ARRT REGISTRY EXAM / AMERICAN REGISTRY OF
RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS (ARRT) ACTUAL
EXAM 2026/2027 TEST BANK PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
Question 1: A patient arrives for a radiographic exam and states, "I think I might be pregnant." Which of
the following is the correct initial response?
A. Proceed with the exam as ordered
B. Ask the patient to sign a release form
C. Stop the exam and follow facility protocol for pregnancy verification
D. Use additional shielding and proceed
CORRECT ANSWER✔: C
Rationale: When pregnancy is suspected, the exam should be stopped, and facility protocol for
pregnancy verification should be followed. The ALARA principle requires that non-urgent exams should
not be performed on pregnant patients without proper documentation. Option A is incorrect because
proceeding without verification violates radiation safety protocols. Option B is incorrect because a
release form does not replace the need for proper pregnancy verification. Option D is incorrect because
shielding alone does not address the fundamental concern of fetal radiation exposure.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of using a grid in radiography?
A. To increase patient dose
,B. To reduce scattered radiation reaching the image receptor
C. To magnify the image
D. To decrease exposure time
CORRECT ANSWER✔: B
Rationale: Grids are designed to absorb scatter radiation before it reaches the image receptor, thereby
improving image contrast. Option A is incorrect because grids actually increase patient dose due to the
need for higher technical factors. Option C is incorrect because magnification is achieved through
geometric factors, not grids. Option D is incorrect because grids typically require increased exposure
time to compensate for grid absorption.
Question 3: Which of the following imaging modalities uses ionizing radiation?
A. Ultrasound
B. MRI
C. CT
D. PET
CORRECT ANSWER✔: C
Rationale: Computed Tomography (CT) uses ionizing radiation (x-rays) to create cross-sectional images.
Option A is incorrect because ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves. Option B is incorrect
because MRI uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses. Option D is incorrect because PET uses
positron-emitting radionuclides, which are ionizing but the question asks specifically about imaging
modalities that use ionizing radiation.
Question 4: The ALARA principle stands for:
A. As Low As Reasonably Achievable
B. Always Limit Absolute Radiation Amounts
,C. Allow Low Absolute Radiation Areas
D. As Long As Radiation Avoided
CORRECT ANSWER✔: A
Rationale: ALARA stands for "As Low As Reasonably Achievable" and is a fundamental principle in
radiation protection. Option B is incorrect because it misrepresents the acronym. Option C is incorrect
because it does not reflect the actual meaning. Option D is incorrect because it suggests avoiding
radiation entirely, which is not always possible in medical imaging.
Question 5: What is the recommended source-to-image distance (SID) for a standard chest radiograph?
A. 40 inches
B. 72 inches
C. 48 inches
D. 36 inches
CORRECT ANSWER✔: B
Rationale: The standard SID for chest radiography is 72 inches (180 cm) to minimize magnification of the
heart and improve image quality. Option A (40 inches) is commonly used for extremity radiography.
Option C (48 inches) is not a standard SID for chest imaging. Option D (36 inches) would result in
excessive magnification and is not recommended for chest exams.
Question 6: Which of the following is a characteristic of digital radiography compared to film-screen
radiography?
A. Lower contrast resolution
B. Higher patient dose
C. Wider dynamic range
D. Inability to perform post-processing
, CORRECT ANSWER✔: C
Rationale: Digital radiography has a wider dynamic range, allowing for better visualization of both bone
and soft tissue. Option A is incorrect because digital radiography offers equal or better contrast
resolution. Option B is incorrect because digital radiography often results in lower or comparable
patient doses. Option D is incorrect because digital radiography allows extensive post-processing
capabilities.
Question 7: What is the purpose of the collimator in an x-ray tube?
A. To increase the x-ray beam intensity
B. To restrict the size and shape of the x-ray beam
C. To filter out low-energy x-rays
D. To cool the x-ray tube
CORRECT ANSWER✔: B
Rationale: The collimator restricts the x-ray beam to the area of interest, reducing patient dose and
scatter radiation. Option A is incorrect because collimators do not increase beam intensity; they reduce
field size. Option C is incorrect because filtration, not collimation, removes low-energy x-rays. Option D
is incorrect because the collimator does not serve a cooling function.
Question 8: Which of the following contrast agents is used for gastrointestinal imaging?
