Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist credential artwork

Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) Practice Tests

Validates knowledge of financial crime risks, global regulations, compliance program design, and tools for detecting and preventing crime.

CAMS is 120 multiple-choice and multiple-selection scenario questions in 3.5 hours, and the hard part is choosing the best answer when several sound reasonable.

Most people should start with the 1,000-plus-question ACAMS Exam Simulator, which comes inside the CAMS package. Independent question banks are small and mixed, so use the study guide for extra scenarios.

Official exam simulator

CAMS Exam Simulator

ACAMS's own bank of 1,000+ questions with progress tracking, inside its learning portal. Wording and format match the real exam, though candidates say the real questions are trickier.

Great fit if you are buying the CAMS package anyway and want the closest wording to the real exam, with a timed 120-question run.

Poor fit if you expect simulator scores in the 90s to predict a pass; several candidates scored that high and still found the real exam harder, so also work the scenarios in the study guide.

What to look for in a CAMS practice test

  • Built for the four-domain CAMS blueprint. The enhanced exam covers four domains that match the four core courses: risks and methods of financial crime, global frameworks and regulations, building an AFC compliance program, and tools and technology. Some independent banks are still written against the older version 6.5 study guide.
  • Scenario questions where several answers look right. Questions are multiple choice and multiple selection, with no penalty for guessing. A recent passer says the right answer is usually the risk-based, practical and proportionate one, not the most extreme, so choose a bank that explains why each option fits or fails.
  • Official wording first. ACAMS says its simulator questions are similar in style and difficulty to the exam but are not actual exam questions. Candidates agree on the wording and say the real exam is trickier, so treat simulator scores as a floor.
  • Fresh questions, not memorised ones. Passers who memorised a large third-party bank report few matches on the real exam; they say the ACAMS material and study guide were closer. Independent Udemy banks are small and mixed in quality, and candidates report some wrong answers.
  • Never use recalled exam questions. The ACAMS handbook has candidates confirm they have not received exam questions or answers from others, and an invalid score can bar you from retesting. Sites selling 'real exam' questions put the credential at risk.
  • Skip sites selling "real exam questions." Sites promising actual CAMS questions or a guaranteed pass are selling leaked or copied items, not practice. Use products that write their own questions and explain every answer, so you learn the reasoning the exam tests.

How to use CAMS practice tests

  • Read the study guide before the simulator. Passers describe the guide as long but closer to the real questions than third-party banks. One 2026 passer says the simulator alone was enough to pass, yet still advises reading the guide sections on the topics that come up most.
  • Treat 90s on the simulator as a start, not a pass. Several 2026 candidates scored 90 to 100 for weeks and then got 66 to 82 on the real exam. Review why you miss questions rather than chasing a higher mock score.
  • Practise picking the best answer, not an acceptable one. When two options both seem correct, ask which is the most risk-based and practical step for the analyst or officer in that scenario. Reread what the question asks before you choose.
  • Do a full timed run late. The real exam is 120 questions in 3.5 hours; candidates say the simulator's pacing mirrors it well enough to practise time management. Finish with time to review flagged items.
  • Plan around your eligibility window. You have six months from application approval to sit the exam, and one passer used his last 48 hours on the simulator. Start the simulator well before the window closes.

ACAMS CAMS certification and FAQ ↗ACAMS CAMS Candidate Handbook ↗Reddit: simulator vs real exam ↗Reddit: v7 exam experience ↗Reddit: failed despite strong mocks ↗

CAMS practice test FAQ

Is there a free CAMS practice test?

ACAMS does not publish a free full practice test; its simulator comes with the CAMS package. Free quizzes elsewhere are short and unofficial, and sites selling 'real exam' questions are not safe to use.

Is the ACAMS exam simulator like the real exam?

The wording and format are close, but candidates repeatedly say the real exam is harder. Scores of 90 to 100 on the simulator did not translate to the same on exam day for several recent candidates.

Can I buy the CAMS simulator on its own?

ACAMS lists the simulator only as part of the CAMS package, alongside the study guide, flashcards, four core courses, two electives and the exam. In some languages a 100-question practice exam replaces the simulator.

How many questions are on the CAMS exam?

120 multiple-choice and multiple-selection questions in 3.5 hours, with no penalty for guessing. Results appear on screen when you finish.