2026 SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge
SHRM-CP exam format, timing and passing score
The SHRM-CP exam has 134 multiple-choice questions and two separately timed 110-minute sections. You will see 80 stand-alone knowledge questions and 54 situational judgment items. SHRM reports 200 on its 120–200 scale for candidates who pass.
What kinds of questions appear on the exam?
The 80 stand-alone questions cover both HR-specific knowledge and concepts that underlie the behavioral competencies. Read for the concept being assessed and the condition that makes it apply. The 54 situational judgment items ask you to choose the most effective action in a workplace scenario. Other choices may sound reasonable in a different situation, so use the facts and the role in the question to decide.
The 134-question total includes 24 unscored field-test items. SHRM mixes them throughout the exam, leaving 110 scored items. Treat each question as scored as you work through the section.
Can you take a break during the exam?
The current SHRM exam details page describes an optional break. The certification handbook describes no scheduled break. Both say the exam clock keeps running while you are away. Ask the test center about the exact procedure and follow the proctor’s directions on the day.
SHRM currently directs candidates to take the exam in person on a computer at an authorized Prometric test center. Review the appointment confirmation for arrival, identification, and test-center rules. If you need accommodations, use SHRM’s application instructions before booking.
What is a passing SHRM-CP score?
SHRM reports scores on a 120–200 scale. All passing candidates receive a reported score of 200. That score is scaled and does not mean that every answer was correct. A percentage from a sample or rehearsal cannot be converted directly to an official result.
You receive a preliminary decision at the testing center. SHRM’s handbook says official results typically follow in approximately two to three weeks, with an email directing you to the certification portal. Use the official report for the final result and its content-area feedback to plan what to review next.
How can you practice the format?
Start with SHRM’s public samples. For a knowledge item, name the concept you relied on. For a situational item, write down whose decision it is, what the prompt asks you to achieve, and why your choice fits the facts better than another reasonable action.
Practice with two separately timed blocks when you have enough materials, and set aside a few minutes in each block to review before submitting. Keep a log of missed facts, misread constraints, and pacing issues. Use the syllabus to plan the next session around the patterns you see.
If you find that you reread scenarios several times, try locating the task verb before you compare the choices. A question about what to do first calls for a different decision than one about how to evaluate a result. When you review a question, note which details made a reasonable-looking alternative less suitable.
After a timed session, review the questions you guessed correctly alongside the ones you missed. Separate timing problems from content gaps. For a content gap, revisit the BASK definition and write one sentence explaining how it applies to an operational task.