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ACLS 2025 – Complete Study Guide, Practice
Questions & Verified Answers
Questions 1–200
OFFICIAL EXAM OVERVIEW & 2025 GUIDELINE UPDATES
The 2025 AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider
Course has been updated to reflect new science in the 2025 American
Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC and the 2025
ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI Guideline for the Management of Patients
With Acute Coronary Syndromes . The goal of the ACLS Provider Course is
to improve outcomes for adult cardiac arrest, stroke and other
cardiopulmonary emergencies through early recognition and time-sensitive
interventions by high-performance teams .
Key 2025 Guideline Updates:
• Narrow-Complex Tachyarrhythmias (Unstable): Higher dose
electrical impulses should be used, increasing to 100 J for most
and 200 J for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter .
• Stable Ventricular Tachycardia: Management has shifted toward
favoring amiodarone and procainamide and away from sotalol .
• Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation: Alternative defibrillation
strategies like vector change and double sequential external
defibrillation (DSED) show promise .
• Post-Cardiac Arrest Care: More specific temperature, oxygen, and
MAP goals are recommended. Avoid neuroprognostication until after
72 hours from cardiac arrest .
Course Content Includes:
Sure pass
,2
• Systematic approach (assessment)
• High-quality BLS
• Airway management
• Rhythm recognition
• Defibrillation
• IV/IO access
• Use of medications
• Cardioversion
• Transcutaneous pacing
• High-performance teams
SECTION 1: HIGH-QUALITY CPR & BASIC LIFE SUPPORT
(Questions 1-20)
QUESTION 1
What is the recommended depth for chest compressions in adults during
high-quality CPR?
A. 2 inches (5 cm)
B. 2-2.4 inches (5-6 cm)
C. 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm)
D. At least 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)
Correct Answer: B. 2-2.4 inches (5-6 cm)
Rationale: The 2025 ACLS guidelines recommend chest compression depth of
5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.4 inches) for adults . Compressions should allow for
complete chest recoil and be delivered at a rate of 100-120 per minute. The
compressor should be rotated every 2 minutes or sooner if fatigued .
Sure pass
,3
QUESTION 2
What is the recommended compression rate for adult CPR?
A. 80-100 per minute
B. 100-120 per minute
C. 120-140 per minute
D. 60-80 per minute
Correct Answer: B. 100-120 per minute
Rationale: High-quality CPR requires compressions at a rate of 100-120 per
minute . This rate optimizes coronary perfusion pressure while allowing
adequate time for ventricular filling and cardiac output. Rates above 120 may
reduce compression depth and decrease coronary perfusion.
QUESTION 3
The ventilator-to-compression ratio for a single rescuer performing adult
CPR without an advanced airway is:
A. 2 ventilations to 15 compressions
B. 1 ventilation to 30 compressions
C. 2 ventilations to 30 compressions
D. 1 ventilation to 15 compressions
Correct Answer: C. 2 ventilations to 30 compressions
Rationale: Without an advanced airway, ventilation should be delivered using
a bag-valve-mask device at a ratio of two ventilations to every 30
compressions . Once an advanced airway is in place, compressions become
continuous and asynchronous, with one ventilation every 6 seconds .
Sure pass
, 4
QUESTION 4
When an advanced airway is in place during cardiac arrest, the
recommended ventilation rate is:
A. 1 breath every 3-5 seconds
B. 1 breath every 6 seconds
C. 2 breaths every 30 compressions
D. 1 breath every 10 seconds
Correct Answer: B. 1 breath every 6 seconds
Rationale: When an advanced airway is in place, compressions are delivered
continuously and ventilations are asynchronous. One ventilation should be
delivered every 6 seconds (10 breaths per minute) .
QUESTION 5
What is the maximum time interval between rhythm checks during cardiac
arrest resuscitation?
A. 1 minute
B. 2 minutes
C. 3 minutes
D. 5 minutes
Correct Answer: B. 2 minutes
Rationale: Rhythm checks should occur every 2 minutes . Chest compressions
should be resumed immediately after each rhythm check .
QUESTION 6
What is the correct sequence for a single rescuer responding to an
unresponsive adult?
