FIT Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Simultaneous interpreting differs from consecutive interpreting in that the interpreter: → Renders the message into the target language while the speaker continues to speak
2. Which localization challenge is unique to languages with grammatical gender (e.g., French, Spanish) when adapting gender-neutral English UI strings? → Choosing grammatical gender for nouns and adjectives when the referent's gender is unknown
3. What is 'domestication' in the context of literary translation strategy? → Adapting foreign cultural elements to be familiar and natural to the target audience
4. According to quality assurance principles, a 'revision' step in translation differs from 'proofreading' in that revision: → Compares the translation against the source text for accuracy and completeness
5. What action should be taken when facing a conflict of interest? → Disclose the conflict and assess if they can remain impartial
6. A medical device instruction manual translated for US distribution must comply with which primary regulatory body's plain language requirements? → FDA
7. Which data category is considered MANDATORY in a fully standardized termbase entry according to ISO 30042? → Subject field
8. Which style guide is most commonly followed for translations of medical and scientific journal articles into English? → AMA Manual of Style
9. When translating an arbitration clause, the key element a translator must preserve precisely is: → The scope of disputes covered and the procedural rules designated
10. Which approach is most appropriate when translating legal texts between civil law and common law systems? → Foreignization, retaining source-system terminology with explanatory notes
11. When a translator decides to use 'naturalization' for a proper name (e.g., rendering 'Guillaume' as 'William'), this technique primarily serves: → Making the name familiar and accessible to target-language readers
12. How do Computer-Assisted Translation tools improve efficiency? → By storing previously translated segments for reuse and ensuring consistency
13. When a certified translator identifies a factual error in the source document during translation, the best practice is to: → Translate the error as written and notify the client of the discrepancy
14. Which of the following behaviors would violate the FIT principle of independence? → Allowing a client's business interests to alter factual content in the translation
15. A translator's duty of impartiality is most relevant in which of the following scenarios? → Serving as a court interpreter for a defendant whose views the interpreter finds repugnant
16. FIT standards require that when a translator subcontracts work to another professional, the lead translator must ensure: → The subcontractor meets equivalent professional and ethical standards
17. When translating a legal contract, a translator changes 'the party of the first part' to simply 'the Seller' for clarity. This is an example of: → Simplification
18. A client requests a certified translation of a legal document but the source file is a low-resolution scan. What is the correct project management response? → Request a higher-quality source file before proceeding
19. A translator renders 'Il fait un froid de canard' as 'It is freezing cold' rather than 'It is making duck cold.' Which technique is being applied? → Idiomatic equivalence
20. What is the purpose of a terminology database in translation? → To ensure consistent use of technical terms across documents
21. Which of the following best describes 'term autonomy' in professional translation terminology management? → A term's ability to carry its meaning independently of surrounding context
22. Which type of translation involves adapting cultural references? → Localization
23. Why is cultural awareness important for translators? → To ensure culturally appropriate translations
24. A translator working for a law firm realizes the opposing counsel in a lawsuit is also a client. Under FIT ethics, this situation constitutes: → A conflict of interest requiring disclosure and likely recusal
25. Which factor should be considered when localizing content? → Cultural relevance and audience expectations
26. Which of the following best describes a 'revision' in translation workflow according to ISO 17100? → Bilingual examination of the target text against the source text by a second translator
27. When translating technical manuals, 'normative references' are sections that: → Contain provisions that must be complied with to conform to the document
28. Which of the following is the most effective error prevention measure during the translation production process? → Building in a mandatory revision stage by a second qualified translator before delivery
29. A translator adds a brief footnote explaining a culturally specific concept that has no equivalent in the target culture. This technique is called: → Extratextual equivalence
30. What does 'language direction' mean in the context of a FIT translator certification exam? → The source and target languages a translator is examined in