The ISM Supply Management Core (exam code CORe) is the exam you pass to earn the CPSM / APSM certification, a credential at the Associate / Professional level. It is also connected with related credentials such as Supply Management Integration, Leadership and Transformation in Supply Management, CPSD. If you are mapping out a certification path with ISM, this exam is a milestone worth planning around.

The CORe exam includes 180 (165 scored, 15 unscored) questions, and you have 180 minutes to complete them. With that many questions on the clock, pacing is part of the challenge: divide your time into rough blocks as you go, and flag the items that stall you so you can circle back at the end instead of burning minutes on a single question. A week or two before your exam date, sit at least one full timed session in the 2Pass4sure test engine under the same time limit, so the pace feels familiar rather than frantic on the day.

You need 400 (scaled 100-600) to pass the CORe exam, and the official registration fee is $495 (ISM Member), $795 (Non-Member). That fee is due again in full for every retake, which makes thorough preparation the cheaper investment by far. Before you book your seat, test yourself with the 2Pass4sure practice questions until you are scoring comfortably above the passing mark on a consistent basis — it is the simplest way to avoid paying for the same exam twice.

None for exam registration; for CPSM: 3 years professional experience + bachelor's degree OR 5 years experience without degree

Eligibility rules can be adjusted by ISM over time, so before you register, confirm the current requirements on the official exam page: view the official CORe exam information.

You can book the CORe exam through the official registration channels below:

• ISM Official Registration
• Pearson VUE Scheduling

How the exam is taken: In-person at Pearson VUE test centers / Online proctored.

ISM lists the following official training options for candidates preparing for this exam:

• ISM Guided Learning
• ISM Study Materials

Once you have worked through the training, measure your readiness with the 316 practice questions from 2Pass4sure — they show you exactly which topics still need attention before you book the exam.

Yes. 2Pass4sure offers a free PDF demo of the CORe practice questions, so you can judge the quality of the material firsthand before paying anything. Every purchase also includes 365 days of free updates — if ISM changes the exam during that year, your material changes with it. And when the free update period expires, you can extend it at a 50% discount from within your member zone.

Every CORe purchase at 2Pass4sure is backed by a 100% Money Back Guarantee: if you take the corresponding exam within 60 days of your purchase and do not pass, you can apply for a full refund. The guarantee has clear conditions — it does not apply if you sit the exam within 3 days of purchase, if you downloaded the material but never actually took the exam, or to free materials and expired orders, and the candidate name must match the payer name. To file a claim, send a scan of your exam enrollment slip together with your official Score Report PDF within 2 days of the exam; claims are processed within 7 days. If you would rather not take a refund, you can exchange the product instead and receive two additional exam preparation products of equal value for free, while your original product keeps its update service. Delivery itself is instant: your material is available for download right after payment and is also sent to your email within one minute — if it has not arrived within 2 hours, contact our customer service. There is no limit on how many computers you can install it on.

The official ISM Supply Management Core outline divides the exam content into 7 main domains. The first three are:

• Financial Analysis — 6%
• Supplier Relationship Management — 24%
• Legal and Contractual — 12%

That is only the headline view — scroll back up to the Exam Topics section on this page for the complete domain-by-domain breakdown before you plan your study schedule.