RBT Practice Test 1 | Free RBT Mock Exam Online

Prepare for your Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification with our free RBT Practice Test 1. This practice test includes real-style questions from our verified RBT question bank, designed to match the BACB® exam format. Test your knowledge, review detailed explanations, and track your progress instantly.

practice-1 Practice Quiz (SEO Content)

1. The BCBA instructs you to vary reinforcement to maintain motivation. Which is the best example?

Provide the same reinforcer every trial
Offer praise sometimes, snacks other times
Deliver reinforcement only at the end of session
Ignore correct responses occasionally

Explanation: Varying reinforcers prevents satiation and maintains motivation; mixing praise and tangibles is a classic example.

2. Your BCBA wants to know how often your client’s tantrums occur across different parts of the day to identify patterns. Which tool would best display this?

Line graph
Cumulative record
Scatterplot
Histogram

Explanation: Scatterplots show behavior occurrence over time or activities, helping to identify patterns.

3. You are running a free-operant preference assessment. The client spends the most time playing with a toy train and rarely touches the puzzle or coloring book. What does this indicate?

The train is a low-preference item
The train is likely a strong reinforcer
The puzzle should be removed from the environment
The coloring book should be the reinforcer

Explanation: Higher engagement with an item suggests greater preference and reinforcing value.

4. A child can identify pictures of animals during discrete-trial teaching but not during storytime. What should be implemented next?

Stimulus generalization training
Discrimination training
Maintenance probes
Extinction

Explanation: Stimulus generalization training helps the child use learned skills across settings and materials.

5. A BCBA asks you to conduct an observation to determine the antecedents and consequences of a child’s screaming behavior. Which type of data should you collect?

Scatterplot
ABC data
Permanent product data
Latency data

Explanation: ABC data capture Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence sequences to identify maintaining variables.

6. After instruction, a client independently begins zipping jackets at home. This demonstrates:

Maintenance
Generalization
Prompt dependence
Extinction

Explanation: The skill occurs in a new setting without prompts, showing generalization.

7. During a session, your client engages in hand-flapping several times while watching TV. Your BCBA asks you to record how often the behavior occurs each minute. Which measurement system is most appropriate to use?

Frequency recording
Duration recording
Whole-interval recording
Latency recording

Explanation: Frequency recording counts the number of times a behavior occurs within a defined time frame.

8. You and another RBT observe the same 10-minute play session independently and both record nearly identical data. What does this demonstrate?

Treatment fidelity
Interobserver agreement
Baseline accuracy
Internal validity

Explanation: Consistent data across observers indicates high interobserver agreement (IOA).

9. A BCBA asks you to assist with a preference assessment by presenting three toys to the client at once. After the client selects one, you remove it and present the remaining two. What type of assessment are you conducting?

Paired-stimulus
Multiple-stimulus with replacement
Multiple-stimulus without replacement
Free-operant preference assessment

Explanation: MSWO removes selected items from subsequent trials, allowing the remaining items to be assessed.

10. When teaching a child to say “ball” during play, the RBT immediately provides the toy each time the child approximates the word. What procedure is being used?

Shaping
Fading
Extinction
Discrimination training

Explanation: Shaping reinforces successive approximations toward the target response.

11. A client takes 10 seconds to start brushing their teeth after you say, “It’s time to brush.” What measure captures this 10-second period?

Inter-response time
Duration
Latency
Frequency

Explanation: Latency measures the time from the instruction (SD) to the initiation of the behavior.

12. The RBT is running a discrete-trial teaching session. After the SD “Touch red,” the client touches blue. What should the RBT do?

Reinforce the attempt
Repeat the SD and provide prompt if needed
Ignore and move on
End the trial

Explanation: Re-present the SD and provide prompting as necessary to guide the correct response.

13. You are collecting data on how long a child remains seated during circle time. The behavior technician uses a timer to start when the client sits and stop when the client leaves the seat. What type of data are you collecting?

Frequency
Interval
Latency
Duration

Explanation: Duration recording measures the total length of time the behavior occurs.

14. A BCBA instructs you to gradually reduce physical prompts when teaching hand-washing. Which prompting technique are you using?

