CGL Practice Test

The Certified Genealogical Lecturer credential from the Board for Certification of Genealogists is for genealogists who already hold the Certified Genealogist credential and want formal recognition for their teaching. This page gives you free practice sets on lecturing, ethics, research and documentation topics, worked explanations of sample questions, a study plan and answers to common questions about the portfolio process.

CGL Exam at a Glance

What changed for CGL in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Delivery changed to Electronic portfolio submission (previously Electronic portfolio including two recorded lectures (45–90 min each), not a sit-down exam).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Eligibility changed to Must hold Certified Genealogist (CG) credential (previously Must already hold the Certified Genealogist (CG) credential).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Exam fee changed to $225 as a second credential (previously $225 as a second credential (tiered: $300 first, $225 second, $150 third)).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Number of questions changed to Portfolio: 2 recorded lectures, handouts, slides, lecture list, development activities (previously Portfolio: 2 recorded lectures + handouts + slides + lecture list + development activities).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Time limit changed to 45–90 minutes per recorded lecture (previously Each recorded lecture 45–90 minutes).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Score release changed to 4–5 months (previously Evaluation normally takes 4–5 months).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Validity changed to Expires concurrently with CG credential (5-year cycle) (previously Expires together with the holder's CG credential (5-year cycle)).^[1]

What the CGL is and how it works

According to Board for Certification of Genealogists, “Submit digital recordings of two lectures you have presented, each of which meets Standards 81–83, 85–86, and the following criteria.”^[1]

The CGL is not a sit-down exam with multiple-choice questions. The Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) assesses a portfolio, and all portfolios must be submitted electronically. The portfolio contains 2 recorded lectures, along with handouts, slides, a lecture list and development activities. Each recorded lecture must run at least 45 minutes and no longer than 90 minutes.

Eligibility is limited to people who hold the Certified Genealogist (CG) credential. You may not apply for the 2 credentials at the same time. The fee is $225 when CGL is your second credential. Check BCG's current fee schedule before you apply, because fees can change.

BCG says the evaluation process normally takes 4 to 5 months, so plan around that wait. There is no retake in the usual sense. If your application is denied and you want to appeal, you must notify the executive director within 60 days of the denial. The appeal goes to the BCG trustees.

Once granted, the CGL credential expires at the same time as your CG credential, on the 5-year cycle.

Our practice questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions. They help you rehearse the knowledge behind lecturing and professional practice. The official source for requirements and standards is the BCG Application Guide.

Worked examples: how to reason through CGL 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: Which DPI setting is generally recommended for digitizing standard handwritten genealogical documents for archival preservation?

1. 72 DPI
2. 150 DPI
3. 300–400 DPI
4. 1200 DPI

Answer: C. 300–400 DPI

Explanation:

The correct answer is 300–400 DPI. At that resolution a scan captures enough detail to show handwriting strokes, faded ink and paper texture, while files stay a manageable size for storage and sharing. 72 DPI is screen resolution, so fine detail is lost and the image is poor for preservation. 150 DPI is better but can still blur small or faint script, which matters when you need to re-read a difficult word later. 1200 DPI produces very large files with little added benefit for ordinary handwritten pages, and it makes storage and backup harder. The rule to remember: choose a resolution that preserves legibility of the original without creating files you cannot realistically store, back up or share. Higher is not automatically better.

Example 2

Question: How does a professional genealogical lecturer handle constructive criticism from attendees?

1. Dismiss it to maintain authority
2. Defend their methods to the audience
3. Embrace feedback to improve
4. Ignore it unless it comes from peers

Answer: C. Embrace feedback to improve

Explanation:

The correct answer is to embrace feedback to improve. Constructive criticism tells a lecturer how the material landed with the audience, and acting on it makes later presentations clearer and more useful. Dismissing it to protect authority treats status as more important than teaching quality. Defending methods to the audience turns a session into an argument and distracts from the content. Ignoring it unless it comes from peers wrongly assumes that only colleagues can spot problems, when attendees are the people the lecture is meant to serve. The general rule: treat feedback from any attendee as information to weigh calmly, keep what improves your teaching, and respond with professionalism rather than defensiveness.

Example 3

Question: Why is adherence to the Genealogist’s Code of Ethics crucial for professional lecturers?

1. It guarantees financial success
2. It prevents legal disputes only
3. It ensures integrity and credibility
4. It simplifies the lecturing process

Answer: C. It ensures integrity and credibility

Explanation:

The correct answer is that it ensures integrity and credibility. A code of ethics sets out expectations for honesty, accuracy and respect for privacy, and a lecturer who follows it gives audiences and peers a reason to trust what they present. Saying it guarantees financial success is wrong, because ethical conduct does not promise income. Saying it prevents legal disputes only is too narrow, since the code concerns professional character and standards, not just avoiding legal trouble. Saying it simplifies lecturing is also wrong, because following a code often adds care and discipline rather than removing work. The rule to remember: ethical standards protect trust and reputation, and trust is what makes a lecturer's work worth listening to.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material, because the CGL is judged on a portfolio and not on recall alone. Read the BCG Application Guide and note the standards that apply to recorded lectures, handouts and slides. Write down which parts of your own teaching you can already show and which parts need work.

Next, use the practice sets to find weak spots. Begin with CGL Presentation Style, CGL Teaching Skills and CGL Professionalism, since they relate most directly to lecturing. Then work through CGL Research Methodology, CGL Documentation and Record Keeping and CGL Genetic Genealogy to check the subject knowledge behind your content.

After each set, read every explanation, including those for questions you got right, and write one rule in your own words for each mistake. Return to a set only after you have reviewed the matching official standard.

When your notes are steady, use the practice test as a general check. Then spend the remaining time on the portfolio itself: record, review the recording against the standards, and revise. Keep in mind that evaluation takes time, so avoid leaving preparation to the last moment.

Sources & last verified

1. Board for Certification of Genealogists — number of questions, time limit, retake policy, validity (official source). “Submit digital recordings of two lectures you have presented, each of which meets Standards 81–83, 85–86, and the following criteria.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
2. Board for Certification of Genealogists — exam fee (official source). “Instead of $300 for each credential, the fee will be $300 for the first credential, $225 for the second additional credential, and $150 for the…” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.

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