2026 SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge
SHRM-CP practice questions and situational judgment walkthrough
SHRM publishes a short, unscored SHRM-CP question preview. Open the official CP samples and use this walkthrough to review knowledge and situational judgment items against the 2026 BASK.
Where can you find SHRM-CP sample questions?
Use the SHRM-CP link on the issuer’s practice questions page. SHRM lists the CP and SCP previews separately. The short CP preview shows question styles and provides no official score or readiness result. Longer SHRM Certification Exam Previews are separate products and can require purchase.
Start with one knowledge item and one situational judgment item. Work at a comfortable pace and record why you made each choice before viewing any feedback. Repeat with fresh items under a timer once the question types feel familiar.
How should you work through a situational judgment question?
For a knowledge item, first identify the exact concept being tested. Define it in your own words, then distinguish it from the most plausible alternative. Read the feedback after you commit to a choice and use the BASK to check the concepts behind the options.
- Name the immediate decision. Identify the problem the prompt asks you to address, who has authority to act and which facts are already established.
- Compare the proposed next steps. Think about which choice addresses the immediate goal, fits the decision owner’s role and accounts for the information available at that point.
- Explain why the closest alternative falls short in that situation. A useful action may belong later in the process or require information the prompt has not established.
What should you do after the preview?
Sort misses into three groups: a knowledge gap, a missed detail in the scenario or a weak comparison between options. Assign one follow-up task to each group that appears. Review a BASK objective for a knowledge gap, practice identifying the decision owner for a missed detail or explain why two options would work at different stages.
Record guesses separately from confident correct choices. Use the four-week study plan to revisit weak areas and the format guide to set up timed rehearsal with authorized practice material. Treat the short preview as a way to learn the format and direct your review.