Building & sustainability · timed practice test · free 25-question / 25-minute diagnostic · AEE (Association of Energy Engineers)
Free Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Readiness Check
Free 25-question diagnostic, then $5 for 5 full attempts · no signup
UniPrep2Go's free CEM practice test is a 25-question, 25-minute timed diagnostic with a free topic report and answer review — no email, no account. The full mock is 50 questions / 50 minutes on the $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (5 attempts on any mock).
CEM Readiness is an exam pathway administered under AEE (Association of Energy Engineers). This diagnostic is 50 questions in 50 minutes with a 70% UniPrep2Go readiness target — shorter than the official exam and not AEE’s paid 65-question / 2-hour self-evaluation. Official CEM…
Official-source aligned. Topic weights, timing, and pass rules follow published Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) outlines. Questions are original UniPrep2Go study aids — not leaked official items. Verify on the official site ↗
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- Questions
- 25 free · 50 full
- Time
- 25 min free · 50 min full
- UniPrep2Go readiness target
- 70%
- Domains
- 5
- Exam body
- AEE (Association of Energy Engineers)
- Status
- Live · free 25-question / 25-minute diagnostic
Exam version & sources
Certified Energy Manager (CEM)— what this product is (and isn't)
- Exam version
- U.S. CEM Body of Knowledge & Study Guide (verify current version at aeecenter.org)
- Official source
- AEE — Certified Energy Manager certification
- Last reviewed
- October 6, 2026
- What this covers
- 50-question timed diagnostic (50 min; free 25-question / 25-min version) across 5 topic areas, with topic scoring and answer review. Official form: 130 multiple-choice and true/false (120 scored + 10 unscored pretest items).
- Pass rule
- Official exam: 700 scaled score. UniPrep2Go mock: 70% readiness target (not an official pass score).
- Does not replace
- Independent study aid — it does not replace official Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) materials, practice exams, or required training.
Building & sustainability · AEE (Association of Energy Engineers)
CEM practice test
Free 25-question diagnostic · 25 min · full 50Q on Mock Pass
Sample CEM Readiness practice questions
These sample items mirror the domains in the timed CEM Readiness mock. Correct answers and explanations unlock inside the practice session.
Sample 1
An energy manager calculates benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.4 for an ECM. This means:
- A. Present value of benefits is 1.4 times present value of costs
- B. Undiscounted savings exceed project cost by 1.4 percent overall
- C. Simple payback is 1.4 years on the installed project cost
- D. The internal rate of return on the measure is 40 percent
Sample 2
A public owner asks whether its ESPC payments can stay off the balance sheet. Under current lease accounting (GASB 87 / ASC 842), the most accurate answer is that
- A. It depends on contract terms; most lease-type ESPC obligations are now recognized
- B. Payments stay off the balance sheet as long as the ESCO holds title until final payoff
- C. Payments count as operating expense because they are funded from the measured savings
- D. ESPCs must be financed with general obligation bonds and carried as public debt
Sample 3
During an energy audit, a CEM finds simultaneous heating and cooling in a dual-duct VAV system caused by overlapping hot and cold deck setpoints. What is the best first corrective action?
- A. Raise the hot deck setpoint to recover warm-up faster.
- B. Add zone reheat coils to correct the cold deck overcooling.
- C. Reset and sequence deck setpoints to eliminate overlap.
- D. Lower the cold deck setpoint to improve zone dehumidification.
Sample 4
An energy manager compares connected load versus demand meter readings. Connected load often exceeds billed peak demand because
- A. Demand meters record instantaneous peaks rather than averages
- B. Nameplate ratings understate the actual running load of motors
- C. Not all equipment runs simultaneously at nameplate load
- D. Billed demand is measured in kVA while connected load is in kW
Sample 5
An ECM reduces electricity by 100,000 kWh/year at a marginal rate of $0.10/kWh and avoids 50 kW of peak demand at $8/kW-month for 4 summer months. Approximate annual savings?
- A. $11,600 including energy and summer demand reduction
- B. $1,600 from summer demand reduction alone
- C. $10,000 from energy savings alone at $0.10
- D. $14,800 including energy and 12 months of demand
What is the CEM Readiness exam?