Most-to-least prompting
Least-to-most prompting
Errorless teaching
Graduated guidance

Explanation: Most-to-least prompting starts with the most intrusive prompt and fades to less intrusive prompts.

15. While teaching manding, a client says “cookie” only when the therapist is present. To promote generalization, what should the RBT do?

Reinforce only in therapy
Reduce reinforcement
Conduct sessions with different people and settings
End sessions early

Explanation: Varying instructors and settings promotes response generalization.

16. During teaching, a client begins to lose focus. The RBT allows a brief play break before resuming the session. This reflects:

Incorporating natural environment teaching
Reinforcement fading
Antecedent intervention
Task variation

Explanation: Providing short breaks adjusts antecedents to maintain engagement.

17. You are teaching a client to put on a jacket using backward chaining. Which step should you prompt and reinforce first?

Pulling both sleeves up
Zipping the jacket
Putting one arm through
Picking up the jacket

Explanation: Backward chaining teaches the last step first, then moves backward to earlier steps.

18. During an ABC observation, you notice that a client screams when denied a toy and the teacher gives it back immediately. What is the likely maintaining function of the behavior?

Escape
Tangible
Attention
Automatic

Explanation: Screaming gains access to an item, showing a tangible function.

19. During a tantrum, a parent yells “Stop it!” which makes the child scream louder. The RBT should:

Advise parent to avoid giving attention during tantrums
Ignore the behavior
Terminate the session
Reinforce the tantrum to calm the child

Explanation: Attention can reinforce problem behavior; coaching parents to minimize attention helps reduce tantrums.

20. The BCBA develops a function-based intervention plan. What is the RBT’s main responsibility?

Modify the procedures as needed
Implement the plan exactly as written
Create new goals if behavior improves
Conduct a new FBA

Explanation: RBTs follow plans with fidelity and report to the BCBA rather than independently altering procedures.

21. A BCBA instructs you to implement noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) for a student who yells for attention. Which action reflects NCR?

Providing attention only when yelling stops
Ignoring all attention-seeking behavior
Giving attention on a fixed schedule regardless of yelling
Reinforcing only appropriate requests

Explanation: NCR delivers the reinforcer independently of the behavior, typically on a fixed schedule.

22. A client’s plan requires a brief visual timer before transitions. The RBT forgets and the client tantrums. What should the RBT note in documentation?

That the client refused the activity
That the antecedent (timer) was omitted
That the BCBA’s plan failed
That data cannot be collected

Explanation: Documenting missing antecedents clarifies why behavior may have changed.

23. During a session, your client begins hitting their head after a demand is placed. You immediately remove the demand, and the behavior stops. What likely maintains this behavior?

Attention
Tangible
Escape
Automatic reinforcement

Explanation: The behavior stops the demand, indicating an escape-maintained function.

24. The BCBA has designed a behavior plan using differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO). What should the RBT do when the target behavior does not occur during the interval?

Withhold reinforcement
Reset the interval
Deliver reinforcement immediately
Prompt the behavior

Explanation: In DRO, reinforcement is delivered for the absence of the target behavior during the interval.

25. A BCBA asks for data from the previous month, but the RBT notices a potential recording error. What should the RBT do?

Change the data quietly
Report the error honestly to the BCBA
Delete the data sheet
Ignore the issue

Explanation: Ethical practice requires transparent reporting of suspected errors.

26. A teacher requests you share your client’s therapy data to help with class performance. What is the best ethical action?

Obtain parent or guardian consent before sharing
Send the data immediately
Decline all requests from school staff
Discuss data casually without documentation

Explanation: Client data are confidential; proper consent must be obtained before release.

27. During teaching, you fade from full physical prompts to partial physical and then to gestures. This technique is:

Least-to-most prompting
Most-to-least prompting
Stimulus fading
Task analysis

Explanation: Starting with stronger prompts and fading to weaker ones exemplifies most-to-least prompting.

28. Which of the following is an example of objective language in documentation?

“The client cried for 2 minutes when the toy was removed.”
“The client seemed upset.”
“The client acted badly.”
“The client was being stubborn.”

Explanation: Objective statements are observable and measurable (behavior + time) rather than subjective impressions.

