The DECA exam is the only part of competition you fully control. Roleplays depend on your prompt, your judge, and how you feel that day. The test is just you, 100 questions, and a clock. If you know how to approach it, you give yourself a real shot at scoring in the 90s and making yourself dangerous at any level.
1. The Timing Reality
You get 90 minutes. You will almost never need 90 minutes.
- Fast test takers finish in about 25–35 minutes
- Most people finish in 45–60 minutes
Taking less time doesn’t mean you rushed; it usually means you didn’t sit and overthink every question. DECA exams are not AP Calculus. They’re mostly recognition, basic reasoning, and picking the most professional, logical answer.
2. There Are Really Only Two Types of Questions
A. Content / Vocabulary Questions
These are the “you either know it or you don’t” questions. They test terms, formulas, and straightforward business knowledge.
Example:
“What is the accounting equation?”
If you’ve studied, you answer it and move on. If you haven’t, sometimes the word itself gives you a hint. Business language is often literal. If you still have no idea:
- Skip it on the first pass
- See if a later question references the same concept
- If not, guess and move on
Guessing is okay. You are not penalized for wrong answers. Almost everyone guesses on a few questions. This is not a test you need a 100 on; hitting a 90 is already a big deal in many clusters.
B. Scenario Questions
These are the “common-sense” business questions. They wrap a basic idea in a situation and ask you what should happen.
Example:
“A customer calls with a complaint about a billing error. What should the employee do first?”
The right answer is almost always the most professional, calm, reasonable option. Think along the lines of:
- Listen and clarify the issue
- Gather information
- Follow company policies
The key with scenario questions is simple: do not overthink them. Nine times out of ten, your gut instinct is right. These questions are where most of your points come from; don’t let them become the reason you tank your score.
3. The Only Answer-Changing Rule You Need
Do not change an answer unless you are very confident the new one is correct.
Most people lose points because they talk themselves out of the right answer. If you misread the question the first time, or if you find another question later that clearly proves your first answer wrong, then switch. Otherwise, trust your first choice.
4. How to Think During the Test
Don’t Let the First Page Scare You
The first 10 questions can feel rough. That’s normal. DECA often puts a few strange or specific items early in the test. If you feel shaky on the first page, keep going. Everyone else feels the same way.
Skip Fast
If you don’t know a question within 5–7 seconds, skip it and come back. Don’t burn 45 seconds trying to force an answer. Use your time on questions you can actually get right.
Eliminate Hard
On a lot of questions, you can cross out at least one or two answers immediately:
- The unethical option
- The unrealistic or extreme option
- The option that clearly doesn’t match the situation
What’s left is usually two reasonable choices. From there, pick the one that sounds the most professional and lines up with basic business logic.
Default to Professional + Logical
When you’re stuck, ask:
- What would a normal, trained employee actually do here?
- Which answer protects the customer and the business?
- Which choice doesn’t break any laws or policies?
You can solve a surprising number of questions with just that mindset, even without knowing the exact vocabulary term.
5. What’s a “Good” Score, Really?
Districts
- Mid 70s can qualify you for states in many areas
- 80s are usually solid and safe
States
- 80–85+ is strong for most clusters
- Finance and some business clusters may push closer to high 80s
ICDC
- Low 90s (around 92–93) can put you in range for a top ten test score
- Anything 90+ is competitive; higher is obviously better
Remember: tests are usually weighted as one-third of your overall score, but they are also the cleanest, most consistent piece. A strong exam score can carry you when your roleplay isn’t perfect.
6. Why the Exam Matters So Much
You can’t control your judge. You can’t control your exact prompt. You can’t control what everyone else does in your section. But you can absolutely control:
- How well you know your vocabulary and performance indicators
- Your pacing and mindset during the test
- Whether you waste time or move on and come back
- Whether you trust your instincts or overthink everything
That’s why the exam is a weapon. If you take it seriously and build solid test-taking habits, you don’t have to rely on a “perfect” roleplay to stay competitive. The exam gives you a floor that’s high enough to keep you in the conversation for glass.
Final Takeaway
The DECA exam isn’t about being a genius. It’s about not panicking, not overcomplicating questions, and not throwing away points you should have had.
Know your terms, recognize the question patterns, skip fast, eliminate hard, and stop changing answers just because you feel nervous. Do that, and your exam score stops being a mystery and starts becoming an advantage.