Question 1A.2 · Discontinuous measurement
An RBT uses 10-second whole interval recording for cooperative play. In one interval, Leilani plays with a peer for 9 seconds and then walks away. How should the RBT score that interval?
Is the RBT exam hard?
In 2025, 75% of first-time candidates passed and 38% of retake attempts did, by the BACB's own figures. The questions are short scenarios, so knowing the terms is not enough: you have to recognize which procedure a situation calls for.
| Questions | 85 multiple choice: 75 scored and 10 unscored |
|---|---|
| Options | 4 per question, 1 correct |
| Time | 90 minutes |
| Result | Pass or fail, given at the test center |
| First-time pass rate, 2025 | 75% |
What makes it hard
- Close terms: DRO and DRA, negative reinforcement and punishment, partial and whole interval. A scenario turns on one detail.
- Behavior acquisition carries 19 of the 75 scored questions, a quarter of the exam: reinforcement, prompting, chaining, shaping and teaching formats.
- Calculations: rate per hour, percentage of intervals and mean duration, without a calculator.
- Ethics and reporting questions ask what an RBT does next, and the right answer is usually to follow the plan and tell the supervisor.
- Retakes pass far less often than first attempts: 38% in 2025.
What makes it easier
Every question has four options and one correct answer, and the BACB publishes the outline: 43 tasks in six domains, with the number of questions from each. You know exactly where the marks are.
How to prepare
The BACB recommends reviewing the RBT Test Content Outline (3rd ed.) and the materials from your 40-hour training and competency assessment. Start with the free diagnostic: your score in each domain shows where to begin.
Try 3 questions
Question 2C.1 · Positive and negative reinforcement
Which example shows negative reinforcement?
Question 3D.3 · Differential reinforcement
A teacher gives a client a point at the end of every 10-minute period in which the client did not leave their seat without permission. Which procedure is this?
Next step
Questions people ask
What percentage of people pass the RBT exam?
75% of first-time candidates passed in 2025, and 38% of retake attempts, by the BACB's published results.
How many questions are on the RBT exam?
85 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes. 75 are scored and 10 are unscored pilot questions that you cannot tell apart.
Is there math on the RBT exam?
Yes, simple data calculations are part of the outline, such as rate, mean duration and percentage. Calculators are not allowed in the testing room.
How many times can you take the RBT exam?
Up to 8 attempts within the 12 months after your application is approved, with at least 7 days between attempts.