29. You are teaching hand-washing. The client completes “turn on water” and “wet hands” but needs help with “apply soap.” Which chaining method allows you to prompt only the unmastered steps?

Forward chaining
Total task chaining
Backward chaining
Graduated guidance

Explanation: Total task chaining allows prompts only for steps the client cannot complete independently.

30. When teaching imitation, the RBT says, “Do this,” and claps hands. The client claps after a 5-second delay. What should the RBT do next time?

Increase prompt immediacy to shorten latency
Reinforce regardless of delay
Terminate the task
Move to a new skill

Explanation: Providing the prompt immediately strengthens faster imitation and reduces latency.

31. The RBT asks, “Touch your head,” and the client does so independently. The RBT provides praise. Which type of teaching trial occurred?

Discrete-trial teaching
Incidental teaching
Task chaining
Natural environment training

Explanation: Structured trials with clear SD, response, and consequence indicate discrete-trial teaching.

32. A parent asks the RBT for advice on their child’s medication schedule. What should the RBT do?

Provide a suggestion
Share a similar case example
Redirect the question to the BCBA or medical professional
Offer online resources

Explanation: Medication guidance is outside the RBT’s scope; refer to qualified professionals.

33. To promote maintenance of a newly acquired skill, the RBT should:

Continue mass trials daily
Switch to new skills immediately
Reinforce every occurrence indefinitely
Schedule periodic probes after mastery

Explanation: Periodic probes ensure skills are maintained over time without constant practice.

34. A BCBA is teaching a client to request preferred snacks using pictures. The RBT first places pictures of apple and cookie, saying, “What do you want?” The client touches the cookie picture and receives a cookie. What is this an example of?

Mand training using picture exchange
Tact training
Intraverbal training
Discrimination training

Explanation: The client mands (requests) using pictures to access the item.

35. A BCBA tells you to use shaping to teach saying “juice.” What is the correct approach?

Reinforce closer vocal approximations (“joo,” then “juice”)
Wait until the client says the full word
Use only physical prompts
Reinforce unrelated words

Explanation: Shaping reinforces successive approximations toward the target word.

36. You present the SD “Touch nose.” The client responds incorrectly. You immediately provide a prompt and then reinforce the correct response. This is called:

Extinction trial
Error correction procedure
Chained response
Punishment trial

Explanation: Providing a prompt and reinforcing the correct response after an error is an error correction procedure.

37. The BCBA wants to identify the pattern of self-injury throughout the day. Which recording tool is most appropriate?

Scatterplot
Duration sheet
Frequency counter
ABC form

Explanation: Scatterplots reveal patterns of behavior across times or activities.

38. A BCBA wants to ensure that the client learns to label items regardless of who asks. The RBT should:

Use the same instructor each time
Always use identical SD wording
Limit sessions to one setting
Run sessions with multiple instructors

Explanation: Varying instructors promotes stimulus generalization across different people.

39. If a behavior occurs during 8 out of 10 partial intervals, what is the percentage of occurrence?

Explanation: Eight out of ten intervals equals 80% occurrence (8 ÷ 10 × 100).

40. In a 15-minute observation, a client engaged in tapping 30 times. What is the rate per minute?

Explanation: Rate per minute = total occurrences ÷ total minutes = 30 ÷ 15 = 2 per minute.

41. The BCBA changes reinforcement from FR-1 to VR-3. What is the goal of this change?

Increase resistance to extinction
Reduce behavior variability
Stop reinforcement entirely
Simplify data collection

Explanation: Variable ratio schedules typically produce steady responding and higher resistance to extinction.

42. You are using whole-interval recording to measure on-task behavior. Which statement describes this correctly?

Mark the interval only if the behavior occurred the entire time
Mark if it happened at any time
Record the number of times it occurred
Estimate average duration

Explanation: Whole-interval recording requires the behavior to occur throughout the entire interval to be scored.

43. A child starts crying 5 seconds after a toy is removed and stops crying 20 seconds later. What is the duration of crying?

5 seconds
15 seconds
20 seconds
25 seconds

Explanation: Duration = offset − onset = 20 − 5 = 15 seconds.

44. When graphing session data, which axis represents the number of responses?

X-axis
Both axes
Legend line
Y-axis

Explanation: The Y-axis (vertical) represents the dependent variable like frequency or rate.

