CEC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CEC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What does 'settlement lag' refer to in ecommerce payment processing? → The time between transaction authorization and funds deposited in the merchant account
2. When building an e-commerce business plan, what does a 'unit economics' analysis primarily evaluate? → Profitability of a single transaction or customer
3. A California consumer files a CCPA request to delete their personal data. The ecommerce business must respond within: → 45 days, with a possible 45-day extension
4. A product page with 47 customer reviews averages 4.1 stars but still has a low add-to-cart rate. Which CRO element should be tested FIRST? → Test the product images, description clarity, and CTA button placement
5. How does 'scarcity messaging' (e.g., 'Only 3 left in stock') influence conversion rates? → It triggers loss aversion and urgency, motivating faster purchase decisions
6. A DTC brand wants to reduce dependency on Amazon. Which strategic move best diversifies their sales channels? → Launch a branded Shopify store with loyalty rewards
7. What is 'social proof' in the context of e-commerce social commerce strategies? → Customer reviews, ratings, and user-generated content that build buyer trust
8. A product page has a Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) score of 0.35. What is the most common cause of high CLS on ecommerce product pages? → Images without defined width and height attributes causing layout reflow when they load
9. What is the primary advantage of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) over native apps for smaller ecommerce merchants? → PWAs eliminate the need for app store approval and reduce development costs
10. An ecommerce store has a 2% conversion rate and $50 average order value. If CPC is $1.00, what is the maximum CPC to maintain a 3:1 ROAS? → $0.33
11. In ecommerce, 'CLV:CAC ratio' of 3:1 is generally considered: → A healthy benchmark meaning customers generate 3x their acquisition cost
12. What does 'app store optimization (ASO)' primarily focus on to increase organic installs? → Optimizing title, keywords, screenshots, and ratings to rank higher in App Store search
13. Which paid social campaign objective should an ecommerce advertiser choose to optimize for online purchases? → Conversions
14. A subscription ecommerce brand offers customers the option to 'pause' their subscription instead of canceling. What retention principle does this implement? → Reducing perceived commitment to lower cancellation intent
15. When an e-commerce brand partners with an influencer for a long-term 'brand ambassador' relationship, what is the primary strategic benefit? → Sustained authentic brand association and repeated audience exposure over time
16. What is 'kitting' in warehouse fulfillment operations? → Assembling multiple individual items into a single packaged unit before shipping
17. A fashion ecommerce brand wants to drive awareness among Gen Z consumers. Which channel mix is most appropriate? → TikTok ads and Instagram Reels
18. What CRO principle does 'Fitts's Law' inform in UI design? → Larger and closer targets are easier and faster to click, so CTAs should be prominent
19. Which US federal law requires companies to notify consumers when their unencrypted personal information may have been accessed in a data breach? → There is no single federal breach notification law — it is governed by state laws
20. Why is mobile optimization important for e-commerce? → Enhances mobile user experience
21. Which metric best measures the effectiveness of a mobile app's onboarding flow for an ecommerce brand? → Day-7 retention rate after first launch
22. Which EMV technology feature is most effective at preventing counterfeit card fraud at card-present terminals? → Dynamic cryptogram generated per transaction
23. What does KPI stand for? → Key Performance Indicator
24. A merchant selling electronics to Australia must be aware of which mandatory compliance marking required for electrical products sold in Australia? → RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark)
25. What is the primary goal of website development? → Create a functional and user-friendly platform
26. Which ecommerce KPI directly measures the percentage of customers who make a second purchase? → Repeat Purchase Rate
27. What does 'contribution margin' measure in e-commerce financial planning? → Revenue minus variable costs, before fixed overhead
28. In the context of CEC certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing conversion rate optimization? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
29. In the context of CEC certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing payment processing & security? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
30. In the context of CEC certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing legal & regulatory compliance? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices