CPE – C++ Certified Entry-Level Programmer Exam

CPE-20-01 is the current exam for the C++ Institute’s CPE – C++ Certified Entry-Level Programmer certification. It has 30 questions, a 45-minute time limit, and a 70% passing score, and it is taken online through OpenEDG TestNow™. The exam costs USD 69 and has no prerequisites.

What Is the CPE-20-01 Exam?

CPE – C++ Certified Entry-Level Programmer is the C++ Institute’s starting-level certification for anyone beginning a career in software development or C++ programming. It validates your understanding of essential programming concepts, including compilation, variables, data types, typecasting, operators, control flow, arrays, pointers, structures, and the runtime environment.

CPE is also the first step in the C++ Institute’s C++ certification path, leading to CPA (Associate) and CPP (Professional).

CPE-20-01 Exam Overview

• Exam Name : CPE – C++ Certified Entry-Level Programmer

• Exam Code : CPE-20-01 (active version)

• Vendor : C++ Institute (OpenEDG)

• Level : Entry

• Number of Questions : 30

• Question Format : Single-choice, multiple-choice, gap fill, drag & drop

• Duration : 45 minutes + approx. 5 minutes for NDA/tutorial

• Passing Score : 70%

• Language : English

• Prerequisites : None

• Exam Cost : USD 69 (exam) / USD 86 (exam + retake)

CPE-20-01 Exam Syllabus

Topic : Syntax, Literals, and Operators
Exam Items : 9
Weight : 28%

Topic : Flow Control and Functions
Exam Items : 8
Weight : 28%

Topic : Vectors and Pointers
Exam Items : 7
Weight : 24%

Topic : Structures and Strings
Exam Items : 6
Weight : 20%

Key Topics to Study

Block 1 – Syntax, Literals, and Operators

• Valid C++ syntax, keywords, and built-in data types

• The main() function and its parameters

• Arithmetic, relational, logical, bitwise, and assignment operators

• Operator precedence, associativity, and short-circuit logic

• Basic I/O with cin, cout, cerr, endl, and setw

Block 2 – Flow Control and Functions

• if/else, switch/case/default

• while, do, and for loops with break and continue

• The goto statement and labeled statements

• Declaring and calling functions, return in typed and void functions

• Passing arguments by value, by reference, and by pointer

• Basic recursion

Block 3 – Vectors and Pointers

• Vectors and arrays, including multidimensional arrays

• Accessing vector data with data()

• Pointers, nullptr, dereferencing, and the address-of operator

• static_cast and dynamic_cast

• Dynamic memory with new, delete, and delete[]

Block 4 – Structures and Strings

• Declaring structures and accessing members with the dot operator

• Vectors of structures

• std::string declaration, operations, and comparisons

How the CPE-20-01 Exam Is Scored

The CPE exam doesn’t give every question the same value. Each of the 30 questions has its own point value based on difficulty and importance, with a maximum of 120 points. Your total is normalized into a percentage, and you need 70% or higher to pass. The score is based on total points earned, not an average across blocks.

Who Should Take the CPE Exam?

• Beginners starting a career in software development or C++ programming

• Students who have completed an introductory C++ course

• Programmers preparing for the CPA – C++ Certified Associate Programmer exam

• Anyone interested in low-level or middle-level programming

C++ Institute C++ Certification Path

1. CPE – C++ Certified Entry-Level Programmer (CPE-20-01) – You are here

2. CPA – C++ Certified Associate Programmer (CPA-21-02)

3. CPP – C++ Certified Professional Programmer (CPP-22-02)

FAQs

What is the CPE-20-01 exam?

CPE-20-01 is the current exam for the CPE – C++ Certified Entry-Level Programmer certification from the C++ Institute. It validates foundational C++ programming skills.

How many questions are on the CPE-20-01 exam?

30 questions, in single-choice, multiple-choice, gap fill, and drag & drop formats.

How long is the CPE-20-01 exam?

45 minutes, plus about 5 minutes for the non-disclosure agreement and tutorial.

What is the passing score for CPE-20-01?

70%. Questions carry different point values, with a maximum of 120 points normalized into a percentage.

How much does the CPE exam cost?

USD 69 for the exam, or USD 86 for the exam with a retake.

Are there prerequisites for CPE?

No. CPE is an entry-level certification with no prerequisites.

Is the CPE exam taken online?

Yes. It is delivered through the OpenEDG Testing Service – TestNow™.

What comes after CPE?

The next step is CPA – C++ Certified Associate Programmer (CPA-21-02), followed by CPP – C++ Certified Professional Programmer (CPP-22-02).

Which topics carry the most weight?

Syntax, Literals, and Operators, and Flow Control and Functions, at 28% each.