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Key Facts: CLA (C language) Exam

40

Exam Questions

C++ Institute CLA-11-03 syllabus

65 min

Exam Duration

C++ Institute CLA-11-03 syllabus

70%

Passing Score (normalized)

C++ Institute CLA-11-03 syllabus

$325

Exam Fee (USD)

C++ Institute pricing

Pearson VUE

Test Provider

C++ Institute / OnVUE

Lifetime

Validity

C++ Institute certification policy

C++ Institute CLA (CLA-11-03) is a 40-item, 65-minute proctored C-language exam delivered by Pearson VUE/OnVUE, with a 70% normalized passing score and a starting fee of USD 325 (USD 375 with one retake). Topics: language elements and structures (29%), data operations (38%), control flow (25%), and environment (8%). The certification is issued for life with no recertification required and is the C-language counterpart to the C++ CPA exam.

Sample CLA (C language) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CLA (C language) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which header must be included to use printf, scanf, and FILE* operations in standard C?
A.<stdio.h>
B.<stdlib.h>
C.<string.h>
D.<iostream>
Explanation: <stdio.h> is the C standard I/O header — it declares printf, scanf, fprintf, fscanf, fopen, fread, fwrite, fclose, and the FILE type. <stdlib.h> provides general utilities (malloc, free, exit), <string.h> provides string functions, and <iostream> is a C++ header that does not exist in C.
2What does the following C program print? #include <stdio.h> int main(void) { int x = 5, y = 2; printf("%d %d\n", x / y, x % y); return 0; }
A.2 1
B.2.5 1
C.2 0
D.3 1
Explanation: Both x and y are int, so / performs integer division: 5 / 2 truncates toward zero to 2. The remainder operator % gives 5 % 2 = 1. Output: '2 1'.
3Which statement about C identifiers is TRUE?
A.Identifiers can contain letters, digits, and underscores, but the first character cannot be a digit.
B.Identifiers must start with a letter and cannot contain underscores.
C.Identifiers may begin with a digit if they also contain a letter.
D.Identifiers may contain hyphens and dots.
Explanation: C identifiers consist of letters (A-Z, a-z), digits (0-9), and underscores (_), and the first character must not be a digit. Identifiers are case-sensitive. Hyphens, dots, and most other punctuation are not allowed.
4Which of the following is NOT a C reserved keyword?
A.main
B.static
C.register
D.volatile
Explanation: main is an ordinary identifier — it has special meaning to the linker as the program entry point but is not a reserved keyword. static, register, and volatile are all C keywords (storage-class and type qualifiers).
5What is the size in bytes of `char` in standard C?
A.Always 1 byte by definition.
B.Always 8 bits exactly.
C.Implementation-defined, typically 2 or 4 bytes.
D.1 bit, since char stores a single character.
Explanation: By the C standard, sizeof(char) is always 1 by definition. The number of bits in that byte is at least 8 (CHAR_BIT in <limits.h>) and is implementation-defined, but the size is always exactly 1 in sizeof terms.
6Which of the following correctly declares an integer constant `MAX` with the value 100?
A.const int MAX = 100;
B.constant int MAX = 100;
C.int const MAX == 100;
D.final int MAX = 100;
Explanation: C uses the const qualifier: `const int MAX = 100;` (or equivalently `int const MAX = 100;`). `constant` and `final` are not C keywords, and `==` is the equality operator, not assignment.
7What does the following snippet print? #include <stdio.h> int main(void) { int a = 10; int *p = &a; printf("%d %d\n", *p, *p + 1); return 0; }
A.10 11
B.11 12
C.10 10
D.Address of a, then 11
Explanation: *p dereferences p, yielding 10. *p + 1 is parsed as (*p) + 1 = 11 because the unary * binds tighter than the binary + operator. Output: '10 11'.
8Which standard library function returns the length of a null-terminated C string, NOT counting the terminating '\0'?
A.strlen
B.sizeof
C.strcpy
D.strcat
Explanation: strlen, declared in <string.h>, walks a null-terminated string and returns the number of characters before '\0' (not including it). sizeof is a compile-time operator that returns total storage size; strcpy copies; strcat concatenates.
9What does the following program print? #include <stdio.h> int main(void) { int arr[5] = {1, 2, 3}; printf("%d %d\n", arr[3], arr[4]); return 0; }
A.0 0
B.Garbage values
C.3 3
D.Compilation error
Explanation: When a C array is initialized with fewer initializers than its declared size, the remaining elements are zero-initialized. So arr is {1, 2, 3, 0, 0} and arr[3] and arr[4] are both 0.
10Which loop is GUARANTEED to execute its body at least once?
A.do { ... } while (cond);
B.while (cond) { ... }
C.for (init; cond; step) { ... }
D.if (cond) { ... }
Explanation: do-while tests its condition AFTER the body, so the body always runs at least once. while and for test the condition first; if it is false initially, the body never runs. if is not a loop.

