CAE Practice Test

The Certified Agile Essentials Specialist (CAE) exam from the International Software Quality Institute suits people who work in IT teams and want a credential in agile basics. This page gives you free practice sets by topic, a map from the official content areas to those sets, worked questions with explanations, a study plan, and answers on format, fee, passing score and retakes.

CAE Exam at a Glance

What changed for CAE in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Exam fee changed to US$155.00 (previously US$155 exam voucher).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Retake fee changed to US$38.75 (+25% 2TRY add-on) (previously 2TRY add-on US$38.75 (+25%): one free re-sit within 90 days).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Retake policy changed to One free re-sit within 90 days with 2TRY add-on (previously Free first re-sit within 90 days with 2TRY).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Delivery changed to Remote proctored or Pearson VUE test center (previously Remote proctored or test center (Pearson VUE available for self-study); English).^[2]

What the CAE is and how it works

According to International Software Quality Institute, “There are no specific entry requirements or pre-requisites except basic IT knowledge and experience of working in IT teams.”^[1]

The CAE exam, run by the International Software Quality Institute (iSQI), tests your grasp of agile fundamentals. It covers the Agile Manifesto and principles, release and iteration planning, requirements, reviews and progress, and team quality. It is meant for people who work in IT teams and want to show they understand how agile work is organised.

There are no formal prerequisites. iSQI asks only for basic IT knowledge and experience of working in IT teams.

The exam has 40 questions and a time limit of 60 minutes. The minimum score to pass is 65%. You can sit it remotely with a proctor or at a Pearson VUE test center. You can order your voucher from the iSQI shop page or through your Pearson VUE account.

The exam fee listed by iSQI is US$155.00. If you add the 2TRY option when you buy, 25% is added to your initial order, shown as US$38.75. With that add-on, you can take one free re-sit within 90 days if you do not pass the first attempt.

Fees, vouchers and add-ons can change, so check the iSQI exam page and the Pearson VUE page for the current terms before you book. Our practice questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions.

CAE content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CAE content outline published by International Software Quality Institute. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CAE questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the PRIMARY purpose of continuing education requirements in Retrospectives & Continuous Improvement for CAE professionals?

1. Maintaining current knowledge and competency as the field evolves
2. Fulfilling mandatory regulatory requirements only
3. Networking with other professionals in the field
4. Earning additional credentials for career advancement

Answer: A. Maintaining current knowledge and competency as the field evolves

Explanation:

The correct answer is that continuing education keeps knowledge and competency current as the field evolves. Agile practice changes over time, so the main point of ongoing learning is staying useful and accurate in your work.

The option about mandatory regulatory requirements only is wrong because it names a single narrow motive and the word only makes it too absolute. Networking can happen along the way, but it is a side benefit, not the purpose. Earning extra credentials for career advancement is also a side effect that benefits the individual and does not describe why the field asks for learning.

The general rule: when a question asks for the primary purpose, choose the option that describes the lasting reason. Be wary of options that are absolute, that name only one motive, or that describe a by-product.

Example 2

Question: Which standard of practice is MOST important for ensuring quality in Stakeholder Engagement?

1. Following evidence-based protocols while adapting to specific circumstances
2. Strictly adhering to the same procedure in every situation
3. Using the most advanced technology available regardless of need
4. Minimizing documentation to focus on practical work

Answer: A. Following evidence-based protocols while adapting to specific circumstances

Explanation:

The correct answer is following evidence-based protocols while adapting to specific circumstances. It combines a reliable base of known good practice with the judgment to fit it to the situation, which is what quality in stakeholder engagement depends on.

Strictly adhering to the same procedure in every situation is wrong because rigid repetition ignores differences between stakeholders and contexts. Using the most advanced technology regardless of need is wrong because the tool should follow the problem, not the other way round. Minimizing documentation to focus on practical work is wrong because it treats records as waste, when useful documentation supports shared understanding.

The general rule: in agile questions, balanced answers that pair a sound practice with adaptation usually beat answers that insist on one extreme.

Example 3

Question: What is the purpose of a product backlog in Agile?

1. Tracks employee hours
2. Lists project risks
3. Captures prioritized user requirements
4. Records historical defects

Answer: C. Captures prioritized user requirements

Explanation:

The correct answer is that a product backlog captures prioritized user requirements. It is the ordered list of work the team may deliver, and it gives everyone a shared view of what matters most to stakeholders.

Tracking employee hours is wrong because the backlog describes the work to be done, not time spent by people. Listing project risks is wrong because risks are managed separately and are not the main content of the backlog. Recording historical defects is wrong because the backlog looks forward at what to build or fix, not backward at what has already happened.

The general rule: match each artifact to its purpose. The backlog is forward-looking, ordered by value, and centred on what the product needs.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official content areas from iSQI and read the exam page so you know the format, the time limit and the passing score. Then use the table on this page to pick the practice set that matches each area.

• Take a set once without notes to see where you stand, and write down every question you got wrong or guessed.
• For each miss, read the explanation and put the rule in your own words. Do not just memorise the answer letter, because wording changes between questions.
• Return to the same set after a few days and see whether the rules still hold.
• Spend extra time on the sets for your weakest areas, such as planning, backlog management or the definition of done.
• Before test day, do a timed run through mixed sets to practise reading carefully at the pace the exam allows.

Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so treat them as practice for reasoning, not a preview of the exam. Use the official material as the source of truth, and book only when your results are steady across all areas.

Sources & last verified

1. International Software Quality Institute — number of questions, time limit, exam fee, passing score (official source). “Number of questions 40” Verified Oct 27, 2026.
2. pearsonvue.com — delivery (official source). “You can order your Pearson VUE exam voucher from the iSQI shop page , or you can order your exam via your Pearson VUE account.” Verified Oct 27, 2026.
3. International Software Quality Institute — other (official source). “agile manifesto and principles” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.