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Question 1

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On a standard stenograph machine, which of the following keys are pressed by the LEFT hand to form initial consonants?

F, P, L, T, D

A, O, E, U

S, T, K, P, W, H, R

# (number bar) only

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: RSR Exam

140 / 160 / 180

Skills-Leg Speeds (WPM)

NCRA

95%

Skills Passing Accuracy

NCRA

100

Written Questions

NCRA

70%

Written Passing Score

NCRA

4 hours

Written Time Limit

NCRA

$125 / $185

Member / Non-member Fee

NCRA

The RSR is an entry-level NCRA credential covering steno theory, machine shorthand fundamentals, transcript production, realtime basics, and professional ethics. Skills legs run at 140 WPM literary, 160 WPM jury charge, and 180 WPM testimony/Q&A with 95% accuracy per leg. The written component tests 100 knowledge questions with a 70% passing score in up to 4 hours. Current NCRA fees are $125 for members and $185 for non-members.

Sample RSR Practice Questions

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1On a standard stenograph machine, which of the following keys are pressed by the LEFT hand to form initial consonants?

A.F, P, L, T, D

B.A, O, E, U

C.S, T, K, P, W, H, R

D.# (number bar) only

Explanation: The left-hand initial consonant bank on a steno machine is S-T-K-P-W-H-R. These keys form the beginning consonants of a syllable. The right hand forms final consonants (F, P, L, T, D, R, B, G, S, Z) and A-O-E-U are the vowel keys struck by the thumbs.

2What is a 'stroke' on a stenograph machine?

A.A single keystroke of one key

B.Any combination of keys pressed simultaneously that represents one syllable, word, or brief

C.The paper-feed action between entries

D.The act of pressing the asterisk key

Explanation: A stroke is defined as any combination of keys depressed simultaneously and released together. Unlike QWERTY typing where each key is a separate keystroke, a steno stroke can involve multiple keys forming a syllable, whole word, or brief. Court reporters average 2-4 strokes per word at high speeds.

3Which vowel keys appear on the steno keyboard and are struck by the thumbs?

A.A, E, I, O, U

B.A, O, E, U

C.A, E, U

D.I, O, U

Explanation: The steno machine has four vowel keys: A, O (struck by the left thumb) and E, U (struck by the right thumb). These combine to represent all English vowel sounds using combinations (e.g., AO for long O sound, AOE for long E, AEU for long A).

4What does the number bar (#) at the top of the steno keyboard do?

A.Deletes the previous stroke

B.Transforms the struck keys into numerals

C.Adds a period automatically

D.Activates the asterisk function

Explanation: The number bar converts the underlying keys into numerical digits based on their position: S=1, T=2, P=3, H=4, A=5, O=0, F=6, P=7, L=8, T=9. Pressing the number bar with the appropriate keys produces numbers in the steno note.

5At the RSR Skills portion of the exam, the literary dictation is given at what speed?

A.120 wpm

B.140 wpm

C.160 wpm

D.180 wpm

Explanation: The NCRA RSR Skills Test has three 5-minute dictations: Literary at 140 wpm, Jury Charge at 160 wpm, and Q&A at 180 wpm. These are the beginning-level speeds designed for students just completing court reporting programs. Candidates must transcribe each at 95% accuracy.

6What is the minimum passing score on the RSR Written Knowledge Test?

A.65%

B.70%

C.75%

D.80%

Explanation: NCRA requires a minimum score of 75% on the RSR Written Knowledge Test, which covers fundamental topics in reporting practice, technology, and professional issues. Skills tests require 95% accuracy on transcripts.

7The acronym CAT in court reporting stands for:

A.Certified Attorney Transcript

B.Computer-Aided Transcription

C.Court-Approved Transcript

D.Combined Audio Testimony

Explanation: CAT stands for Computer-Aided Transcription. CAT software translates steno notes into English text in real time or afterwards. Major CAT programs include Case CATalyst (Stenograph), Eclipse (Advantage Software), ProCAT, and Digital CAT.

8Which of the following is a leading CAT software product?

A.Microsoft Word

B.Case CATalyst

C.Adobe Acrobat

D.Audacity

Explanation: Case CATalyst is Stenograph's flagship CAT software, one of the most widely used programs in court reporting. Other major CAT programs include Eclipse by Advantage Software, ProCAT Stenograph, and Digital CAT. General-purpose tools like Word are not CAT software.

9Which company manufactures the Luminex steno writer?

A.Advantage Software

B.Stenograph

C.ProCAT

D.Stenovations

Explanation: Stenograph manufactures the Luminex series of steno writers. Other popular writers include the Lightspeed (by Stenovations) and the Wave (by Stenovations). Advantage Software makes Eclipse CAT software but not hardware writers of this model name.

