I passed the CA court interpreter written exam after a week of prepping in 2023. Some of my certified interpreter colleagues said it's a breeze, and the official exam guide describes it as assessing 'entry-level' knowledge of English vocabulary, common courtroom terminology, the typical court case progression, and a code of professional responsibility.

In my experience, this description is mostly on point, although I did bump into some tricky vocabulary and phrases that definitely pushed the boundaries of 'entry-level.' 😅 So, when aiming to pass on your first attempt, solid preparation is key. This is especially true for non-native English speakers like myself.

Here's the gist:

The written exam contains 135 multiple-choice questions, all in English. 

You're aiming for an 80%+ score, meaning you can make up to 27 errors.

You'll receive a printed test result and scores immediately after completing the test.

The test has two parts: - Part I: General Language Proficiency- Part II: Court-Related Terms & Usage, and Ethics & Professional Conduct.

Here are the online open resources I found useful:

I. Exam Overview:

- Comprehensive CA court interpreter exam information: [Link]

- Court Interpreter Written Exam Overview (See sample questions on Page 8) [Link]

- Candidate Information Bulletin for those taking the Written Examination, Oral Proficiency Examination, and Bilingual Interpreting Examination [Link]

- Exam registration page (See Test Preparation Resources on page bottom) [Link]

II. Mock Exams:

- New York State Court: [Link]

- Washington State Court: [Link]

- WASHINGTON STATE COURT INTERPRETER PROGRAM (Sample questions on page 5 and prepping resources on page 9) [Link]

III. Court Knowledge:

- Overview of the CA State Court System: [Link]

- Court Proceedings (See Module 2): [Link]

- Stages of the Trial (South Dakota): [Link]

IV. Ethics and Professional Standards

- Professional Standards and Ethics for California Court Interpreters [Link]

V. Glossaries:

- Legal and Social Service Glossaries in Various languages: [Link]

- State Interpreter Certification Legal Glossaries and Dictionaries (Many languages): [Link]

- Legal Glossary (English only): [Link]

VI. Other Helpful Resources:

- Legal Glossary in Traditional Chinese (台湾辅仁大学法律系): [Link]

- Family Court Vocabulary (家庭法院词汇): [Link]

- LVPD Special Case Codes (LVPD 专用案件代号): [Link]

- [For Spanish interpreter] Certified Court Interpreter Rosa Patricia Ospina's all-in-one prep post: Free Written and Oral Practice Exams for Court Interpreters [Link]

Quick heads-up: If you run into issues with the glitchy Prometric exam registration system, don't throw in the towel.

I had my share of frustration trying to sign up online, so I called them and spent an hour on hold. Eventually, I got through, scheduled my test, and paid over the phone.

If you prefer to see available test dates online rather than hearing them out over the phone, check out this page [Link] (it's the "Locate" link on the lefthand bar menu under "ACTIONS"). It lists all the testing centers and their availability. From there, you can pick the one that's most convenient for you or suits your schedule. 

That's all for now. Best of luck with your exam! ✌️

Plan Ahead if You Want to Get Certified Quickly

If you’re aiming to get certified within a year, plan ahead. Pass the Written Exam before June so you can register for the oral exam as soon as the window opens.

Stay updated by regularly checking the official page: California Court Interpreters Program.

Be prepared for a wait—results and the official badge can take months to arrive.

How Much Prep Time is Needed?

I prepped for about a month before my exam in late August.

If you already have solid interpreting experience, a month should be enough.

