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Court interpreter written exam in Illinois
When the Court Interpreter Written Examination runs, what it covers, and how to prepare for it.
At a glance
| Exam | Court Interpreter Written Examination |
|---|---|
| Administered by | Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC), Language Access Program |
| Format | 135 multiple-choice questions, 2 h 15 min. The NCSC Consortium written exam used by most states. |
| Pass mark | 80% |
| When | Several dates a year across the state; registration closes on the first of each month for that month's events. Register at the AOIC court applications portal under "Language Interpreter Registration". |
| If you don't pass | Check the AOIC program page for the current waiting period between attempts. |
| Interpreter Bench preset | General (NCSC Consortium) |
Steps to certification in Illinois
- Attend the two-day orientation, before or after the written exam (either order has been allowed since 2025).
- Pass the written exam (80%).
- Pass the oral exam: 70% or higher lists you as Certified, 60% as Registered.
What is on the written exam
Illinois 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.