CGM Practice Test

The Certified General Manager (CGM) exam, offered by the Global Association for Quality Management, is for people who run teams, units or whole operations and want a credential that shows it. This page gives you free practice sets by topic, three worked questions with full explanations, a study plan, and the exam rules taken from the official source.

CGM Exam at a Glance

What changed for CGM in 2026

• Oct 28, 2026: Exam fee changed to $190 USD (previously $190 USD (includes 2 attempts, valid 240 days)).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Passing score changed to 70% (70 out of 100 correct) (previously 70% (70 of 100 correct)).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Delivery changed to Online AI-proctored (or at authorized test centers) (previously Online AI-proctored, anytime within 8 months (or at authorized test centers)).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Eligibility changed to No prerequisites (previously No prerequisites (e-course recommended, not required)).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Validity changed to Valid for life (previously Valid for life (no renewal)).^[1]
• Oct 28, 2026: Retake policy changed to 2 attempts per voucher; 14-day wait after second failure before retaking (previously 2 attempts per voucher; 14-day wait before a 3rd attempt; no retakes after passing).^[2]

What the CGM is and how it works

According to Global Association for Quality Management, “The exam comprises of 100 Multiple Choice Questions out of which the candidate needs to score 70% (70 out of 100 correct) to pass the exam.”^[1]

The CGM certification is issued by the Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM) and covers general management: decision making, people, strategy, units and the workplace. It has no prerequisites. Completing the official e-course is not mandatory, but GAQM recommends it because many exam questions are drawn from that material.

The exam is delivered online with AI proctoring, or at authorized test centers. You take it anytime and anywhere within the validity window of your voucher. It has 100 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 2 hours (120 minutes). The passing score is 70%, which means 70 out of 100 correct.

The exam voucher costs $190 USD and allows 2 attempts. If you do not pass on the second attempt, you must wait at least 14 calendar days before trying a third time. Once you pass, the certificate is valid for life.

Fees, voucher terms and retake rules can change, so confirm them on the GAQM website before you pay. Our practice questions are written by us with AI tools. They are not real exam questions, and they are meant to test your understanding of the topics, not to predict what you will see.

CGM content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CGM content outline published by Global Association for Quality Management. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CGM 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: Hotel management agreements and lenders commonly require an FF&E reserve funded at roughly what percentage of total revenue?

1. 1%
2. 10%
3. 15%
4. 4%

Answer: D. 4%

Explanation:

The correct answer is 4%. In hotel management agreements and loan agreements, the FF&E reserve (furniture, fixtures and equipment) is set aside from revenue so the property can be refreshed over time, and about 4% of total revenue is the usual norm. A 1% reserve would be too small to fund real replacement cycles. A 10% reserve and a 15% reserve would take far too much revenue out of operating cash, so owners and lenders do not normally require them. The rule to remember: a reserve is a modest, steady percentage of revenue, set high enough to fund replacement but low enough to keep the property profitable.

Example 2

Question: What is the main purpose of a risk register?

1. Document identified risks, owners, ratings and responses in one place
2. Record employee attendance
3. Track monthly budget variances only
4. List regulatory fines paid

Answer: A. Document identified risks, owners, ratings and responses in one place

Explanation:

The correct answer is that a risk register documents identified risks, owners, ratings and responses in a single place. It is the working log a manager returns to as conditions change. Recording employee attendance is an HR record and has nothing to do with risk. Tracking monthly budget variances only is a finance task, and even if a budget risk appears in the register, the register covers far more than budget lines. Listing regulatory fines paid looks backward at events that already happened, while a register is about risks identified, rated and planned for. The rule to remember: a register links each risk to a rating, an owner and a planned response.

Example 3

Question: What is the importance of workforce optimization in operations?

1. It increases labor costs.
2. It improves efficiency, reduces turnover, and increases productivity
3. It focuses solely on hiring.
4. It disregards employee development.

Answer: B. It improves efficiency, reduces turnover, and increases productivity

Explanation:

The correct answer is that workforce optimization improves efficiency, reduces turnover and increases productivity. It matches people, skills and tasks to organizational goals. Saying it increases labor costs is wrong, because the aim is to use labor more effectively, not to spend more on it. Saying it focuses solely on hiring is wrong, because it also covers scheduling, engagement and retention. Saying it disregards employee development is wrong, because development is part of how skills stay matched to the work. The rule to remember: be suspicious of options that use absolute words such as solely or disregards, since good management practices are usually balanced.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official GAQM outline and e-course material, since GAQM says many questions are drawn from it. List the five content areas and rate yourself honestly on each. Then take the practice set that matches your weakest area before touching the others.

1. Work through a set slowly, without a timer. For each miss, read the explanation and write the rule in your own words.
2. Return to the official material for any topic you missed twice, then retry the set.
3. Move on to the next weakest area and repeat. Finance, risk and operations questions often reward careful reading, so practise those with a pencil.
4. In the last days before the exam, mix sets together and use the 2-hour limit. Aim for a score clearly above 70% so you have room for unfamiliar questions.

Before test day, check the online proctoring requirements on the GAQM site and test your equipment. Remember that your voucher allows 2 attempts, so treat the first as a real try and not as a rehearsal.

Sources & last verified

1. Global Association for Quality Management — number of questions, time limit, exam fee, passing score (official source). “The exam comprises of 100 Multiple Choice Questions out of which the candidate needs to score 70% (70 out of 100 correct) to pass the…” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
2. Global Association for Quality Management — retake policy (official source). “If a Candidate does not pass the exam in the second (2nd) attempt, the candidate must wait for a period of at least fourteen (14)…” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

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