Recommended Study Materials

I borrowed most of my study materials from the MIIS library (huge thanks to the librarians!). Here’s what I used:

For Interpreting Practice:

The Interpreter’s Edge, Generic Edition, with the Mandarin CD Set – Holly Mikkelson

For General Knowledge of the U.S. Court System:

An Introduction to Court Interpreting – Elena M. De Jongh

From the Classroom to the Courtroom – Elena M. De Jongh

The Bilingual Courtroom: Court Interpreters in the Judicial Process – Susan Berk-Seligson

Study Strategies

1. Know the Exam Format

The BIE consists of four sections:

Sight Translation (English → Mandarin) – 6 minutes

Sight Translation (Mandarin → English) – 6 minutes

Consecutive Interpreting (Bidirectional Q&A) – 22 to 30 minutes

Simultaneous Interpreting (English → Mandarin only) – 10 to 15 minutes

Scoring:

Sight Translations: 25 scoring units each

Consecutive: 90 scoring units

Simultaneous: 75 scoring units

Passing score: 70%+ in each section, in a single sitting

If you’re short on prep time, focus on improving your weakest section to ensure you hit that 70% mark.

2. Understand the Exam Content

By Purpose of Proceedings:

How are defendants informed of their rights?

What instructions do judges give to juries?

What questions do attorneys ask during jury selection?

What does the prosecution say when reading charges?

What do English-speaking witnesses testify?

What motions do defense attorneys file?

What arguments do attorneys present in opening/closing statements?

By Types of Written Document:

Court-issued documents: Arrest warrants, restraining orders, judgments

Probation officer reports: Pre-sentencing reports, supplemental reports

Prosecution documents: Indictments, motions

Defense documents: Plea agreements, handwritten letters/statements

Common to both sides: Sworn affidavits

By Language Directions:

Mandarin → English: Defendant’s statements to the court, judge, and jury

English → Mandarin: Questions posed to the defendant, witness testimonies, attorney questioning etc.

3. Tackle Your Biggest Challenges First

📒 Struggling with legal jargon? Carry a Legal Vocabulary Notebook

I kept a small notebook handy to jot down key bilingual legal terms that pop up frequently in U.S. courtrooms—including on the BIE exam.

💬 Having trouble keeping up in simultaneous/sight translation? Break It Down, Then Drill It In

BIE recordings and legal documents follow structured formats. If you're struggling to keep pace, start by analyzing the transcript, then sight translate it to pinpoint problem areas. Sometimes, long English sentences in passive voice need reordering for smoother Chinese delivery. Repeating these drills helped me build speed and accuracy over time.

🕙 Limited on time or energy? Use Machine Translation/AI to Speed Up the Process

Balancing a full-time job while being seven months pregnant meant I had to be efficient. Since most study materials didn’t have Chinese translations, I used machine translation/AI for rough drafts, freeing up time to focus on legal concepts and fluency in sight and simultaneous interpretation.

Final Thoughts

Passing the BIE isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being prepared. Focus on what matters most, whether it’s mastering legal terminology, refining your technique, or just making the most of your available time. The exam can feel daunting, but with smart strategies and consistent practice, it’s absolutely doable.

If you’re preparing for the test, I hope these insights help. And if you’ve already taken it, I’d love to hear your experience! Feel free to share your thoughts or tips.😊

• Getting Started in Business Plans

For my homemade food business 🍳

• Your Baby's First Year: Fifth Edition

Focus on caring for my newborn baby ❤️

Movies:

Past Lives (2023) - A beautifully crafted Romance/Drama. Directed by Celine Song.

好东西 (Her Story) (2024) - A feminist comedy that is surprisingly deep yet not preachy. Directed by Shao Yihui.

Books:

• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell 

• The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Dr. Fei-Fei Li

• 《一食一味》（My translation of the book title: A Meal, A Delight）by Wang Zengqi 汪曾祺

黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵 (Seeing Meng Haoran Off at Yellow Crane Tower)

李白 (by Li Bai) 

故人西辞黄鹤楼，(An old friend bids farewell at Yellow Crane Tower,）

烟花三月下扬州。(heads down to Yangzhou through a fog of spring flowers.)

孤帆远影碧空尽，(His lone sail casts its shadow where the sky ends,)

唯见长江天际流。(gazing at the flowing Yangtze and heavens blend.)

Translation by Rong and Dan Eisenberg