EKG Technician Certification Exam 2025–2026 | 210 Real Exam-
Style Questions with Verified Answers & Explanations |
Comprehensive Practice Test Covering Cardiac Anatomy, ECG
Lead Placement, Rhythm Interpretation, Arrhythmias, Patient
Safety & Monitoring Procedures
Question 1:
What does an EKG measure?
• A) Blood pressure
• B) Heart electrical activity (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) Respiratory rate
• D) Blood oxygen levels
Rationale:
An EKG (electrocardiogram) measures the electrical activity of the heart, helping in
diagnosing various heart conditions.
Question 2:
What is the normal heart rate range for adults?
• A) 40-60 bpm
• B) 60-100 bpm (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) 100-120 bpm
• D) 120-150 bpm
Rationale:
The normal resting heart rate for adults typically ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Question 3:
What does the “P wave” represent in an EKG?
• A) Atrial depolarization (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• B) Ventricular depolarization
• C) Ventricular repolarization
• D) Atrial repolarization
,Rationale:
The P wave corresponds to the depolarization of the atria, which precedes atrial
contraction.
Question 4:
Which lead configuration is most commonly used in a standard EKG?
• A) 2-lead
• B) 3-lead
• C) 5-lead (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• D) 12-lead
Rationale:
A 12-lead EKG provides a comprehensive view of the heart's electrical activity, but the 5-
lead configuration is often used in continuous monitoring.
Question 5:
What does an inverted T wave indicate?
• A) Normal condition
• B) Myocardial ischemia (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) Hyperkalemia
• D) Hypokalemia
Rationale:
An inverted T wave can indicate myocardial ischemia, among other cardiac conditions.
Question 6:
Which interval represents the time it takes for the electrical impulse to travel from the
atria to the ventricles?
• A) P-R interval (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• B) Q-T interval
• C) S-T segment
• D) R-R interval
Rationale:
The P-R interval indicates the time between atrial depolarization and the beginning of
ventricular depolarization.
,Question 7:
What does the QRS complex represent?
• A) Atrial depolarization
• B) Ventricular depolarization (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) Atrial repolarization
• D) Ventricular repolarization
Rationale:
The QRS complex represents the electrical depolarization of the ventricles, leading to
ventricular contraction.
Question 8:
What is the standard speed of an EKG machine?
• A) 10 mm/sec
• B) 25 mm/sec (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) 50 mm/sec
• D) 12 mm/sec
Rationale:
The standard speed for an EKG is 25 millimeters per second, which is used to ensure
accurate representation of the heart’s electrical activity.
Question 9:
Which of the following is NOT a type of atrial arrhythmia?
• A) Atrial fibrillation
• B) Atrial flutter
• C) Supraventricular tachycardia
• D) Ventricular tachycardia (CORRECT ANSWER: )
Rationale:
Ventricular tachycardia originates from the ventricles, not the atria.
Question 10:
, Which lead is placed on the right arm in a standard 12-lead EKG?
• A) Lead I
• B) Lead II
• C) Lead III
• D) Lead aVR (CORRECT ANSWER: )
Rationale:
Lead aVR is specifically assigned to the right arm in a 12-lead EKG setup.
Question 11:
What potential effect does hyperkalemia have on an EKG?
• A) Peaked T waves (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• B) Prolonged QRS duration
• C) Tall P waves
• D) Shortened PR interval
Rationale:
Hyperkalemia often results in peaked T waves on an EKG, indicating increased
potassium levels in the blood.
Question 12:
What is the primary purpose of using electrodes in an EKG?
• A) To measure blood pressure
• B) To detect heart rate
• C) To transmit electrical signals from the heart (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• D) To identify respiratory patterns
Rationale:
Electrodes are used to detect and transmit the heart's electrical signals to the EKG
machine for analysis.
Question 13:
What is an EKG artifact?
• A) A normal finding
Style Questions with Verified Answers & Explanations |
Comprehensive Practice Test Covering Cardiac Anatomy, ECG
Lead Placement, Rhythm Interpretation, Arrhythmias, Patient
Safety & Monitoring Procedures
Question 1:
What does an EKG measure?
• A) Blood pressure
• B) Heart electrical activity (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) Respiratory rate
• D) Blood oxygen levels
Rationale:
An EKG (electrocardiogram) measures the electrical activity of the heart, helping in
diagnosing various heart conditions.
Question 2:
What is the normal heart rate range for adults?
• A) 40-60 bpm
• B) 60-100 bpm (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) 100-120 bpm
• D) 120-150 bpm
Rationale:
The normal resting heart rate for adults typically ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Question 3:
What does the “P wave” represent in an EKG?
• A) Atrial depolarization (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• B) Ventricular depolarization
• C) Ventricular repolarization
• D) Atrial repolarization
,Rationale:
The P wave corresponds to the depolarization of the atria, which precedes atrial
contraction.
Question 4:
Which lead configuration is most commonly used in a standard EKG?
• A) 2-lead
• B) 3-lead
• C) 5-lead (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• D) 12-lead
Rationale:
A 12-lead EKG provides a comprehensive view of the heart's electrical activity, but the 5-
lead configuration is often used in continuous monitoring.
Question 5:
What does an inverted T wave indicate?
• A) Normal condition
• B) Myocardial ischemia (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) Hyperkalemia
• D) Hypokalemia
Rationale:
An inverted T wave can indicate myocardial ischemia, among other cardiac conditions.
Question 6:
Which interval represents the time it takes for the electrical impulse to travel from the
atria to the ventricles?
• A) P-R interval (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• B) Q-T interval
• C) S-T segment
• D) R-R interval
Rationale:
The P-R interval indicates the time between atrial depolarization and the beginning of
ventricular depolarization.
,Question 7:
What does the QRS complex represent?
• A) Atrial depolarization
• B) Ventricular depolarization (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) Atrial repolarization
• D) Ventricular repolarization
Rationale:
The QRS complex represents the electrical depolarization of the ventricles, leading to
ventricular contraction.
Question 8:
What is the standard speed of an EKG machine?
• A) 10 mm/sec
• B) 25 mm/sec (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• C) 50 mm/sec
• D) 12 mm/sec
Rationale:
The standard speed for an EKG is 25 millimeters per second, which is used to ensure
accurate representation of the heart’s electrical activity.
Question 9:
Which of the following is NOT a type of atrial arrhythmia?
• A) Atrial fibrillation
• B) Atrial flutter
• C) Supraventricular tachycardia
• D) Ventricular tachycardia (CORRECT ANSWER: )
Rationale:
Ventricular tachycardia originates from the ventricles, not the atria.
Question 10:
, Which lead is placed on the right arm in a standard 12-lead EKG?
• A) Lead I
• B) Lead II
• C) Lead III
• D) Lead aVR (CORRECT ANSWER: )
Rationale:
Lead aVR is specifically assigned to the right arm in a 12-lead EKG setup.
Question 11:
What potential effect does hyperkalemia have on an EKG?
• A) Peaked T waves (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• B) Prolonged QRS duration
• C) Tall P waves
• D) Shortened PR interval
Rationale:
Hyperkalemia often results in peaked T waves on an EKG, indicating increased
potassium levels in the blood.
Question 12:
What is the primary purpose of using electrodes in an EKG?
• A) To measure blood pressure
• B) To detect heart rate
• C) To transmit electrical signals from the heart (CORRECT ANSWER: )
• D) To identify respiratory patterns
Rationale:
Electrodes are used to detect and transmit the heart's electrical signals to the EKG
machine for analysis.
Question 13:
What is an EKG artifact?
• A) A normal finding
