Page 1 of 97
Texas Court Reporter Certification Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Summarized Exam Coverage – Texas Court Reporter Certification
The Texas Court Reporter Certification exam consists of two parts. Part A (skills) is dictation at specific
speeds: 225 wpm for Q&A (two-voice), 200 wpm for jury charges, and 180 wpm for literary material,
with a minimum passing grade of 95% . Part B (written knowledge) contains objective questions on
elementary aspects of court reporting, spelling, grammar, and Texas rules and procedure, with a
minimum passing grade of 75% . A dictionary may not be used during Part B . The passing score for Part
A is 95%, and for Part B is 75% .
The exam covers eligibility (minimum age 21) , the role of the Judicial Branch Certification Commission
(JBCC) as the regulatory agency , the Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board (appointed by the
Supreme Court, at least 7 members with staggered six-year terms, serving without pay but entitled to
expenses) . Study materials include the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure, Chapter 52 of the Government Code, and ethics/professional responsibility guidelines . The
test emphasizes the official oath of office, appointment procedures, transcript deadlines, fee structures,
and the specific rules for preparing official records and freelance transcripts (e.g., margins, spacing, page
numbering, headers/footers, indexes, master indexes) .
1. A court reporter in Texas is preparing a transcript for a civil case where the original is requested by
the attorney who ordered it. The reporter must charge the statutory fee for the original. Who sets the
statutory per-page fees for court reporting services in Texas?
A) The local county commissioners court
B) The Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC)
C) The Texas Supreme Court
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D) The individual court reporter based on market rates
Answer: C – The Texas Supreme Court adopts rules and guidelines for fees for reporting services .
2. A freelance court reporter completes a deposition transcript. The attorney who ordered the
deposition requests both the original and one copy. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 52, what is
the maximum fee per page the reporter may charge for the original if the fee schedule is not otherwise
specified by contract?
A) No limit; reporters may charge market rates
B) 2.00perpageC)2.00perpageC)2.50 per page
D) 3.50perpage∗∗Answer:D∗∗–
TheTexasGovernmentCodeprovidesastatutoryfeescheduleforcourtreportingservices;theoriginaliscurrentl
y3.50perpage∗∗Answer:D∗∗–
TheTexasGovernmentCodeprovidesastatutoryfeescheduleforcourtreportingservices;theoriginaliscurrently
3.50 per page .
3. A court reporter candidate is preparing for the written certification exam. The candidate knows that a
dictionary is not allowed during the exam. What is the primary reason for this restriction?
A) Dictionaries are too heavy to transport to the exam site
B) The exam tests elementary knowledge of spelling, grammar, and court reporting rules without
external aids
C) The exam is open-book, but dictionaries are excluded due to time constraints
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D) Dictionaries were ruled unconstitutional by the Texas Supreme Court
Answer: B – The exam is designed to test core knowledge; a dictionary would provide an unfair
advantage .
4. A court reporter in a district court has been appointed by the judge. The reporter is unsure how long
the term of appointment lasts. According to Texas law, what is the term of an official court reporter?
A) One year, renewable at the judge's discretion
B) Two years, expiring on December 31 of even-numbered years
C) Four years, coinciding with the term of the appointing judge
D) There is no fixed term; the reporter serves at the pleasure of the judge
Answer: C – Official court reporters serve a term of office that coincides with the term of the judge who
appointed them .
5. A court reporter files a transcript with the district clerk. The filing date is critical for appeal deadlines.
Under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure, how is the filing date of a transcript established?
A) The date the reporter mails the transcript
B) The date the reporter finishes typing the last page
C) The date the transcript is physically received and stamped by the district clerk
D) The date the judge signs the certificate of the transcript
Answer: C – Filing occurs when the document is officially received by the clerk’s office and file-stamped .
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6. The Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board is considering a disciplinary action against a certified
reporter. The board members are appointed by which authority in Texas?
A) The Governor of Texas
B) The Texas Legislature
C) The Supreme Court of Texas
D) The Judicial Branch Certification Commission
Answer: C – The Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board is appointed by the Supreme Court of
Texas .
7. A court reporter candidate is reviewing Texas Government Code Chapter 52. The candidate learns
that the Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board has at least how many members?
A) 5 members
B) 9 members
C) 11 members
D) 7 members
Answer: D – The board must have at least 7 members .
8. An official court reporter in Texas is sworn into office. Who has the authority to administer the official
oath to a court reporter?