CEM Readiness is an exam pathway administered under AEE (Association of Energy Engineers). This diagnostic is 50 questions in 50 minutes with a 70% UniPrep2Go readiness target — shorter than the official exam and not AEE’s paid 65-question / 2-hour self-evaluation. Official CEM exam: 130 questions (120 scored + 10 pretest), 4 hours, open book, scaled pass score 700 (0–1040 scale). Not AEE exam material. This UniPrep2Go page is an independent timed practice test — not official exam material.
Administered by: AEE (Association of Energy Engineers) (official site ↗)
Official resources: AEE — Certified Energy Manager certification · AEE — CEM Body of Knowledge & Study Guide (PDF) · AEE — CEM certification handbook
Who this exam is for
Energy managers, facility engineers, sustainability professionals, and HVAC/electrical engineers preparing for AEE CEM certification.
How to prepare
Start with this free timed diagnostic to see which CEM Readiness domains are weak, then review the published Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) outline on the official site and drill missed topics with the linked Anki deck before exam day.
Confirm current fees, eligibility, and scheduling with Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) before you book the real exam.
Topic outline
Core domains candidates usually study for CEM Readiness: Energy Policy, Audits, and Economics, Electrical Systems, Motors, and Lighting, HVAC, Building Envelope, and BAS, Industrial, Boiler/Steam, and Renewables, Commissioning, ESPC, and M&V.
Energy Policy, Audits, and Economics
Electrical Systems, Motors, and Lighting
HVAC, Building Envelope, and BAS
Industrial, Boiler/Steam, and Renewables
Commissioning, ESPC, and M&V
About this free CEM practice test
A timed 50-question / 50-minute CEM diagnostic across five grouped AEE Body of Knowledge domains — then drill weak groups in the linked $11 / 250-card Anki deck. Official CEM exam (verify on AEE): 130 questions (120 scored + 10 pretest), 4 hours, open book, scaled pass 700 on a 0–1,040 scale. AEE’s optional paid self-evaluation is 65 questions / 2 hours with section pass/fail only and no answer key — this page is not that product.
Built for: Energy managers, facility engineers, sustainability professionals, and HVAC/electrical engineers preparing for AEE CEM certification.
Topics on this practice test: Energy Policy, Audits, and Economics, Electrical Systems, Motors, and Lighting, HVAC, Building Envelope, and BAS, Industrial, Boiler/Steam, and Renewables, Commissioning, ESPC, and M&V.
- 50 timed multiple-choice questions
- 50-minute pacing target
- UniPrep2Go readiness target: 70% with topic breakdown
- Full answer review after you submit
Your first UniPrep2Go attempt is free: a 25-question timed diagnostic on any exam (Exam or Learn mode, no signup) with the full topic report. Full-length mocks and retakes run on a $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (Gumroad license key): 5 attempts on any mock. After your score, buy the linked Anki deck on Gumroad to drill weak topics with spaced repetition.
Buy CEM Anki deck to drill weak topicsOfficial Certified Energy Manager (CEM) facts
Structure and domain weights candidates verify against the certifying body before exam day.
The Certified Energy Manager (CEM) credential from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) recognizes expertise in optimizing energy use across facilities and industrial systems. This page summarizes official exam structure; UniPrep2Go products are independent prep (not AEE exam material).
- Questions
- 130 multiple-choice and true/false (120 scored + 10 unscored pretest items)
- Time
- 4 hours
- Passing score
- 700 scaled score
- Scoring
- 0–1,040 scaled score
- Delivery
- Proctored at AEE-approved seminars, testing centers, or remote proctoring (verify at aeecenter.org)
- Administered by
- Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
Knowledge domains and weights
| Domain | Official weight |
|---|---|
| Energy and Sustainability Policies, Codes, and Standards | 6–8% |
| Energy Rates, Tariffs, and Supply Options | 5–7% |
| Energy Audits and Instrumentation | 7–11% |
| Energy Accounting and Economics | 6–10% |
| Electrical Power Systems and Motors | 7–11% |
| Lighting Systems | 5–7% |
| HVAC Systems and Building Envelope | 10–16% |
| Building Automation, Controls and AI Systems | 6–10% |
| Energy Storage Systems | 3–5% |
| Boiler and Steam Systems | 4–6% |
| Distributed Generation & Renewable Energy | 4–6% |
| Industrial Systems | 6–8% |
| Operations, Maintenance and Commissioning | 7–11% |
| ESPC and Measurement & Verification | 3–5% |
What changed in the current exam cycle
- AEE requires completion of an approved preparatory seminar (live, virtual, or self-paced) before sitting for the CEM exam — verify current requirements.
