After being successful and obtaining certification credentials from AACE®, the certified professional can earn recertification credits by submitting new questions for any of the various certification exams offered by AACE®.
The AACE® Certification exams have two types of questions:
The Section “A" questions, which are comprised of a complex situation word problem with seven (7) supporting multiple-choice questions relating to that situation.
The Section “B" questions are basic multiple-choice questions.
Currently, one recertification credit is given for a new Section A question, and 1/4 (or 0.25) recertification credit is given for each Section B question.
Before any new certification exam question is entered into the question bank, it is reviewed and validated by the Certification Examination Advisory Group (CEAG). The CEAG is a combined effort between the Certification Board, Education Board, and Technical Board. Only after approval from CEAG will the question author be granted recertification credits for new questions submitted.
The AACE® Certification exams are primarily multiple-choice exams, with a written communication exam as part of the Specialty Certification Exams. Therefore, this template is designed to standardize the submittal of the multiple-choice questions only.
Multiple choice questions consist of three parts:
The STEM or body of the question. This is the part of the question that contains the data and information being tested
The CORRECT ANSWER. This is the absolute correct answer to the question. The correct answer must be in line with AACE®’s technical resources and education materials and must be verifiable.
The INCORRECT ANSWERS or Distractors. AACE®’s multiple-choice questions consist of one (1) correct answer and three (3) incorrect answers or distracters. The three distracters must be believable wrong answers and must not be easily identified.
Steps for submitting a new question:
When working with the New Certification Question Template, first identify the exam or exams for which the question is being submitted.
Write the Question Stem in the appropriate block. When submitting a Section “A" complex word problem, write the situation word problem in the QUESTION STEM block then complete a separate template for each of the seven (7) related supporting questions. When submitting a Section “B" basic multiple-choice question, submit a template for each new question submitted.
Even though the WORD table is set up to wrap the text, do not get too wordy or complicated with the QUESTION STEM. There is no advantage to using confusing words or complicated philosophies in writing new certification questions. Clear, concise, and correct grammar will result in the best test of the candidate’s skills and knowledge.
Identify the CORRECT ANSWER. This must be the only correct answer to the question. This correct answer must be in line with the AACE®’s technical resources and education materials and must be verifiable. If calculations are required to answer the question, the author must show the steps necessary to achieve the correct answer in the space provided below the WORD table. The author may attach an EXCEL spreadsheet file to the template if more complex calculations and formulas are necessary.
Identify the INCORRECT ANSWERS. The distracters must be believable wrong answers and must not be easily picked out at first glance. If calculations are required to prove the incorrectness of these distracters, the author must show how the calculations could be wrongly worked to validate the incorrect answers. The author may attach an EXCEL spreadsheet file to this template if more complex calculations and formulas are necessary.
Identify the source document for each question submitted. The source document must be in line with AACE®’s technical resources and education materials.
Question Author’s name and email address.
After the new question has been validated by CEAG, an email will be sent to the author. The author will receive a confirmation of recertification credits or comments on suggested improvements and opportunity to resubmit the question.
For more detailed information, please review the Question Writing Workshop listed in the links section on this page. The AACE New Certification Exam Question template is also listed in the links area for your use when ready to write and submit your new question for consideration to Penny Whoolery at pwhoolery@aacei.org.
