NVRA Realtime Verbatim Reporter study guide
NVRA Realtime Verbatim Reporter · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Realtime Verbatim Reporter (RVR) is a National Verbatim Reporters Association certification for working reporters who capture the spoken word in realtime and deliver an unedited verbatim record. NVRA lists it alongside the stenotype variant, RVR-S. It is an advanced credential: candidates must already hold a valid CVR/CVR-S or CVR-M and be a General, Military, or Honorary NVRA member in good standing before they may test. The exam is a Dictation Skills Test with no written knowledge component. Topics on this exam: Literary dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing), Jury charge dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing), and Two-voice question-and-answer dictation at 180 wpm (realtime, no editing). The NVRA Realtime Verbatim Reporter study guide has 3 sections and about 1,202 words.
01Literary Dictation at 180 WPM (Realtime, No Editing)
This domain tests realtime writing of continuous literary prose at 180 words per minute with no editing pass. The material may include narration, dialogue, description, proper names, and punctuation that carries meaning. Because the file is judged as written, every hesitation or unresolved homophone becomes a visible error. Write in phrase groups, not isolated words.
388 words, about 2 min02Jury Charge Dictation at 180 WPM (Realtime, No Editing)
This domain tests realtime writing of jury instructions at 180 wpm with no editing. The charge is dense with legal terms, statutory citations, defined phrases, numbers, and conditional logic. Accuracy is judged on the written text, so a dropped not or a wrong party name changes the legal meaning. Hold the logical skeleton: if/then , unless , provided that , burden of proof , and preponderance of the evidence .
395 words, about 2 min03Two-Voice Question-and-Answer Dictation at 180 WPM (Realtime, No Editing)
This domain tests realtime writing of a two-speaker exchange at 180 wpm with no editing. The examiner expects consistent Q-and-A format, correct speaker changes, and punctuation that preserves the question and answer. The two voices may differ in pitch, pace, and idiom, and the content may include interruptions, read-back, and short answers. Start each new speaker on a new paragraph with Q.
419 words, about 2 min