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Court interpreter written exam in Colorado
When the Written Examination runs, what it covers, and how to prepare for it.
At a glance
| Exam | Written Examination |
|---|---|
| Administered by | Colorado Judicial Department, Office of Language Access |
| Format | 135 multiple-choice questions, 2 h 15 min. The NCSC Consortium written exam used by most states. |
| Pass mark | 80% |
| When | Dates are posted on the department's certification calendar; the written exam follows the orientation. |
| If you don't pass | Check the certification calendar and FAQ for the current waiting period. |
| Interpreter Bench preset | General (NCSC Consortium) |
Steps to certification in Colorado
- Pass the Oral Proficiency Interview in your language; it is required before you can register for orientation.
- Attend both days of the orientation to court interpreting.
- Pass the written exam (80%).
- Pass the oral exam: 70% combined, with no sight-translation component below 65%.
What is on the written exam
Colorado uses the written exam developed by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Consortium for Language Access in the Courts. It is in English only, closed book, four options per question, and has three parts:
- General English proficiency (75 questions): sentence completion, synonyms in context, synonyms, antonyms and idioms.
- Court-related terms and usage (50 questions): sentence completion with legal vocabulary, court questions and the sequence of a criminal case.
- Ethics and professional conduct (10 questions): rules of professional conduct and interpreter scenarios.
Interpreter Bench mirrors those sections, question counts and instruction wording, so a timed mock here feels like the real sitting.
How to prepare
Most candidates lose points on the court-terms and idioms sections rather than on general English. Take a full timed mock first to see your readiness score by section, then drill the weak sections with explanations.
Start practicing freeA 69-question sample set, flashcards and a timed mini mock are free. No account needed.