A. Iodinated contrast
B. Barium sulfate
C. Gadolinium
D. Microbubbles
CORRECT ANSWER✔: B
RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGISTS (ARRT) ACTUAL
EXAM 2026/2027 TEST BANK PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
Question 1: A patient arrives for a radiographic exam and states, "I think I might be pregnant." Which of
the following is the correct initial response?
A. Proceed with the exam as ordered
B. Ask the patient to sign a release form
C. Stop the exam and follow facility protocol for pregnancy verification
D. Use additional shielding and proceed
CORRECT ANSWER✔: C
Rationale: When pregnancy is suspected, the exam should be stopped, and facility protocol for
pregnancy verification should be followed. The ALARA principle requires that non-urgent exams should
not be performed on pregnant patients without proper documentation. Option A is incorrect because
proceeding without verification violates radiation safety protocols. Option B is incorrect because a
release form does not replace the need for proper pregnancy verification. Option D is incorrect because
shielding alone does not address the fundamental concern of fetal radiation exposure.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of using a grid in radiography?
A. To increase patient dose
,B. To reduce scattered radiation reaching the image receptor
C. To magnify the image
D. To decrease exposure time
CORRECT ANSWER✔: B
Rationale: Grids are designed to absorb scatter radiation before it reaches the image receptor, thereby
improving image contrast. Option A is incorrect because grids actually increase patient dose due to the
need for higher technical factors. Option C is incorrect because magnification is achieved through
geometric factors, not grids. Option D is incorrect because grids typically require increased exposure
time to compensate for grid absorption.
Question 3: Which of the following imaging modalities uses ionizing radiation?
A. Ultrasound
B. MRI
C. CT
D. PET
CORRECT ANSWER✔: C
Rationale: Computed Tomography (CT) uses ionizing radiation (x-rays) to create cross-sectional images.
Option A is incorrect because ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves. Option B is incorrect
because MRI uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses. Option D is incorrect because PET uses
positron-emitting radionuclides, which are ionizing but the question asks specifically about imaging
modalities that use ionizing radiation.
Question 4: The ALARA principle stands for:
A. As Low As Reasonably Achievable
B. Always Limit Absolute Radiation Amounts
,C. Allow Low Absolute Radiation Areas
D. As Long As Radiation Avoided
CORRECT ANSWER✔: A
Rationale: ALARA stands for "As Low As Reasonably Achievable" and is a fundamental principle in
radiation protection. Option B is incorrect because it misrepresents the acronym. Option C is incorrect
because it does not reflect the actual meaning. Option D is incorrect because it suggests avoiding
radiation entirely, which is not always possible in medical imaging.
Question 5: What is the recommended source-to-image distance (SID) for a standard chest radiograph?
A. 40 inches
B. 72 inches
C. 48 inches
D. 36 inches
CORRECT ANSWER✔: B
Rationale: The standard SID for chest radiography is 72 inches (180 cm) to minimize magnification of the
heart and improve image quality. Option A (40 inches) is commonly used for extremity radiography.
Option C (48 inches) is not a standard SID for chest imaging. Option D (36 inches) would result in
excessive magnification and is not recommended for chest exams.
Question 6: Which of the following is a characteristic of digital radiography compared to film-screen
radiography?
A. Lower contrast resolution
B. Higher patient dose
C. Wider dynamic range
D. Inability to perform post-processing
, CORRECT ANSWER✔: C
Rationale: Digital radiography has a wider dynamic range, allowing for better visualization of both bone
and soft tissue. Option A is incorrect because digital radiography offers equal or better contrast
resolution. Option B is incorrect because digital radiography often results in lower or comparable
patient doses. Option D is incorrect because digital radiography allows extensive post-processing
capabilities.
Question 7: What is the purpose of the collimator in an x-ray tube?
A. To increase the x-ray beam intensity
B. To restrict the size and shape of the x-ray beam
C. To filter out low-energy x-rays
D. To cool the x-ray tube
CORRECT ANSWER✔: B
Rationale: The collimator restricts the x-ray beam to the area of interest, reducing patient dose and
scatter radiation. Option A is incorrect because collimators do not increase beam intensity; they reduce
field size. Option C is incorrect because filtration, not collimation, removes low-energy x-rays. Option D
is incorrect because the collimator does not serve a cooling function.
Question 8: Which of the following contrast agents is used for gastrointestinal imaging?
A. Iodinated contrast
B. Barium sulfate
C. Gadolinium
D. Microbubbles
CORRECT ANSWER✔: B
