ACLS 2025 Practice Test – Verified Questions
with Correct Answers & AHA 2025
Guidelines | A+ Graded
Section 1: Basic Life Support (BLS) and Initial Assessment
(20 Questions)
1. You find an unresponsive patient who is not breathing. After activating the
emergency response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next
action?
A) Administer epinephrine 1 mg IV
B) Start chest compressions at 100–120 per minute
C) Deliver 2 rescue breaths
D) Apply an AED immediately
Answer: B. Start chest compressions at 100–120 per minute
Rationale: For an unresponsive patient with no pulse or breathing, the AHA Guidelines
prioritize starting high-quality chest compressions immediately after activating the
emergency response system to restore circulation. Epinephrine (A) is administered later
in ACLS, rescue breaths (C) follow compressions in BLS, and AED application (D)
requires rhythm analysis first.
2. What is the recommended compression rate for high-quality CPR in an adult?
A) 60–80 per minute
B) 80–100 per minute
C) 100–120 per minute
D) 120–140 per minute
Answer: C. 100–120 per minute
Rationale: The AHA Guidelines recommend a compression rate of 100–120 per minute
for adults to optimize blood flow during CPR. Slower (A, B) or faster (D) rates reduce
effectiveness.
3. (SATA) Which are components of high-quality chest compressions?
A) Depth of at least 2 inches
B) Allowing complete chest recoil
C) Compressing at 80 per minute
D) Minimizing interruptions
E) Using a 15:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio
Answers: A. Depth of at least 2 inches, B. Allowing complete chest recoil, D.
Minimizing interruptions
Rationale: High-quality CPR includes a depth of 2–2.4 inches (A), complete chest recoil
, (B), and minimizing interruptions (D). The compression rate should be 100–120 per
minute (C is incorrect), and the ratio for adults is 30:2 (E is incorrect).
4. How long should a pulse check take during the BLS survey?
A) 1–5 seconds
B) 5–10 seconds
C) 10–15 seconds
D) 15–20 seconds
Answer: B. 5–10 seconds
Rationale: A pulse check should take 5–10 seconds to avoid delaying CPR. Shorter (A)
or longer (C, D) checks may lead to inaccurate assessment or prolonged interruptions.
5. A patient is found unresponsive with agonal breaths. What is the next step after
confirming unresponsiveness?
A) Administer naloxone
B) Check for a pulse
C) Deliver rescue breaths
D) Apply an AED
Answer: B. Check for a pulse
Rationale: After confirming unresponsiveness and abnormal breathing (agonal breaths),
the next step is to check for a pulse to determine if CPR is needed. Naloxone (A) is for
opioid overdose, rescue breaths (C) follow pulse check, and AED (D) comes after
initiating CPR if pulseless.
6. What is the minimum depth of chest compressions for an adult in cardiac arrest?
A) 1 inch
B) 1.5 inches
C) 2 inches
D) 2.5 inches
Answer: C. 2 inches
Rationale: The AHA recommends a compression depth of at least 2 inches (5–6 cm) for
adults to ensure adequate cardiac output. Lesser depths (A, B) are ineffective, and deeper
(D) may cause injury.
7. (SATA) Which are signs of clinical deterioration prompting rapid response team
activation?
A) Symptomatic hypertension
B) Seizure
C) Unexplained agitation
D) Stable tachycardia
E) Normal respiratory rate
Answers: A. Symptomatic hypertension, B. Seizure, C. Unexplained agitation
Rationale: Signs of deterioration include symptomatic hypertension (A), seizures (B),
and unexplained agitation (C). Stable tachycardia (D) may not require immediate
activation, and normal respiratory rate (E) is not a concern.
8. What is the first link in the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) Chain of
Survival?
A) Early CPR
B) Early defibrillation
C) Activation of emergency response
, D) Advanced life support
Answer: C. Activation of emergency response
Rationale: The first link in the OHCA Chain of Survival is activating the emergency
response system to ensure timely intervention. CPR (A), defibrillation (B), and advanced
life support (D) follow.
