BayCare EKG Test 2026: 100 MCQ Practice Exam with Answers and Explanations – Pass the BayCare Cardiac Monitor Technician Rhythm Interpretation Competency Test on Your First Attempt

BayCare EKG Test 2026: 100 MCQ Practice Exam with
Answers and Explanations – Pass the BayCare Cardiac
Monitor Technician Rhythm Interpretation Competency Test
on Your First Attempt

SECTION 1: NORMAL SINUS RHYTHM & BASIC CONCEPTS (Questions 1–15)

1. What is the normal heart rate range for a healthy adult in normal sinus rhythm?

 A) 40–60 bpm
 B) 60–100 bpm
 C) 100–150 bpm
 D) 20–40 bpm

**Explanation: Normal sinus rhythm (NSR) originates from the SA node and has a rate
of 60–100 beats per minute. Rates below 60 are bradycardic; above 100 are tachycardic.

2. What is the normal duration of a PR interval?

 A) 0.04–0.10 seconds
 B) 0.12–0.20 seconds
 C) 0.20–0.30 seconds
 D) 0.30–0.40 seconds

**Explanation: The PR interval represents the time from atrial depolarization (P wave) to
ventricular depolarization (QRS). Normal range is 0.12–0.20 seconds.

3. What is the normal duration of a QRS complex?

 A) Less than 0.12 seconds
 B) 0.12–0.20 seconds

, C) 0.20–0.30 seconds
 D) Greater than 0.30 seconds

**Explanation: The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization. Normal QRS
duration is less than 0.12 seconds (3 small boxes on EKG paper).

4. What does the P wave represent on an EKG?

 A) Ventricular depolarization
 B) Atrial depolarization
 C) Ventricular repolarization
 D) AV node conduction

**Explanation: The P wave represents atrial depolarization (contraction of the atria). It
should be present and uniform in normal sinus rhythm.

5. What does the QRS complex represent?

 A) Atrial depolarization
 B) Ventricular depolarization
 C) Ventricular repolarization
 D) SA node firing

**Explanation: The QRS complex represents ventricular depolarization, the electrical
activation that leads to ventricular contraction.

6. What does the T wave represent?

 A) Atrial depolarization
 B) Ventricular depolarization
 C) Ventricular repolarization
 D) AV node delay

, **Explanation: The T wave represents ventricular repolarization, the recovery phase of
the ventricles after contraction.

7. On EKG graph paper, one small box (1 mm) represents how many seconds?

 A) 0.01 seconds
 B) 0.04 seconds
 C) 0.10 seconds
 D) 0.20 seconds

**Explanation: EKG paper runs at 25 mm/sec. One small box (1 mm) equals 0.04
seconds. One large box (5 mm) equals 0.20 seconds.

8. On EKG graph paper, one large box (5 mm) represents how many seconds?

 A) 0.04 seconds
 B) 0.10 seconds
 C) 0.20 seconds
 D) 0.40 seconds

**Explanation: One large box (5 small boxes) equals 0.20 seconds. Five large boxes
equal 1 second.

9. What is the inherent firing rate of the sinoatrial (SA) node?

 A) 20–40 bpm
 B) 40–60 bpm
 C) 60–100 bpm
 D) 100–150 bpm

**Explanation: The SA node is the primary pacemaker with an inherent rate of 60–100
bpm. It normally sets the heart rate.

10. What is the inherent firing rate of the atrioventricular (AV) junction?

,  A) 20–40 bpm
 B) 40–60 bpm
 C) 60–100 bpm
 D) 100–150 bpm

**Explanation: The AV junction has a backup pacemaker rate of 40–60 bpm. It
becomes active if the SA node fails.

11. What is the inherent firing rate of the Purkinje fibers (ventricular pacemaker)?

 A) 20–40 bpm
 B) 40–60 bpm
 C) 60–100 bpm
 D) 100–150 bpm

**Explanation: The Purkinje fibers and ventricular myocardium have an inherent rate
of 20–40 bpm, acting as a last-resort pacemaker.

12. What is the first step in analyzing an EKG rhythm strip?

 A) Measure the PR interval
 B) Determine the heart rate
 C) Examine the T waves
 D) Measure the QRS duration

**Explanation: The systematic approach begins with determining the heart rate, then
assessing rhythm regularity, P waves, PR interval, and QRS duration.

13. Which lead is most commonly used for continuous cardiac monitoring?

 A) Lead I
 B) Lead II
 C) Lead II