When Do I Receive Results and What Do They Look Like?
When Do I Receive My Results?
Computerized scoring will be utilized to determine examination results. Results will be provided immediately after completing the CESP™ examination at the testing center.
If results will be delayed due to examination development candidates will be made aware of this during the application process.
What Do Results Look Like?
All candidates receive a score report. Your pass/fail result is based on your total score.
The CESP™ exam is a multiple-choice exam with 135 questions, with 115 scored based on the Content Outline below and 20 that are non-scored. A raw score of 82 correct of 115 scored questions is needed to pass the current form of the examination.
For candidates who pass the exam:
Your CESP examination results are shared with APSE and you will receive your digital credential in email.You will also be added to the online directory of CESPs on the APSE website.
Learn More About the Certificate, including how to opt-out of being on the registry, how to find your certificate and more about how to use it.
For those who do not pass the exam:
In addition to providing the candidate’s overall percentage score, the percentage pass-fail cut score, and the overall pass-fail outcome, Candidates receive sub-score information.
What does sub-score information mean?
Content area scores are provided to offer a general indication of your relative strengths and weaknesses in each content area. The examination is designed to provide a consistent and precise determination of your overall performance and is not designed to provide complete information regarding your performance in each content area. This information should only be used as feedback for your future educational needs.
Subscores may be useful in distinguishing the domains in which you underperformed relative to your overall score, vs. the domains in which you outperformed relative to your overall score. You can draw these conclusions by calculating your percentage score for each domain (see example below), and then comparing the domain percentage subscores to your overall percentage score.
Domain subscore = (number correct / number scored * 100)
Subscores may also be compared with the pass-fail cut score to identify domains where score gains in performance are potentially greatest for candidates who failed the test and who anticipate retaking it.
An example of a candidate score report is displayed here.
Looking to retake the exam?
Candidates who fail the exam may retest after 30 days. You must wait 30 days before you are able to schedule a second examination with Kryterion, should you fail the first. After the second exam, you must wait at least 60 days.
Test takers are encouraged to review their score report, identify deficiencies, and use the content outline to address areas of weakness before sitting for the exam again.
This delay supports healthy retesting patterns without undue inconvenience, while also supporting exam security.