45. The RBT provides reinforcement every third correct response. What schedule of reinforcement is being used?

Variable ratio 3 (VR-3)
Fixed ratio 3 (FR-3)
Fixed interval 3 (FI-3)
Variable interval 3 (VI-3)

Explanation: FR-3 delivers reinforcement after every three correct responses.

46. The RBT records that a child engaged in screaming for 3 minutes out of a 10-minute interval. Which measurement dimension is being recorded?

Frequency
Duration
Latency
Rate

Explanation: Duration measures how long a behavior occurs within an observation period.

47. In a bar graph comparing frequency of tantrums across settings, the highest bar appears under “Home.” What can be inferred?

Duration is longest at home
Behavior never happens at school
Data were inaccurately collected
Tantrums occur most frequently at home

Explanation: A taller bar indicates higher frequency in that setting.

48. The BCBA instructs you to conduct an indirect assessment to understand when self-injury occurs. You interview the client’s teacher and parents. What kind of assessment method is this?

Functional analysis
Descriptive assessment
Indirect assessment
Preference assessment

Explanation: Interviews with caregivers are an indirect assessment method for identifying behavior patterns.

49. A client engages in tantrums when denied a toy. The BCBA instructs you to use differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA). What should you do?

Reinforce calm requesting instead of tantrums
Give the toy only after tantrums stop
Ignore all behavior
Reprimand the client

Explanation: DRA involves reinforcing a functional alternative behavior while withholding reinforcement for the problem behavior.

50. During a session, a client stops performing a task immediately after reinforcement is thinned. What principle explains this?

Extinction
Behavioral momentum
Reinforcement schedule thinning
Prompt dependence

Explanation: Thinning reinforcement can temporarily reduce responding until the new schedule maintains behavior.

51. You notice a child performs a skill in therapy but not at home. The BCBA requests generalization probes. What data should you collect?

Frequency of prompts in therapy
Duration of sessions
Skill performance across different settings and people
Parent feedback only

Explanation: Collecting data across settings and instructors evaluates generalization of the skill.

52. An RBT is teaching a client to match shapes. You gradually provide less help until the client performs independently. This is an example of:

Prompt fading
Errorless learning
Extinction
Task analysis

Explanation: Prompt fading systematically reduces assistance while maintaining correct responding.

53. During a session, a client refuses to start a task. The BCBA instructs you to record latency. What do you measure?

Time from instruction to initiation of task
Total duration of the session
Frequency of refusals
Number of prompts

Explanation: Latency measures the time between the SD and the initiation of the behavior.

54. A parent asks you to modify a client’s program at home without BCBA approval. What should you do?

Explain that only the BCBA can modify programs
Implement changes as requested
Adjust based on parent preference
Ignore the request

Explanation: RBTs must follow BCBA instructions and not alter programs independently.

55. You are asked to perform an interobserver agreement (IOA) check. You record 8 occurrences and another RBT records 10. What is the IOA percentage?

Explanation: IOA = (smaller/larger) × 100 = 8/10 × 100 = 80%.

56. A BCBA tells you to run 10 discrete-trial teaching (DTT) trials, but the client is fatigued after 5. What is the correct action?

Document and report the reason to BCBA
Force the client to complete all trials
Skip the remaining trials
End session without documentation

Explanation: Professional practice involves documenting adjustments and informing the BCBA.

57. While collecting data, a parent interferes by prompting the child. Which ethical principle applies?

Confidentiality
Competence
Fidelity
Dual relationships

Explanation: Fidelity involves implementing interventions as designed, so interference must be noted.

58. A BCBA instructs you to deliver noncontingent reinforcement (NCR). What is an example?

Providing attention on a fixed schedule regardless of behavior
Reinforcing only correct responses
Delivering reinforcement after tantrums stop
Ignoring problem behavior

Explanation: NCR delivers reinforcement independent of the occurrence of the target behavior.

59. During discrete-trial teaching, a client responds incorrectly. You re-present the SD with a prompt and reinforce the correct response. This is:

Extinction
Error correction procedure
Chaining
Shaping

Explanation: Error correction provides prompts after an incorrect response to ensure learning occurs.

