Examination & Study Resources

Detailed information about AGSI certification examinations, preparation resources, and examination integrity safeguards.

Overview of the Certification Examination

AGSI certification is earned by passing a timed, proctored examination designed to assess applied professional judgment rather than rote memorization.

Standards-Based Scenario-Driven Independently Administered
70%
Minimum Passing Score

Required for both levels

120 min
Time Allotted

For each examination level

65-75
Questions

Multiple-choice format

Delivery & Integrity

Examinations are delivered asynchronously via secure link. AGSI employs identity verification, screen-locking, and behavioral monitoring to ensure integrity. Violations may result in disciplinary action.

Open Book Policy

Reference materials (including the Competence Framework) are permitted. However, exams are scenario-based and time-constrained. Success depends on comprehension, not lookup speed.

Examination Content Areas

While candidates are informed of content weighting, question selection and order are randomized to protect validity.

Level I — CGCT

Certified Grill Cleaning Technician
  • Professional Responsibility & Ethics 15-20%
  • Mechanical Architecture 20-25%
  • Combustion Fundamentals 20-25%
  • Scientific Maintenance Principles 20-25%
  • Documentation & Risk Disclosure 10-15%

Level II — CAGST

Advanced Grill Service Technician
  • Professional Judgment (Adv.) 10-15%
  • System Interdependency 15-20%
  • Combustion Kinetics & Failure 25-30%
  • Forensic Diagnostics 25-30%
  • Adv. Documentation & Contexts 10-15%

Study Resources

Prepare effectively with official AGSI materials.

Competence Framework

Defines the complete scope of knowledge and professional judgment assessed by AGSI examinations. All exam content is derived solely from this framework.

  • Full Body of Knowledge (BoK)
  • Transparency & Fairness
  • Absolutely Essential for Prep
Download Framework (Free)

Optional Study Guide

Designed to help candidates organize independent study and contextualize the standards.

Note: This guide is optional. Purchase does not guarantee a passing score. Exams are based on the Framework, not this guide.
  • Interprets abstract principles
  • Applied scenarios
  • Efficient preparation structure
Purchase Study Guide

Sample Questions

These questions are not from the live bank. They are provided solely to illustrate the style, depth, and reasoning expected.

Level I — Sample Questions
Q1. Professional Competence

A technician observes persistent yellow flame tips and light soot accumulation but dismisses them because the grill still ignites and heats. Which conclusion best aligns with AGSI’s definition of professional competence?

  • A. Experience alone establishes competence if the appliance remains functional
  • B. Cosmetic performance is sufficient if no immediate failure is observed
  • C. Competence requires recognizing that visible soot and yellow flames indicate incomplete combustion
  • D. Competence is demonstrated by following the same approach used successfully in the past
Correct Answer: C
Q2. Scope of Practice

While servicing a residential grill, a technician notices an undersized gas line supplying the appliance. The technician is not licensed to perform gas piping installation. Which response is appropriate?

  • A. Cite the installation as code-noncompliant and order correction
  • B. Ignore the condition since installation was previously approved
  • C. Document the observed condition as a present safety concern and recommend further evaluation
  • D. Resize the piping as part of routine service
Correct Answer: C
Q3. Combustion Fundamentals

A grill exhibits a stable ignition but develops yellow-tipped flames and soot buildup that cannot be corrected by adjusting the air shutter. This condition most directly indicates:

  • A. Normal combustion variability
  • B. Excessive secondary air entrainment
  • C. Latent stoichiometric failure due to oxygen deficiency
  • D. Excess manifold pressure
Correct Answer: C
Level II — Sample Questions
Q1. Systemic Interdependency

A grill experiences repeated ignition wire failures despite replacement. Inspection reveals a degraded heat shield with increased surface oxidation. Which mechanism best explains the repeated failures?

  • A. Electrical manufacturing defect
  • B. Excessive ambient humidity
  • C. Increased radiant heat absorption due to elevated emissivity of the heat shield
  • D. Improper wire gauge selection
Correct Answer: C
Q2. Dynamic Pressure Collapse

During diagnostics, a technician measures a dynamic manifold pressure drop exceeding 20% when all burners are operating. This condition most strongly indicates:

  • A. Normal load-related pressure variation
  • B. Cosmetic airflow imbalance
  • C. Systemic flow restriction or undersized delivery infrastructure
  • D. Excessive primary air entrainment
Correct Answer: C
Q3. Forensic Combustion Analysis

A pellet grill shows smoke escaping from the hopper lid during operation. Fan RPM meets specification, but combustion remains unstable. Which underlying failure mode is most likely?

  • A. Excess fuel caloric density
  • B. Loss of the air gap preventing isolation between fuel source and combustion zone
  • C. Controller software latency
  • D. Excess chimney draft
Correct Answer: B

Ready to Begin?

Candidates who wish to pursue certification may begin by purchasing an examination attempt. Optional study resources may be selected at the same time.

Purchase Examination Attempt Purchase Study Guide