How Many Questions Are on the RBT Exam? (Complete 2025 Breakdown)

The RBT exam has 85 total questions, including 75 scored items and 10 unscored pretest questions, delivered through a computer-based Pearson VUE exam. You get 90 minutes to complete the test, and the passing mark is a scaled score of 200/250.

Why the RBT Exam Has 85 Questions (Explained Simply)

Many candidates wonder why the RBT exam includes exactly 85 questions and what the difference is between scored and unscored items. Here’s the simplest, most human-friendly explanation based on real testing standards.

1️⃣ Scored vs. Unscored: What’s the Point?

The 75 scored questions measure your competency in the RBT Task List:

• Measurement
• Assessment
• Skill Acquisition
• Behavior Reduction
• Documentation & Reporting
• Professional Conduct

The 10 unscored questions—often called pretest items—do not impact your score. Their only purpose is exam development.

2️⃣ Why BACB Includes Pretest Questions

The BACB uses the unscored questions to research:

• question difficulty levels
• clarity and fairness
• performance across different candidates
• whether each question should be used on future exams

This helps BACB keep the exam valid, ethical, and up-to-date, especially as ABA practices evolve.

3️⃣ Why Some Questions Feel “Unexpected”

If you’ve taken mock exams before, you’ll notice that a few questions feel slightly unfamiliar or “experimental.”
That’s because many of these are pretest items being evaluated. They are not designed to trick you—they help ensure future RBT exams stay fair and standardized.

4️⃣ How Pearson VUE Ensures Exam Fairness

Pearson VUE uses:

• strict testing rules
• standardized CBT delivery
• controlled test environments
• data-driven review of each exam form

This prevents any candidate from receiving an unfair advantage, regardless of location.

Breakdown of RBT Exam Sections
(By Content Area & Weight)

When people ask, “Where do the 75 scored questions actually come from?”—this is it.
The RBT exam isn’t random; it follows the RBT Task List (2nd Edition) exactly, and each domain contributes a specific percentage to your final score. Knowing these sections not only helps you study smarter, it also makes the exam feel much more predictable.

In my experience helping new RBTs prepare, most candidates only start feeling confident once they understand how each domain contributes to the exam. Here’s the full breakdown:

Measurement — 12%

Measurement questions test how accurately you can collect and interpret data, because data drives everything in ABA. These questions often feel straightforward, but they’re easy to overthink if you’re new.

What you can expect:

• How to use continuous measurement (duration, frequency, latency)
• When to use discontinuous measurement (momentary time sampling, partial/whole interval)
• Reading, interpreting, or selecting the correct graph
• Identifying reliable vs. unreliable data

From real testing experience: candidates who practice with actual data sheets do much better in this section.

Assessment — 20%

This is one of the larger sections, and it checks how well you understand what happens before teaching begins.

What’s usually tested:

• How to run or assist with preference assessments
• Identifying ABC data: Antecedent → Behavior → Consequence
• Basics of conducting or supporting a functional behavior assessment (FBA)
• Identifying patterns in data that help a BCBA make decisions

Because I’ve worked with many new RBTs, I can say this clearly: learning to see behavior in patterns—not in isolation—is what helps most people pass this section with ease.

Skill Acquisition — 28% (Largest Section)

This is where the majority of the exam questions come from. Skill acquisition is the heart of ABA, and the exam wants to see that you know how to teach skills consistently and ethically.

Topics you’ll see:

• Understanding teaching procedures like discrete trial training (DTT) and natural environment teaching (NET)
• Correct use of prompting types and proper prompt fading
• Reinforcement: choosing, delivering, and scheduling it appropriately
• Implementing skill acquisition plans written by a BCBA

Most real exam questions in this domain are scenario-based using imaginary client names. They want to see whether you’d respond correctly in context—not just repeat definitions.

Behavior Reduction — 20%

This domain checks whether you can safely and ethically respond to challenging behaviors. It’s not about stopping behavior—it’s about replacing it and keeping clients safe.

What’s tested:

• Identifying appropriate consequence strategies
• Using preventive strategies (antecedent manipulations)
• Teaching replacement behaviors
• Very basic components of crisis management (from an RBT’s perspective, not a BCBA’s)

In practice, new RBTs are often nervous about this section, but if you understand the purpose—reducing harm and teaching new behaviors—the questions become clearer.

LSI keywords: behavior intervention, consequence strategies, antecedent strategies, behavior reduction plans.

Documentation & Reporting — 10%

Documentation is where many RBT candidates lose easy points because they underestimate its importance. But in ABA, if it isn’t written, it didn’t happen.