About the CLA (C language) Exam

The C++ Institute CLA (CLA-11-03) credential validates the candidate's ability to write, debug, and run programs in the C language at the associate level. It is distinct from the C++ CPA exam — CLA is C-only. The exam covers C language elements and structures, data operations including pointers, arrays, strings, and dynamic memory, control flow with functions and recursion, plus environment topics like the preprocessor, multi-file projects, and file I/O.

Exam sponsor: C++ Institute / OpenEDG / Pearson VUE. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

40 questions

Time Limit

65 minutes

Passing Score

70% normalized

Exam / Certification Fees

$325 USD

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not published. C++ Institute does not publish exam-level pass rates Exam sponsor website

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

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.

29%

Language Elements and Structures

C identifiers, keywords, comments, simple data types, declarations, scopes, storage classes (auto, static, extern, register), structs, unions, enums, typedef, and bit fields.

38%

Data Operations

Operators and expressions, type conversions, pointers and pointer arithmetic, arrays and multi-dimensional arrays, string handling with <string.h>, dynamic memory with malloc/calloc/realloc/free, and standard I/O including FILE* operations.

25%

Control Flow

Conditional statements, switch, while, do-while, for loops, break and continue, goto, and function definition, parameter passing, recursion, and function pointers.

8%

Environment

Preprocessor directives, header files, multi-file compilation, command-line arguments via argc/argv, the C standard library landscape (stdio, stdlib, string, time), and basic compilation/linkage concepts.

Preparing for the CLA (C language) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% normalized
  • Exam length: 40 questions
  • Time limit: 65 minutes
  • Exam / certification fees: $325 USD Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CLA (C language): Suggested Study Strategy

1Compile and run every C snippet you study with a real C compiler (gcc -std=c11 -Wall -Wextra) — CLA is heavy on 'what does this print' and 'which line fails to compile' questions, so reasoning on paper is not enough.
2Master pointer arithmetic and the array-pointer decay rule: arr[i] is exactly *(arr + i), and sizeof(arr) inside a function returns the pointer size, not the array size.
3Memorize the four dynamic-memory functions in <stdlib.h>: malloc returns uninitialized memory, calloc zero-initializes, realloc may move the block, and free returns memory to the heap. Always check for NULL.
4Drill the most common <string.h> functions: strlen, strcpy, strncpy, strcmp, strncmp, strcat, strchr, strstr, strtok — and remember that strncpy does not always null-terminate.
5Know the storage classes cold: auto (default for locals), static (file scope or persistent locals), extern (declares without defining), and register (hint only).
6Practice struct memory layout, padding, and the difference between accessing a member via . versus -> (pointer dereference).
7Learn function pointers — declaration syntax, typedef-ing them, and passing them to qsort/bsearch as comparator callbacks.
8Master file I/O patterns: fopen returns a FILE*, always check it for NULL, use fread/fwrite for binary, fprintf/fscanf for text, fseek/ftell for positioning, and always fclose at the end.
9Recognize undefined behavior: integer overflow on signed types, dereferencing freed pointers (use-after-free), reading past array bounds, and reading uninitialized memory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CLA exam for C or C++?

CLA is the C language exam — it is the associate-level certification for the C programming language, not C++. The sister exam for C++ at the same level is CPA-21-02 (Certified Associate Programmer in C++). CLA covers C-only constructs such as pointers, structs, unions, malloc/free, FILE*, and the C preprocessor; it does not test classes, namespaces, references, new/delete, or any other C++ feature. Candidates who want C++ should take CPA, and candidates who want C should take CLA.

How long is the CLA exam and how many questions does it have?

The C++ Institute CLA-11-03 exam consists of 40 single-select and multiple-select questions delivered in 65 minutes, plus about 10 additional minutes for the non-disclosure agreement and tutorial. Each question carries a weight that depends on its complexity, and your final score is normalized to a percentage.

What is the passing score for CLA?

You must score 70% or higher on the CLA-11-03 exam to pass. Because items are weighted, the 70% threshold is calculated against the total points earned across all 40 questions, not a simple count of correct answers. Harder questions contribute more points to your final score.

How much does the C++ Institute CLA exam cost?

The CLA-11-03 exam starts at USD 325 for a single attempt or USD 375 for the exam plus one retake voucher. Candidates who complete the official CLA self-study course on the C/C++ Education Platform can earn a 50% discount voucher, which also includes one free retake.

Where do I take the CLA exam?

You schedule and take the C++ Institute CLA exam through Pearson VUE, either at a Pearson VUE test center or through OnVUE online proctoring. You set up a Pearson VUE account at pearsonvue.com/cpp, choose CLA-11-03, and pick your delivery method and time slot.

Does the CLA certification expire?

No. C++ Institute certificates, including CLA, are issued for life with no recertification or renewal fees. Once you pass CLA-11-03 your credential remains valid permanently, although the institute reserves the right to update policies in the future.