SHRM Certification Best Test Practices, Part 4: Preparing with the SHRM Study Guides and Workbooks

In this fourth article in the series, SHRM certification experts share reliable study sources and strategies for acing the SHRM certification exams. This installment is all about preparing with SHRM study guides and add-ons, including a suite of practice questions from prior SHRM exams culminating in optimal study aids based on exam level.

SHRM test preparation may seem daunting. Test takers might ask themselves, “Which practice materials should I use to prepare for the SHRM exams?” or “How can I overcome testing anxiety?” Then there are the perennial questions: "What is this exam going to look like?” or “Am I taking the right exam that aligns with my HR knowledge and experience?”

SHRM Certification staff know that answering practice questions and trying test-prep strategies from a trusted source can help quell common testing fears. In prior articles, we covered the benefits of preparing with the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (SHRM BASK) and SHRM Learning System, but there are additional study aids and add-ons to complement your exam preparation. Complete with actual SHRM-developed exam questions featured on prior SHRM certification exams, SHRM’s Ace Your SHRM Certification Exam official study guide, Preparing for the SHRM-CP Exam workbook and Preparing for the SHRM-SCP Exam workbook will deliver the ideal content preview across the two exam levels, along with myriad test-prep tips to ensure you are fully prepared for test day.

Understanding Exam Questions

Test takers can use the SHRM BASK in combination with the study guide and workbooks to better understand the logic and structure of exam questions. There are two types of test questions: Knowledge Items (KIs) that test one’s HR knowledge and Situational Judgment Items (SJIs) that test one’s judgment, decision-making and problem-solving in different HR scenarios.

There are two different ways to use SHRM practice questions to prepare:

• Ace Your SHRM Certification Exam contains a mix of 50 SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP practice questions.
  
• Preparing for the SHRM-CP Exam workbook and Preparing for the SHRM-SCP Exam workbook each contain a unique set of 70 practice items.
  

To enhance your preparation further, every practice question includes the correct answer, the rationale for the correct answer, the question difficulty and the competencies that align with the SHRM BASK. Reviewing the SHRM BASK and outlining areas for which you feel you need extra preparation, then aligning your practice item preparation to address those areas is critical.

The study guide will help you become acquainted with how to navigate SJIs by understanding the range of possible actions to take that range from least effective to most effective.

Keep these preparation tips in mind on exam day:

1. Both SHRM exams comprise 60 percent discrete KIs—including Functional Knowledge Items (FKIs)—and 40 percent scenario-based SJIs.
2. KIs correspond to the Workplace, Organization and People content domains, whereas SJIs and FKIs correspond to the Leadership, Interpersonal and Business content domains. All are found in the SHRM BASK.
3. Use your time wisely! You will have roughly 98 seconds per question. Time yourself with the practice items in the SHRM materials.

Preparing for the Right Testing Level

It is critical to align your exam preparation journey with your current experience level and knowledge, not your HR title. If you are unsure, check the eligibility requirements and review the proficiency indicators in the SHRM BASK. Be honest with yourself—the outcome of your exam may depend on it!

Consider your normal day-to-day tasks and responsibilities, then determine if you primarily perform operational or strategic-level work. The SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams reflect these differences, respectively, in the way the exam questions relate to the level of work being applied. These can be roughly defined as:

• Operational-level duties and tasks include implementing policies, supporting day-to-day functions, and serving as the primary contact for staff or stakeholders.
  
• Strategic-level duties and tasks include developing HR policies, overseeing the execution of integrated operations and leading alignment initiatives.
  

SHRM research has shown that selecting the exam that best aligns with your experiences has substantial implications for the exam outcome.

• Individuals who report operationally aligned work pass the SHRM-CP exam at very similar rates to those who report strategically aligned work (69 percent average pass rate).
  
• Individuals who report strategically aligned work are more likely to pass the SHRM-SCP exam than individuals who report operationally aligned work (39 percent higher likelihood of passing).
  

If you are aspiring to become SHRM-SCP-certified, and you perform operational-level work, you do not yet meet the eligibility requirements to take the SHRM-SCP and must take the SHRM-CP exam first. Before registering to take the SHRM-SCP exam, use the SHRM BASK and the SHRM-SCP workbook to gauge your readiness in combination with conducting strategic-level work in your organization for a minimum of three years, as outlined by the eligibility requirements.

The SHRM Certification team and its panel of subject matter experts (SMEs) tailored the content in each workbook using the SHRM BASK, which is the blueprint for SHRM certification exams. If you are unsure about selecting the right exam, try out free online test questions for both levels before buying either the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP workbook and registering for their exam.

Recommended Strategies for Studying

As you embark on your selected test preparation journey and engage with SHRM’s practice KIs and SJIs, you can also apply the study guide’s exam prep tips to fully enhance your preparation. The study guide dives deeper into the test’s construction and compares in-person test center experiences to remote-proctored exam experiences. It also includes preparation methods that cater to your unique learning styles, methods for managing time during the exam and more topics that can benefit you while you prepare for the certification exam.

If you want even more trusted exam prep resources from SHRM, the SHRM Certification team recommends starting with the SHRM BASK to get a basic outline of the exam’s content and then investing in the SHRM Learning System for an intensive review of both the exam’s format and the competencies it covers. When these two resources are used together and supplemented by additional prep sources and study aids, SHRM’s research shows that examinees pass the exams more often than examinees who use none of SHRM’s recommended study sources. 

Ultimately, SHRM research has consistently shown that using the trifecta of the SHRM BASK, SHRM Learning System, and SHRM study aids and workbooks will yield the best testing experience possible and the highest percentages of exam success on both the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP!

Not a SHRM member yet? By simply becoming a SHRM member, you can save hundreds on SHRM preparation resources and exam fees while gaining access to amazing benefits that will help you elevate yourself, the workplace and the HR profession. Part 5 of this article will appear in the May issue of the Certification Update. See Part 3 of this series to learn more about the SHRM Learning System.

Charles Glover is the manager of exam development and accreditation at SHRM. Morgan Fecto is an exam development editor at SHRM.