An Overview

Time management is the key to your best performance on the exam. Your time should be divided up proportionately to the exam parts so that you can complete all the sections. Six hours are given to complete the exam.

General Advice and Information

  • Read the question carefully. It’s easy to misread the question. Many examinees do not fully read the question and give an incorrect answer.

  • Questions are direct. Answer the question as stated. Do not overthink the question. To our knowledge, there are no “trick” questions. Many examinees miss this point.

  • You may find similar questions in the exam. Answer each one independently as each is slightly different and is exploring another facet of your knowledge on the topic.

  • The examiner (person grading your exam) does not know who you are. Each exam is numbered and your identity is unknown to the examiner.

  • While you have the ability to bring and use any book you want, using reference materials can take up an amazing amount of time. The exam has almost 360 questions and you must complete it in six hours (360 minutes). Speed is of the essence.

Section I

True/False & Multiple Choice Questions (283 questions – 308 possible points) = 50% of Total.

  • Overview of history, astronomy, calculations, computer skill and familiarity with ephemerides, tables, and cycles.

  • Natal chart interpretation and focus.

  • Forecasting skills, including progressions, directions, solar arc, returns, phases, transits, eclipses, and lunations.

  • Synastry and relationship including family patterns, misc. relations and group dynamics.

Section I Tips

TRUE AND FALSE. Answer these questions as quickly as possible. Don’t think too much, as there are no trick questions. If you are not sure, you can skip the question until later when you are at the end of this section, or when you are at the end of the exam. Filling them in before going on to the next section is preferable. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS. Questions may have multiple answers. Failing to choose a correct answer when there are more than one will cause a deduction. If there are four choices, one or more than one could be correct. The examiner (person grading your exam) is instructed to count each correct answer as one point. In the event that there are two correct answers and you miss one, you will receive 0 points since one right answer will be cancelled out by an incorrect or missing answer.
Section I Sample Questions

Section II

50 questions, 140 points = 22% of total score

  • 40 short answer questions

  • Five essay questions on aspect delineation: two with examples and three without examples

  • Five essay questions on natal interpretation

Section II Tips

Be sure to answer the question as given. Read carefully. Answer these as directly and concisely as possible. Looking up information from your resources is fine if you only need to do this a few times. It can waste a lot of time you need for the other parts of the exam. Adding extra words or explanations will not earn you extra points on the ones you know. Save your ability to expound further for the 50 written chart interpretation questions.

Section III

20 questions, 171 possible points = 28% of total score

  • Natal Chart questions (3 questions, 45 points)

  • Progressions: 12 various questions based on the mechanics, observation, and delineation of a progressed chart in a tri-wheel layout (natal>progressed>transit). (74 points)

  • Synastry (34 points total): A paragraph on Individual 1's chart configurations, a paragraph on Individual 2's chart configuration, a paragraph on how they might interact, and a paragraph on suggestions you might give them to help them as clients.

  • Solar Return. One essay question on chart provided (18 points)

Section III Tips

Section II's essay questions and Section III's delineation account for roughly 50% of your score but may take more of your time. Read these questions very carefully to know what you are looking for in the charts. Mark-up the provided charts as you please. Make notes or outlines on a scratch paper if necessary to organize your thoughts. Use complete sentences. Using only short phrases and keywords will not earn very many points. You may even want to do these sections of the exam first. Examiners specifically look for both the written interpretation and the astrological reasoning in marking those statements.
Section III Sample Questions

Terms & Concepts

Various terms and concepts that may appear on the exam

  • The Gregorian Calendar
    Local Mean Time
    Greenwich Mean Time
    Logarithms in Calculation
    Hellenistic Astrology
    Planet out-of-bounds
    Apogee & Perigee
    Adjusted Calculation Date
    Vertex
    Signs of Short and Long Ascension
    Declination
    Planetary Patterns
    Sidereal Time
    Ascending & Descending Signs
    Fruitful Signs
    Zenith
    Planetary Cycles
    Planetary Ingresses
    Parallel of Declination
    Contra-Parallel of Declination
    Meaning of Retrogrades
    Periods of Planetary Retrogrades
    Major & Minor Aspects
    Calculated Sidereal Time
    Occultation
    Moon Void of Course
    Dispositors
    Peregrine
    Negative & Positive Signs
    Morning and Evening Stars
    Greenwich Mean Time
    Major Planetary Conjunctions
    Antiscion
    Phases of the Moon
    Moon Speed Variation
    Critical Degrees
    House cusp Systems
    Revolution of each planet
    Ecliptic
    Celestial Sphere
    Applying & Separating Aspects
    Cazimi
    Dwadashamsa
    Decanates
    Solstices
    Houses of Triplicities
    Interceptions
    Formula for Fortuna
    Primal Triad
    Return Charts
    Solar Arc Progression
    Primary Directions
    Eclipse Seasons
    Solar Return Charts
    Secondary Progressed Moon
    Composite Chart
    Synastry
    Types of relationship charts
    Planets in Relationship Charts
    Moon Increasing or Decreasing in Light
    Azimuth
    Solar Chart
    Moon’s Nodes
    Planetary Stations
    Heliocentric Zodiac
    Planetary Standings
    Diurnal & Nocturnal positions
    Benefic & Malefic
    Arabian Parts
    Various Coordinate Systems
    Electional Charts
    Ephemeris
    Table of Houses
    Masculine & Feminine Signs
    Galactic Center
    Geocentric
    Inferior & Superior Planets
    Imum Coeli
    Medium Coeli
    Lunation
    Mutual Reception
    Luminaries
    Synodic Month
    Syzygy
    Nadir
    Partile
    Precession of the Equinoxes
    Prime Vertical
    Ptolemaic Aspects
    Quadrant
    Saros Cycles