CSR Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. The legal term 'in camera' means proceedings conducted: → In the judge's private chambers, not in open court
2. Which quality improvement method is most applicable to case documentation & evidence management in Certified Shorthand Reporter? → Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) continuous improvement cycle
3. Which of the following best describes a key competency required for interview techniques & communication in CSR certification? → Critical thinking and evidence-based decision making
4. Which action by a court reporter would constitute a conflict of interest? → Reporting a deposition for a company whose stock the reporter's spouse owns
5. A witness requests to review her own transcript and make substantive changes to the testimony. Under typical deposition procedures, the reporter should: → Provide a signature page or errata sheet for the witness to note changes
6. When a firm adopts a style guide for transcript formatting, the primary QA benefit is: → Consistency across reporters so attorneys receive uniformly formatted transcripts
7. What is the PRIMARY purpose of continuing education requirements in Communication & Stakeholder Relations for CSR professionals? → Maintaining current knowledge and competency as the field evolves
8. For the NCRA CRR (Certified Realtime Reporter) credential, what additional accuracy standard must candidates meet beyond the RPR? → 96% realtime translation accuracy with no post-editing
9. What procedural step immediately follows a guilty verdict in a felony criminal case? → Sentencing hearing
10. Sample Question 2 on Legal and Courtroom Procedures → Correct Answer
11. Which body is primarily responsible for administering the CSR examination in the United States? → National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)
12. An attorney's paralegal, rather than the attorney herself, contacts the reporter to request a correction to a certified transcript. The reporter should: → Require direct written authorization from the attorney of record before making any changes
13. What is 'stacking' in the context of steno speed building, and why is it discouraged? → Practicing multiple theories simultaneously, which creates conflicting muscle memory
14. A deposition transcript index typically includes which of the following? → An index of witnesses and exhibits, plus page references
15. Which technology trend is most likely to impact legal frameworks & regulatory standards in the CSR field in coming years? → Digital tools for enhanced data collection, analysis, and reporting
16. A court reporter is asked to certify a transcript but believes it contains errors she cannot resolve from her notes or audio. She should: → Mark uncertain passages as 'unintelligible' and note the issue before certifying
17. What is the minimum words-per-minute (WPM) speed typically required for CSR literary dictation tests in most US states? → 180 WPM
18. Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement? → The committee issued its final report last Friday.
19. How should a CSR professional handle a situation where case documentation & evidence management protocols conflict with practical constraints? → Document the conflict and seek guidance from appropriate authorities
20. When a reporter uses CAT software's built-in conflict resolution tool, its primary quality benefit is: → Reducing homophone and mistranslation errors by flagging ambiguous steno outlines
21. Under professional responsibility standards, a court reporter who knowingly produces a fraudulent transcript faces: → Criminal liability, civil liability, and loss of professional certification
22. Which term describes the rate at which a court reporter can write steno and produce a readable translation simultaneously in real time? → Real-time translation speed
23. A 'peremptory challenge' during jury selection allows an attorney to: → Dismiss a potential juror without stating a reason
24. When implementing interview techniques & communication practices, what should a CSR professional prioritize first? → Compliance with established standards and protocols
25. Which of the following best describes a key competency required for legal frameworks & regulatory standards in CSR certification? → Critical thinking and evidence-based decision making
26. Which of the following sentences has correct subject-verb agreement? → Neither the motion nor the objections were sustained.
27. Which documentation practice is most important for interview techniques & communication in the CSR field? → Maintaining complete, accurate, and timely records
28. Identify the correctly punctuated sentence containing a direct quotation: → The witness said, "I was not present."
29. A transcript is returned by an attorney citing multiple instances of 'inaudible' markers where clear testimony was given. This most likely indicates: → The reporter did not adequately monitor real-time audio levels during the proceeding
30. Sample Question 8 on Transcription Techniques and Speed Building → Correct Answer