Free ARRT Radiography examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the ARRT Radiography examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1An outpatient radiography patient has no known infection. Which infection-control approach applies during routine care?

   1. A.Standard PrecautionsCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Contact Precautions alone
   3. C.Droplet Precautions alone
   4. D.Airborne Precautions alone

   Explanation: CDC states, "Use Standard Precautions to care for all patients in all settings." A is correct regardless of known infection. B, C and D are additional transmission-based approaches selected for particular risks, not replacements for universal baseline care.

   Reference: CDC Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices — 5. Standard Precautions

2. 2In a photoelectric interaction, what happens to the incident photon?

   1. A.It changes direction without losing energy.
   2. B.It transfers only part of its energy and continues.
   3. C.It disappears after transferring all its energy to a bound electron.Correct answer: C
   4. D.It converts into an electron–positron pair.

   Explanation: DOE states: “The entire energy of the gamma is transferred to the electron, and the electron is ejected from its orbit.” This complete absorption identifies the photoelectric interaction of an ionizing photon. A describes coherent scattering; B describes Compton scattering; D describes pair production, a different interaction requiring much higher energy.

   Reference: DOE Fundamentals Handbook: Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory, Volume 1 — Module NP-01, p. 67, Interaction of Radiation with Matter Summary

3. 3A manual radiographic exposure uses 200 mA for 0.05 s. Which setting produces the same mAs?

   1. A.100 mA for 0.025 s
   2. B.400 mA for 0.025 sCorrect answer: B
   3. C.400 mA for 0.05 s
   4. D.100 mA for 0.20 s

   Explanation: FDA refers to the “milliampere-seconds product”. The original exposure is 200 × 0.05 = 10 mAs. B gives 400 × 0.025 = 10 mAs. A gives 2.5 mAs; C and D each give 20 mAs. With other factors unchanged and linear equipment operation, equal mAs provides the same nominal photon quantity.

   Reference: FDA Resource Manual for Compliance Test Parameters of Diagnostic X-ray Systems — p. 22, Linearity, Performance Standard

4. 4The odontoid process (dens) is a projection of which vertebra?

   1. A.Atlas (C1)
   2. B.Axis (C2)Correct answer: B
   3. C.C7
   4. D.T1

   Explanation: Air University states that the second cervical vertebra has the odontoid process arising from its body and is named the “axis”. B is correct. C1 articulates with the dens but does not supply it; C7 and T1 are lower vertebrae without this specialized upper-cervical projection.

   Reference: U.S. Air University: Radiology Technician (AFSC 90370) — Volume 2, section 216, Second cervical vertebra

5. 5After assisting a patient, a technologist notices visible soil on both hands. Which hand-cleaning method is indicated?

   1. A.A dry disposable towel
   2. B.Soap and waterCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Alcohol hand rub alone
   4. D.A fresh pair of gloves

   Explanation: CDC requires "hand hygiene with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled." B removes visible contamination. C is preferred in many other situations but not this one; D covers rather than cleans hands; A alone does not provide the required washing.

   Reference: CDC Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices — 5a. Hand Hygiene

6. 6An incident x-ray photon ejects an electron and continues in a new direction with less energy. Which interaction occurred?

   1. A.Compton scatteringCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Photoelectric absorption
   3. C.Coherent scattering
   4. D.Characteristic emission

   Explanation: DOE describes Compton scattering: “The electron is ejected from its orbit, and the gamma is scattered off at a lower energy.” Thus the surviving, lower-energy scattered photon identifies A. Photoelectric absorption eliminates the incident photon; coherent scattering does not eject an electron or change photon energy; characteristic emission produces a new photon when an atomic vacancy is filled.

   Reference: DOE Fundamentals Handbook: Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory, Volume 1 — Module NP-01, p. 67, Interaction of Radiation with Matter Summary

7. 7With kVp, exposure time, filtration, and geometry unchanged, tube current rises from 150 mA to 300 mA. For an ideally linear system, how does receptor exposure change?

   1. A.It falls to one-half.
   2. B.It remains unchanged.
   3. C.It doubles.Correct answer: C
   4. D.It increases fourfold.

   Explanation: FDA states: “if the tube current is doubled, the number of x-rays will double”. The current ratio is 300/150 = 2, so C is correct. A reverses the relationship; B ignores the increased electron flow; D incorrectly applies a squared relationship to mA. The premise holds kVp and geometry fixed, so neither photon energy nor distance compensation explains the change.

   Reference: FDA Resource Manual for Compliance Test Parameters of Diagnostic X-ray Systems — p. 23, Linearity, IV.A

8. 8The sella turcica is a depression in which bone, associated with the pituitary gland?

   1. A.Ethmoid
   2. B.Occipital
   3. C.SphenoidCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Temporal

   Explanation: Air University locates the sella on the “superior surface of the body of the sphenoid bone” and identifies it as the pituitary’s seat. C is correct. Ethmoid, occipital, and temporal bones are other real cranial bones, but none forms the sella turcica.

   Reference: U.S. Air University: Radiology Technician (AFSC 90370) — Volume 2, Sphenoid bone, Sella turcica

9. 9A technologist removes gloves after positioning a patient. When should hand hygiene occur?

   1. A.Only if a tear is found in the gloves
   2. B.After putting on the next pair of gloves
   3. C.Immediately after removing the glovesCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Only after finishing the entire work shift

   Explanation: CDC lists "Immediately after glove removal" as a hand-hygiene indication. C is correct. D delays required cleaning; A incorrectly makes cleaning depend on visible glove failure; B puts clean gloves on potentially contaminated hands.

   Reference: CDC Core Infection Prevention and Control Practices — 5a. Hand Hygiene

10. 10Which description correctly distinguishes ionization by diagnostic x-ray photons from ionization by the electrons they release?

    1. A.Both primarily ionize by their own electrical fields.
    2. B.Photons ionize directly; electrons ionize only indirectly.
    3. C.Both require radioactive decay before they can ionize.
    4. D.Photons ionize indirectly; the released electrons ionize directly.Correct answer: D

    Explanation: DOE states: “Charged particles directly ionize the media through which they pass, while uncharged particles and photons can cause ionization only indirectly or by secondary radiation.” Electrons are charged secondary particles, so D correctly distinguishes the mechanisms. A incorrectly gives photons an electrical charge; B reverses the mechanisms; C incorrectly requires radioactive decay for electrically generated x-rays.

    Reference: DOE Fundamentals Handbook: Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory, Volume 1 — Module NP-01, p. 63, Interaction of Radiation With Matter