A) Any notary public
B) The judge of the court in which the reporter serves (or a person authorized to administer oaths)
Texas Court Reporter Certification Exam ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
Summarized Exam Coverage – Texas Court Reporter Certification
The Texas Court Reporter Certification exam consists of two parts. Part A (skills) is dictation at specific
speeds: 225 wpm for Q&A (two-voice), 200 wpm for jury charges, and 180 wpm for literary material,
with a minimum passing grade of 95% . Part B (written knowledge) contains objective questions on
elementary aspects of court reporting, spelling, grammar, and Texas rules and procedure, with a
minimum passing grade of 75% . A dictionary may not be used during Part B . The passing score for Part
A is 95%, and for Part B is 75% .
The exam covers eligibility (minimum age 21) , the role of the Judicial Branch Certification Commission
(JBCC) as the regulatory agency , the Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board (appointed by the
Supreme Court, at least 7 members with staggered six-year terms, serving without pay but entitled to
expenses) . Study materials include the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Texas Rules of Appellate
Procedure, Chapter 52 of the Government Code, and ethics/professional responsibility guidelines . The
test emphasizes the official oath of office, appointment procedures, transcript deadlines, fee structures,
and the specific rules for preparing official records and freelance transcripts (e.g., margins, spacing, page
numbering, headers/footers, indexes, master indexes) .
1. A court reporter in Texas is preparing a transcript for a civil case where the original is requested by
the attorney who ordered it. The reporter must charge the statutory fee for the original. Who sets the
statutory per-page fees for court reporting services in Texas?
A) The local county commissioners court
B) The Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC)
C) The Texas Supreme Court
, Page 2 of 97
D) The individual court reporter based on market rates
Answer: C – The Texas Supreme Court adopts rules and guidelines for fees for reporting services .
2. A freelance court reporter completes a deposition transcript. The attorney who ordered the
deposition requests both the original and one copy. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 52, what is
the maximum fee per page the reporter may charge for the original if the fee schedule is not otherwise
specified by contract?
A) No limit; reporters may charge market rates
B) 2.00perpageC)2.00perpageC)2.50 per page
D) 3.50perpage∗∗Answer:D∗∗–
TheTexasGovernmentCodeprovidesastatutoryfeescheduleforcourtreportingservices;theoriginaliscurrentl
y3.50perpage∗∗Answer:D∗∗–
TheTexasGovernmentCodeprovidesastatutoryfeescheduleforcourtreportingservices;theoriginaliscurrently
3.50 per page .
3. A court reporter candidate is preparing for the written certification exam. The candidate knows that a
dictionary is not allowed during the exam. What is the primary reason for this restriction?
A) Dictionaries are too heavy to transport to the exam site
B) The exam tests elementary knowledge of spelling, grammar, and court reporting rules without
external aids
C) The exam is open-book, but dictionaries are excluded due to time constraints
, Page 3 of 97
D) Dictionaries were ruled unconstitutional by the Texas Supreme Court
Answer: B – The exam is designed to test core knowledge; a dictionary would provide an unfair
advantage .
4. A court reporter in a district court has been appointed by the judge. The reporter is unsure how long
the term of appointment lasts. According to Texas law, what is the term of an official court reporter?
A) One year, renewable at the judge's discretion
B) Two years, expiring on December 31 of even-numbered years
C) Four years, coinciding with the term of the appointing judge
D) There is no fixed term; the reporter serves at the pleasure of the judge
Answer: C – Official court reporters serve a term of office that coincides with the term of the judge who
appointed them .
5. A court reporter files a transcript with the district clerk. The filing date is critical for appeal deadlines.
Under Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure, how is the filing date of a transcript established?
A) The date the reporter mails the transcript
B) The date the reporter finishes typing the last page
C) The date the transcript is physically received and stamped by the district clerk
D) The date the judge signs the certificate of the transcript
Answer: C – Filing occurs when the document is officially received by the clerk’s office and file-stamped .
, Page 4 of 97
6. The Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board is considering a disciplinary action against a certified
reporter. The board members are appointed by which authority in Texas?
A) The Governor of Texas
B) The Texas Legislature
C) The Supreme Court of Texas
D) The Judicial Branch Certification Commission
Answer: C – The Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board is appointed by the Supreme Court of
Texas .
7. A court reporter candidate is reviewing Texas Government Code Chapter 52. The candidate learns
that the Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board has at least how many members?
A) 5 members
B) 9 members
C) 11 members
D) 7 members
Answer: D – The board must have at least 7 members .
8. An official court reporter in Texas is sworn into office. Who has the authority to administer the official
oath to a court reporter?
A) Any notary public
B) The judge of the court in which the reporter serves (or a person authorized to administer oaths)
