Part I Exam – Guide For Success  
CSCA EXAM PART I  
GUIDE FOR SUCCESS  
INTRODUCTION  
This guide is intended to serve as an introduction to the CSCA examination series offered by APSCA,  
beginning with important tips and strategies for Member Auditors who are sitting APSCA’s Part I exam.  
This guide provides background on the development of the exam, and the exam process. This content is  
NOT on the exam but Member Auditors should be familiar with this information before the exam.  
WHY CSCA?  
The Certified Social Compliance Auditor (CSCA) certification exam provides a formal assessment of  
auditor proficiency in the areas of functional knowledge and foundational skills, as outlined in the  
APSCA Competency Framework. APSCA recognizes that successful completion of the exam will play an  
important role in your career as a social compliance auditor. Accordingly, this guide has been created to  
assist with your exam preparation.  
EXAM ELIGIBILITY  
Prior to sitting any APSCA exam, you must work with your Member Firm to obtain approval.  
Do NOT schedule an exam without having followed the approval process.  
The process to obtain approval includes the Member Firm submitting an Exam Request Sheet and  
invoices being raised. Invoices must be paid at least 7 days prior to the exam being sat. Failure to follow the  
prescribed process may result in your exam being cancelled. If exam is taken without payment being made,  
exam results will not be issued, and exam may be disallowed.  
Member Auditors not associated with a Member Firm please contact APSCA at exam@theapsca.org  
SCHEDULING YOUR EXAM  
Our recommendation is to not schedule the exam late in the day or evening (or after a day of auditing).  
We encourage you to schedule a date/ time where you can focus on the exam.  
Leave plenty of room in your schedule both BEFORE and AFTER the two-hour exam period, so you are not  
rushed or stressed if you have any difficulties in getting started with the exam.  
Set aside time in your calendar 5-10 days in ADVANCE of your exam date to complete the MANDATORY  
equipment test (see Auditor Handbook for details).  
Step-by-step guidance on how to book an exam can be found here:  
APSCA How to Book a Part I and Part II CSCA Exam  
PART I DEVELOPMENT & FORMAT  
The CSCA exam series is comprised of 3 parts: Part I, Part II, and Part III. Each exam is completed separately  
and there is a minimum of 30 days between each exam part.  
The Part I exam is made up of 100 multiple choice true and false questions.  
Part  
Format  
Multiple-Choice  
Written Case Study  
Simulated  
Mode  
Online exam  
Duration (hours)  
1
2
3
2
2
Online exam  
Online exam using video  
1.5  
Document Name:  
Version & Date:  
Replaces:  
APSCA Exam Guide Part I D-ꢀꢁ2  
Version 4 - April 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
Version ꢂ - February 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
This document is no longer version controlled once printed.  
Page 1 of 8  
Author/Owner:  
Authorized by:  
APSCA Exam Team  
President & CEO  
Part I Exam – Guide For Success  
The exam content was determined by APSCA in consultation with social compliance experts and advisors.  
To ensure that a specific question does not reflect just one person’s point of view, exam questions were  
vetted through a multi-tiered review process. All questions are based on well-established social compliance  
practices with a global lens – i.e. not specific or unique to any one country or region.  
EXAM DELIVERY  
All of APSCA’s exams are administered through a third party remote proctoring organization. To test your  
connection and equipment prior to any exam is outlined in the Auditor Handbook. To learn more about how  
APSCA partners with ProctorU for exams, watch this video.  
Also view this video to learn about taking an APSCA exam via ProctorU: Guardian “What to Expect on Exam  
Day” Test-Taker video  
PREPARING FOR THE EXAM  
HOW TO PREPARE  
Carefully review the following:  
1. APSCA Core Documents  
ƒ APSCA Code and Standards of Professional Conduct  
ƒ APSCA Competency Framework  
ƒ APSCA Use of Auditor Number  
ƒ APSCA Glossary of Terms  
2. APSCA Auditor Handbook - enrollment process, testing of your equipment, sample questions, topics  
covered in exams, frequently asked questions & helpful tips.  
