AAERT CDR EXAM PREP: 350 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
COVERING ALL TESTED TOPICS FOR THE 2026/2027 CERTIFIED DIGITAL
REPORTER EXAMINATION
1. Is it true that the digital court reporter should interrupt a witness
who drops their speaking volume at the end of a sentence to ask what
was said?
ANSWER: False
2. Is it advisable for the digital court reporter to ask for a copy of
documents when attorneys quote case law to verify spellings?
ANSWER: True
3. Why is it important for the reporter to say "swear or affirm" when
swearing in a witness?
ANSWER: In case a witness has an issue swearing, they can affirm.
4. When a lawyer says "Strike that," does the digital reporter need to
do anything special for the transcriptionist?
ANSWER: False
5. What should the digital reporter do if a lawyer starts saying things
on the record that might be intended for off-the-record discussion?
ANSWER: Quickly ask if they are still on the record; if they say off,
,glance around to ensure no objection and state, "We are now off the
record."
6. What type of transcript, also known as a mini transcript, usually
contains four pages of transcript on one PDF page?
ANSWER: Condensed
7. What is an errata sheet?
ANSWER: The form filled out by the witness if they have any changes
they want to make to the transcript.
8. Is it true that an acoustically "live" room will echo sound off hard
surfaces like marble?
ANSWER: True
9. What three things should exhibit stickers include?
ANSWER: Exhibit number, party presenting the exhibit, and date of the
deposition
10. What does "et seq." mean?
ANSWER: And the following
11. What does "Pro se" mean?
ANSWER: A party who represents themselves instead of hiring a lawyer.
,12. What does "Pro Hac Vice" mean?
ANSWER: Adding a lawyer to a case in a jurisdiction in which they are
not licensed.
13. What does "et al." mean in regard to a case?
ANSWER: There are more parties that are not listed.
14. What is the correct language to swear in a witness?
ANSWER: "Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you give today will
be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
15. Who can order the deposition transcript?
ANSWER: The witness, a pro se party (self represented), and a lawyer
who represents a party
16. If there is missing audio for something that was on the record,
who is responsible?
ANSWER: The reporter
17. In the event of an electronic failure, whose responsibility is it to
interrupt the proceedings?
ANSWER: The digital court reporter
18. 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
19. Which is preferable when recording audio, a "live" or "dead"
room?
ANSWER: Dead
20. Is it true that consistency is not important when making
annotations because the transcriber can usually figure it out?
ANSWER: False
21. What needs to happen when a certified question is requested?
ANSWER: The digital reporter should make an annotation about the
certified question.
22. The ______ transcript is usually provided to the first attorney that
orders the transcript.
ANSWER: Original
23. A cardioid pickup pattern, aka unidirectional, is best when trying
to capture what?
ANSWER: A single speaking participant
24. 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
COVERING ALL TESTED TOPICS FOR THE 2026/2027 CERTIFIED DIGITAL
REPORTER EXAMINATION
1. Is it true that the digital court reporter should interrupt a witness
who drops their speaking volume at the end of a sentence to ask what
was said?
ANSWER: False
2. Is it advisable for the digital court reporter to ask for a copy of
documents when attorneys quote case law to verify spellings?
ANSWER: True
3. Why is it important for the reporter to say "swear or affirm" when
swearing in a witness?
ANSWER: In case a witness has an issue swearing, they can affirm.
4. When a lawyer says "Strike that," does the digital reporter need to
do anything special for the transcriptionist?
ANSWER: False
5. What should the digital reporter do if a lawyer starts saying things
on the record that might be intended for off-the-record discussion?
ANSWER: Quickly ask if they are still on the record; if they say off,
,glance around to ensure no objection and state, "We are now off the
record."
6. What type of transcript, also known as a mini transcript, usually
contains four pages of transcript on one PDF page?
ANSWER: Condensed
7. What is an errata sheet?
ANSWER: The form filled out by the witness if they have any changes
they want to make to the transcript.
8. Is it true that an acoustically "live" room will echo sound off hard
surfaces like marble?
ANSWER: True
9. What three things should exhibit stickers include?
ANSWER: Exhibit number, party presenting the exhibit, and date of the
deposition
10. What does "et seq." mean?
ANSWER: And the following
11. What does "Pro se" mean?
ANSWER: A party who represents themselves instead of hiring a lawyer.
,12. What does "Pro Hac Vice" mean?
ANSWER: Adding a lawyer to a case in a jurisdiction in which they are
not licensed.
13. What does "et al." mean in regard to a case?
ANSWER: There are more parties that are not listed.
14. What is the correct language to swear in a witness?
ANSWER: "Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you give today will
be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
15. Who can order the deposition transcript?
ANSWER: The witness, a pro se party (self represented), and a lawyer
who represents a party
16. If there is missing audio for something that was on the record,
who is responsible?
ANSWER: The reporter
17. In the event of an electronic failure, whose responsibility is it to
interrupt the proceedings?
ANSWER: The digital court reporter
18. 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
19. Which is preferable when recording audio, a "live" or "dead"
room?
ANSWER: Dead
20. Is it true that consistency is not important when making
annotations because the transcriber can usually figure it out?
ANSWER: False
21. What needs to happen when a certified question is requested?
ANSWER: The digital reporter should make an annotation about the
certified question.
22. The ______ transcript is usually provided to the first attorney that
orders the transcript.
ANSWER: Original
23. A cardioid pickup pattern, aka unidirectional, is best when trying
to capture what?
ANSWER: A single speaking participant
24. 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
