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Acams CGSS Exam Questions
- Topic 1: Sanctions Compliance: This section of the exam measures the skills of a Sanctions Compliance Analyst and focuses on understanding the purpose, legal basis, and scope of sanctions. It explains who has the authority to impose sanctions, the types of licenses that may permit limited activity, and the conditions under which exemptions apply. Candidates are expected to understand how sanctions regimes function globally and what consequences organizations face when they fail to comply. This part ensures that the learner can identify the regulatory intent behind sanctions measures and interpret them correctly within day-to-day operational decisions.
- Topic 2: Sanctions Screening: This section of the exam measures the skills of a Financial Crime Investigator and covers the practical use of screening controls such as customer, transaction, and third-party checks. It outlines how screening tools operate, the importance of name-matching logic, and the handling of alerts. The section ensures that candidates can monitor risk exposures effectively by using technology, manual review processes, and documented procedures. It reinforces the significance of consistent screening quality to prevent sanctioned individuals, entities, or vessels from accessing financial systems.
- Topic 3: Economic/Financial Sanctions Frameworks and Governance: This section of the exam measures the skills of a Sanctions Compliance Analyst and covers how organizations build strong governance structures around sanctions laws. It explains the components of a sanctions compliance framework, the role of senior management, and the oversight expectations set by regulators. It highlights the need for policies, internal controls, reporting mechanisms, and escalation procedures, ensuring that professionals can support their institution’s governance responsibilities and maintain alignment with legal obligations. Building a Sanctions Compliance Program: This section of the exam measures the skills of a Financial Crime Investigator and covers the development of an effective sanctions compliance program. It introduces sanctions risk assessments, enhanced due diligence practices, beneficial ownership analysis, and documentation standards. Candidates also learn the basics of screening technology, workflow design, and how policy requirements are embedded into operational processes. The section prepares learners to contribute to a structured and well-governed program capable of identifying and mitigating sanctions risks.
- Topic 4: Detecting and Investigating Sanctions Evasion Techniques: This section of the exam measures the skills of a Sanctions Compliance Analyst and covers how individuals and entities attempt to evade sanctions through complex ownership structures, trade manipulation, and hidden payment routes. It explains the indicators associated with common evasion typologies and the investigative steps required when potential breaches are detected. Learners also explore the obligations around asset-freezing and reporting, focusing on how to manage such cases while maintaining regulatory compliance.
- Topic 5: Sanctions Compliance Case Studies: This section of the exam measures the skills of a Financial Crime Investigator and consolidates all knowledge through practical case studies that simulate real-world challenges. It allows candidates to apply concepts such as screening, due diligence, frameworks, and investigation techniques to real scenarios. This section strengthens analytical judgment and demonstrates how sanctions rules operate within operational settings, helping learners prepare for the complexities faced in actual compliance roles.
Free Acams CGSS Exam Actual Questions
Note: Premium Questions for CGSS were last updated On Feb. 22, 2026 (see below)
Under Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) rules, a financial institution managing blocked funds:
OFAC regulations require that blocked funds must be placed into an interest-bearing account, held separately, and reported to OFAC. This does not require preauthorization from OFAC.
However, no debits or credits may occur without OFAC authorization, including:
* settling standing bills or checks (A),
* charging interest or loan/corporate card fees (C),
* deducting credit-card service charges (B).
Only OFAC can authorize movement or use of blocked property.
OFAC blocked property rules for interest-bearing retention.
Prohibition on debits, credits, and unauthorized transactions involving blocked funds.
Which directs the Office of Foreign Assets Control to list non-US persons as Specially Designated Nationals?
OFAC designations---including designating non-US persons---are authorized through Executive Orders (EOs) issued by the President under statutory authority such as IEEPA or the Trading With the Enemy Act. Executive Orders define which categories of persons or entities may be designated and direct OFAC to act.
Sectoral Sanctions Identifications relate to sectoral sanctions, not full SDN designation. FATF recommendations are global AML standards, not OFAC authorities. UN resolutions may influence US sanctions but are not the legal authority directing SDN listings.
Executive Orders as legal authority for OFAC SDN designations.
Relationship between US statutory authority and OFAC implementation.
Which technology may enhance an organization's screening of potential customers and transactions against sanctions lists to eliminate the risk of doing business with sanctioned parties?
Artificial intelligence (AI) enhances sanctions screening by improving:
* name-matching accuracy,
* pattern recognition,
* reduction of false positives, and
* detection of complex sanctions-evasion typologies.
AI can analyze large volumes of data in real time and identify subtle risk indicators which traditional systems may miss.
Cryptocurrency mining tools and anonymizing tools hinder compliance, while tuning adjusts system thresholds but is not a standalone technology.
Use of AI for sanctions screening optimization.
Machine-learning applications to sanctions list matching and alert quality.
What type of sanctions are imposed against indicated persons operating in targeted field(s) of a country's economy?
Sectoral sanctions target specific sectors of a foreign country's economy, such as defense, energy, mining, or financial services. These sanctions apply to persons or entities operating within those sectors and often restrict specific types of transactions (e.g., certain financing or technology transfers).
Comprehensive sanctions cover entire jurisdictions. Individual or corporate sanctions apply to specific persons or companies but are not sector-based.
Definition of sectoral sanctions using economic sector targeting.
Distinction between sectoral and comprehensive sanctions.
Which would be an appropriate tuning of a sanctions screening tool?
Appropriate tuning must maintain the tool's ability to capture spelling variations, transliterations, and linguistic differences. This is essential for detecting sanctioned parties that may appear under alternate spellings (e.g., Arabic, Cyrillic transliterations).
Exact-match screening (C) or limiting variations (A, D) leads to missed true positives and violates regulatory expectations for effective sanctions screening.
Wolfsberg Guidance on name-matching and spelling-variation recognition.
Importance of fuzzy and variant matching in sanctions screening systems.
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