NEW RPSGT EXAM 2026/2027 ACTUAL QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS Comprehensive Assessment
2026-2027 | 100 Questions | 100% VERIFIED
Introduction
The NEW RPSGT Exam 2026/2027 Comprehensive Assessment is a rigorous 100-question
evaluation that measures a candidate's mastery of the knowledge and skills required for
professional board certification in polysomnography. The assessment is organized across
eight core domains: Polysomnography Instrumentation and Setup; Sleep Staging and
Scoring Rules; Respiratory Events and Scoring; Cardiac Arrhythmias and ECG Monitoring;
Pediatric and Adult Sleep Disorders; Therapeutic Interventions; Sleep Pharmacology and
Neurophysiology; and Patient Care and Safety. Earning a passing score confirms readiness
for board certification, supports excellence in sleep medicine clinical execution, and
reinforces the safety-centered operations of the sleep laboratory.
1. What are the recommended low-frequency filter (LFF) and high-frequency filter
(HFF) settings for EEG channels in digital polysomnography?
A. 0.5 Hz and 100 Hz
B. 1 Hz and 70 Hz
C. 10 Hz and 35 Hz
D. 0.3 Hz and 35 Hz
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The AASM specifies an EEG LFF of 0.3 Hz and an HFF of 35 Hz. A 10 Hz LFF
is used for EMG, 70 Hz is the ECG HFF, and 100 Hz exceeds the EEG standard.
2. What filter settings are recommended for electromyography (EMG) channels such
as the chin and limb leads?
A. LFF 0.3 Hz and HFF 70 Hz
B. LFF 1 Hz and HFF 15 Hz
C. LFF 10 Hz and HFF 100 Hz
D. LFF 0.3 Hz and HFF 35 Hz
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EMG channels use an LFF of 10 Hz and an HFF of 100 Hz. The 0.3/35 Hz
pair is for EEG and EOG, and 0.3/70 Hz is for ECG.
3. What is the minimum recommended sampling rate for EEG signals in digital
polysomnography?
A. 200 Hz
B. 500 Hz
C. 60 Hz
, D. 100 Hz
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The AASM recommends a minimum of 200 Hz for EEG, with 500 Hz as the
desirable rate. Lower rates risk aliasing and loss of waveform detail.
4. Before beginning a study, electrode impedances should be at or below:
A. 10 kilohms
B. 15 kilohms
C. 20 kilohms
D. 5 kilohms
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Electrode impedances should be 5 kilohms or less to ensure clean, low-
noise signals. Higher impedances degrade signal quality.
5. Which sensor is most appropriate for detecting apneas (reductions in airflow of
90% or greater)?
A. Pulse oximeter
B. Nasal pressure transducer
C. Oronasal thermal sensor
D. Respiratory inductance plethysmography belts
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The oronasal thermal sensor detects apnea through temperature changes in
expired air. The nasal pressure transducer identifies hypopneas, oximetry measures
saturation, and RIP belts record effort.
6. Which device best detects hypopneas and airflow limitation (inspiratory
flattening)?
A. Pulse oximeter
B. Esophageal balloon
C. Nasal pressure transducer
D. Oronasal thermistor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nasal pressure transducer is sensitive to the subtle flow reductions and
flattening that define hypopneas. The thermistor is less sensitive, and the balloon and
oximeter measure effort and saturation.
7. Respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) belts are used to measure:
A. Oxygen saturation
B. Airflow at the nares
C. End-tidal carbon dioxide
D. Thoracoabdominal respiratory effort
Correct Answer: D
, Rationale: RIP belts sense changes in chest and abdominal cross-sectional area to
assess respiratory effort. Saturation, carbon dioxide, and nasal airflow are measured by
other sensors.
8. Which measure of respiratory effort is considered the most accurate (gold
standard)?
A. Thoracic RIP belt
B. Intercostal EMG
C. Esophageal manometry
D. Abdominal RIP belt
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Esophageal manometry directly records intrathoracic pressure swings and
is the gold standard for effort. RIP belts and intercostal EMG are indirect estimates.
9. Which channel is used to detect sleep-related hypoventilation by monitoring
carbon dioxide?
A. End-tidal CO2 (capnography)
B. Thermistor
C. Pulse oximetry
D. Nasal pressure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: End-tidal or transcutaneous CO2 monitoring detects hypoventilation; a
level above 50 mmHg during sleep suggests hypoventilation. Oximetry alone may miss
early carbon dioxide retention.
10. In the United States, the notch filter is set to eliminate interference at what
frequency?
A. 120 Hz
B. 60 Hz
C. 35 Hz
D. 50 Hz
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: US line current operates at 60 Hz, so the notch filter targets 60 Hz. Fifty
hertz is the European standard, and 35 Hz is the EEG high-frequency filter.
11. The standard epoch length used to score sleep stages is:
A. 60 seconds
B. 30 seconds
C. 10 seconds
D. 20 seconds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AASM scoring uses 30-second epochs. The other durations do not reflect
the scoring standard.
