Free RBT Practice Test: 15 Sample Questions
Try 15 free sample questions covering all six sections of the 2026 RBT® exam. Choose an answer, then check the correct answer and a BCBA’s explanation. No sign-up needed.
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Question 1 of 15 · Section A: Data Collection & Graphing
During a 30-minute classroom observation, two Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) independently observe a student and record every occurrence of hand-raising. At the end of the session, RBT A calculates a total of 12 instances, while RBT B calculates a total of 14 instances. They subsequently divide the smaller total by the larger total and multiply by 100 to yield an 85.7% agreement score. Which of the following best identifies what the RBTs were evaluating through this specific calculation procedure?
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Correct answer: B. Interobserver agreement (IOA) using total count IOA
Two observers independently recorded the same behavior, then divided the smaller total by the larger total and multiplied by 100 (12 ÷ 14 × 100 = 85.7%). That is total count IOA, which shows how consistently two people measured the behavior and how believable the data are. It does not measure whether the plan was followed (treatment integrity), how often the behavior happened over time (rate), or whether the goal matters to the student and family (social validity).
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Question 2 of 15 · Section A: Data Collection & Graphing
On a line graph, the data points jump between very high and very low values from session to session, with no clear upward or downward direction. This pattern shows:
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Correct answer: C. High variability
Variability describes how much data points differ from one another. Large session-to-session swings with no overall direction mean high variability, which makes it harder to tell whether an intervention is working.
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Question 3 of 15 · Section A: Data Collection & Graphing
An RBT is reviewing a line graph showing a client’s daily frequency of elopement across Baseline and Intervention phases. During the session between Day 10 (the last day of Baseline) and Day 11 (the first day of Intervention), a major medication change occurred. On the graph, the RBT notes a solid vertical line separating Day 10 and Day 11, with data points on Day 10 and Day 11 connected by a solid line. Which of the following errors was made when constructing this graph?
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Correct answer: B. The data path should NOT connect across a phase change line.
Why B is correct: A fundamental convention of ABA line graphs is that data paths are broken across phase change lines (or condition change lines). Connecting data points across phases falsely implies continuous data collection under the same conditions.
Why A is incorrect: Solid vertical lines are standard for major phase changes (for example, baseline to intervention), whereas dashed vertical lines are used for minor condition changes (for example, changing the prompt level within an intervention).
Why C is incorrect: Environmental or external changes, like medication adjustments, are often annotated on graphs using condition change lines to give context to shifts in the data.
Why D is incorrect: Data points within the same phase or condition are standardly connected to show trends over time.
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Question 4 of 15 · Section B: Behavior Assessment
Your supervisor asks you to present items from a skills checklist and record whether the learner responds independently, so they can choose teaching goals. What are you helping with?
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Correct answer: B. A skill assessment
Presenting skill items and recording independent responses is part of assessing skill strengths and deficits. The supervisor then uses the results to select teaching goals.
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Question 5 of 15 · Section C: Behavior Acquisition
A client who hasn’t had a snack for three hours works much harder than usual to earn pretzels. The three hours without food is an example of:
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Correct answer: D. An establishing operation
An establishing operation is a motivating operation that temporarily increases the value of a reinforcer. Going without food makes pretzels more valuable, so the client works harder to earn them.
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Question 6 of 15 · Section C: Behavior Acquisition
Which type of prompt is usually considered the most intrusive?
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Correct answer: C. Full physical prompt
Full physical guidance gives the most assistance, so it is the most intrusive. Prompting procedures fade prompts in a planned way to build independence.
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Question 7 of 15 · Section C: Behavior Acquisition
A client now completes a skill reliably, and the plan says to “thin the schedule of reinforcement.” What does that mean?
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Correct answer: A. Gradually reinforce the skill less often
Thinning means gradually moving from continuous to intermittent reinforcement. This helps the skill hold up in everyday settings, where reinforcement isn’t delivered every time.
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Question 8 of 15 · Section C: Behavior Acquisition
What best distinguishes natural environment teaching (NET) from discrete-trial teaching (DTT)?
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Correct answer: B. NET is built into the learner’s everyday activities and follows their interests
NET embeds teaching in natural routines and play, using the learner’s own motivation. DTT is more structured, with short, repeated trials usually led by the adult.
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Question 9 of 15 · Section D: Behavior Reduction
A client bangs on the table only when a sibling is holding the tablet, and the banging stops once the client is given the tablet. What is the most likely function of the behavior?
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Correct answer: A. Access to tangibles
The behavior happens when an item is unavailable and stops once the item is delivered, so it is most likely maintained by access to that tangible.
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Question 10 of 15 · Section D: Behavior Reduction
After a client swears, the caregiver removes 10 minutes of video game time, and swearing decreases over the next few weeks. This is an example of:
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Correct answer: C. Negative punishment
Something the client values (game time) was removed after the behavior, and the behavior decreased. Removing a stimulus to decrease behavior is negative punishment.
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Question 11 of 15 · Section D: Behavior Reduction
A behavior that stopped during extinction suddenly reappears briefly at the start of a session several days later. This is called:
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Correct answer: D. Spontaneous recovery
Spontaneous recovery is the brief return of an extinguished behavior after time has passed. Keep following the extinction plan so the behavior isn’t reinforced again.
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Question 12 of 15 · Section E: Documentation & Reporting
Midway through a session, you can’t remember whether the behavior plan allows a break after two tasks or three. What should you do?
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Correct answer: B. Check the written plan, and if it’s still unclear, contact your supervisor
RBTs follow the written plan and seek clinical direction from their supervisor when something is unclear, rather than guessing or changing the procedure.
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Question 13 of 15 · Section E: Documentation & Reporting
Which statement belongs in an objective session note?
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Correct answer: B. The client completed 12 of 15 tracing trials independently
Objective notes report observable events and data. Labels, opinions, and guesses about causes don’t belong in session documentation.
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Question 14 of 15 · Section F: Ethics
A friend asks which family you work with in their neighborhood. What is the best response?
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Correct answer: C. Politely explain that you can’t share information about clients
Confidentiality means not sharing any identifying client information with people who aren’t authorized to have it, even casually and even without names.
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Question 15 of 15 · Section F: Ethics
Your supervisor has been out, and you realize you haven’t received the supervision required this month. What should you do?
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Correct answer: B. Tell your supervisor or RBT Requirements Coordinator right away so required supervision is arranged
RBTs may practice only while receiving the ongoing supervision the BACB® requires. Report the gap promptly so it can be fixed, and never falsify supervision records.
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