9. A patient in cardiac arrest receives an AED shock. What is the next action?
A) Check for a pulse
B) Resume chest compressions
C) Administer epinephrine
D) Analyze the rhythm again
Answer: B. Resume chest compressions
Rationale: After an AED shock, immediately resume chest compressions to minimize
interruptions and restore circulation. Pulse checks (A) and rhythm analysis (D) occur
after 2 minutes of CPR, and epinephrine (C) is given per ACLS protocol.
10. What is the recommended ventilation rate for an adult with a pulse but inadequate
breathing?
A) 1 breath every 2–3 seconds
B) 1 breath every 5–6 seconds
C) 1 breath every 8–10 seconds
D) 1 breath every 12 seconds
Answer: B. 1 breath every 5–6 seconds
Rationale: For an adult with a pulse but inadequate breathing, provide 1 breath every 5–6
seconds (10–12 breaths per minute) to avoid over-ventilation. Other rates (A, C, D) may
cause hyperventilation or inadequate oxygenation.
11. (SATA) Which actions improve CPR quality during a resuscitation attempt?
A) Allow complete chest recoil
B) Compress at a depth of 1 inch
C) Continue CPR while the defibrillator charges
D) Perform pulse checks after every shock
E) Use a compression rate of 100–120 per minute
Answers: A. Allow complete chest recoil, C. Continue CPR while the defibrillator
charges, E. Use a compression rate of 100–120 per minute
Rationale: High-quality CPR includes complete chest recoil (A), continuing
compressions during charging (C), and a rate of 100–120 per minute (E). A depth of 2–
2.4 inches is required (B is incorrect), and pulse checks (D) occur every 2 minutes, not
after every shock.
12. What is a common mistake in cardiac arrest management?
A) Administering epinephrine too early
B) Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions
C) Using a compression rate of 100 per minute
D) Delivering ventilations every 6 seconds
Answer: B. Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions
Rationale: Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions reduce perfusion and survival
rates, a common error in CPR. Early epinephrine (A) follows protocol, 100 per minute
(C) is within guidelines, and ventilations every 6 seconds (D) are appropriate.
with Correct Answers & AHA 2025
Guidelines | A+ Graded
Section 1: Basic Life Support (BLS) and Initial Assessment
(20 Questions)
1. You find an unresponsive patient who is not breathing. After activating the
emergency response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next
action?
A) Administer epinephrine 1 mg IV
B) Start chest compressions at 100–120 per minute
C) Deliver 2 rescue breaths
D) Apply an AED immediately
Answer: B. Start chest compressions at 100–120 per minute
Rationale: For an unresponsive patient with no pulse or breathing, the AHA Guidelines
prioritize starting high-quality chest compressions immediately after activating the
emergency response system to restore circulation. Epinephrine (A) is administered later
in ACLS, rescue breaths (C) follow compressions in BLS, and AED application (D)
requires rhythm analysis first.
2. What is the recommended compression rate for high-quality CPR in an adult?
A) 60–80 per minute
B) 80–100 per minute
C) 100–120 per minute
D) 120–140 per minute
Answer: C. 100–120 per minute
Rationale: The AHA Guidelines recommend a compression rate of 100–120 per minute
for adults to optimize blood flow during CPR. Slower (A, B) or faster (D) rates reduce
effectiveness.
3. (SATA) Which are components of high-quality chest compressions?
A) Depth of at least 2 inches
B) Allowing complete chest recoil
C) Compressing at 80 per minute
D) Minimizing interruptions
E) Using a 15:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio
Answers: A. Depth of at least 2 inches, B. Allowing complete chest recoil, D.
Minimizing interruptions
Rationale: High-quality CPR includes a depth of 2–2.4 inches (A), complete chest recoil
, (B), and minimizing interruptions (D). The compression rate should be 100–120 per
minute (C is incorrect), and the ratio for adults is 30:2 (E is incorrect).
4. How long should a pulse check take during the BLS survey?
A) 1–5 seconds
B) 5–10 seconds
C) 10–15 seconds
D) 15–20 seconds
Answer: B. 5–10 seconds
Rationale: A pulse check should take 5–10 seconds to avoid delaying CPR. Shorter (A)
or longer (C, D) checks may lead to inaccurate assessment or prolonged interruptions.
