CAE Practice Test

The CAE, Certificated Automotive Engineer, is a status on the IMI Professional Register, held by people working in automotive engineering. This page offers free practice sets by topic, worked questions with explanations, a study plan and answers to common questions. The questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions.

CAE Exam at a Glance

What changed for CAE in 2026

• Oct 28, 2026: Eligibility changed to 3+ years automotive experience plus Level 3 approved qualification or IMI Accreditation (previously 3+ years' automotive experience plus a Level 3 approved qualification or an IMI Accreditation).^[1]

What the CAE is and how it works

According to Institute of the Motor Industry, “Certificated Automotive Engineer (CAE) – can be awarded if you have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in automotive and evidence of a level 3 approved qualification or an IMI Accreditation.”^[1]

The CAE is a professional status from the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), listed on its Professional Register. The IMI's own wording is Certificated Automotive Engineer. It suits people already working in automotive engineering who want recognised evidence of their experience and qualifications.

According to the IMI, the CAE can be awarded if you have a minimum of 3 years' experience in automotive and evidence of a Level 3 approved qualification or an IMI Accreditation. Check the IMI membership page to see which qualifications it accepts, because we cannot confirm that list here.

The status is not permanent. To stay on the Professional Register, you must give evidence of continued learning and development, with a minimum of 90 CPD credits over a 3 year period. In practice that means keeping records of your learning as you go, so the evidence is ready when the period ends.

We have not verified how assessment is delivered or scored, what it costs, or whether any retake rules apply, so we do not state them. Those details can change, and the IMI is the only reliable source for them. Use our practice sets to refresh the technical and professional topics behind the role. Treat them as revision, not as a copy of anything the IMI uses.

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: A automotive engineer professional discovers a discrepancy during professional ethics & standards review. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

1. Accepting all stakeholder requests without prioritization
2. Working independently to avoid conflicting opinions
3. Engaging stakeholders collaboratively to align goals and expectations
4. Limiting communication to written reports only

Answer: C. Engaging stakeholders collaboratively to align goals and expectations

Explanation:

Option C is correct: when you find a discrepancy, you bring the people affected into the conversation and agree what happens next. Option A is wrong because accepting every request without prioritising removes your ability to protect standards. Option B is wrong because working alone hides the problem from the people who need to know and cuts you off from information that could explain it. Option D is wrong because written reports alone are slow, and they miss the questions and context that come up in discussion.

The rule to remember: raise a discrepancy openly, involve the right stakeholders, agree the next step, and keep a written record of what was decided.

Example 2

Question: What is DC fast charging and how does it differ from Level 2 charging?

1. DC fast charging bypasses the vehicle's onboard charger to deliver high-power direct current, charging much faster than Level 2 AC charging
2. DC is slower but safer than Level 2
3. They charge at the same speed but use different plugs
4. DC fast charging only works at home

Answer: A. DC fast charging bypasses the vehicle's onboard charger to deliver high-power direct current, charging much faster than Level 2 AC charging

Explanation:

Option A is correct. In DC fast charging, the conversion from AC to DC happens in the charging equipment, and DC goes straight to the battery. That bypasses the vehicle's onboard charger, which is the part that limits how fast Level 2 AC charging can go. Option B is wrong because the main difference is speed, and DC is the faster option. Option C is wrong because the speeds differ for a reason: the power path is different, and plug shape is not what sets the rate. Option D is wrong because DC fast chargers need high-power equipment and are not limited to the home.

The rule to remember: Level 2 sends AC through the onboard charger, while DC fast charging delivers DC directly to the battery.

Example 3

Question: What is the recommended frequency for reviewing and updating automotive systems & design protocols?

1. Monitoring outcomes through regular data collection and trend analysis
2. Reviewing results only at year-end
3. Relying on periodic external audits as the sole evaluation method
4. Tracking activity volume without measuring quality

Answer: A. Monitoring outcomes through regular data collection and trend analysis

Explanation:

Option A is correct. The question asks about review frequency, and the best answer ties reviews to regular data collection and trend analysis, so protocols are updated when the evidence says they should be. Option B is wrong because reviewing only at year-end lets problems run unnoticed for a long time. Option C is wrong because relying on external audits alone leaves you with no ongoing view of your own results. Option D is wrong because counting activity says nothing about whether the work is good.

The rule to remember: review on a steady cycle using outcome data, and measure quality, not just how much was done.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the IMI Professional Register page and note exactly what it asks for: your experience, your Level 3 qualification or IMI Accreditation, and the CPD records needed to stay on the register. Check anything unclear with the IMI directly.

Then take one practice set to see where you stand. Pick the topic you work with least, since familiar areas rarely need the most revision. Read every explanation, including for questions you got right, and write a one-line rule for each miss.

1. Work through the technical sets, such as powertrain, EV technology, materials and safety systems, one at a time.
2. Move on to the professional sets: ethics and standards, quality, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
3. Return to the questions you missed and retake that set after a break.
4. Finish with the general practice test to check that the weak areas have improved.

Keep a running list of terms you could not explain in your own words, and look them up in your course notes or standards documents. Practice questions test recall, so use real work examples to check you understand the reasoning behind each answer.

Sources & last verified

1. Institute of the Motor Industry — validity, renewal, eligibility (official source). “To maintain your status on the IMI Professional Register, you are required to give evidence of continued learning and development activities, with a minimum of…” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.

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