The CIEP Editorial Test
As part of your application to upgrade to Professional or Advanced Professional Member, you can elect to take the CIEP Editorial Test. Passing the Editorial Test can support your upgrade application in one of three ways:
- it can validate your experience with clients the CIEP does not class as traditional publishers (traditional publishers are those that publish material in their own name and have expertise in copyediting and proofreading); OR
- it can supplement your training points, if you have substantial in-house experience but little or no formal training, especially if you’ve learned your editorial skills informally (eg through on-the-job training); OR
- it can supply additional points to bring you up to the total minimum required.
If you recognise that one of these requirements applies to you, you can take the test prior to submitting your application to upgrade to Professional or Advanced Professional Member.
If you think none of these circumstances apply to you, the Admissions Panel may still require you to take and pass the Editorial Test when they assess your application.
For more information on the Editorial Test and upgrading, download the guide How to Upgrade Your CIEP Membership (you will need to be logged in as a CIEP member to download the guide).
Basic editorial test FAQs
How long does the test take?
The basic editorial test lasts one hour. Once you start the clock, you cannot pause or stop it, though you can go back to check or change your answers within the 60 minutes.
What is the pass mark?
The test has a pass mark of 75%. Pass certificates will show the actual mark gained.
When will I know the result?
You get the result immediately. You can also see what you got right or wrong.
How many points do I get towards upgrading?
Depending on your score, you will gain points for continuing professional development:
- 95–100% is worth 12 points
- 90–94% is worth 11
- 85–89% is worth 10
- 80–84% is worth 9
- 75–79% is worth 8
- 0–74% does not gain points
Can I do the test on a laptop, iPad or smartphone?
The test has been successfully completed on a PC/Mac and an iPad, but a smartphone is not suitable.
Is the editorial test hard?
Yes: it has to be hard enough to mean something. But we don't want you to fail. If you know your stuff, the timing is not tight and you will pass.
What do I need to know?
You need to be familiar with the material in the syllabus and typical practice in English-language publishing (eg in the UK, USA and Canada). You need not study all the sources in the syllabus nor any one of them in its entirety.
Why do I need to know about material outside my niche?
Can I look things up that I don't know?
There is nothing to stop you looking things up during the test, but if you do so you may run out of time.
What if I don't finish the test?
You should do everything necessary to ensure that you will not be distracted or interrupted while taking the test. If an emergency prevents you completing it, contact the office as soon as you can with details of the emergency and supporting evidence.
What if I fail?
If you fail, or wish to improve your mark, you can resit the test once, on payment of the resit fee, which is £30.00. When you resit, you take a different version of the test. Please contact the office by emailing [email protected] to organise a resit.
Can I appeal?
There is no appeal against the result. If you tell the office that an emergency prevented you completing the test, you may be asked to supply more information and an appeal committee will be set up to consider the circumstances.
What happens if I tell someone what is in the test, or one of the answers?
This would be antisocial and unprofessional. It would harm the Institute, causing major expense, inconvenience and delay while tests were suspended and new tests written. The Institute would take appropriate action.