This article covers everything you need to prepare for the content of the Part I Exam — what to study, how the exam works, and tools to help you get ready.
For technical setup (equipment testing, ID requirements), see the links on the Pre-exam preparation and testing page.
Recommended reading
→ See the CSCA Exam Part I Guide for Success for a walkthrough of how to prepare.
1Exam Format — What to Expect▼
The Part I Exam is made up of 100 multiple choice and true/false questions. You have 2 hours to complete it. The exam is completed online via ProctorU.
Some questions will ask you to "Select all that apply (2)" or "Select all that apply (3)". This means you must select exactly that number of answers — no more, no less — or the question will be marked incorrect. If a question does not include this instruction, it has only one correct answer.
All questions are based on well-established social compliance practices with a global lens — they are not specific to any one country, region, or audit program.
Scoring
The score required to pass is 75%.
2What to Study▼
The exam is based on APSCA's core documents. You should study these thoroughly — not just read them, but understand how to apply the knowledge in an exam setting.
Core Documents
APSCA Competency FrameworkDefines the skills and knowledge areas expected of a Certified Social Compliance Auditor. The exam syllabus follows this structure — this is your primary study reference.
APSCA Code and Standards of Professional Conduct
The ethical and professional standards all APSCA members must follow. Covers independence, integrity, bribery, conflicts of interest, reporting obligations, and more.
Use of APSCA Member Auditor Number
Guidance on when and how to use your APSCA member number on audit reports.
APSCA Glossary of Terms
Definitions of key terms used across APSCA documents and in the exam. Make sure you're familiar with APSCA's specific definitions.
Exam Syllabus
Part I & Part II Exam SyllabusDetailed topic-by-topic breakdown of what the exams cover. Use this alongside the Competency Framework to focus your study.
3Practice Exam & Webinar Resources▼
APSCA's official practice exam with sample questions in the same format as the real exam. Use this to get comfortable with the question style.
Understanding the Exam Journey — Webinar Series
Recorded webinars in multiple languages covering the exam process, preparation tips, and what to expect. Available for Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Italy, Japan, Vietnam, and the Americas.
Important: If you are given a sample or mock exam by your firm or another auditor that is not the official APSCA Practice Exam linked above, please note that this material is not sanctioned by APSCA. Being in receipt of unsanctioned exam material may be treated as an integrity issue. If you are aware of such material, please report it to ethics@theapsca.org.
4Tips for Exam Day Success▼
Scheduling
Don't schedule your exam late in the day or after a day of auditing. Choose a time when you can focus fully. Leave plenty of room in your schedule before and after the 2-hour exam so you're not rushed.
Test Your Equipment Early
Run your system check well before exam day — not the morning of. Test on the same computer and network you'll use for the actual exam, and test again on the day itself.
Important: Your exam will be automatically cancelled if remote control software (such as TeamViewer, AnyDesk, or similar) or a virtual machine is detected running on your computer. Make sure these are fully closed — not just minimized — before you begin.
For full technical requirements and equipment testing steps, see Pre-Exam Preparation & Equipment Testing.
Time Management
You have 2 hours for 100 questions — that's just over 1 minute per question. Don't spend too long on any single question. If you're unsure, flag it and move on. Make sure you leave time at the end to review your answers before submitting.
Your exam time starts when the first question appears. The time taken to review the Terms and Conditions does not count toward your exam time.
Reading Questions Carefully
Questions are straightforward — they are not designed to trick you. But read carefully, paying attention to words like "NOT", "prior", and "must". Focus only on the information provided and don't make assumptions about what isn't stated.
Be Respectful
Once connected, be courteous to your proctor. Poor treatment of the proctor will be recorded and can result in your exam being disallowed.
5Non-English Language Options▼
The Part I Exam is currently available in the following languages:
English, Bangla, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
For all other languages, technology-based translation is available. If you are booking an exam in "alternate language", please review these resources to prepare:
Technology-Based Translation InformationWhat to know about using technology-based translation during your exam.
How to Use Online Translation
Step-by-step guide to using the online translation tool during your exam session.
6Additional Support▼
We also recommend consulting with your Member Firm's training team. Many firms offer internal training materials and study support for auditors preparing for the APSCA exams.
If you have questions about the exam content or preparation, contact the Exam team at exam@theapsca.org.
Ready to book?
Head back to the Part I Exam – Your Complete Guide for booking, scheduling, and exam day information.