identify speakers, mark significant events (objections, exhibits,
recesses), and provide a searchable index of the recording . Accurate log notes are
essential for efficient transcript production .
Question 6. What does the legal term 'voir dire' refer to?
A. The judge's final instructions to the jury
B. The process of questioning prospective jurors to determine their suitability for jury
service
C. A motion to dismiss a case
D. The defendant's opening statement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Voir dire is the process of questioning prospective jurors by attorneys and/or
the judge to determine their qualifications, biases, and suitability for jury service .
Electronic reporters must be familiar with this term as it is a common proceeding type
, they will record and annotate . The term is derived from Old French, meaning "to speak
the truth."
Question 7. What is the minimum standard for audio recording quality in most court
reporting applications?
A. 8-bit, 8 kHz mono (telephone quality)
B. 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo (CD quality) or higher
C. 4-bit, 4 kHz mono
D. 32-bit, 192 kHz surround sound
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Most court reporting standards require at least 16-bit, 44.1 kHz (CD quality)
or higher audio recording quality to ensure clear, intelligible recordings that can be
accurately transcribed . Lower quality settings do not capture sufficient detail for reliable
transcription.
Question 8. A Certified Electronic Reporter should avoid giving or receiving gifts
to/from attorneys, clients, or witnesses to:
A. Reduce personal expenses
B. Follow tax regulations
C. Avoid the appearance of impropriety and maintain impartiality
D. Comply with notary public requirements
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The ethical standards for digital reporters require avoiding giving or
receiving any gift, incentive, or reward to/from anyone associated with the proceedings
(other than payment for services) . This is to guard against not only the fact but the
appearance of a conflict of interest .
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES
(2026 UPDATE)
PART 1 – QUESTIONS 1–50
Question 1. The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into how many regional
circuits?
A. 11
B. 12
C. 25
D. 50
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 94 federal district courts are organized into 12 regional circuits . These
circuits include 11 numbered circuits and the District of Columbia Circuit. Each circuit
has a Court of Appeals that reviews decisions from the district courts within its
geographical area.
Question 2. If the top tier is number one, place the following court systems in the
correct order from highest to lowest: Municipal Courts, Court of Appeals, State Supreme
Court, Circuit or District Courts.
A. State Supreme Court → Circuit or District Courts → Court of Appeals → Municipal
Courts
B. State Supreme Court → Court of Appeals → Circuit or District Courts → Municipal
,Courts
C. Court of Appeals → State Supreme Court → Circuit or District Courts → Municipal
Courts
D. Circuit or District Courts → State Supreme Court → Court of Appeals → Municipal
Courts
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The hierarchy of state court systems, from highest to lowest, is typically State
Supreme Court (court of last resort), Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate court),
Circuit or District Courts (trial courts of general jurisdiction), and Municipal Courts (trial
courts of limited jurisdiction) . This structure allows for appeals to move upward through
the system.
Question 3. Which of the following is a requirement to sit for the AAERT CER exam?
A. A college degree in court reporting
B. One year of experience as a reporter or transcriber
C. A high school diploma or its equivalent and eligibility for a notary public commission
D. A current certification as a Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: To sit for the AAERT CER exam, candidates must be eligible for a notary
public commission and have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent . While
one year of experience or completion of a course of study is recommended for a greater
likelihood of passing, it is not a strict requirement to take the exam .
Question 4. What is the ethical obligation of a Certified Electronic Reporter regarding
their role in the legal proceedings?
A. To provide legal advice to the parties involved
B. To act as an impartial, non-party to the case
C. To testify as an expert witness on the evidence
D. To mediate disputes between the parties
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A digital reporter's fundamental ethical duty is to be an impartial, non-party
to the case . Their role is to capture and preserve a verbatim record of the proceedings
by recording and annotating, and they must be fair and impartial toward each
participant, always being truthful and accurate . Providing legal advice, mediating, or
acting as an expert witness would violate this impartiality.
Question 5. What is the primary purpose of a log note (annotation) during electronic
reporting?
A. A note from the judge to the court clerk
B. A timestamped annotation identifying speakers, events, or proceedings
C. A maintenance log for recording equipment
D. A written request for a transcript
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A log note is a timestamped annotation entered by the electronic reporter
during proceedings to identify speakers, mark significant events (objections, exhibits,
recesses), and provide a searchable index of the recording . Accurate log notes are
essential for efficient transcript production .
Question 6. What does the legal term 'voir dire' refer to?
A. The judge's final instructions to the jury
B. The process of questioning prospective jurors to determine their suitability for jury
service
C. A motion to dismiss a case
D. The defendant's opening statement
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Voir dire is the process of questioning prospective jurors by attorneys and/or
the judge to determine their qualifications, biases, and suitability for jury service .
Electronic reporters must be familiar with this term as it is a common proceeding type
, they will record and annotate . The term is derived from Old French, meaning "to speak
the truth."
Question 7. What is the minimum standard for audio recording quality in most court
reporting applications?
A. 8-bit, 8 kHz mono (telephone quality)
B. 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo (CD quality) or higher
C. 4-bit, 4 kHz mono
D. 32-bit, 192 kHz surround sound
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Most court reporting standards require at least 16-bit, 44.1 kHz (CD quality)
or higher audio recording quality to ensure clear, intelligible recordings that can be
accurately transcribed . Lower quality settings do not capture sufficient detail for reliable
transcription.
Question 8. A Certified Electronic Reporter should avoid giving or receiving gifts
to/from attorneys, clients, or witnesses to:
A. Reduce personal expenses
B. Follow tax regulations
C. Avoid the appearance of impropriety and maintain impartiality
D. Comply with notary public requirements
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The ethical standards for digital reporters require avoiding giving or
receiving any gift, incentive, or reward to/from anyone associated with the proceedings
(other than payment for services) . This is to guard against not only the fact but the
appearance of a conflict of interest .