10What is a 'brief' in stenography?

A.A short summary of a court proceeding

B.A shortened outline representing a word or phrase in fewer strokes

C.A written legal document filed in court

D.The preamble to a deposition

Explanation: A brief (or brief form) is an abbreviated steno outline that represents a word or phrase with fewer strokes than the standard theory outline. Briefs increase speed; for example 'the defendant' might be one stroke instead of two or three. Each reporter builds a personal brief dictionary.

About the RSR Exam

The Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR) is NCRA's beginning-level certification for students and new stenographic reporters building toward the RPR. The RSR introduces steno theory fundamentals, machine shorthand mechanics, realtime basics, transcript conventions, and professional expectations at entry-level speeds. Candidates demonstrate baseline stenographic competence before advancing to higher-speed credentials.

Assessment

Multiple-choice knowledge test plus three 5-minute skills legs: Literary 140 WPM, Jury Charge 160 WPM, and Testimony/Q&A 180 WPM

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$125 member / $185 non-member (NCRA)

RSR Exam Content Outline

Core domain

Steno Theory and Machine Shorthand

Steno keyboard layout (STKPWHR initials, AOEU vowels, FRPBLGTSDZ finals), stroke mechanics, brief forms, phrasing, number bar, asterisk usage, and fundamentals of machine shorthand writing.

Core domain

Skills Legs (140/160/180 WPM)

Five-minute dictation legs at 140 WPM literary, 160 WPM jury charge, and 180 WPM testimony/Q&A with 95% transcript accuracy required on each leg.

Core domain

Transcript Production and English Skills

Grammar, punctuation, capitalization, number style, spelling, homophones, legal and medical terminology, proofreading, and transcript formatting conventions.

Core domain

Realtime and CAT Software Basics

Introduction to computer-aided transcription workflow, realtime hookup basics, dictionary building, conflicts, untranslates, and foundational troubleshooting.

Core domain

NCRA Ethics and Professionalism

NCRA Code of Professional Ethics, confidentiality, neutrality, conflicts of interest, role of the reporter, and continuing education expectations.

How to Pass the RSR Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70%
Assessment: Multiple-choice knowledge test plus three 5-minute skills legs: Literary 140 WPM, Jury Charge 160 WPM, and Testimony/Q&A 180 WPM
Time limit: 4 hours
Exam fee: $125 member / $185 non-member

Keys to Passing

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

RSR Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the steno keyboard layout first: STKPWHR initials, AOEU vowels, FRPBLGTSDZ finals, and the number bar before drilling speeds.

2Build theory brief forms and phrases systematically — clean dictionaries save strokes and reduce untranslates at test speed.

3Practice transcript production with NCRA punctuation, capitalization, and number-style conventions so accurate writing translates into 95%-scoring transcripts.

4Drill the three speeds separately: 140 WPM literary demands clean punctuation, 160 WPM jury charge rewards phrasing control, and 180 WPM testimony emphasizes Q/A flow.

5Review NCRA Code of Professional Ethics and confidentiality rules — ethics questions are a recurring testable domain.

6Use timed 100-question sets to build stamina for the 4-hour written knowledge portion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RSR exam?

The Registered Skilled Reporter (RSR) is NCRA's entry-level certification for court reporting students and new reporters. It validates baseline knowledge of steno theory, machine shorthand, transcript production, realtime basics, and professional ethics before candidates attempt the higher-speed RPR credential.

What speeds are on the RSR skills test?

The RSR skills legs are beginning-level speeds: Literary at 140 WPM, Jury Charge at 160 WPM, and Testimony/Q&A at 180 WPM. Each is a five-minute dictation leg graded at 95% accuracy for transcript production.

How many questions are on the RSR written test?

The RSR written knowledge portion has 100 multiple-choice questions covering steno theory, transcript rules, realtime basics, English skills, and NCRA ethics. Candidates have up to 4 hours and need 70% to pass.

How much does the RSR cost?

Current NCRA RSR fees are $125 for members and $185 for non-members. Students in NCRA-approved court reporting programs are typically the primary audience and can access member pricing through student membership.

Do I need the RSR before taking the RPR?

No. The RSR is an optional entry-level milestone. Many candidates skip directly to the RPR, which is NCRA's foundational working credential. However, the RSR provides a structured stepping stone at 140/160/180 WPM before tackling the RPR's 180/200/225 WPM speeds.

How do I maintain the RSR certification?

RSR holders maintain the credential by keeping active NCRA membership and earning 3.0 CEUs every three years, consistent with NCRA's shared continuing-education cycle for reporter credentials.