BACB Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield BACB facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the term for the decrease in responding that occurs during the interval following reinforcement on a fixed interval schedule? → Post-reinforcement pause
2. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)? → Hypothetical
3. In behavior-analytic research, 'visual analysis' of graphed data involves examining which three primary features? → Level, trend, and variability
4. What is extinction in behavior analysis? → The complete removal of a reinforcement following a behavior
5. Which measurement dimension records the number of times a behavior occurs within an observation period? → Frequency (count)
6. Which functional behavior assessment (FBA) method involves structured interviews and rating scales without direct observation? → Indirect assessment
7. Which condition in a standard Iwata et al. functional analysis tests whether the behavior is maintained by escape from demands? → Demand/task condition
8. Which approach to staff management involves identifying and reinforcing specific staff behaviors that produce desired client outcomes? → Behavioral performance management (OBM)
9. Which procedure involves mixing mastered tasks with acquisition tasks to increase motivation and reduce errors? → Interspersal of known and unknown items
10. What is 'behavioral skills training' (BST) in the context of staff or caregiver training? → A training package combining instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback
11. In a standard functional analysis, what does an elevated response rate in the 'alone' condition typically suggest? → The behavior is maintained by automatic (sensory) reinforcement
12. Under the BACB's supervision requirements, which of the following is NOT an acceptable supervision activity? → Reviewing written client reports submitted by the supervisee without any observation
13. Which type of graph is most commonly used in single-subject ABA research to display data across conditions and phases? → Line graph
14. What is the term for the process by which a previously reinforced behavior decreases when reinforcement is no longer delivered? → Extinction
15. What percentage of a BCaBA's or RBT's total weekly service hours must come from direct, unrestricted supervision according to BACB requirements? → 10%
16. In applied behavior analysis, what is 'shaping'? → Differential reinforcement of successive approximations toward a target behavior
17. Which procedure involves briefly removing the learner from access to all sources of reinforcement contingent on problem behavior? → Exclusionary time-out
18. Which concept describes any environmental event or condition that alters the effectiveness of a stimulus as a reinforcer or punisher? → Establishing operation
19. What is "prompt" in the context of behavior analysis? → An antecedent that evokes behavior
20. Which document outlines the BACB's supervision structure, requirements, and ethical standards for all certificants providing supervision? → BACB Supervision Training Curriculum Outline
21. Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement? → A Child is given a cookie for completing their homework.
22. Which recording procedure is most appropriate for measuring a behavior that has a clear beginning and end and does not occur at very high rates? → Event (frequency) recording
23. Backward chaining begins instruction at which step of a task analysis? → Last step
24. Which time-sampling method records whether the behavior is occurring at the exact moment the interval ends? → Momentary time sampling
25. Which prompting strategy fades prompts from the most intrusive to least intrusive over time? → Most-to-least prompting
26. During an indirect FBA, a behavior analyst interviews a teacher about a student's problem behavior. This method is considered indirect because: → It relies on secondhand reports rather than direct observation
27. What is the primary internal validity threat that a multiple baseline design controls for? → Maturation and history confounds addressed by staggered baselines
28. According to Skinner, which type of behavior is elicited by antecedent stimuli and not affected by consequences? → Respondent behavior
29. What term describes the process by which a neutral stimulus acquires reinforcing properties by being paired with an existing reinforcer? → Conditioned reinforcement
30. What is the recommended first step when a supervisor observes that a supervisee is implementing a procedure incorrectly? → Immediately provide specific corrective feedback and retrain the procedure using BST