100+ Free CRI Practice Questions

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Malcolm Knowles's theory of andragogy holds that adult learners generally:

Learn best through rigid rote memorization

Are self-directed, bring significant life experience, and learn best when content is relevant to immediate needs

Require constant external motivation from the instructor

Perform best when the instructor controls every aspect of learning

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CRI Exam

5 weeks

CRI Education Course

NCRA

CRI Education Pass Score

NCRA

120

RPR WKT Questions

NCRA

RPR WKT Pass (scaled)

NCRA

3 years

Credential Validity

NCRA (3.0 CEUs required)

100

Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep

The CRI pairs the five-week CRI Education course (pass score 80) with the RPR Written Knowledge Test (120 items, 110 minutes, scaled 70 pass). The RPR WKT covers Technology and Innovation (43%), Industry Practices (34%), and NCRA/Professionalism/Ethics (23%). CRI Education covers adult learning theory, speed-building methodology, curriculum design, classroom management, and student assessment. The credential is valid for three years and requires 3.0 CEUs each cycle. NCRA CRI Fall 2026 registration opens July 1, 2026. Previously passed RPR WKT scores must be less than seven years old.

Sample CRI Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CRI exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Malcolm Knowles's theory of andragogy holds that adult learners generally:

A.Learn best through rigid rote memorization

B.Are self-directed, bring significant life experience, and learn best when content is relevant to immediate needs

C.Require constant external motivation from the instructor

D.Perform best when the instructor controls every aspect of learning

Explanation: Andragogy identifies four core principles: adult learners are self-directed, draw on accumulated experience, become ready to learn when content meets real needs, and prefer problem-centered learning. A CRI applies these to steno students by linking drills to real deposition/courtroom scenarios.

2Bloom's Taxonomy arranges cognitive objectives from lowest to highest as:

A.Evaluate, Create, Analyze, Apply, Understand, Remember

B.Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create

C.Memorize, Test, Forget, Relearn, Apply, Teach

D.Theory, Speed, Drill, Transcript, Certification, Career

Explanation: The revised Bloom's Taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl) ascends: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create. A CRI uses this to scaffold steno — students first remember strokes, understand theory, apply in dictation, analyze transcript errors, evaluate peer work, and create polished records.

3Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) refers to:

A.The distance a student sits from the instructor

B.The range of tasks a learner can complete with guidance but not yet independently

C.The time zone in which remote classes are held

D.The difference between written and spoken steno theory

Explanation: The ZPD is the sweet spot between what students can do alone and what they cannot yet do — where scaffolded instruction produces growth. In speed-building, this means assigning dictation at or slightly above the student's current accurate speed, with instructor support.

4Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle has four stages. What are they?

A.Read, Recite, Repeat, Rest

B.Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization, Active Experimentation

C.Dictate, Scope, Proofread, Submit

D.Enroll, Study, Test, Certify

Explanation: Kolb's cycle: experience (take a dictation), reflect (listen to errors), conceptualize (diagnose why), experiment (try a new brief or finger placement). CRI instructors design labs that rotate students through all four stages rather than repeating one stage.

5Formative assessment differs from summative assessment in that it:

A.Is given only at the end of the course

B.Provides ongoing feedback during learning to guide instruction and student improvement

C.Has no grading component

D.Must be administered by NCRA

Explanation: Formative assessment is for-learning feedback during instruction (five-minute takes with immediate review). Summative is of-learning assessment at module or term end. Both have grading roles; neither is NCRA-exclusive.

6In a steno classroom, "scaffolding" most closely means:

A.Building a physical platform for steno machines

B.Providing progressively reduced support as a student masters a skill, starting with heavy guidance and fading as independence grows

C.Assigning speeds in random order

D.Requiring students to teach each other without instructor input

Explanation: Scaffolding (Vygotsky, Bruner) pairs the instructor's support with gradual release of responsibility. Early: heavy modeling; mid: guided practice; late: independent application. Random speed assignment or peer-only instruction is not scaffolding.

7A student repeatedly fails 180 WPM Literary takes despite passing 160 consistently. The BEST diagnostic approach is:

A.Tell the student to practice more at 200 WPM

B.Analyze the student's transcripts for error patterns (drops, mishears, brief conflicts) and target practice to the specific cause

C.Assume the student is not motivated

D.Skip the 180 level and move to 200

Explanation: Speed-plateau is a symptom; the cause varies: finger placement, brief conflicts, vocabulary gaps, or listening-comprehension lag. Error-pattern analysis directs targeted practice. Pushing harder at higher speeds or skipping levels ignores the root cause. Motivation is a separate variable.

8Adult learners typically respond POORLY to teaching methods that are:

A.Problem-centered and grounded in real reporting scenarios

B.Purely lecture-based with no opportunity for application, practice, or relevance to their career goals

C.Respectful of prior experience

D.Tied to clear short-term outcomes

Explanation: Andragogy predicts adult engagement when learning is problem-centered, respectful, and outcome-linked. Lecture-only delivery without practice or relevance contradicts every andragogy principle.

9When giving feedback on a five-minute take, the most effective approach typically:

A.Focuses only on the overall letter grade

B.Identifies specific patterns (e.g., "three drops on multi-syllable medical terms") and recommends targeted practice

C.Compares the student to the highest-performing classmate

D.Keeps feedback vague to protect self-esteem

Explanation: Specific, actionable feedback drives growth. Grades alone don't guide practice; peer comparisons demotivate; vague praise doesn't improve skill.

10Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences recognizes that students may favor:

A.Only mathematical intelligence

B.Different intelligences (linguistic, logical, kinesthetic, musical, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist) that may affect how they learn steno

C.Only auditory processing

D.Only steno theory

Explanation: Gardner posited multiple intelligences; while the empirical strength of the theory is debated, the practical implication — varying student strengths and instructional variety — remains useful. Kinesthetic learners may benefit from physical drills; auditory from dictation; visual from transcripts.

About the CRI Exam

The Certified Reporting Instructor (CRI) is NCRA's specialty credential for current and aspiring court reporting educators. Candidates complete a five-week online asynchronous CRI Education course (passing score 80) plus the 120-item RPR Written Knowledge Test. Coursework covers adult learning theory, speed-building pedagogy, curriculum development, classroom management, student assessment, CAT-software integration, and NCRA professional standards.

Questions

120 scored questions

Time Limit

110 minutes for the RPR WKT; five-week asynchronous CRI Education

Passing Score

80% on CRI Education; scaled 70 on the RPR WKT

Exam Fee

CRI Education: $440 member / $516 nonmember; RPR WKT: $220 member / $253 nonmember; textbook $55 (NCRA (National Court Reporters Association))

CRI Exam Content Outline

30%

Adult Learning Theory and Pedagogy

Knowles andragogy, Bloom's Taxonomy applied to stenographic skills, Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development, Kolb's experiential learning cycle, multiple-intelligence frameworks, scaffolding, formative versus summative assessment, and ADA-compliant instruction for stenography programs.

30%

Speed-Building and Theory Instruction

Theory systems, dictation pacing from 60 to 225+ WPM, shadow drills, stroke/brief building, vocabulary tailored to legal and medical content, retention strategies, CAT software student setup, and preparing students for the RPR skills legs and state CSR speeds.

25%

Curriculum Development and Classroom Management

NCRA-approved program standards, practicum and clinical hour requirements, course sequencing, syllabus design, attendance and academic-integrity policies, ESL and neurodiverse learner support, remote/hybrid steno instruction, and mental-health referral protocols.

15%

Professional Standards and NCRA Governance

NCRA Code of Professional Ethics, instructor continuing-education pathways, NCRA Quality School Initiative, the CORE Council on Online Resources, internship placement, and career preparation from freelance and official paths.

How to Pass the CRI Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 80% on CRI Education; scaled 70 on the RPR WKT
Exam length: 120 questions
Time limit: 110 minutes for the RPR WKT; five-week asynchronous CRI Education
Exam fee: CRI Education: $440 member / $516 nonmember; RPR WKT: $220 member / $253 nonmember; textbook $55

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CRI Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master Knowles's six adult learning principles — andragogy drives the CRI Education pedagogy module.

2Map Bloom's Taxonomy levels to stenographic skill acquisition: remember strokes, understand theory, apply in dictation, analyze transcripts, evaluate peer work, create clean records.

3Study NCRA's 2019 RPR Job Analysis for the WKT domain weighting (43/34/23) — the same blueprint applies to CRI candidates taking the WKT.

4Learn the major theory systems (Phoenix, Stenograph/StenEd, Magnum Steno) at a conceptual level — CRI instructors must be conversant with multiple theories.

5Review student assessment methods: 5-minute takes, theory tests, speed-building progressions, and transcript accuracy scoring.

6Understand ADA accommodations for stenography students including extended-time testing and assistive technology.

7Practice classroom management scenarios: drop-out prevention, remediation plans, and differentiated instruction for mixed-speed classrooms.

8Know NCRA's Quality School Initiative, internship placement requirements, and the CORE Council on Online Resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCRA CRI certification?

The Certified Reporting Instructor (CRI) is NCRA's specialty credential for current and aspiring court reporting educators. It certifies that an instructor has mastered adult learning theory, speed-building methodology, curriculum development, and classroom management specific to stenographic reporter training. No prior NCRA membership is required to sit for the CRI.

What are the two parts of earning the CRI?

The CRI has two mandatory components: a five-week asynchronous online CRI Education course (passing score 80 or higher) and the 120-question RPR Written Knowledge Test (scaled passing score 70). A previously passed RPR WKT less than seven years old satisfies the WKT requirement.

How much does the CRI cost?

The CRI Education course is $440 for NCRA members and $516 for nonmembers. The required textbook is $55 in the NCRA bookstore. The RPR Written Knowledge Test is $220 for members and $253 for nonmembers. Total mandatory cost runs about $715 for members and $824 for nonmembers.

Do I need to already be a court reporter or NCRA member?

No prior certification or NCRA membership is required to sit for the CRI. However, you must become an NCRA Associate member within 30 days of completing all requirements to use the CRI designation, and you must maintain membership and earn 3.0 CEUs every three years to keep the credential.

How often is the CRI Education course offered?

NCRA currently offers the CRI Education course once per year. The Fall 2026 session registration opens July 1, 2026. The course runs for five weeks in an asynchronous online format, allowing working instructors to complete coursework on their own schedule within the week-by-week module structure.

What topics are on the CRI Education course?

Adult learning theory, the learning process for stenographic skill acquisition, successful teaching methods for theory and speed-building, student communication strategies, court reporting course development, classroom management demonstration, and NCRA professional standards for instructors. Each week focuses on a specific module with assignments and discussion.