NCCT Review Preliminary Exam
Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
The medical assistant is scheduling a patient for a gallbladder study.
Which of the following terms should the medical assistant use on
the patient test order?
Angiography
Cystography
Cholecystography
Cholangiography -
correct answer ✅Cholecystography
Rationale: The suffix "graphy" refers to writing, recording or
otherwise representing something (data, image, etc.). Angio= blood
or vessel Cysto= cyst, urinary bladder or sack of fluid Chole= gall or
bile Therefore, a gallbladder study would include a
cholecystography.
The use of smaller electrodes while running an ECG on a four-year-
old pediatric patient will require which of the following
modifications?
Decrease the paper speed.
,NCCT Review Preliminary Exam
Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Increase the paper speed.
Place the patient in Sim's position.
Place the patient in a dorsal recumbent position. -
correct answer ✅Increase the paper speed.
Rationale: Any adjustment to the ECG instrument should be noted
on the recording to avoid erroneous interpretation. The paper
speed should be increased on pediatric patients (who have faster
heart rates) so the physician can view each deflection on the
tracing. An ECG on an infant or child is generally performed when
the patient is in the supine position. Occasionally, a pediatric
patient will become restless or distressed, in which case the ECG
can be performed from a sitting position.
A patient's wife calls the office and states that her husband is
experiencing left arm pain and chest pressure. Which of the
following could the patient be suffering from?
IBS
CAD
CVA
,NCCT Review Preliminary Exam
Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
MI -
correct answer ✅MI
Rationale: Left arm pain and chest pressure can be some of the
warning signs of Myocardial Infarction (MI). Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and a
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) have symptoms that present
differently than MI. Getting the patient to immediate care is
essential in a case such as this for best treatment.
The medical assistant is obtaining an infant's respiratory rate. The
correct procedure for performing this measurement is to count the
respiratory rate for
one full minute while observing the rise and fall of the abdomen.
one full minute while observing the rise and fall of the chest.
15 seconds and multiply by four while observing the rise and fall of
the abdomen.
two full minutes while observing the rise and fall of the chest. -
correct answer ✅one full minute while observing the rise and fall
of the abdomen.
, NCCT Review Preliminary Exam
Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Rationale: Infants and children up to age six are abdominal
breathers (not chest breathers like older children and adults). This
means that they are still dependent upon diaphragm muscle to
breathe. Count an infant's respiratory rate for one full minute while
observing the rise and fall of the abdomen. This is a more accurate
measure than counting for less than one minute.
A patient presents to the medical office of the primary care
provider stating the following: "I was previously seen for physical
exams, and the EOB I received contained an error regarding my
medical coverage. The doctor drew blood screening for
hypercholesterolemia, and I'm out of my blood pressure meds."
Which of the following questions should the medical assistant ask
the patient first?
Were you referred by a physician?
Did you receive your EOB for that visit?
Will you be paying for the bill?
Did the doctor say you needed to be seen today? -
correct answer ✅Did the doctor say you needed to be seen today?
Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
The medical assistant is scheduling a patient for a gallbladder study.
Which of the following terms should the medical assistant use on
the patient test order?
Angiography
Cystography
Cholecystography
Cholangiography -
correct answer ✅Cholecystography
Rationale: The suffix "graphy" refers to writing, recording or
otherwise representing something (data, image, etc.). Angio= blood
or vessel Cysto= cyst, urinary bladder or sack of fluid Chole= gall or
bile Therefore, a gallbladder study would include a
cholecystography.
The use of smaller electrodes while running an ECG on a four-year-
old pediatric patient will require which of the following
modifications?
Decrease the paper speed.
,NCCT Review Preliminary Exam
Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Increase the paper speed.
Place the patient in Sim's position.
Place the patient in a dorsal recumbent position. -
correct answer ✅Increase the paper speed.
Rationale: Any adjustment to the ECG instrument should be noted
on the recording to avoid erroneous interpretation. The paper
speed should be increased on pediatric patients (who have faster
heart rates) so the physician can view each deflection on the
tracing. An ECG on an infant or child is generally performed when
the patient is in the supine position. Occasionally, a pediatric
patient will become restless or distressed, in which case the ECG
can be performed from a sitting position.
A patient's wife calls the office and states that her husband is
experiencing left arm pain and chest pressure. Which of the
following could the patient be suffering from?
IBS
CAD
CVA
,NCCT Review Preliminary Exam
Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
MI -
correct answer ✅MI
Rationale: Left arm pain and chest pressure can be some of the
warning signs of Myocardial Infarction (MI). Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and a
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) have symptoms that present
differently than MI. Getting the patient to immediate care is
essential in a case such as this for best treatment.
The medical assistant is obtaining an infant's respiratory rate. The
correct procedure for performing this measurement is to count the
respiratory rate for
one full minute while observing the rise and fall of the abdomen.
one full minute while observing the rise and fall of the chest.
15 seconds and multiply by four while observing the rise and fall of
the abdomen.
two full minutes while observing the rise and fall of the chest. -
correct answer ✅one full minute while observing the rise and fall
of the abdomen.
, NCCT Review Preliminary Exam
Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Rationale: Infants and children up to age six are abdominal
breathers (not chest breathers like older children and adults). This
means that they are still dependent upon diaphragm muscle to
breathe. Count an infant's respiratory rate for one full minute while
observing the rise and fall of the abdomen. This is a more accurate
measure than counting for less than one minute.
A patient presents to the medical office of the primary care
provider stating the following: "I was previously seen for physical
exams, and the EOB I received contained an error regarding my
medical coverage. The doctor drew blood screening for
hypercholesterolemia, and I'm out of my blood pressure meds."
Which of the following questions should the medical assistant ask
the patient first?
Were you referred by a physician?
Did you receive your EOB for that visit?
Will you be paying for the bill?
Did the doctor say you needed to be seen today? -
correct answer ✅Did the doctor say you needed to be seen today?
