1
AAERT CDR Exam Prep: Comprehensive
Questions and Fully Solved Answers (2026
Update)
1. Is it appropriate for the reporter to interrupt after a witness has answered a
question non-verbally and ask the witness to answer out loud? - ANSWER
Yes
2. In the event of an electronic failure, whose responsibiity is it to interrupt the
proceeding? - ANSWER The digital court reporter
3. Which is preferable when recording audio, a "live" or "dead" room? -
ANSWER Dead
4. Is it true consistency is not important when making annotations because the
transciptionist can usually figure it out? - ANSWER False
5. What needs to happen when a certified question is requested? - ANSWER
The digital reporter should make an annotation about the certified question.
6. The ________ transcript is usually provided to the first attorney that orders
the transcript. - ANSWER Original
7. A cardioid pickup patter, aka unidirectional, is best when trying to capture...
- ANSWER A single speaking participant
8. Is it true an annotation is required when an exhibit is entered on the record,
as well as the exhibit's description if said out loud? - ANSWER True
9. Is it true every person present for a hearing or trail must be added to the
reporter's appearance sheet, including the onlookers seated in the gallery? -
ANSWER False
10.What is NOT one of the reasons a reporter is asked to play back? -
ANSWER To make sure the reporter is properly recording the audio of the
proceeding.
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11.Should you be on the record if during a deposition, one of the lawyers says
to go off the record and no one responds in agreement or disagreement? -
ANSWER On the record
12.If there is an interpreter at the proceeding, when do you swear him/her in? -
ANSWER Before you swear in the witness
13.The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into ______ regional circuits.
A: 11
B: 25
C: 50
D: 12 - ANSWER D: 12
14.If the top tier is number one in this scenario. put the following court systems
in order.
State Supreme Court
Municipal Courts
Circuit or District Courts
Court of Appeals - ANSWER 1. State Supreme Court
2. Court of Appeals
3. Circuit or District Courts
4. Municipal Courts
15.Fill in the blank:
The venue of a case is _________ the case is ________. - ANSWER The
venue of a case is [WHERE] the case is [FILED].
16.Fill in the blank:
The three types of courts ________ courts, which have been around the
longest; ________ courts, which includes the United States Tax Court, and
the _______ Court, which is the third branch of the federal government and
includes the Circuit Courts of Appeal. - ANSWER The three types of courts
[STATE] courts, which have been around the longest; [FEDERAL] courts,
which includes the United States Tax Court, and the [US SUPREME] Court,
which is the third branch of the federal government and includes the Circuit
Courts of Appeal.
17.True or False?
State courts are independent of federal courts. - ANSWER True
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18.Which term applies to the following definition?
Types of cases or issues a court is authorized to hear.
For example, bankruptcy court can only hear bankruptcy cases.
A: Jurisdiction - subject matter
B: Jurisdiction - geographic
C: Jurisdiction - limited
D: Jurisdiction - general - ANSWER A: Jurisdiction - subject matter
19.AAERT standards are based on....
A: federal rules.
B: live free and be free.
C: independent thoughts.
D: state rules. - ANSWER A: federal rules.
20.True or False?
When the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a matter, all other courts now have to
follow that. - ANSWER True
21.Constitutionality is decided by which court?
A: Appeals
B: Supreme
C: District
D: State - ANSWER B: Supreme
22.What does the venue (jurisdiction) of the case tell the reporter?
(Example of Venue: United States District Court of Massachusetts.)
A: What legal procedures to abide by.
B: Whether the judge is assigned to a case from start to finish.
C: Where the proceeding is taking place.
D: Whether there will be a jury during trial or not. - ANSWER A: What
legal procedures to abide by.
23.Which of the following is not an administrative court/forum?
AAERT CDR Exam Prep: Comprehensive
Questions and Fully Solved Answers (2026
Update)
1. Is it appropriate for the reporter to interrupt after a witness has answered a
question non-verbally and ask the witness to answer out loud? - ANSWER
Yes
2. In the event of an electronic failure, whose responsibiity is it to interrupt the
proceeding? - ANSWER The digital court reporter
3. Which is preferable when recording audio, a "live" or "dead" room? -
ANSWER Dead
4. Is it true consistency is not important when making annotations because the
transciptionist can usually figure it out? - ANSWER False
5. What needs to happen when a certified question is requested? - ANSWER
The digital reporter should make an annotation about the certified question.
6. The ________ transcript is usually provided to the first attorney that orders
the transcript. - ANSWER Original
7. A cardioid pickup patter, aka unidirectional, is best when trying to capture...
- ANSWER A single speaking participant
8. Is it true an annotation is required when an exhibit is entered on the record,
as well as the exhibit's description if said out loud? - ANSWER True
9. Is it true every person present for a hearing or trail must be added to the
reporter's appearance sheet, including the onlookers seated in the gallery? -
ANSWER False
10.What is NOT one of the reasons a reporter is asked to play back? -
ANSWER To make sure the reporter is properly recording the audio of the
proceeding.
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11.Should you be on the record if during a deposition, one of the lawyers says
to go off the record and no one responds in agreement or disagreement? -
ANSWER On the record
12.If there is an interpreter at the proceeding, when do you swear him/her in? -
ANSWER Before you swear in the witness
13.The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into ______ regional circuits.
A: 11
B: 25
C: 50
D: 12 - ANSWER D: 12
14.If the top tier is number one in this scenario. put the following court systems
in order.
State Supreme Court
Municipal Courts
Circuit or District Courts
Court of Appeals - ANSWER 1. State Supreme Court
2. Court of Appeals
3. Circuit or District Courts
4. Municipal Courts
15.Fill in the blank:
The venue of a case is _________ the case is ________. - ANSWER The
venue of a case is [WHERE] the case is [FILED].
16.Fill in the blank:
The three types of courts ________ courts, which have been around the
longest; ________ courts, which includes the United States Tax Court, and
the _______ Court, which is the third branch of the federal government and
includes the Circuit Courts of Appeal. - ANSWER The three types of courts
[STATE] courts, which have been around the longest; [FEDERAL] courts,
which includes the United States Tax Court, and the [US SUPREME] Court,
which is the third branch of the federal government and includes the Circuit
Courts of Appeal.
17.True or False?
State courts are independent of federal courts. - ANSWER True
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18.Which term applies to the following definition?
Types of cases or issues a court is authorized to hear.
For example, bankruptcy court can only hear bankruptcy cases.
A: Jurisdiction - subject matter
B: Jurisdiction - geographic
C: Jurisdiction - limited
D: Jurisdiction - general - ANSWER A: Jurisdiction - subject matter
19.AAERT standards are based on....
A: federal rules.
B: live free and be free.
C: independent thoughts.
D: state rules. - ANSWER A: federal rules.
20.True or False?
When the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a matter, all other courts now have to
follow that. - ANSWER True
21.Constitutionality is decided by which court?
A: Appeals
B: Supreme
C: District
D: State - ANSWER B: Supreme
22.What does the venue (jurisdiction) of the case tell the reporter?
(Example of Venue: United States District Court of Massachusetts.)
A: What legal procedures to abide by.
B: Whether the judge is assigned to a case from start to finish.
C: Where the proceeding is taking place.
D: Whether there will be a jury during trial or not. - ANSWER A: What
legal procedures to abide by.
23.Which of the following is not an administrative court/forum?
