Dr. Jan Olson By: Dr. Jan Olson
EKG Practice Test

An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a test used to detect heart problems and monitor heart health. An EKG practice test will help you prepare for the rhythms you will encounter during the real test and gain experience with identifying specific EKG strips.

If you are preparing to become a certified EKG technician, you will need to craft an efficient study plan that includes taking practice tests.

Summary: Use our EKG practice below to prepare for your upcoming exam.

Take an EKG practice test listed below to help you get started. We highly recommend you take one before creating a study plan so that you know where to focus your studies.

One of the most difficult parts of the EKG exam is identifying EKG strips. This is an area that requires practice in order to master. Here are some free resources to help you get started.

Resource Notes Provider
EKG Practice Strips 1 Review 175+ EKG practice strips Monitor Tech
EKG Practice Strips 2 Review sample EKG strips Key Med Info

Here is a list of all the EKG strips that you should know before taking your EKG certification exam.

Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm Accelerated Junctional Rhythm Asystole
Atrial Fibrillation Atrial Flutter

 

Bundle Branch Block
First Degree Heart Block Idioventricular Rhythm Junctional Escape Rhythm
Junctional Tachycardia Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia Normal Sinus Rhythm
Pacemaker Failure to Capture Pacemaker Failure to Pace Pacemaker Single Chamber Atrial
Premature Atrial Complex Premature Junctional Complex Premature Ventricular Complex
Premature Ventricular Complex Bigeminy Premature Ventricular Complex Quadrigeminy Premature Ventricular Complex Trigeminy
Second Degree Heart Block Type I Second Degree Heart Block Type II Sinoatrial Block
Sinus Arrest Sinus Arrhythmia Sinus Bradycardia
Sinus Bradycardia Sinus Tachycardia Supraventricular Tachycardia
Third Degree Heart Block Ventricular Fibrillation Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular Tachycardia Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Torsade de Pointes
Wandering Atrial Pacemaker Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome  

Listed below is some additional EKG practice to help you get started.

Resource Notes Provider
EKG Questions 1 Review 25 questions on this ECG quiz. Upstate Medical University
EKG Questions 2 Review 20 questions on this ECG quiz. Banner Health
EKG Questions 3 Review 15 questions on this ECG quiz. King Exams

An EKG (electrocardiogram test) is a noninvasive procedure that measures electronic signals in the heart to ensure that it’s functioning normally. It’s simple and painless, detailing the rate and strength of each heartbeat.

Physicians use this important test to diagnose major problems with the heart such as arrhythmias or coronary artery disease, or to monitor how certain treatments such as medications or pacemakers are working.

An EKG identifies the following heart disorders:

  • Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
  • Blocked arteries
  • Risk of heart disease
  • Risk of heart failure
  • Previous heart attacks
  • Other forms of damage to the heart
  • Therapeutic measurement

Medical personnel who administer this test must be certified by taking an EKG certification test. This is a complex exam that requires a great deal of preparation including in-depth studies and regular practice tests to help you measure the progress of studies.

Please Note: Sometimes the terms EKG and ECG are used interchangeably. They are different abbreviations that refer to the same test. An electrocardiogram is a test used to measure how the electricity in a person’s heart is functioning.

The certified EKG technician (CET) exam is given by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The exam consists of:

  • 100 scored items
  • 2 hour time limit

NHA CET Exam Overview

(click on image to enlarge)

An in-depth breakdown of the exam can be found in the table below:

Safety, Compliance, and Coordinated Patient Care  32%
Adhere to HIPPA Regulations  
Adhere to Infection Control Practices  
Adhere to Score of Practice and Comply with Ethical Standards  
Communicate Appropriately with Patients and Members of the Health Care Team  
Obtain and Interpret Patient Vital Signs  
Instruct Patients About Preparation for and Expectations During Stress Testing  
Instruct Patients on Use of Ambulatory Monitoring and Verify their Understanding  
Utilize Electronic Medical Records to Input Patient Information  
Recognize Signs and Symptoms of Cardiopulmonary Compromise  
EKG Acquisition 44%
Maintain EKG Equipment  
Verify EKG Machine Settings  
Prepare Skin for Electrode Placement  
Position Patient for Cardiac Testing  
Apply Electrodes and Attach Leads  
Verify that All Leads were Recorded  
Identify and Resolve Artifacts from the Tracing  
Mount a Completed EKG Tracing Strip for Patient's Chart  
Assist in Monitoring Patient Condition During Stress Testing  
Provide Support in Responding to Complications During Stress Testing  
EKG Analysis and Interpretation 24%
Calculate Patient's Heart Rate from the EKG Tracing  
Determine the Regularity of the Patient's Heart Rythmm from EKG Tracing  
Measure EKG Intervals and Waveforms  
Inspect the Waveform Characteristics  
Identify Arrhythmias from the EKG Tracing  
Recognize Pacemaker Spikes on an EKG Tracing  
Identify Ischemia, Injury, and Infarction on the EKG Tracing  
Take Appropriate Action When Life-Threatening Arrhythmias are Identified  

For more information, review the official content outline.

One of the best ways to prepare for this exam is by taking practice exams and becoming familair with the types of questions and what the strips will look like.

Here are some study tips that will help you get started:

  • Start by creating a detailed study plan. Each session should include practice strips to help you memorize these essential patterns.
  • Study the major responsibilities of EKG certified techs. This includes setting up and administering an EKG, prepping patients, and the interpretation and delivery of test results.
  • Get hands-on training. Students are encouraged to volunteer to get as much hands-on experience as possible. Medical facilities sometimes seek students as interns. In exchange for your assistance, they will provide experience in the field.
  • Take notes. Writing down information while watching videos or reading through study materials helps memorize it.
  • Use prep materials to learn the material. Practice exams and study guides are great resources for learning all of the information.

What is the difference between ECG and EKG?

This can be confusing at first. However, ECG and EKG both refer to the same test. EKG uses the German spelling for abbreviation while ECG uses the English spelling for abbreviation.

How do you memorize EKG strips?

Hours upon hours of studying are required to interpret EKG strips but the most important ones are lethal strips because they must be identified quickly. These include ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and asystole. Most students choose to study those strips initially.

With that said, there is a quick and easy four-step method that you can use to identify EKG strips. It goes like this:

  • Determine the Rate: Is it slow, medium, or fast?
  • Determine the Rhythm: Is it regular or irregular? A regular pattern is consistent in the distance between each QRS. 
  • P-Wave: Is a P-Wave present before every QRS? Is there a QRS after every P-Wave?
  • Use the process of elimination to deduce the type of strip being viewed.