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Exam Review

Key Facts: CGSS Exam

100

Total Questions

ACAMS handbook

Blueprint Domains

ACAMS handbook: 20% / 50% / 30%

Scaled Passing Score

ACAMS handbook

175 min

Exam Time

Pearson VUE delivery

40 credits

Eligibility Requirement

ACAMS application

6 months

Testing Window

After application approval

CGSS uses a 100-question computer-based exam delivered through Pearson VUE, with online proctoring available in certain locations. ACAMS states that the exam may include unscored questions used to gather statistical information that do not impact the score, candidates have 175 minutes, and the passing standard is a scaled score of 75. As of 2026, current developments worth watching include the UK's move to a single UK sanctions list on January 28, 2026 and OFSI's updated enforcement and monetary penalties guidance published on February 9, 2026.

Sample CGSS Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CGSS exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 250+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A sanctions list hit leads an analyst to say, "The customer's funds are now confiscated by the government." What is the most accurate correction?

A.The funds are frozen or blocked, not automatically confiscated

B.The funds may be moved if the customer promises future compliance

C.The funds are converted into a civil fine immediately

D.The funds are released after 24 hours unless law enforcement objects

Explanation: Asset-freeze or blocking measures generally prohibit dealing in the property, but they are not the same as confiscation or forfeiture. Ownership may remain with the sanctioned party even though access and movement are restricted. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

2Which example best describes a targeted sanctions measure rather than a comprehensive country embargo?

A.A full ban on nearly all dealings with an entire country

B.A prohibition on dealing with one named person and that person's blocked property

C.A customs tariff imposed on all imports from every trading partner

D.A general anti-money-laundering training requirement for all employees

Explanation: Targeted sanctions focus on named individuals, entities, vessels, or sectors rather than cutting off almost all dealings with an entire country. That distinction matters when determining scope and screening obligations. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

3A rule bars new investment and certain financing for a listed company but does not generally block all property interests of that company. What type of sanction is this closest to?

A.A sectoral or activity-based restriction

B.A comprehensive embargo

C.A humanitarian exemption

D.A delisting action

Explanation: Sectoral or activity-based sanctions restrict specified dealings, such as financing or investment, without necessarily imposing full blocking on all property and interests in property. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

4Which scenario is the clearest example of a trade sanction rather than a financial-blocking measure?

A.A bank freezes funds in a sanctioned person's account

B.A company is barred from exporting restricted goods to a sanctioned destination

C.An insurer performs enhanced due diligence on a vessel owner

D.A regulator asks for copies of screening procedures

Explanation: Trade sanctions typically restrict imports, exports, reexports, or the provision of goods and related services. Blocking measures, by contrast, focus on property and dealings in property. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

5What is the best high-level explanation for why governments impose sanctions?

A.To replace all criminal law tools permanently

B.To influence behavior, protect national-security or foreign-policy interests, and raise the cost of prohibited conduct

C.To eliminate the need for risk-based compliance programs

D.To guarantee that no evasion attempts will occur

Explanation: Sanctions are policy tools intended to influence behavior, constrain access to resources, and support foreign-policy or national-security objectives. They are not guaranteed to stop every bad act, which is why controls and investigations still matter. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

6A legal team asks whether a ban on providing accounting and consulting services to a sanctioned jurisdiction is an example of what type of measure.

A.A services prohibition

B.A delisting order

C.A beneficial-ownership rule

D.A screening-threshold calibration

Explanation: Some sanctions prohibit the provision of specific services, not just the movement of funds or goods. Compliance teams must map those service restrictions into customer, vendor, and trade workflows. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

7Which statement best distinguishes a comprehensive embargo from a list-based targeted program?

A.A comprehensive embargo applies only to listed people, while a targeted program applies to everyone in a country

B.A comprehensive embargo broadly restricts dealings with a jurisdiction, while a targeted program focuses on designated persons, entities, vessels, or sectors

C.A comprehensive embargo is always easier to implement than a targeted program

D.A targeted program never requires screening because the names are public

Explanation: Comprehensive embargoes broadly restrict dealings with a jurisdiction, while targeted programs concentrate on listed parties or specific activities. That difference shapes how institutions scope controls and advisory guidance. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

8Why do policymakers often prefer targeted designations over countrywide restrictions in some situations?

A.Because targeted designations eliminate all false positives

B.Because targeted designations can pressure specific actors while reducing collateral impact on the broader population

C.Because targeted designations never require legal analysis

D.Because targeted designations apply only inside the United States

Explanation: Targeted sanctions can be aimed at the actors of concern while limiting broader economic effects on an entire civilian population. They still require careful ownership, control, and screening analysis. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

9Which control point most directly addresses a sanctions program that prohibits dealings in a sanctioned person's property?

