Everything you need to know about how the LSS Black Belt exam is structured — questions, time, scoring, and exactly how the marks are distributed.
150 multiple-choice and true/false questions (some forms add up to 15 unscored items) in 240 minutes, closed book with an official formula/reference sheet built into the exam interface. Delivered via PeopleCert online proctoring or test centres. No prerequisites, course or completed project required — unlike ASQ's CSSBB.
PeopleCert publishes how the 150 questions are distributed (IASSC Black Belt Body of Knowledge (PeopleCert syllabus v1.0) — ~30 questions per phase). Weight your preparation to match — this is the single most useful planning fact:
| Area | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Define | 20% | |
| Measure | 20% | |
| Analyze | 20% | |
| Improve | 20% | |
| Control | 20% |
Define is the heaviest at 20% — most candidates under-weight it.
6 free questions · explanation for every option · per-area readiness · no dumps.
Start free →Define, Measure, Analyze and Control are nearly identical in both Bodies of Knowledge — the key difference is the Improve phase, where Black Belt adds Design of Experiments (full and fractional factorial designs), and the deeper cognitive level of testing.
A lot — Measure, Analyze and Improve together cover descriptive and inferential statistics, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, regression and DOE, roughly 60% of the exam. A formula sheet is provided; interpretation matters most.
IASSC/PeopleCert has no prerequisites or project requirement and a closed-book exam; ASQ requires 3 years of experience plus a signed project affidavit and runs open-book. Both now require renewal every 3 years.
150 multiple-choice and true/false questions (some forms add up to 15 unscored items) in 240 minutes, closed book with an official formula/reference sheet built into the exam interface.
The passing score is 70%. Aim for a consistent 80–85% on realistic practice exams before booking.
PeopleCert does not publish official pass rates, so any exact percentage quoted online is unverified. The readiness signal that actually predicts passing: consistently holding 80–85% on realistic, full-length practice exams before you book.
None — no prior certification, work experience or completed project required (training and project experience recommended).
Three official price points for one exam (all verified 22 Sep 2026): IASSC's certification page says $450, IASSC's own store charges $516 for the Black Belt voucher, and PeopleCert - which owns IASSC and delivers the exam - listed €464, about $533 (country-specific price, no VAT treatment stated on the page). Neither includes training, an eBook or a completed project. The recertification voucher (75 questions, 120 minutes, 70%) is $235 on IASSC's policy page but $335 in IASSC's store; PeopleCert listed €304 (verified 14 Sep 2026).
For most candidates, commonly reported 40–140 hours over 4–12 weeks, depending on statistics background. What matters most is practising questions and analysing why each option is right or wrong — not just reading.
Every 3 years - a 75-question, 120-minute recertification exam at 70%, €304 via PeopleCert (verified 14 Sep 2026).
No — every question is original, written to test the concepts and reviewed before it ships, with an explanation linked to the source for every option. Dumps are stale, often wrong, and against PeopleCert's policies.