Fall Semester 2026–2027 Master of Public
Health (MPH) Exam Prep | 200+ Verified
Questions & Answers | Comprehensive
Study Guide, Practice Test Bank,
Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Health Policy
Review
Fall Semester 2026–2027 Master of Public Health (MPH) Exam Prep
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
• This comprehensive practice test bank contains 200+ verified multiple-choice
questions designed to reinforce core MPH competencies in epidemiology,
biostatistics, and health policy; study strategically by focusing on areas of weakness
and utilizing the detailed rationales to understand underlying concepts.
• Approach this material by working through questions systematically, reviewing
rationales for every answer regardless of performance, and using it as a diagnostic
tool to identify knowledge gaps before high-stakes exams.
EPIDEMIOLOGY SECTION
1. A cohort study following 10,000 individuals for 5 years found that those
who consumed more than 4 cups of coffee daily had a relative risk of 1.3 for
developing hypertension compared to non-coffee drinkers. What does this
relative risk of 1.3 mean?
A) Coffee drinkers are 30% more likely to develop hypertension
B) Coffee drinkers have a 13% absolute risk of hypertension
C) The risk difference between groups is 30%
D) Coffee consumption causes hypertension in 130 per 1,000 people
E) Non-coffee drinkers have a 30% protective effect
A) Coffee drinkers are 30% more likely to develop hypertension
,RATIONALE: A relative risk (RR) of 1.3 indicates that the exposed group (coffee
drinkers) has 1.3 times the risk of the unexposed group. This translates to 30%
increased likelihood (1.3 − 1.0 = 0.3 or 30%). Option B confuses RR with absolute
risk; option C misinterprets the percentage; option D incorrectly calculates absolute
numbers; option E reverses the direction of the association.
2. In a case-control study examining the association between oral
contraceptive use and venous thromboembolism, researchers calculated an
odds ratio of 2.8. What is the most accurate interpretation?
A) Women using oral contraceptives are 2.8 times more likely to develop VTE
B) The odds of VTE exposure among cases are 2.8 times higher than among
controls
C) Oral contraceptive use increases VTE risk by 280%
D) For every case with VTE, 2.8 controls use oral contraceptives
E) The probability of developing VTE is 2.8-fold higher in exposed women
B) The odds of VTE exposure among cases are 2.8 times higher than among
controls
RATIONALE: In a case-control study, the odds ratio represents the odds of exposure
among cases divided by the odds of exposure among controls. Option A conflates
OR with RR; option C incorrectly calculates percentage increase; option D
misinterprets the case-to-control ratio; option E uses inappropriate probability
language for a case-control design.
3. A disease outbreak occurs in a community. Epidemiologists identify 150
new cases within a 2-week period among a susceptible population of 5,000
people. What is the attack rate?
,A) 3%
B) 30%
C) 0.3%
D) 15%
E) 0.03%
A) 3%
RATIONALE: Attack rate = (number of new cases during outbreak / population at
risk) × 100 = (,000) × 100 = 3%. This metric is used specifically for acute
disease outbreaks and represents the proportion of the susceptible population that
becomes ill. Options B, C, D, and E result from incorrect decimal placement or
miscalculation.
4. Which of the following study designs is most appropriate for investigating a
rare disease?
A) Cross-sectional survey
B) Randomized controlled trial
C) Case-control study
D) Cohort study
E) Ecological study
C) Case-control study
RATIONALE: Case-control studies are ideal for rare diseases because they begin by
identifying cases and then looking backward for exposures, making them efficient
when disease prevalence is low. Cohort and cross-sectional studies would require
extremely large sample sizes; RCTs are inefficient; ecological studies provide only
population-level data and cannot establish individual-level causation.
, 5. A screening program for colorectal cancer has a sensitivity of 92% and a
specificity of 88%. What does 92% sensitivity mean?
A) 92% of people without disease will test negative
B) 92% of people with disease will test positive
C) 92% of positive tests indicate true disease
D) The test correctly identifies disease in 92% of the total population
E) 92% of the screening program participants are accurately classified
B) 92% of people with disease will test positive
RATIONALE: Sensitivity is defined as the proportion of individuals with the disease
who test positive (true positive rate). It answers the question: "If someone has the
disease, what is the probability the test will detect it?" Option A describes specificity;
option C describes positive predictive value; options D and E are too broad or
incorrect.
6. In surveillance for communicable disease, what is the primary purpose of
calculating incidence rates rather than prevalence rates?