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS Comprehensive Assessment
2026-2027 | 100 Questions | 100% VERIFIED
Introduction
The NEW RPSGT Exam 2026/2027 Comprehensive Assessment is a rigorous 100-question
evaluation that measures a candidate's mastery of the knowledge and skills required for
professional board certification in polysomnography. The assessment is organized across
eight core domains: Polysomnography Instrumentation and Setup; Sleep Staging and
Scoring Rules; Respiratory Events and Scoring; Cardiac Arrhythmias and ECG Monitoring;
Pediatric and Adult Sleep Disorders; Therapeutic Interventions; Sleep Pharmacology and
Neurophysiology; and Patient Care and Safety. Earning a passing score confirms readiness
for board certification, supports excellence in sleep medicine clinical execution, and
reinforces the safety-centered operations of the sleep laboratory.
1. What are the recommended low-frequency filter (LFF) and high-frequency filter
(HFF) settings for EEG channels in digital polysomnography?
A. 0.5 Hz and 100 Hz
B. 1 Hz and 70 Hz
C. 10 Hz and 35 Hz
D. 0.3 Hz and 35 Hz
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The AASM specifies an EEG LFF of 0.3 Hz and an HFF of 35 Hz. A 10 Hz LFF
is used for EMG, 70 Hz is the ECG HFF, and 100 Hz exceeds the EEG standard.
2. What filter settings are recommended for electromyography (EMG) channels such
as the chin and limb leads?
A. LFF 0.3 Hz and HFF 70 Hz
B. LFF 1 Hz and HFF 15 Hz
C. LFF 10 Hz and HFF 100 Hz
D. LFF 0.3 Hz and HFF 35 Hz
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EMG channels use an LFF of 10 Hz and an HFF of 100 Hz. The 0.3/35 Hz
pair is for EEG and EOG, and 0.3/70 Hz is for ECG.
3. What is the minimum recommended sampling rate for EEG signals in digital
polysomnography?
A. 200 Hz
B. 500 Hz
C. 60 Hz
, D. 100 Hz
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The AASM recommends a minimum of 200 Hz for EEG, with 500 Hz as the
desirable rate. Lower rates risk aliasing and loss of waveform detail.
4. Before beginning a study, electrode impedances should be at or below:
A. 10 kilohms
B. 15 kilohms
C. 20 kilohms
D. 5 kilohms
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Electrode impedances should be 5 kilohms or less to ensure clean, low-
noise signals. Higher impedances degrade signal quality.
5. Which sensor is most appropriate for detecting apneas (reductions in airflow of
90% or greater)?
A. Pulse oximeter
B. Nasal pressure transducer
C. Oronasal thermal sensor
D. Respiratory inductance plethysmography belts
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The oronasal thermal sensor detects apnea through temperature changes in
expired air. The nasal pressure transducer identifies hypopneas, oximetry measures
saturation, and RIP belts record effort.
6. Which device best detects hypopneas and airflow limitation (inspiratory
flattening)?
A. Pulse oximeter
B. Esophageal balloon
C. Nasal pressure transducer
D. Oronasal thermistor
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nasal pressure transducer is sensitive to the subtle flow reductions and
flattening that define hypopneas. The thermistor is less sensitive, and the balloon and
oximeter measure effort and saturation.
7. Respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) belts are used to measure:
A. Oxygen saturation
B. Airflow at the nares
C. End-tidal carbon dioxide
D. Thoracoabdominal respiratory effort
Correct Answer: D
, Rationale: RIP belts sense changes in chest and abdominal cross-sectional area to
assess respiratory effort. Saturation, carbon dioxide, and nasal airflow are measured by
other sensors.
8. Which measure of respiratory effort is considered the most accurate (gold
standard)?
A. Thoracic RIP belt
B. Intercostal EMG
C. Esophageal manometry
D. Abdominal RIP belt
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Esophageal manometry directly records intrathoracic pressure swings and
is the gold standard for effort. RIP belts and intercostal EMG are indirect estimates.
9. Which channel is used to detect sleep-related hypoventilation by monitoring
carbon dioxide?
A. End-tidal CO2 (capnography)
B. Thermistor
C. Pulse oximetry
D. Nasal pressure
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: End-tidal or transcutaneous CO2 monitoring detects hypoventilation; a
level above 50 mmHg during sleep suggests hypoventilation. Oximetry alone may miss
early carbon dioxide retention.
10. In the United States, the notch filter is set to eliminate interference at what
frequency?
A. 120 Hz
B. 60 Hz
C. 35 Hz
D. 50 Hz
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: US line current operates at 60 Hz, so the notch filter targets 60 Hz. Fifty
hertz is the European standard, and 35 Hz is the EEG high-frequency filter.
11. The standard epoch length used to score sleep stages is:
A. 60 seconds
B. 30 seconds
C. 10 seconds
D. 20 seconds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AASM scoring uses 30-second epochs. The other durations do not reflect
the scoring standard.
