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Court interpreter written exam in New York
When the Court Interpreter written test (English proficiency) runs, what it covers, and how to prepare for it.
At a glance
| Exam | Court Interpreter written test (English proficiency) |
|---|---|
| Administered by | New York State Unified Court System, Office of Court Administration |
| Format | 75 multiple-choice questions, 1 h 30 min |
| Pass mark | Set by the court system for each administration |
| When | Offered as a continuous recruitment for per diem court interpreters; apply online and you are scheduled for the written screening. |
| If you don't pass | Governed by the Unified Court System's exam rules; check the current announcement. |
| Interpreter Bench preset | General (NCSC Consortium) |
Steps to certification in New York
- File the online application at the court system's careers site for the per diem court interpreter examination.
- Pass the written English proficiency test (75 questions, 90 minutes).
- Pass the oral interpreting exam in your language.
- Complete fingerprinting and the background check; you are then placed on the per diem registry.
What is on the written exam
New York does not use the NCSC Consortium exam. Its written test is shorter, 75 questions in 90 minutes, and concentrates on English grammar, vocabulary, word usage, reading comprehension, idioms and legal terminology. The idioms, synonyms, antonyms, sentence-completion and court-terms sections of this site match it well; the long ethics-scenario section matters less.
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.