- CEM recertification is required every 3 years with continuing education and a maintenance fee.
- Exam is open book — printed references and notes in a binder allowed; computers and phones prohibited during the exam.
High-yield facts (commonly tested)
- Passing score is 700 on a 0–1,040 scaled score — not a simple percentage.
- HVAC Systems and Building Envelope is the highest-weight subject area (up to 16% of scored content).
- No penalty for wrong answers — answer every question on the 130-item form.
- AEE offers a paid 65-question / 2-hour self-evaluation exam (section pass/fail, no item-level answers — verify at aeecenter.org).
- Non-programmable calculator permitted; programmable calculators and exam software on personal devices are prohibited.
- CEM application file must be completed within 3 years of passing the exam or the process restarts.
Verify current exam fees, scheduling, and administrative details at www.aeecenter.org/certifications/certified-energy-manager. Independent study aid — not official exam material.
CEM practice test — quick answers
Is there a free CEM practice test?
Yes — your first UniPrep2Go attempt is free, and it can be this one: a 25-question / 25-minute timed diagnostic drawn by the same topic weights, a 70% readiness target, topic scoring, and a full answer review report. No signup, Exam or Learn mode. The full 50-question / 50-minute mock runs on the $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (5 attempts on any mock).
How many free attempts do I get on this CEM practice test?
One. Your first UniPrep2Go attempt is free: a 25-question timed diagnostic on any exam (Exam or Learn mode, no signup) with the full topic report. Full-length mocks and retakes run on a $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (Gumroad license key): 5 attempts on any mock. Every attempt ends with the full topic report and answer review — the report itself is never paywalled.
How many questions are on this free CEM practice test?
This UniPrep2Go practice test has 50 multiple-choice questions timed against a 50-minute target. The free first attempt is a 25-question / 25-minute diagnostic with the same topic weights; the full session runs on Mock Pass. This diagnostic is 50 questions in 50 minutes with a 70% UniPrep2Go readiness target — shorter than the official exam and not AEE’s paid 65-question / 2-hour self-evaluation. Official CEM exam: 130 questions (120 scored + 10 pretest), 4 hours, open book, scaled pass score 700 (0–1040 scale). Not AEE exam material.
Why is the free CEM practice test 25 questions?
It is a diagnostic: 25 questions drawn by the same topic weights as the full 50-question mock — enough to rank your weakest topics, short enough to finish in 25 minutes in one sitting. With 1–6 questions per topic it is a quick read, not a verdict; for a full-length timed score, run the 50-question / 50-minute mock.
What do I get for $5?
The UniPrep2Go Mock Pass: 5 full timed attempts on any UniPrep2Go mock, including the 50-question CEM Readiness session, in Exam or Learn mode. It is a one-time Gumroad license key that works on any device — no subscription. Every attempt ends with the full topic report and answer review.
What score do you need on this CEM practice test?
The pass target on this practice test is 70%. Your report also breaks down performance by topic so you can see weak areas before the real exam.
More FAQAdditional format, scoring, and disclaimer questions
- Who should take this CEM practice test?
- Energy managers, facility engineers, sustainability professionals, and HVAC/electrical engineers preparing for AEE CEM certification.
- Where can I take a CEM practice test online?
- UniPrep2Go hosts the Free Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Readiness Check at https://uniprep2go.study/mock-exams/cem-readiness-check with a timed runner and full readiness report.
- Is this official exam material?
- No. This is an independent readiness diagnostic. It is not official AEE CEM exam material and does not certify you as a Certified Energy Manager.
- What does the report show after the mock?
- Your report shows a pass/no-pass verdict with explanation, topic diagnosis, pacing notes, full question review with explanations, and a repair plan that links to the paid Anki deck on Gumroad for weak-topic drilling.
- Where do the questions come from?
- Original UniPrep2Go questions authored for the CEM readiness check (250 cards across five Body of Knowledge groups; 50-question timed session).