60. A BCBA asks you to implement escape extinction with demand fading. What should you do?

Have the client complete a shorter version of the task instead of removing it
Remove the task immediately
Ignore problem behavior
Use NCR

Explanation: Escape extinction with demand fading involves gradually reducing task demands while preventing escape reinforcement.

61. An RBT sees another staff member sharing client videos online without consent. What is the correct action?

Confront the staff member privately
Ignore the incident
Report the violation to supervisor or compliance team
Delete the content themselves

Explanation: Confidentiality rules require reporting breaches to protect client privacy.

62. A client bites the RBT during session. After safety, what is the next step?

Leave immediately
Punish the client
Cancel future sessions
Follow incident-report procedures and notify supervisor

Explanation: Documenting incidents and notifying supervisors ensures proper handling of safety and ethical concerns.

63. You are teaching a client to mand for snacks using picture cards. The client points to a cookie and receives it. This is:

Mand training using picture exchange
Tact training
Intraverbal training
Discrimination training

Explanation: Manding involves requesting items and gaining access, here facilitated by picture exchange.

64. A child masters a skill in clinic but not at school. What should the RBT do?

Re-teach the skill from scratch
Use only clinic materials
Conduct generalization probes
Ignore the discrepancy

Explanation: Probes assess skill performance across settings to ensure generalization.

65. During a preference assessment, the client consistently engages with one item more than others. What does this indicate?

High-preference item likely to function as reinforcer
Low-preference item
Irrelevant observation
Item should be removed

Explanation: Items with higher engagement are more likely effective reinforcers.

66. While teaching a task, the RBT provides full physical guidance then fades to a model. The client completes the task independently. This demonstrates:

Shaping
Prompt fading and transfer of stimulus control
Differential reinforcement
Task chaining

Explanation: Gradual reduction of prompts while maintaining correct responding is prompt fading.

67. An RBT is asked to measure the rate of aggression over a 10-minute session. The client engages 4 times. What is the rate per minute?

0.25
0.4
0.5
1

Explanation: Rate per minute = occurrences ÷ time = 4 ÷ 10 = 0.4.

68. The BCBA asks you to graph data and notes a sudden spike in behavior after medication changes. What is the best next step?

Stop sessions
Document observation and notify BCBA immediately
Ignore the data
Delete outliers

Explanation: Changes in behavior coinciding with medication should be reported to supervisors immediately.

69. During a session, a parent yells at the client, causing distress. What should the RBT do?

Ensure client safety and report incident to BCBA
Leave without documenting
Argue with parent
Ignore the situation

Explanation: Protecting client safety and reporting to the BCBA is the correct ethical response.

70. A parent provides a homemade snack as reinforcement. The RBT suspects allergies. What should you do?

Politely decline and inform BCBA
Use small amounts without reporting
Test the snack
Accept it fully

Explanation: Client safety is priority; always consult the BCBA about potential allergens.

71. The BCBA asks for rate data, but the RBT only has frequency counts. What additional information is needed?

Number of reinforcers
Task difficulty
Antecedent type
Observation duration

Explanation: Rate = frequency ÷ observation time; duration is needed for calculation.

72. A teacher asks you to share detailed daily notes via text. What is the best ethical response?

Explain confidentiality limits and share only through approved channels
Text brief updates
Send screenshots of graphs
Ignore the request

Explanation: RBTs must protect client confidentiality and use only approved communication channels.

73. A BCBA requests a summary of weekly progress. The RBT compiles graphs and a brief note of improvements. This is an example of:

Creating a new assessment
Subjective interpretation
Objective reporting for supervision
Data manipulation

Explanation: The RBT is sharing objective, accurate data to support BCBA supervision.

74. Two RBTs collect aggression data on the same client, recording 9 and 6 instances. What should be done?

Review definitions and data procedures for consistency
Average the numbers
Choose higher
Choose lower

Explanation: Reviewing procedures ensures accurate and reliable data collection.

75. A teacher requests daily notes via text. How should the RBT respond?

Text notes directly
Send screenshots
Ignore the request
Explain confidentiality limits and use approved channels

Explanation: Confidentiality requires proper channels and consent when sharing client data.