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Free CET Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Certified EKG Technician (CET) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CET practice test to study every exam domain.

Question 1

A patient asks the EKG technician to explain the results of their 12-lead EKG tracing. Which of the following responses is most appropriate?

  1. Let the patient know their physician will review and discuss the results
  2. Provide a basic explanation of the normal-appearing waveforms on the tracing
  3. Tell the patient the tracing looks normal to help ease their current anxiety
  4. Describe each lead finding to the patient using standard medical terminology
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Let the patient know their physician will review and discuss the results

Question 2

A 68-year-old female patient reports sudden onset of nausea, jaw pain, and profuse sweating during an EKG, but denies having any chest pain. The EKG technician should recognize these symptoms as:

  1. A possible atypical cardiac event requiring immediate provider notification
  2. Expected side effects of the electrode adhesive and the conductive gel
  3. Consistent with gastroesophageal reflux requiring no immediate action
  4. Unrelated to cardiac disease since the patient is denying any chest pain
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - A possible atypical cardiac event requiring immediate provider notification

Question 3

During an exercise stress test, a patient's systolic blood pressure drops from a baseline of 130 mmHg to 116 mmHg despite increasing workload. Which of the following actions should the EKG technician take?

  1. Encourage the patient to maintain the current pace for another 30 seconds
  2. Reduce the treadmill speed by one stage and closely continue monitoring
  3. Document the blood pressure finding and continue the test to the next stage
  4. Stop the test and notify the supervising physician of the finding immediately
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Stop the test and notify the supervising physician of the finding immediately

Question 4

An EKG technician is preparing to place precordial electrodes for a standard 12-lead EKG. Which of the following describes the correct anatomical location for the V4 electrode?

  1. Fourth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line
  2. Fourth intercostal space at the left sternal border
  3. Fifth intercostal space at the left anterior axillary line
  4. Fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line

Question 5

An EKG technician is preparing to perform a 12-lead EKG on a patient in the third trimester of pregnancy. Which of the following positions is preferred to prevent hemodynamic compromise?

  1. Supine position with both arms elevated above the patient's head
  2. Left lateral decubitus or supine with a wedge placed under the right hip
  3. Prone position with the patient's head turned gently to one side
  4. High Fowler's position at 90 degrees with both legs elevated on pillows
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Left lateral decubitus or supine with a wedge placed under the right hip

Question 6

After recording a 12-lead EKG, the technician notices that Lead I shows an inverted P wave, inverted QRS complex, and inverted T wave, while all other leads appear appropriate. This finding most likely indicates:

  1. Acute lateral wall myocardial infarction with significant ST changes
  2. A reversal of the left arm and right arm electrode placements
  3. Dextrocardia with the patient's heart positioned on the right side
  4. Right bundle branch block affecting the electrical frontal plane axis
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - A reversal of the left arm and right arm electrode placements

Question 7

While performing a 12-lead EKG, the technician observes what appears to be ventricular tachycardia on the monitor. The patient is awake, alert, and reports feeling fine with stable vital signs. Which of the following is the most appropriate action?

  1. Immediately activate the emergency response system and retrieve the AED
  2. Begin chest compressions since ventricular tachycardia requires immediate CPR
  3. Verify electrode connections and check for motion artifact before escalating
  4. Administer a precordial thump to attempt cardioversion of the abnormal rhythm
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Verify electrode connections and check for motion artifact before escalating

Question 8

An EKG rhythm strip shows an irregularly irregular ventricular rhythm at a rate of 94 bpm with narrow QRS complexes and no identifiable P waves. The baseline appears chaotic with fine undulations. This rhythm is most consistent with:

  1. Wandering atrial pacemaker with multiple ectopic foci
  2. Atrial flutter with variable atrioventricular conduction
  3. Atrial fibrillation with controlled ventricular response
  4. Sinus arrhythmia with normal respiratory variation
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Atrial fibrillation with controlled ventricular response

Question 9

An EKG rhythm strip shows a pattern where the PR interval progressively lengthens over several consecutive beats until one QRS complex is dropped, after which the cycle repeats. This pattern is characteristic of:

  1. Second-degree AV block Type I (Wenckebach / Mobitz I)
  2. Third-degree AV block with complete atrioventricular dissociation
  3. First-degree AV block with a prolonged but constant PR interval
  4. Second-degree AV block Type II (Mobitz II) with intermittent failure
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Second-degree AV block Type I (Wenckebach / Mobitz I)

Question 10

A 12-lead EKG shows ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF with reciprocal ST depression in leads I and aVL. This pattern is most consistent with an acute myocardial infarction involving the:

  1. Anterior wall, supplied by the left anterior descending artery
  2. Lateral wall, supplied by the left circumflex coronary artery
  3. Inferior wall, supplied by the right coronary artery
  4. Septal wall, supplied by the septal perforator branches
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Inferior wall, supplied by the right coronary artery

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