3. ASPCA Resource Library which includes APSCA Part I & Part II Exam Syllabus and a Part I practice Exam.  
4. Member Firm Training and Learning Materials – (recommended). Consult with your Member Firm on  
learning / training materials related to social compliance audits.  
STUDYING  
Effective preparation for a successful exam not only includes reading the Auditor Handbook and APSCA’s  
other core documents detailed above, but being able to demonstrate how you can apply the knowledge you  
have learnt from these documents in an exam setting.  
COMPUTER SYSTEM TESTING  
A critical component of preparing for each exam includes testing your computer equipment and  
connecting to a live technician via ProctorU. Detailed guidance on how to do this in advance of your exam  
date is provided in the Auditor Handbook.  
We suggest running equipment checks in the weeks and days leading up to your exam. System and firewall  
updates can impact your connection and / or equipment. Internet stability is key to your success. It is also  
important to update all third-party software and your operating system with the latest updates. This will help  
to reduce the chance of connection/interruption issues during your exam session.  
Prior to sitting the exam, we recommend that you reboot your computer to close all programs.  
NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXAMS  
The Part I exam is currently available in English, Bangla, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Italian,  
Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese.  
For all other languages, technology-based translation is available. Please review these documents to prepare if  
you are booking an exam in “alternate language” which indicates you are using technology-based translation:  
ƒ Technology Based Translation Information  
ƒ How To Use Online Translation  
Document Name:  
Version & Date:  
Replaces:  
APSCA Exam Guide Part I D-ꢀꢁ2  
Version 4 - April 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
Version ꢂ - February 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
This document is no longer version controlled once printed.  
Author/Owner:  
Authorized by:  
APSCA Exam Team  
President & CEO  
Page 2 of 8  
Part I Exam – Guide For Success  
*Note: If you are given a sample/ mock exam(s) or a link to a sample / mock exam(s) to use as part of  
your study preparation, by either your firm or another auditor/ person, please note that this material is  
not sanctioned by APSCA and being in receipt of a study tool such as this may be seen as an integrity  
issue. If you are in receipt or aware of such document, this should be reported to APSCA immediately as  
per your responsibility under 5.3 of APSCA’s Code and Standards of Professional Conduct and Appendix D:  
Managing Integrity Issues within the Auditor Handbook.  
This can be done anonymously by emailing integrity@theapsca.org to report any exam related activity  
or concern.  
TEST TAKING SKILLS  
TIME MANAGEMENT  
Time management in this exam is particularly important. Be mindful of the two (ꢃ) hours provided and  
ensure you allow adequate time to review your answers prior to submission. The time remaining in the exam  
session will be indicated on the bottom right-hand corner of your computer / exam screen. Note: Your exam  
time officially starts from when the first exam question appears. The time taken to review the Terms and  
Conditions does NOT count towards your allowed exam time.  
Helpful Tip: Do not spend an excessive amount of time on questions for which you do not readily have an  
answer. If you are uncertain about a question, note that you need to return to the question and be sure to allow  
enough time to do so.  
Manage your time wisely, you have ꢃ hours to review and answer 100 questions.  
READ QUESTIONS CAREFULLY  
Ensure you focus only on the information provided. The questions are intended to be straightforward; they  
are not intended to be “trick” questions. However, a complete understanding of the language in which the  
exam is written, and the industry terms which may be used, is critical.  
Do not make assumptions about the circumstances of a question or information that is not included, consider  
the following:  
ƒ What is the question asking? Read the question and answer options carefully paying attention to each  
word, including “NOT”, prior etc.  
ƒ The exam includes “Select all that apply (ꢃ) or (3)” questions. Therefore, if the question indicates that  
there are “ꢃ” correct answers, you should ONLY pick ꢃ answers. If you select more than the number  
noted, your question will be marked incorrect. Ensure you follow the directions carefully and ONLY  
select the number of requested answers.  
ƒ Note: If the question does not state “Select all that apply (#)” at the end of the question, this means that  
the question ONLY has one (1) correct answer – i.e. only one answer should be selected, or the question  
will be marked “incorrect.”  