A) Incidence rates are simpler to calculate
B) Incidence rates reflect the speed at which new disease is occurring in the
population
C) Prevalence rates cannot be used in epidemiology
D) Incidence rates eliminate the need for case definitions
E) Prevalence rates only measure chronic diseases
B) Incidence rates reflect the speed at which new disease is occurring in
the population
Health (MPH) Exam Prep | 200+ Verified
Questions & Answers | Comprehensive
Study Guide, Practice Test Bank,
Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Health Policy
Review
Fall Semester 2026–2027 Master of Public Health (MPH) Exam Prep
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
• This comprehensive practice test bank contains 200+ verified multiple-choice
questions designed to reinforce core MPH competencies in epidemiology,
biostatistics, and health policy; study strategically by focusing on areas of weakness
and utilizing the detailed rationales to understand underlying concepts.
• Approach this material by working through questions systematically, reviewing
rationales for every answer regardless of performance, and using it as a diagnostic
tool to identify knowledge gaps before high-stakes exams.
EPIDEMIOLOGY SECTION
1. A cohort study following 10,000 individuals for 5 years found that those
who consumed more than 4 cups of coffee daily had a relative risk of 1.3 for
developing hypertension compared to non-coffee drinkers. What does this
relative risk of 1.3 mean?
A) Coffee drinkers are 30% more likely to develop hypertension
B) Coffee drinkers have a 13% absolute risk of hypertension
C) The risk difference between groups is 30%
D) Coffee consumption causes hypertension in 130 per 1,000 people
E) Non-coffee drinkers have a 30% protective effect
A) Coffee drinkers are 30% more likely to develop hypertension
,RATIONALE: A relative risk (RR) of 1.3 indicates that the exposed group (coffee
drinkers) has 1.3 times the risk of the unexposed group. This translates to 30%
increased likelihood (1.3 − 1.0 = 0.3 or 30%). Option B confuses RR with absolute
risk; option C misinterprets the percentage; option D incorrectly calculates absolute
numbers; option E reverses the direction of the association.
2. In a case-control study examining the association between oral
contraceptive use and venous thromboembolism, researchers calculated an
odds ratio of 2.8. What is the most accurate interpretation?
A) Women using oral contraceptives are 2.8 times more likely to develop VTE
B) The odds of VTE exposure among cases are 2.8 times higher than among
controls
C) Oral contraceptive use increases VTE risk by 280%
D) For every case with VTE, 2.8 controls use oral contraceptives
E) The probability of developing VTE is 2.8-fold higher in exposed women
B) The odds of VTE exposure among cases are 2.8 times higher than among
controls
RATIONALE: In a case-control study, the odds ratio represents the odds of exposure
among cases divided by the odds of exposure among controls. Option A conflates
OR with RR; option C incorrectly calculates percentage increase; option D
misinterprets the case-to-control ratio; option E uses inappropriate probability
language for a case-control design.
3. A disease outbreak occurs in a community. Epidemiologists identify 150
new cases within a 2-week period among a susceptible population of 5,000
people. What is the attack rate?
,A) 3%
B) 30%
C) 0.3%
D) 15%
E) 0.03%
A) 3%
RATIONALE: Attack rate = (number of new cases during outbreak / population at
risk) × 100 = (,000) × 100 = 3%. This metric is used specifically for acute
disease outbreaks and represents the proportion of the susceptible population that
becomes ill. Options B, C, D, and E result from incorrect decimal placement or
miscalculation.
4. Which of the following study designs is most appropriate for investigating a
rare disease?
A) Cross-sectional survey
B) Randomized controlled trial
C) Case-control study
D) Cohort study
E) Ecological study
C) Case-control study
RATIONALE: Case-control studies are ideal for rare diseases because they begin by
identifying cases and then looking backward for exposures, making them efficient
when disease prevalence is low. Cohort and cross-sectional studies would require
extremely large sample sizes; RCTs are inefficient; ecological studies provide only
population-level data and cannot establish individual-level causation.
, 5. A screening program for colorectal cancer has a sensitivity of 92% and a
specificity of 88%. What does 92% sensitivity mean?
A) 92% of people without disease will test negative
B) 92% of people with disease will test positive
C) 92% of positive tests indicate true disease
D) The test correctly identifies disease in 92% of the total population
E) 92% of the screening program participants are accurately classified
B) 92% of people with disease will test positive
RATIONALE: Sensitivity is defined as the proportion of individuals with the disease
who test positive (true positive rate). It answers the question: "If someone has the
disease, what is the probability the test will detect it?" Option A describes specificity;
option C describes positive predictive value; options D and E are too broad or
incorrect.
6. In surveillance for communicable disease, what is the primary purpose of
calculating incidence rates rather than prevalence rates?
A) Incidence rates are simpler to calculate
B) Incidence rates reflect the speed at which new disease is occurring in the
population
C) Prevalence rates cannot be used in epidemiology
D) Incidence rates eliminate the need for case definitions
E) Prevalence rates only measure chronic diseases
B) Incidence rates reflect the speed at which new disease is occurring in
the population
