AAERT CDR Certification Exam 2026/2027 | 300 Practice Questions,
Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales | Depositions, Legal
Procedures & Digital Reporting
DOMAIN 1 — WORKING AS A LEGAL PROFESSIONAL
Questions 1–60
1. What is the primary ethical responsibility of a Certified Deposition Reporter?
A. Assist the plaintiff
B. Remain impartial and preserve an accurate record
C. Help attorneys formulate questions
D. Interpret testimony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter is a neutral professional whose central responsibility is to
create and preserve an accurate record without favoring any party.
2. Which situation is most clearly a conflict of interest?
A. The reporter arrives early
B. The reporter owns a financial interest in a party's company
C. The reporter uses headphones
D. The reporter confirms spellings
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A financial interest could compromise, or appear to compromise, the
reporter's impartiality.
3. If a reporter discovers a potential conflict before a deposition, the reporter
should first:
A. Ignore it
B. Notify the appropriate parties and follow applicable ethics rules
C. Ask the witness to decide
D. Continue without disclosure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Potential conflicts should be disclosed and handled according to
applicable professional requirements.
,4. What does impartiality mean?
A. Supporting the hiring attorney
B. Treating all participants neutrally
C. Favoring the witness
D. Avoiding all communication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impartiality means the reporter does not advocate for or against any
party.
5. Which action can create an appearance of impropriety?
A. Confirming exhibit numbers
B. Accepting an unusually valuable gift from one party
C. Testing microphones
D. Recording timestamps
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gifts that create an appearance of preferential treatment can
undermine confidence in neutrality.
6. A reporter receives an expensive gift from counsel after a deposition. What is
the best ethical approach?
A. Accept it secretly
B. Follow applicable gift and ethics policies
C. Demand a larger gift
D. Give it to the witness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gifts must be handled consistently with applicable ethical
requirements and should not compromise or appear to compromise impartiality.
7. Confidentiality requires a reporter to:
A. Discuss testimony with friends
B. Protect nonpublic case information
C. Post case details online
D. Share recordings freely
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Case information, recordings, exhibits, and personal information must
be protected from unauthorized disclosure.
8. What is an NDA?
A. National Deposition Authority
B. Non-Disclosure Agreement
C. Notarial Document Authorization
D. New Deposition Affidavit
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A nondisclosure agreement establishes contractual obligations
concerning confidential information.
9. A reporter should protect digital files primarily against:
A. Unauthorized access, loss, alteration, and theft
B. Faster processing
C. Attorney questions
D. Exhibit numbering
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Security involves protecting information from unauthorized disclosure,
damage, loss, or alteration.
10. HIPAA may become relevant to digital reporting when:
A. A proceeding contains protected health information
B. The deposition is short
C. There are no exhibits
D. The reporter uses a laptop
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Protected health information encountered during professional work
may require appropriate privacy and security safeguards.
11. The reporter's relationship to the parties should generally be:
A. Adversarial
B. Neutral and professional
C. Personal
D. Promotional
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter serves the proceeding rather than advocating for either
side.
12. Which behavior is most appropriate during a contentious deposition?
A. Argue with counsel
B. Remain calm and professional
C. Take sides
D. Express personal opinions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional composure helps preserve the integrity of the proceeding.
13. In a remote proceeding, professional etiquette includes:
A. Leaving the microphone open continuously
B. Checking audio and maintaining an appropriate professional environment
C. Conducting unrelated conversations
D. Recording secretly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Remote reporting requires preparation, professional conduct, and
attention to audio and technology.
14. Punctuality is important because:
A. It eliminates the need for preparation
B. Proceedings depend on coordinated schedules
C. It changes the law
D. It determines witness credibility
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Attorneys, witnesses, interpreters, videographers, and reporters may
all depend on the scheduled start time.
