1.2 ACC Exam Format & Knowledge Domains

ACC Exam Format & Knowledge Domains

The ACC Exam, launched by the ICF in November 2024, is a standalone knowledge-based assessment built to confirm that a candidate understands the ICF Core Competencies (2019) and the ICF Code of Ethics (2020) well enough to apply them in practice. Unlike the Situational Judgment Test used for the PCC and MCC Credentialing Exam, the ACC Exam does not ask candidates to rank or compare scenario responses — it tests direct knowledge with single-answer multiple-choice questions. Understanding the exam's question format, timing structure, and content weighting is the foundation of an effective study plan.

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Question Format

Every question on the ACC Exam follows the same structure:

• 60 total questions, each presented with four answer options.
• Exactly one correct answer per question — there is no BEST/WORST pairing and no partial credit for a "second-best" choice.
• No penalty for incorrect answers. Because unanswered questions cannot earn points, candidates should answer every question even when uncertain.
• Questions draw directly on definitions, standards, and applied scenarios tied to the ICF Core Competencies and Code of Ethics, but each one has a single, verifiable correct answer rather than a judgment call between competing "good" options.

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Exam Timing Breakdown

The full ACC Exam appointment runs 90 minutes and is split into two sequential sections with an optional break in between:

Each of the two scored sections gives candidates 39 minutes to answer 30 questions — an average of about 78 seconds per question, which is a substantially more comfortable pace than older ICF exam formats. The 10-minute break between sections is optional; candidates who feel ready may proceed directly into Section 2 without pausing. Because the sections are scored independently within the same 60-question total, candidates should treat the midpoint break as a chance to reset focus rather than as time to review Section 1 answers.

Candidates should also plan their appointment around the full 90-minute window rather than the 78-minutes of actual question time, since Pearson VUE check-in procedures (identification verification, security screening, and rules acknowledgment) typically occur before the scheduled appointment window begins. Arriving early and having acceptable identification ready helps avoid losing testing time to administrative delays.

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Content Domains and Weighting

The ACC Exam draws its 60 questions from three knowledge domains, each carrying a fixed weight:

Domain 1: Coaching Ethics (30%)

Questions in this domain are drawn from the ICF Code of Ethics (2020). Expect items on professional conduct, confidentiality obligations, conflicts of interest, appropriate use of client information, and the ethical decision-making standards ICF-credentialed coaches must apply.

Domain 2: Definition and Boundaries of Coaching (30%)

This domain tests the ICF definition of coaching and the ability to distinguish coaching from adjacent helping professions — therapy and counseling, consulting, mentoring, and training. It also covers scope-of-practice judgment, such as recognizing when a client's needs fall outside coaching and require referral to a licensed professional.

Domain 3: Coaching Competencies, Strategies, and Techniques (40%)

As the largest domain, this section is grounded in the 8 ICF Core Competencies (2019): Demonstrates Ethical Practice, Embodies a Coaching Mindset, Establishes and Maintains Agreements, Cultivates Trust and Safety, Maintains Presence, Listens Actively, Evokes Awareness, and Facilitates Client Growth. Questions test knowledge of what each competency requires and how it is correctly applied in a coaching relationship.

Because this domain carries the largest single weight of the three, candidates preparing for the ACC Exam should allocate proportionally more study time to the 8 Core Competencies than to either the Code of Ethics or the coaching-boundaries material, while still ensuring all three domains are covered before exam day.

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Scoring Methodology

The ACC Exam uses a scaled scoring model rather than a simple raw percentage:

• Scoring range: 200 to 600.
• Passing score: 460.
• Scaled scoring statistically adjusts for small differences in difficulty across different exam forms, so a passing score of 460 represents the same standard of performance regardless of which specific set of 60 questions a candidate receives.

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Delivery Options

The ACC Exam is administered exclusively through Pearson VUE. Candidates choose between:

• A Pearson VUE test center: an in-person, proctored testing environment.
• OnVUE online proctoring: a remote option that uses a webcam and identity verification so candidates can test from a private space that meets Pearson VUE's testing environment requirements.

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Retake Policy

Candidates who do not reach a scaled score of 460 may retake the ACC Exam under these rules:

• Retake fee: $105 USD per exam-only attempt (separate from the original application fee).
• Waiting period: 14 days after a first failed attempt; 30 days after any subsequent failed attempt.
• Attempt limit: Up to 6 attempts within a rolling 12-month period.

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Contrast: ACC Exam vs. the PCC/MCC Credentialing Exam

Candidates researching ICF exams online will find substantial content describing BEST/WORST Situational Judgment Test strategy — that content applies to the PCC and MCC Credentialing Exam, a 78-item SJT used only at the Professional and Master Certified Coach levels. The ACC Exam is a separate, shorter, knowledge-based test with single correct answers and no BEST/WORST scenario ranking. Candidates preparing for the ACC should disregard SJT-specific strategy and instead focus on mastering the factual content of the Code of Ethics, the definition and boundaries of coaching, and the 8 Core Competencies.