200+ Free CSR Certified Shorthand Reporter Practice Questions

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Question 1

Score: 0/0

A reporter wants protection against a brief power outage during a remote deposition. Which device is the best choice?

A surge protector only

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

A passive USB hub

A screen privacy filter

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CSR Certified Shorthand Reporter Exam

120

Total Questions

100 scored + 20 pretest

110 min

Time Limit

NCRA WKT

Scaled Passing Score

NCRA

43%

Technology Domain

Largest WKT area

$181-$253

WKT Fee Range

Student to nonmember

Apr/Jul/Oct

2026 WKT Windows

Published NCRA schedule

There is not a separate national CSR written blueprint published by NYSED. For national CSR prep, this page follows the current NCRA RPR WKT outline: 120 multiple-choice questions in 110 minutes, 70 scaled to pass, and domain weights of 43/34/23. No official 2026 blueprint revision was identified on current NCRA RPR/WKT pages, but NCRA adopted an AI/ASR position statement on Feb. 24, 2026 that matters for professionalism context.

Sample CSR Certified Shorthand Reporter Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CSR Certified Shorthand Reporter exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A reporter wants protection against a brief power outage during a remote deposition. Which device is the best choice?

A.A surge protector only

B.An uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

C.A passive USB hub

D.A screen privacy filter

Explanation: A UPS both conditions power and supplies a short battery bridge when utility power drops. That extra time lets the reporter save files, keep the writer and CAT session alive, or perform a clean shutdown instead of losing the record.

2For the most stable realtime feed in a conference room with crowded Wi-Fi, what connection should a reporter prefer when available?

A.Bluetooth tethering

B.Ethernet

C.Public guest Wi-Fi

D.A cellular hotspot placed behind the laptop

Explanation: A wired Ethernet connection is usually more stable and less prone to interference than shared wireless options. For realtime work, lower latency and fewer dropouts matter more than convenience.

3Why do many reporters capture a separate audio backup even when writing stenographically?

A.To replace all proofreading

B.To create redundant reference if clarification is needed later

C.To avoid producing a transcript

D.To convert the proceeding into a summary only

Explanation: A separate audio backup provides a secondary reference if a word, speaker, or number must be checked later. It supports transcript accuracy without changing the reporter's duty to create the verbatim record from the proceeding.

4Before a full day in court, which equipment check is most preventive?

A.Confirming writer and laptop power sources and battery status

B.Changing every file name by hand

C.Deleting all prior dictionaries

D.Turning off autosave

Explanation: Power problems are among the simplest avoidable causes of interruption, so checking battery status and AC connections is basic risk control. That quick check helps keep the record running if a power cord is bumped or courtroom outlets are limited.

5A reporter sees a sudden increase in untranslates during realtime. Which issue is the most likely software-side cause?

A.An overcharged laptop battery

B.A missing or incorrect active dictionary

C.A muted courtroom speaker

D.A privacy filter on the monitor

Explanation: If the active dictionary is missing, outdated, or not loaded as expected, the CAT software cannot reliably translate steno notes into text. Translation quality depends heavily on the correct dictionary and current job settings.

6During testimony, the writer connection drops whenever the table is bumped. What is the most likely first thing to inspect?

A.The exhibit stickers

B.The cable or adapter connection

C.The spell-check dictionary

D.The page-number format

Explanation: A failure tied to physical movement usually points to a loose cable, worn connector, or unstable adapter. Physical connection issues should be ruled out before assuming a more complex software problem.

7What naming practice best reduces confusion when multiple transcript drafts exist?

A.Use the same filename for every revision

B.Store all versions as Untitled

C.Use clear versioned filenames with date or revision identifiers

D.Rename the final transcript after sending it

Explanation: Versioned filenames make it easier to distinguish rough drafts, revised drafts, and final copies. Clear naming helps prevent accidental overwrites and reduces the chance of sending the wrong file.

8A reporter must send a transcript electronically to counsel. Which sharing method is most secure?

A.Posting it to an unrestricted public link

B.Sending a read-only link with limited access and expiration controls

C.Uploading it to a shared social-media folder

D.Using a USB drive left at the front desk

Explanation: A read-only link with recipient controls and an expiration date limits unnecessary exposure of the transcript. Security for legal records is stronger when access is limited to authorized recipients and can be revoked.

9What is the best protection for transcripts stored on a portable SSD that could be lost during travel?