A.Marketing-brand approval

B.Property and payment blocking controls

C.Branch cash forecasting

D.Deposit-pricing committee minutes

Explanation: When sanctions prohibit dealings in property, institutions need controls that can identify the property interest and block or freeze the transaction or account activity before release. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

10A sanctions program bans the import of certain goods from a territory and separately blocks named parties. What is the best interpretation?

A.The program uses both territorial trade restrictions and targeted designations

B.The program is not a sanctions program because it has two elements

C.Only the named-party element matters for compliance

D.The trade restriction can be ignored if the parties are not listed

Explanation: Many regimes combine different sanctions tools, such as territorial trade restrictions and list-based blocking measures. Institutions must identify every applicable prohibition instead of reducing the analysis to one element. CGSS framework questions usually test whether you can identify the governing sanctions concept and apply the right jurisdictional logic before acting.

About the CGSS Exam

The ACAMS CGSS certification is a specialist-level sanctions credential for mid- to senior-level professionals. The official blueprint uses three weighted domains: Sanctions Frameworks and Governance (20%), Building a Sanctions Compliance Program (50%), and Detecting and Investigating Sanctions Evasion Techniques (30%).

Exam sponsor: ACAMS. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

100 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions; may include unscored statistical questions that do not affect the score

Time Limit

175 minutes

Passing Score

Scaled score of 75 (results reported as pass/fail immediately after the exam)

Exam / Certification Fees

US$1,995 private sector package or US$1,495 public sector package

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

20%

Sanctions Frameworks and Governance

How primary and secondary sanctions are created, changed, and enforced; key concepts and authorities; sanction types; geographic scope; licensing; and contract clauses.

50%

Building a Sanctions Compliance Program

Governance and the risk-based approach, sanctions due diligence, beneficial ownership and control, trade due diligence and export controls, monitoring, screening key concepts, payment screening, sanctions technology, and data management.

30%

Detecting and Investigating Sanctions Evasion Techniques

Payment and trade-evasion typologies, identity concealment, virtual assets, conducting investigations, freezing and managing assets, and tipping-off distinctions.

Preparing for the CGSS Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Scaled score of 75 (results reported as pass/fail immediately after the exam)
Assessment: 100 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions; may include unscored statistical questions that do not affect the score
Time limit: 175 minutes
Exam / certification fees: US$1,995 private sector package or US$1,495 public sector package Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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CGSS: Suggested Study Strategy

1Study the blueprint in weight order: Building a Sanctions Compliance Program carries 50% of the exam and should drive most of your review time.

2Do not memorize only list names; practice determining which jurisdiction's rules apply to a specific person, transaction, or corporate structure.

3Master beneficial-ownership analysis, especially aggregation concepts and control-based escalation, because it connects program design, screening, and investigations.

4Practice sanctions scenarios that require you to choose the best immediate control response, not just define a term.

5Use real-world alert triage logic when you study: verify data quality first, then resolve the name, ownership, payment, or trade question systematically.

6Keep a short current-events sheet for 2026 updates so global-list, enforcement, and anti-evasion changes stay fresh before exam day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the CGSS exam?

ACAMS states that the CGSS examination has 100 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. The exam may include unscored questions used to gather statistical information; these are not identified on the exam and do not impact the candidate's score.

What score do I need to pass CGSS?

The CGSS candidate handbook sets the passing score at 75, a scaled score, with pass/fail results reported immediately after the exam. ACAMS does not express the passing standard as a fixed percentage of scored questions.

How long do I have to complete the CGSS exam?

ACAMS gives candidates 175 minutes, which is 2 hours and 55 minutes, to complete the CGSS exam at Pearson VUE. That is enough time for deliberate scenario analysis, but not enough to linger too long on one investigation-style question.

How much does the CGSS exam cost?

ACAMS currently sells CGSS as a certification package rather than as a simple standalone exam fee. The official package price is US$1,995 for private-sector candidates and US$1,495 for public-sector candidates; a new authorization to test after a failed attempt costs US$299 for private-sector and US$199 for public-sector candidates, and rescheduling within 24-72 hours of an appointment incurs a US$100 Pearson VUE fee.

What are the eligibility requirements for CGSS?

ACAMS requires an active membership plus 40 eligibility credits drawn from education, experience, certifications, and training. After the application is approved, candidates receive instructions to schedule the exam and have six months to test.

Where is the CGSS exam delivered?

ACAMS says the CGSS certification exam is delivered through Pearson VUE testing centers. The exam is not taken onsite at ACAMS conferences; candidates schedule after ACAMS approves the application.

Which recent 2026 sanctions changes matter most for CGSS candidates?

Two operationally important updates are the UK's move to a single UK sanctions list effective January 28, 2026, and OFSI's updated enforcement and monetary penalties guidance published in February 2026. Candidates should also stay current on ongoing Russia-related sanctions measures and anti-evasion controls across the US, UK, and EU because the CGSS blueprint emphasizes jurisdictional reach, risk assessment, screening, and investigations.

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