Typical question areas:

• Writing clear, objective session notes
• Knowing when and how to complete incident reports
• Understanding confidentiality rules (HIPAA-type scenarios)
• Distinguishing between objective observation and personal opinion

In the field, accurate documentation protects both the client and the RBT. The exam reflects that.

Professional Conduct & Scope of Practice — 10%

This final domain evaluates whether you can behave professionally, ethically, and within your RBT responsibilities.

Topics commonly tested include:

• Following the BACB Ethics Code
• Respecting professional boundaries
• Knowing when to seek supervision from a BCBA
• Avoiding dual relationships
• Maintaining client dignity

Many scenario questions in this section involve subtle ethical issues—things that may seem harmless but are actually violations. This is where your judgment matters.

How Many Questions You Must Get Right to Pass the RBT Exam

One thing I learned while helping new RBT candidates is that most people don’t struggle with the content—
they struggle with not knowing how the scoring works. The RBT exam uses a scaled score system, which confuses many first-time test takers.

Here’s the simplest explanation:

• Passing score: 200 out of 250 (scaled)
• Approx correct answers needed: around 80%
• That means roughly 60 out of the 75 scored questions
• Unscored questions (10 items) do not affect your score

The BACB doesn’t publish the exact cutoff, because exam difficulty can shift slightly from one version to another. The scaled score helps keep everything fair, no matter which form you receive at Pearson VUE.

How Hard Are the 85 RBT Exam Questions? (Difficulty Explained)

The RBT exam isn’t “hard” in a traditional academic sense, but it does require you to apply concepts rather than just memorize definitions.

Here’s what candidates usually report:

• Some questions feel straightforward
• Many are scenario-based, requiring you to think like an RBT in a real therapy session
• A few questions feel “unexpected,” especially unscored pretest items
• The 90-minute timer creates pressure—finishing early is rare for first-timers

What often surprises people is the real-life feel of the questions. Many scenarios describe behavior challenges or teaching moments that look exactly like what happens in an ABA session under BCBA supervision.

If you understand ABA principles, you’ll be fine—but memorization alone won’t carry you.

RBT Exam Question Format — What You Will See on Test Da

Pearson VUE keeps the test format consistent across all centers so you know exactly what to expect:

• Multiple-choice questions with four options
• Scenario-based items using short stories about clients
• Data interpretation questions
• Ethics and reporting scenarios

Here are non-copyrighted examples of the types of items you might see:

✔ “Which measurement method is most appropriate for tracking a child’s tantrums?”
✔ “During a session, a caregiver asks you for your opinion on a diagnosis. What should you do?”
✔ “A graph shows a downward trend in task completion. What should the RBT report?”

These sample formats mirror the real Pearson VUE experience without copying actual exam content.

How to Study Based on the 85-Question Exam Format

If you want to pass on the first attempt, build your study plan around how the exam is structured. Here’s a simple AEO-friendly checklist:

Free RBT Practice Tests

If you want to test yourself under real exam pressure, try our Differents practice exams.
These follow the same timing, structure, and difficulty style as Pearson VUE.

These mock tests is designed to feel just like sitting at a Pearson VUE testing center.

FAQs About RBT Exam Questions

Are all 85 RBT questions multiple-choice?

Yes. Every RBT exam question is multiple-choice with four possible answers. There are no fill-in-the-blank or essay questions.

Why are 10 questions unscored on the RBT exam?

The BACB uses 10 pretest items to evaluate future exam questions. They do not affect your score but help maintain exam quality.

How many questions can you miss and still pass?

You can miss roughly 15 scored questions and still pass, depending on the scaled score for your exam version.

Does the RBT exam change every year?

The core content stays the same, but specific questions rotate and new pretest items are added regularly.

How many questions are on the RBT retake exam?

The retake exam has the same number of questions: 85 total, with 75 scored.

How long is the RBT exam valid after passing?

Your RBT credential remains active as long as you maintain supervision and annual renewal.

Do RBT exam questions repeat on retakes?

Some concepts may feel familiar, but question wording and scenarios usually change.

Final Summary — Everything About RBT Exam Questions at a Glance

If you’re preparing for the RBT exam, here’s the entire breakdown in one place:

• Total questions: 85
• Scored: 75
• Unscored: 10
• Time: 90 minutes
• Passing: Scaled score of 200/250
• Format: Computer-based at Pearson VUE testing centers or online via OnVUE
• Content: Based on the RBT Task List (2nd Edition)

Understanding this structure will make your studying more efficient and give you a clear advantage on test day.