A.A decorative laptop sleeve

B.Drive encryption

C.A longer file name

D.Turning off autosave

Explanation: Encryption protects the contents even if the physical drive is lost or stolen. That matters because transcript files can contain confidential or sensitive information that should not be readable by an unauthorized person.

10A transcript file shows two conflicting cloud versions after edits were made on separate devices. What is the safest next step?

A.Delete both versions immediately

B.Merge only after comparing the versions carefully and preserving a backup copy

C.Assume the newest timestamp is always correct

D.Turn off all backups permanently

Explanation: Conflicting versions should be reviewed carefully before anything is overwritten. Preserving both versions first protects against data loss while the reporter determines which edits belong in the authoritative file.

About the CSR Certified Shorthand Reporter Exam

This national certified shorthand reporter practice page is aligned to the NCRA Registered Professional Reporter Written Knowledge Test, which New York uses with the three RPR skills tests for CSR licensure. The WKT is a 120-question multiple-choice exam with 100 scored items and 20 pretest items, a 110-minute time limit, and a passing scaled score of 70. Current NCRA weighting is Technology and Innovation (43%), Industry Practices (34%), and NCRA, Professionalism, and Ethics (23%).

Assessment

120 multiple-choice questions (100 scored + 20 pretest)

Time Limit

110 minutes

Passing Score

70 scaled

Exam Fee

$181 student / $220 reporter member / $253 nonmember (National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) via Pearson VUE/OnVUE)

CSR Certified Shorthand Reporter Exam Content Outline

43%

Technology and Innovation

Transcript production, realtime generation, CAT software, hardware and peripherals, file management, online research, data security, and troubleshooting based on the current RPR job analysis.

34%

Industry Practices

Punctuation, spelling, grammar, legal and medical vocabulary, exhibit handling, oaths and affirmations, readback, rough-draft rules, legal process, ADA access, FOIA, HIPAA, and reporter role distinctions.

23%

NCRA, Professionalism, and Ethics

NCRA mission and resources, certifications, continuing education, COPE, professionalism, mentorship, NCRA position statements, and current AI/ASR awareness as part of ethical stewardship of the record.

How to Pass the CSR Certified Shorthand Reporter Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70 scaled
Assessment: 120 multiple-choice questions (100 scored + 20 pretest)
Time limit: 110 minutes
Exam fee: $181 student / $220 reporter member / $253 nonmember

Keys to Passing

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

CSR Certified Shorthand Reporter Study Tips from Top Performers

1Put the most time into Technology and Innovation because it accounts for 43% of the current scored blueprint.

2Use the published RPR job analysis as your main outline, since no official 2026 blueprint revision is posted on current NCRA RPR/WKT pages.

3Drill punctuation, grammar, legal vocabulary, medical vocabulary, and transcript procedure details every week.

4Review NCRA certifications, continuing education rules, COPE, and position statements, including the Feb. 24, 2026 AI/ASR statement.

5Practice 110-minute mixed sets so you are comfortable pacing through 120 questions when 20 unmarked pretest items may be embedded.

6If New York licensure is your goal, pair written prep with a separate plan for the Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony skills tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exam should I use for national CSR prep?

Use the NCRA Registered Professional Reporter Written Knowledge Test as the core written blueprint. New York's Certified Shorthand Reporter licensure path specifically requires the RPR WKT plus the three RPR skills-test sections, so the RPR WKT is the best national anchor for CSR-style written preparation.

How many questions are on the CSR-aligned written exam?

The current NCRA RPR Written Knowledge Test has 120 multiple-choice questions. Only 100 questions are scored; the remaining 20 are pretest items that do not count toward the official score, and candidates do not know which items are unscored.

How long is the exam and what score do I need to pass?

Candidates have 110 minutes to complete the Written Knowledge Test and must earn a scaled score of 70 or better to pass.

Can I take the exam remotely?

Yes. NCRA states that Written Knowledge Tests may be taken through Pearson VUE test centers or Pearson OnVUE online proctoring, depending on your scheduling choice and technical readiness.

Has the CSR/RPR written blueprint changed for 2026?

NCRA's current public RPR and WKT pages do not post a new 2026 blueprint revision. The published job analysis in use remains the Feb. 2019 RPR job analysis, but NCRA did adopt an AI/ASR position statement on Feb. 24, 2026, which is relevant to professionalism and context questions.

How does New York CSR licensure connect to the RPR exam?

NYSED requires applicants for Certified Shorthand Reporter licensure to pass the RPR Written Knowledge Test and the Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony skills tests. NCRA must also submit the Certification of Examination Grades (Form 3) directly to NYSED for the licensure file.