BE RESPECTFUL  
Once connected for your exam, be respectful of the proctor. Poor treatment of the proctor will be recorded  
and can result in disciplinary action which could include your exam being disallowed, in addition to other  
possible member sanctions.  
Document Name:  
Version & Date:  
Replaces:  
APSCA Exam Guide Part I D-ꢀꢁ2  
Version 4 - April 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
Version ꢂ - February 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
This document is no longer version controlled once printed.  
Page 3 of 8  
Author/Owner:  
Authorized by:  
APSCA Exam Team  
President & CEO  
Part I Exam – Guide For Success  
ON TEST DAY:  
1. 20 MINUTES BEFORE EXAM TIME (IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO)- TEST YOUR EQUIPMENT  
Prior to your start time you can connect to a live technician to ensure your equipment is in working order,  
and if necessary, you can reconnect again at the designated exam start time.  
Refer to the Auditor Handbook for additional information.  
2. 2-5 MINUTES BEFORE EXAM TIME - Log onto your ProctorU profile where you will see your active  
exams (Exams open ꢃ minutes before scheduled time to enable connection to a proctor.)  
Note that NO additional resources such as calculators or documents are allowed.  
I am running late, what now?  
If you do NOT connect within 15 minutes of your scheduled exam time, the exam may be cancelled by  
ProctorU. If you cannot connect to your exam on time, connect to the Live Proctor using the “Need Help  
Chat Now” feature on ProctorU’s website.  
Do not email APSCA or ask your Firm, rely on ProctorU to assist you in accessing the exam.  
Once you are connected with ProctorU, and equipment checks along with review of your testing environment  
etc. have been completed, ProctorU will connect you to the exam site:  
The first page will look like the screenshot below. From here, while all 3 exam options will show available, you  
should only select the exam you have “booked.” You cannot sit more than one exam at a time.  
Once you have selected your exam, click continue.  
Next you will select the language:  
Document Name:  
Version & Date:  
Replaces:  
APSCA Exam Guide Part I D-ꢀꢁ2  
Version 4 - April 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
Version ꢂ - February 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
This document is no longer version controlled once printed.  
Author/Owner:  
Authorized by:  
APSCA Exam Team  
President & CEO  
Page 4 of 8  
Part I Exam – Guide For Success  
Once you Click Continue, you will come to the page where you will complete your personal information.  
Ensure when completing this page, you enter the following information correctly.  
Membership Number: Double check the number has been entered correctly  
Note: you do NOT put RA or ASCA before the number.  
First and Last Name: If you have sat the exam before, your name (first / last) must be entered the same way  
as you previously entered. If your name has changed, please let us know in advance so we can update the  
exam site. The Exam Site and APSCA’s data system do NOT link therefore any changes you may have made  
do not carry across automatically.  
Note: A discrepancy in your name may prevent you from proceeding with your exam, so it is important  
your first and last name(s) are aligned across profiles and platforms.  
Email: This email is the address your exam will be sent to. IF you mistype your email address – your results  
may not be received - the exam site AND the ProctorU / APSCA data systems do NOT talk to each other.  
Telephone Number: Please be sure to enter your complete phone number including country code, area  
code, and the number, which should be consistent with the number provided in your ProctorU profile.  
Once you have entered your information take a moment to check and review that it has been entered  
accurately. If there are mistakes, you may find that you are delayed starting the exam or receiving your results.  
This portion is not timed, therefore, you do not need to rush to complete this form. Please take adequate time  
to review the information you have provided before clicking “Start.”  
Document Name:  
Version & Date:  
Replaces:  
APSCA Exam Guide Part I D-ꢀꢁ2  
Version 4 - April 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
Version ꢂ - February 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
This document is no longer version controlled once printed.  
Page 5 of 8  
Author/Owner:  
Authorized by:  
APSCA Exam Team  
President & CEO  
Part I Exam – Guide For Success  
Next, you will be prompted to view the Terms and Conditions. Once again, take sufficient time to carefully  
read through these conditions. This section does not count towards your exam time.  
