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Cheat sheet

SHRM-CP Cheat Sheet

Practice QuestionsStudy Guide

Leadership Cluster

19%of exam

LeadershipNavigationChangeInfluenceOperational Lens

Business Cluster

17-18%of exam

Business AcumenConsultationAnalysisAlignmentEvidence

Interpersonal Cluster

13-14%of exam

CommunicationRelationshipsEthicsDEITrust

People Domain

19%of exam

TalentLearningPerformanceRewardsEngagement

Organization Domain

18%of exam

StructureCultureTechnologyWorkforceLabor

Workplace Domain

13%of exam

RiskComplianceSafetyGlobalCSR

Quick Facts

Exam
SHRM-CP
Credential
Certified Professional
Questions
134 MCQ
Testing
3h40m
Sections
2x110 min
Score
120-200 scale
Pass
reported as 200
Provider
Prometric center
Items
80 KI; 54 SJI
Field Test
24 unscored

BASK Six

Lead business people through organizations and workplaces.

LeadershipBusinessInterpersonalPeopleOrganizationWorkplace

KI vs SJI

Knowledge Item

  • Concept recall
  • Applied fact

SJI

  • Scenario judgment
  • Best action

Know facts; judge actions

Final Study Picker

  1. Missed definition→Concept review(KI gap)
  2. Missed scenario→Compare choices(SJI gap)
  3. Slow section→Timed block(Pacing)
  4. Weak domain→BASK drill(Targeted)
  5. Stale facts→Official source(Update)
  6. Test week→Mixed review(Integrate)

Exam Facts

Total items
134 multiple-choice
Knowledge items
80 stand-alone
SJI items
54 scenarios
Field-test
24 unscored
Testing time
220 minutes
Appointment
4 hours
Sections
Two timed blocks
Delivery
Prometric in-person

Lead vs Navigate

Lead

  • Inspire people
  • Build trust

Navigate

  • Direct work
  • Align HR

Lead people; navigate systems

Leadership + Navigation

Lead
Guide people
Navigate
Direct HR action
Influence
Earn buy-in
Credibility
Deliver useful wins
Change
Plan adoption
Stakeholders
Map interests
Escalate
Use proper channels
Vision
Align HR purpose

Score + Lifecycle

Scale
120-200 range
Passing
Reported as 200
Pass rate
Window statistic
Retake
Future window
Attempt limit
One per window
Validity
Three years
PDCs
60 credits
Recertify
PDCs or retest

Consult vs Decide

Consult

  • Diagnose need
  • Recommend option

Decide

  • Own authority
  • Select action

HR advises within role

BASK Domain Picker

  1. Influence needed→Leadership(Guide action)
  2. Business case→Business(Use evidence)
  3. Trust issue→Interpersonal(Communicate clearly)
  4. Hiring topic→People(Talent lifecycle)
  5. Culture topic→Organization(Systems view)
  6. Compliance topic→Workplace(Risk control)
  7. Pay topic→People(Rewards)
  8. Union topic→Organization(Labor relations)

Business Acumen

Strategy
Business direction
Metrics
Evidence signals
ROI
Value return
KPI
Performance measure
Budget
Resource constraint
Risk
Exposure impact
Operations
Work gets done
Alignment
HR supports goals

Consultation + Analysis

Consult
Diagnose need
Clarify
Get facts
Data
Support decision
Root cause
Underlying issue
Options
Compare choices
Recommendation
Actionable advice
Pilot
Small test
Evaluate
Measure outcome

SJI Core

Facts, policy, people, process before action.

FactsPolicyPeopleProcess

Confidential vs Secret

Confidential

  • Need-to-know
  • Protected sharing

Secret

  • No process
  • Hidden facts

Protect data; use process

SJI Action Picker

  1. Facts missing→Clarify first(Avoid assumptions)
  2. Policy issue→Check policy(Apply consistently)
  3. Legal risk→Escalate properly(Use counsel)
  4. Employee complaint→Investigate fairly(Protect privacy)
  5. Manager conflict→Coach manager(Stay factual)
  6. Broad change→Plan rollout(Communicate early)
  7. Data available→Analyze trend(Support recommendation)
  8. Urgent safety→Control hazard(Act promptly)

Interpersonal + Ethics

Communication
Clear message
Relationship
Working trust
Ethics
Integrity first
Confidentiality
Need-to-know
DEI
Inclusive practice
Global mindset
Cultural context
Conflict
Managed disagreement
Transparency
Honest process

SJI Lens

Read stem
Find ask
Facts
Use given data
Role
Act as HR
Policy
Check rules
Stakeholders
Consider impact
Ethics
Protect integrity
Process
Use fair steps
Next step
Avoid leaps

Talent Flow

Plan, hire, grow, reward, retain.

PlanHireGrowRewardRetain

Talent Lifecycle

Workforce plan
Future staffing
Recruiting
Attract candidates
Selection
Job-related choice
Onboarding
Role integration
Learning
Skill growth
Career path
Progression route
Succession
Bench readiness
Retention
Keep talent

Performance + Rewards

Goals
Expected results
Feedback
Timely coaching
Documentation
Fact record
PIP
Structured improvement
Compensation
Pay design
Benefits
Noncash rewards
Recognition
Appreciation signal
Engagement
Work commitment

Policy vs Practice

Policy

  • Written rule
  • Expected standard

Practice

  • Actual behavior
  • Observed pattern

Align rule and reality

Organization Systems

Structure
Reporting design
Culture
Shared norms
Change mgmt
Adoption process
HRIS
HR data system
Workforce mgmt
Staffing operations
Employee relations
Workplace issues
Labor relations
Union context
Policies
Work rules

Risk Response

Spot, contain, document, escalate.

SpotContainDocumentEscalate

Culture Fit vs Bias

Culture Fit

  • Job-related values
  • Defined criteria

Bias

  • Protected trait
  • Subjective exclusion

Use job-related criteria

Workplace Risk

Employment law
Legal framework
EEO
Equal opportunity
Harassment
Hostile conduct
Retaliation
Protected-action penalty
Safety
Hazard control
Security
Asset protection
Privacy
Data restraint
CSR
Social responsibility

Common Traps

Fast Action Trap

Immediate discipline ≠ Fact-finding first

Authority Trap

CEO above policy ≠ Policy applies consistently

Culture Trap

Vague culture fit ≠ Job-related criteria

Data Trap

Anecdote only ≠ Evidence-based recommendation

Confidentiality Trap

Share everything ≠ Need-to-know sharing

Score Trap

Percent passing score ≠ Scaled score reporting

Last Minute

  1. 1.BASK has six areas
  2. 2.Leadership and People: 19%
  3. 3.134 MCQ; 24 unscored
  4. 4.80 KI; 54 SJI
  5. 5.Two 110-minute sections
  6. 6.Prometric test-center delivery
  7. 7.Passing reports as 200
  8. 8.Use facts before assumptions
  9. 9.Escalate through proper channels
  10. 10.Retake in future window
  11. 11.Recertify with 60 PDCs
  12. 12.Official sources control logistics

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