Picture this: you’re running on zero sleep because opening session went late and you stayed up studying. You’re at peak stress. You have a 100-question exam in front of you—questions most high schoolers wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole—and, oh yeah, you’re taking it right next to your direct competitors.

Look left. Look right. Every single person is there to intimidate you. They want to psych you out. They want to win.

And you? You have an hour and a half to prove you belong there.

What the DECA Exam Actually Is

It is intense.

You get 90 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions—about 54 seconds per question. That’s plenty of time for some people. For others? They’re still switching from C to B with fifteen seconds left (shoutout to myself in States 2025).

The exam you take depends on the career cluster for your event.

• Principles events → Business Administration Core Exam
• Hospitality Management → Hospitality & Tourism Core Exam
• Finance events → Finance Core Exam …you get the idea.

I’ve only taken the Hospitality & Tourism exam, which I think is one of the easier ones. Most questions boil down to “keep the customer happy” and can be answered with common sense.

Questions within the exam fall into two buckets:

1. Decision-making – Before organizing an oral presentation, the presenter should…
2. Definition-based – David and Ella are in business together and each has unlimited liability. Their business is a…

Sadly, no “plan a Disney trip” or “rank fries from best to worst” options.

Every exam follows a blueprint that lists:

• Topics covered
• Number of questions per topic
• How it’s weighted for districts, state, and ICDC

Find this blueprint here: Blueprint 2025 PDF

The blueprint even orders the topics the way they appear on the actual exam. This means if you’re taking a practice test and keep missing hospitality law questions, you can go straight to that section when studying. The blueprint is a lifesaver—memorize it. Love it. Use it.

Why the Exam Matters More Than People Think

The exam is one-third of your total score. A lot of competitors downplay it because the role play is worth more. Those people? They don’t win ICDC.

#1 If you don’t pass, you don’t advance.

Passing scores vary, but in my region it’s 50%, at Texas State it’s 70%, and at ICDC it’s 70%. It doesn’t matter how amazing your role play was—if you don’t pass, you’re done.

#2 The exam is consistent.

Role plays are unpredictable—topic, performance indicators, even the judge are all variables. But the exam follows the same blueprint. Many questions repeat. The format stays the same. That’s an advantage you can prepare for.

#3 It’s the tiebreaker.

Two people crush their role play? The higher exam score wins. Sometimes, a strong exam can even make up for a so-so role play.

How I Study

My approach boils down to two things: old exams and Quizlet.

Old Exams

This is my biggest DECA “hack.” I take old exams over and over until I can finish one in five minutes because I’ve memorized every question and answer.

Why?

• DECA REPEATS QUESTIONS!!!!
• Even when the exact question doesn’t come back, the concepts do.
• Answer keys explain why each choice is right or wrong—this helps you recognize traps in future questions.

Finding old exams is easy: Google “DECA [your cluster] exam” and start clicking.

Quizlet

Your best friend for vocab. Search for sets in your career cluster—there are tons.

Make your own set of terms you miss on practice exams. Those terms will show up again, either on the exam or in your role play.

Personal Tips & Tricks for Maximum Score

Tip #1: Get a DECA notebook. Write down anything you miss. You’ll remember it better.

Tip #2: Don’t rush. No one cares if you’re the last one done—especially when you’re the one walking away with glass.

Tip #3: Read carefully. Watch for “NOT” in the question.

Tip #4: Trust your gut. If it feels obvious, it might be.

Tip #5: Do an easy pass first. Skip what you don’t know and come back.

Tip #6: Eliminate wrong answers. Narrow the field.

Tip #7: Stick to your pre-test routine. Whether that’s breakfast and coffee or sleeping in, do what works for you.

And finally, do not stress! Most of the points lie in the role play so if you don’ thtink you did your best, have a killer role play! You got this. Study. Take practice exams. Trust yourself. You got this.

Study. Take practice exams. Trust yourself.

You got this.