5. A patient is found unresponsive with agonal breaths. What is the next step after
confirming unresponsiveness?
A) Administer naloxone
B) Check for a pulse
C) Deliver rescue breaths
D) Apply an AED
Answer: B. Check for a pulse
Rationale: After confirming unresponsiveness and abnormal breathing (agonal breaths),
the next step is to check for a pulse to determine if CPR is needed. Naloxone (A) is for
opioid overdose, rescue breaths (C) follow pulse check, and AED (D) comes after
initiating CPR if pulseless.
6. What is the minimum depth of chest compressions for an adult in cardiac arrest?
A) 1 inch
B) 1.5 inches
C) 2 inches
D) 2.5 inches
Answer: C. 2 inches
Rationale: The AHA recommends a compression depth of at least 2 inches (5–6 cm) for
adults to ensure adequate cardiac output. Lesser depths (A, B) are ineffective, and deeper
(D) may cause injury.
7. (SATA) Which are signs of clinical deterioration prompting rapid response team
activation?
A) Symptomatic hypertension
B) Seizure
C) Unexplained agitation
D) Stable tachycardia
E) Normal respiratory rate
Answers: A. Symptomatic hypertension, B. Seizure, C. Unexplained agitation
Rationale: Signs of deterioration include symptomatic hypertension (A), seizures (B),
and unexplained agitation (C). Stable tachycardia (D) may not require immediate
activation, and normal respiratory rate (E) is not a concern.
8. What is the first link in the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) Chain of
Survival?
A) Early CPR
B) Early defibrillation
C) Activation of emergency response
, D) Advanced life support
Answer: C. Activation of emergency response
Rationale: The first link in the OHCA Chain of Survival is activating the emergency
response system to ensure timely intervention. CPR (A), defibrillation (B), and advanced
life support (D) follow.
9. A patient in cardiac arrest receives an AED shock. What is the next action?
A) Check for a pulse
B) Resume chest compressions
C) Administer epinephrine
D) Analyze the rhythm again
Answer: B. Resume chest compressions
Rationale: After an AED shock, immediately resume chest compressions to minimize
interruptions and restore circulation. Pulse checks (A) and rhythm analysis (D) occur
after 2 minutes of CPR, and epinephrine (C) is given per ACLS protocol.
10. What is the recommended ventilation rate for an adult with a pulse but inadequate
breathing?
A) 1 breath every 2–3 seconds
B) 1 breath every 5–6 seconds
C) 1 breath every 8–10 seconds
D) 1 breath every 12 seconds
Answer: B. 1 breath every 5–6 seconds
Rationale: For an adult with a pulse but inadequate breathing, provide 1 breath every 5–6
seconds (10–12 breaths per minute) to avoid over-ventilation. Other rates (A, C, D) may
cause hyperventilation or inadequate oxygenation.
11. (SATA) Which actions improve CPR quality during a resuscitation attempt?
A) Allow complete chest recoil
B) Compress at a depth of 1 inch
C) Continue CPR while the defibrillator charges
D) Perform pulse checks after every shock
E) Use a compression rate of 100–120 per minute
Answers: A. Allow complete chest recoil, C. Continue CPR while the defibrillator
charges, E. Use a compression rate of 100–120 per minute
Rationale: High-quality CPR includes complete chest recoil (A), continuing
compressions during charging (C), and a rate of 100–120 per minute (E). A depth of 2–
2.4 inches is required (B is incorrect), and pulse checks (D) occur every 2 minutes, not
after every shock.
12. What is a common mistake in cardiac arrest management?
A) Administering epinephrine too early
B) Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions
C) Using a compression rate of 100 per minute
D) Delivering ventilations every 6 seconds
Answer: B. Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions
Rationale: Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions reduce perfusion and survival
rates, a common error in CPR. Early epinephrine (A) follows protocol, 100 per minute
(C) is within guidelines, and ventilations every 6 seconds (D) are appropriate.
