CTB Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. The passage emphasizes the importance of which trait for clerical staff when dealing with unexpected challenges? → Flexibility
2. Which of the following words, commonly used in an office environment, is spelled incorrectly? → Maintanence
3. What does WPM stand for in the context of typing tests? → Words Per Minute
4. According to the 'nothing before something' rule, which of the following names would be filed LAST? → Arthur's Antiques
5. What is the best way to ensure that office supplies are adequately stocked? → Keep a detailed inventory and reorder supplies before they are depleted
6. Which of the following office tools is typically used for scheduling appointments and meetings? → Calendar software
7. Which punctuation mark follows the salutation in a formal US business letter? → Colon
8. According to standard ARMA filing rules, how should the business name 'A Taste of Italy' be indexed and filed? → It is indexed as 'Taste of Italy, A' and filed under 'T'.
9. Which of the following words is the most professional and accurate term for an inconsistency or difference between two financial records? → Discrepancy
10. Which salutation is appropriate in a formal US business letter when the recipient's name is unknown? → Dear Sir or Madam:
11. What should you do if you receive a suspicious email at work? → Report it to your IT department or supervisor
12. Which element is NOT typically included in a professional business email signature? → Home address
13. Which function key is commonly used to open Help in Windows applications? → F1
14. Which of the following is considered a best practice when scheduling meetings? → Provide an agenda in advance
15. Today is Tuesday, June 10. A meeting invitation says 'next Wednesday.' What date is the meeting? → June 17
16. An executive has appointments at 9:00–10:00 AM, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM, and 2:00–3:30 PM. What is the earliest available 30-minute slot? → 10:00–10:30 AM
17. What is the recommended way to handle confidential documents? → Store them in a locked drawer or cabinet
18. A typist makes 5 errors in a 200-word passage. What is the error rate percentage? → 2.5%
19. A new meeting request conflicts with a higher-priority appointment. What is the MOST appropriate first step? → Check whether the new meeting can be rescheduled or a delegate can attend
20. What does the Backspace key do in a text document? → Deletes the character before the cursor
21. What is the significance of maintaining an accurate calendar for a clerical assistant? → It ensures important deadlines and appointments are not missed
22. In the text, what is the recommended method for handling confidential documents? → Storing them in a secure location
23. What is the primary purpose of filing documents in an office? → To keep documents in an organized manner for easy retrieval
24. In a 5-minute typing test, a typist types 350 words. What is the gross WPM? → 70
25. A recurring 'bi-weekly' meeting is scheduled every Thursday. How often does this meeting occur? → Every two weeks
26. Which writing style is most appropriate for professional business correspondence? → Clear, concise, and professional
27. What is the recommended paragraph length for effective business writing? → 3–5 sentences
28. When performing a visual accuracy check under a severe time constraint, what principle should guide a clerk's work? → Accuracy must be maintained, as unchecked data is better than incorrectly verified data.
29. Which of the following is mentioned as an important skill for a clerical position? → Effective communication
30. The recent policy change will significantly _____ employee morale. Which word correctly completes the sentence? → affect