At the top of page, you will read the opening paragraph, confirm you have read, understand, and agree to the  
exam rules, etc. After you read through the exam rules you will click this box.  
At the bottom of the page you will type your full name acknowledging that you have read, understand, and  
agree to abide by the rules of the exam. Ensure you read this information, which is also noted within the  
Auditor handbook. While you CANNOT take a photo of this page, it is your responsibility to ensure you have  
read and understand the rules prior to typing your name.  
Then, with confirmation from the Proctor, you may enter the exam and begin.  
After you click “Start” the exam will open.  
Document Name:  
Version & Date:  
Replaces:  
APSCA Exam Guide Part I D-ꢀꢁ2  
Version 4 - April 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
Version ꢂ - February 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
This document is no longer version controlled once printed.  
Author/Owner:  
Authorized by:  
APSCA Exam Team  
President & CEO  
Page 6 of 8  
Part I Exam – Guide For Success  
Upon completion of all exam questions, you will advise your proctor via the chat function that you have  
completed and are ready to submit your exam. At that time, you will complete this final verification section by  
clicking the box and typing your full name. Once confirmed and verified, click “Submit”.  
You will see the below confirmation:  
Follow your Proctor’s instructions to disconnect. Ensure you do NOT disconnect from the exam without  
liaising with ProctorU.  
Document Name:  
Version & Date:  
Replaces:  
APSCA Exam Guide Part I D-ꢀꢁ2  
Version 4 - April 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
Version ꢂ - February 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
This document is no longer version controlled once printed.  
Page 7 of 8  
Author/Owner:  
Authorized by:  
APSCA Exam Team  
President & CEO  
Part I Exam – Guide For Success  
EXAM RESULTS  
SCORING AND RESULTS  
To ensure accuracy and fairness, each exam is subject to review by the APSCA Exam Team.  
The score required to pass is 75%  
+
If a score of 7ꢄ% or less is achieved you will be required to take the Part I exam again. Please liaise with your  
Member Firm to be approved to schedule your next exam. Independent Auditors contact the Exam Team at  
APSCA exam@theapsca.org  
See the Auditor Handbook for more information on scoring.  
WHAT’S NEXT?  
Results are typically issued within 1ꢄ business days of the exam being completed. Turnaround time may vary  
depending upon the volume of exams being taken. Check your email (including junk/spam) and/or your  
APSCA profile (under the ‘Invoices’ tab) for updates relating to your exam results. Please note, it can take ꢃ-3  
business days from when your results are sent by email until your APSCA profile is updated.  
If you are past 1ꢄ-business days, please email: exam@theapsca.org.  
Note: ProctorU do not maintain or have access to your results.  
You have received your results and you passed:  
Congratulations! Please consult with your Member Firm to express your interest in sitting the Part II exam.  
Ensure you are aware of any deadline that may exist.  
You received your results and did not pass – now what?  
We understand you may be disappointed. However, start preparing for your next attempt. Review the  
Exam Results Report, work with your Member Firm’s training team and focus your study efforts on areas of  
opportunity and areas of strength. Ensure you review the supporting documentation, review the Practice  
Exam and other tools to prepare. Also ensure when you are sitting the exam that you are using the full  
amount of exam time that has been allocated to you.  
CONCLUSION  
DON’T BE SCARED. BE PREPARED!  
APSCA appreciates your hard work and dedication to helping enhance the professionalism, consistency, and  
credibility of the social compliance auditing industry. We trust this information will assist you in your journey  
towards obtaining the CSCA designation. We welcome your feedback on the exam process and wish you the  
best of luck on your exams!  
To provide feedback or comments, or if you have any questions about the exam, please email:  
exam@theapsca.org.  
Document Name:  
Version & Date:  
Replaces:  
APSCA Exam Guide Part I D-ꢀꢁ2  
Version 4 - April 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
Version ꢂ - February 2ꢁ2ꢂ  
This document is no longer version controlled once printed.  
Page 8 of 8  
Author/Owner:  
Authorized by:  
APSCA Exam Team  
President & CEO