15. What is an unnecessary disruption?
A. Interrupting to prevent an inaudible statement
B. Interrupting because the reporter disagrees with testimony
C. Asking for clarification of an unintelligible name
D. Reporting a technical failure
Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales | Depositions, Legal
Procedures & Digital Reporting
DOMAIN 1 — WORKING AS A LEGAL PROFESSIONAL
Questions 1–60
1. What is the primary ethical responsibility of a Certified Deposition Reporter?
A. Assist the plaintiff
B. Remain impartial and preserve an accurate record
C. Help attorneys formulate questions
D. Interpret testimony
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter is a neutral professional whose central responsibility is to
create and preserve an accurate record without favoring any party.
2. Which situation is most clearly a conflict of interest?
A. The reporter arrives early
B. The reporter owns a financial interest in a party's company
C. The reporter uses headphones
D. The reporter confirms spellings
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A financial interest could compromise, or appear to compromise, the
reporter's impartiality.
3. If a reporter discovers a potential conflict before a deposition, the reporter
should first:
A. Ignore it
B. Notify the appropriate parties and follow applicable ethics rules
C. Ask the witness to decide
D. Continue without disclosure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Potential conflicts should be disclosed and handled according to
applicable professional requirements.
,4. What does impartiality mean?
A. Supporting the hiring attorney
B. Treating all participants neutrally
C. Favoring the witness
D. Avoiding all communication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Impartiality means the reporter does not advocate for or against any
party.
5. Which action can create an appearance of impropriety?
A. Confirming exhibit numbers
B. Accepting an unusually valuable gift from one party
C. Testing microphones
D. Recording timestamps
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gifts that create an appearance of preferential treatment can
undermine confidence in neutrality.
6. A reporter receives an expensive gift from counsel after a deposition. What is
the best ethical approach?
A. Accept it secretly
B. Follow applicable gift and ethics policies
C. Demand a larger gift
D. Give it to the witness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gifts must be handled consistently with applicable ethical
requirements and should not compromise or appear to compromise impartiality.
7. Confidentiality requires a reporter to:
A. Discuss testimony with friends
B. Protect nonpublic case information
C. Post case details online
D. Share recordings freely
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Case information, recordings, exhibits, and personal information must
be protected from unauthorized disclosure.
8. What is an NDA?
A. National Deposition Authority
B. Non-Disclosure Agreement
C. Notarial Document Authorization
D. New Deposition Affidavit
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A nondisclosure agreement establishes contractual obligations
concerning confidential information.
9. A reporter should protect digital files primarily against:
A. Unauthorized access, loss, alteration, and theft
B. Faster processing
C. Attorney questions
D. Exhibit numbering
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Security involves protecting information from unauthorized disclosure,
damage, loss, or alteration.
10. HIPAA may become relevant to digital reporting when:
A. A proceeding contains protected health information
B. The deposition is short
C. There are no exhibits
D. The reporter uses a laptop
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Protected health information encountered during professional work
may require appropriate privacy and security safeguards.
11. The reporter's relationship to the parties should generally be:
A. Adversarial
B. Neutral and professional
C. Personal
D. Promotional
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter serves the proceeding rather than advocating for either
side.
12. Which behavior is most appropriate during a contentious deposition?
A. Argue with counsel
B. Remain calm and professional
C. Take sides
D. Express personal opinions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Professional composure helps preserve the integrity of the proceeding.
13. In a remote proceeding, professional etiquette includes:
A. Leaving the microphone open continuously
B. Checking audio and maintaining an appropriate professional environment
C. Conducting unrelated conversations
D. Recording secretly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Remote reporting requires preparation, professional conduct, and
attention to audio and technology.
14. Punctuality is important because:
A. It eliminates the need for preparation
B. Proceedings depend on coordinated schedules
C. It changes the law
D. It determines witness credibility
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Attorneys, witnesses, interpreters, videographers, and reporters may
all depend on the scheduled start time.
15. What is an unnecessary disruption?
A. Interrupting to prevent an inaudible statement
B. Interrupting because the reporter disagrees with testimony
C. Asking for clarification of an unintelligible name
D. Reporting a technical failure
