Three realistic scenarios from the ICF credentialing exam. Read through them, pick your answers, then see how you did inside the app.
A client says: "I know what I need to do. I've known for months. I just can't seem to start." She sighs and looks away from the screen.
What is the coach's best next response?
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See the answerFifteen minutes into a session, a client pivots away from the agreed topic ("preparing for my performance review") and starts talking at length about a conflict with a colleague that happened yesterday.
What is the coach's best next response?
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See the answerA client has been describing how much he cares about being seen as competent at work. He mentions for the third time in this session that he "never asks for help." The coach has noticed this same pattern across multiple sessions.
What is the coach's best next response?
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See the answerSee the correct answer, the worst answer, and a detailed explanation for every question, including the three above.
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Get 5 free questionsICF replaced its old Coach Knowledge Assessment (CKA) with two separate exams around 2022-2024. The ACC credential now has its own exam; PCC and MCC candidates take the ICF Credentialing Exam. Both are administered by Pearson VUE, either in-person or via remote proctoring.
ACC Exam: 60 knowledge-based multiple-choice questions, 90-minute time limit, single best answer per question. Tests your understanding of the ICF Core Competencies, Code of Ethics, and the definition and scope of coaching.
ICF Credentialing Exam (PCC/MCC): 78 situational judgment items, 3-hour time limit. Each question presents a coaching scenario with four options. You select the best response and the worst response. Both answers count toward your score. The passing standard (cut score) differs by credential level.
What both exams test: All eight ICF Core Competencies across four clusters. Neither exam tests specific coaching models, methodologies, or tools. The exam is grounded in the ICF competency framework, not any particular school of coaching.
Official practice questions: ICF publishes 10 sample questions for the ACC Exam and 8 for the ICF Credentialing Exam. That's the entire public question bank. CredentialPrep offers 200 scenario-based practice questions, with detailed answer explanations for every question. Start with 5 free questions.
CredentialPrep is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by ICF or Pearson VUE. These practice questions are written independently based on the published ICF Core Competencies and exam structure. The ICF credentialing exam is a registered trademark of the International Coaching Federation.