This page is for candidates preparing for the ARRT Radiography exam, the computer-based test given at Pearson VUE test centers. It gathers free practice sets by topic, worked explanations, a study plan and a short summary of the format, scoring and retake rules, so you can see what to practise and where the official ARRT pages take over.
The Radiography Exam has 230 questions, takes about 230 minutes and costs $225[1][2] (The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, verified Oct 22, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 230 questions (200 scored + 30 pilot)[1] | assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Time limit | 230 minutes test time; 250-minute appointment[1] | assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Passing score | Scaled score of 75 (scale 1–99)[3] | The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Exam fee | $225 application fee (primary pathway)[2] | The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Retake policy | 3 attempts within 3 years[4] | The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists · Oct 23, 2026 |
| Validity | Valid for one year at a time, renewed annually[5] | The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists · Oct 23, 2026 |
| Delivery | Computer-based at Pearson VUE test centers[6] | The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists · Oct 23, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Associate degree or higher + ARRT-approved radiography program + ethics[7] | The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Score release | Preliminary score at test center; official results in about 10 business days[3] | The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | Pearson VUE appointments can be booked as little as one business day ahead[8] | home.pearsonvue.com · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Registration opens | Apply up to 90 days before program/degree completion[1] | assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com · Oct 22, 2026 |
According to The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, “RADIOGRAPHY Scored Items 200 Tutorial 8 minutes Pilot Items 30 NDA 2 minutes Total Items 230 Survey 10 minutes”[1]
The Radiography exam is run by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). It is computer-based and delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. Under the primary pathway you need an associate degree or higher, completion of an ARRT-approved radiography program, and the ethics requirement. The application fee for the primary pathway is $225. You may apply up to 90 days before you finish your program or degree, and Pearson VUE appointments can be booked as little as one business day ahead.
The exam has 230 questions: 200 scored and 30 pilot. Test time is 230 minutes, and the appointment is 250 minutes long because it also includes a tutorial, an agreement and a survey. Scores use a scale of 1 to 99, and you need a scaled score of 75 to pass. This is not a percentage, and the number of correct answers needed for 75 can vary. You see a preliminary score at the test center, and official results arrive in about 10 business days in your ARRT online account.
If you do not pass, you may make 3 attempts within 3 years. Once certified, you renew every year. State licensing rules differ and are not covered here, so check your state board and the ARRT site for current requirements.
The content areas below are copied from the official Radiography Exam content outline published by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Image Production[9] | Radiography Exam Image Production & Proces... Practise how exposure factors, image receptors and processing choices change image quality, and how to correct a poor image. |
| Patient Care[9] | Radiography Exam Contrast Media and Pharma... Practise patient assessment, communication, contrast media safety and recognising when a patient needs help. |
| Procedures[9] | Radiography Exam Patient Positioning & Pro... Practise positioning, anatomy and the reasoning behind each projection, including what structures it should show. |
| Safety[9] | Radiography Exam Radiation Protection and ... Practise the principles of reducing exposure for patients and staff, and how shielding, distance and time apply in real situations. |
Prepare for the Radiography Exam exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What distinguishes quality assurance from quality control in Radiography Exam practice?
Answer: B. QA focuses on preventing defects through process improvement while QC detects defects through inspection
Explanation:
Option B is correct because it separates prevention from detection. Quality assurance is about the process: written procedures, training and routine review aimed at stopping problems before they happen. Quality control is about the output: tests and inspections that find a defect once it exists. Option A is wrong because the terms describe different activities. Option C is wrong because neither is ranked above the other; they work together. Option D is wrong because both ideas apply in any setting, including an imaging department, not only in manufacturing. Rule to remember: assurance prevents, control detects.
Question: What is the primary value of case study analysis in Radiography Exam training?
Answer: B. Developing critical thinking by applying theory to realistic professional scenarios
Explanation:
Option B is correct because a case study asks you to take a principle and apply it to a realistic situation, which builds judgment you can reuse on unfamiliar problems. Option A is wrong because memorising a single outcome does not help when the next case differs. Option C is wrong because good cases include successes as well as failures, and limiting yourself to failures gives a skewed picture. Option D is wrong because a case study supports hands-on practice and cannot replace it. Rule to remember: when you read a case, ask what principle applies and why, not just what happened.
Question: Which property of x-rays allows them to penetrate matter?
Answer: B. Short wavelength and high frequency
Explanation:
Option B is correct because x-rays are electromagnetic radiation with a short wavelength and a high frequency, which means each photon carries enough energy to pass through many materials. Option A is wrong because a high atomic number describes dense material that absorbs x-rays; it is a property of the absorber, not the beam. Option C is wrong because it describes the opposite end of the spectrum, where photons carry less energy and penetrate poorly. Option D is wrong because x-ray photons have no charge. Rule to remember: shorter wavelength means higher frequency and higher energy, and more penetration.
Start with the official ARRT content outline and the primary handbook, and note which areas you feel least sure of. Then work through our general Radiography sets to find your weak spots before you choose where to spend time.
Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to find gaps in understanding rather than to predict what will appear. Check the ARRT site for the latest content outline before test day.
You need a scaled score of 75 on a scale of 1 to 99. This is not a percentage, and the number of correct answers needed to reach 75 may vary. You get a preliminary score at the test center, and official results appear in your ARRT online account in about 10 business days.
The exam has 230 questions: 200 are scored and 30 are pilot items. Test time is 230 minutes, and the full appointment is 250 minutes, which includes a tutorial, an agreement and a survey. It is taken on a computer at a Pearson VUE test center.
You need an associate degree or higher, completion of an ARRT-approved educational program in radiography, and you must meet the ethics requirement. You may apply up to 90 days before finishing your program or degree. The application fee for the primary pathway is $225.
You may make 3 attempts within 3 years to pass. The 3-year period begins on the starting date of your initial ARRT exam window. Check the ARRT page on attempts before you plan a retake, because it explains how the window is counted.
Pearson VUE appointments can be made as few as one business day in advance, so same-week testing is sometimes possible depending on availability. Book through the ARRT page on the Pearson VUE site once your application is approved, and confirm your test center location early.
No. The questions are written by us with AI tools and are not taken from the real exam. They are meant to help you find gaps in your knowledge by topic. Always rely on the ARRT content outline and handbook for what the exam covers.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.