Sure pass
ACLS 2025 – Complete Study Guide, Practice
Questions & Verified Answers
Questions 1–200
OFFICIAL EXAM OVERVIEW & 2025 GUIDELINE UPDATES
The 2025 AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider
Course has been updated to reflect new science in the 2025 American
Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC and the 2025
ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI Guideline for the Management of Patients
With Acute Coronary Syndromes . The goal of the ACLS Provider Course is
to improve outcomes for adult cardiac arrest, stroke and other
cardiopulmonary emergencies through early recognition and time-sensitive
interventions by high-performance teams .
Key 2025 Guideline Updates:
• Narrow-Complex Tachyarrhythmias (Unstable): Higher dose
electrical impulses should be used, increasing to 100 J for most
and 200 J for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter .
• Stable Ventricular Tachycardia: Management has shifted toward
favoring amiodarone and procainamide and away from sotalol .
• Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation: Alternative defibrillation
strategies like vector change and double sequential external
defibrillation (DSED) show promise .
• Post-Cardiac Arrest Care: More specific temperature, oxygen, and
MAP goals are recommended. Avoid neuroprognostication until after
72 hours from cardiac arrest .
Course Content Includes:
Sure pass
,2
• Systematic approach (assessment)
• High-quality BLS
• Airway management
• Rhythm recognition
• Defibrillation
• IV/IO access
• Use of medications
• Cardioversion
• Transcutaneous pacing
• High-performance teams
SECTION 1: HIGH-QUALITY CPR & BASIC LIFE SUPPORT
(Questions 1-20)
QUESTION 1
What is the recommended depth for chest compressions in adults during
high-quality CPR?
A. 2 inches (5 cm)
B. 2-2.4 inches (5-6 cm)
C. 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm)
D. At least 2.5 inches (6.5 cm)
Correct Answer: B. 2-2.4 inches (5-6 cm)
Rationale: The 2025 ACLS guidelines recommend chest compression depth of
5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.4 inches) for adults . Compressions should allow for
complete chest recoil and be delivered at a rate of 100-120 per minute. The
compressor should be rotated every 2 minutes or sooner if fatigued .
Sure pass
,3
QUESTION 2
What is the recommended compression rate for adult CPR?
A. 80-100 per minute
B. 100-120 per minute
C. 120-140 per minute
D. 60-80 per minute
Correct Answer: B. 100-120 per minute
Rationale: High-quality CPR requires compressions at a rate of 100-120 per
minute . This rate optimizes coronary perfusion pressure while allowing
adequate time for ventricular filling and cardiac output. Rates above 120 may
reduce compression depth and decrease coronary perfusion.
QUESTION 3
The ventilator-to-compression ratio for a single rescuer performing adult
CPR without an advanced airway is:
A. 2 ventilations to 15 compressions
B. 1 ventilation to 30 compressions
C. 2 ventilations to 30 compressions
D. 1 ventilation to 15 compressions
Correct Answer: C. 2 ventilations to 30 compressions
Rationale: Without an advanced airway, ventilation should be delivered using
a bag-valve-mask device at a ratio of two ventilations to every 30
compressions . Once an advanced airway is in place, compressions become
continuous and asynchronous, with one ventilation every 6 seconds .
Sure pass
, 4
QUESTION 4
When an advanced airway is in place during cardiac arrest, the
recommended ventilation rate is:
A. 1 breath every 3-5 seconds
B. 1 breath every 6 seconds
C. 2 breaths every 30 compressions
D. 1 breath every 10 seconds
Correct Answer: B. 1 breath every 6 seconds
Rationale: When an advanced airway is in place, compressions are delivered
continuously and ventilations are asynchronous. One ventilation should be
delivered every 6 seconds (10 breaths per minute) .
QUESTION 5
What is the maximum time interval between rhythm checks during cardiac
arrest resuscitation?
A. 1 minute
B. 2 minutes
C. 3 minutes
D. 5 minutes
Correct Answer: B. 2 minutes
Rationale: Rhythm checks should occur every 2 minutes . Chest compressions
should be resumed immediately after each rhythm check .
QUESTION 6
What is the correct sequence for a single rescuer responding to an
unresponsive adult?
Sure pass
