How Many Questions Are on the RBT Exam? (And How Scoring Works)

As you prepare for your Registered Behavior Technician exam, knowing the test format is just as important as knowing the content. One of the most basic but crucial questions is: how many questions are on the RBT exam?

Let's get straight to the official answer and break down exactly what you can expect on test day.

The Official Breakdown: Questions and Time Limit

The RBT certification exam consists of 85 multiple-choice questions. You will have 90 minutes to complete the entire exam.

However, there's a key detail to understand about those 85 questions:

• 75 questions are "scored" questions. These are the questions that count toward your final pass/fail result.
• 10 questions are "unscored" questions. These do not affect your score in any way.

You will not know which questions are scored and which are unscored, so it is essential to answer every question to the best of your ability.

What Are "Unscored" Questions?

The idea of unscored questions can seem confusing, but their purpose is straightforward. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) uses these 10 questions to pilot and validate new questions for future versions of the exam.

By including them as unscored items, the BACB can gather data on a new question's difficulty and clarity without it affecting a candidate's score. This ensures that future exams remain fair and reliable. It’s a standard practice in high-stakes testing and nothing to worry about.

How Does This Affect Your Exam Strategy?

The 90-minute time limit for 85 questions gives you just over one minute per question. While this is plenty of time, you still need a solid strategy:

1. Don't Get Stuck: If you encounter a difficult question, make your best educated guess, flag it for review, and move on. You can always come back to it at the end if you have time. Don't waste precious minutes on a single question.
2. Answer Every Question: There is no penalty for guessing. Never leave a question blank, especially since you don't know if it's one of the 10 unscored items.
3. Read Carefully: The exam tests your ability to apply concepts. Pay close attention to the details in the scenario-based questions.

Knowing the format is the first step. The next is knowing how to prepare. Check out our guide: Is the RBT Exam Hard? A Realistic Look at What to Expect.