CPE Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CPE exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📚 CPE Topics to Study (69)
✍️ Sample CPE Questions & Answers
1. Which of the following is a legal requirement for conducting a polygraph test?
Many states have specific licensing requirements for polygraph examiners to ensure they meet professional standards and qualifications. This legal mandate helps regulate the practice, ensuring examiners are properly trained, adhere to established protocols, and maintain a level of credibility. Licensing protects the public by ensuring examinations are conducted by competent and ethical professionals.
2. A polygraph question that uses a double negative, such as 'Did you not falsify any records?', should be avoided because:
Double-negative phrasing introduces ambiguity about whether a 'yes' or 'no' answer indicates admission or denial, making the question impossible to score accurately.
3. In computerized polygraph systems, what is the typical minimum sampling rate recommended for accurate physiological data capture?
A minimum sampling rate of 50 Hz (50 samples per second) is generally recommended by the American Polygraph Association for computerized polygraph systems to ensure accurate data capture.
4. What is the relationship between theory and practice in Question Formulation?
Theory provides the conceptual foundation and principles, while practice involves applying those concepts to real-world situations. Both are essential for competence.
5. The 'upper respiratory' pneumograph component is placed at which anatomical location?
The upper (thoracic) pneumograph tube is placed around the chest to measure thoracic breathing effort, while a second tube monitors abdominal movement.
6. Which APA ethical standard requires examiners to maintain accurate and complete records of all examinations conducted?
The APA's record-keeping standard obligates examiners to maintain thorough, accurate examination documentation.