CCMA CERTIFIED CLINICAL MEDICAL
ASSISTANT EXAM TEST PRACTICE
EXAM NEWEST VERSION ACTUAL
EXAM
1. A medical assistant measures a patient’s blood pressure at 168/98
mmHg. What should they do first?
A. Notify the provider immediately
B. Recheck the blood pressure after a few minutes
C. Document the reading only
D. Ask the patient if they feel dizzy
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Rechecking the BP after a few minutes helps rule out
temporary spikes, anxiety, or measurement errors before escalating to
the provider.
2. What angle should be used for an intramuscular (IM) injection?
A. 10°
B. 15°
C. 45°
D. 90°
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: D
Rationale: IM injections should always be administered at a 90-degree
angle to ensure the medication is deposited deep into the muscle tissue.
,3. Which of the following is the proper angle for a subcutaneous
injection?
A. 90° for all sites
B. 15°
C. 45° for most sites, 90° for some
D. 25°
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: A 45-degree angle is used for most subcutaneous injections
to deposit medication into the fatty tissue, but a 90-degree angle may be
used if the patient has sufficient tissue thickness.
4. A medical assistant is weighing a patient who is 72 kg. Which of
the following values is the patient's weight converted to pounds?
A. 144.0
B. 150.0
C. 158.4
D. 165.0
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: 72 kg × 2.2 = 158.4 lbs. This is the standard conversion
factor used in healthcare settings.
5. Where is the apex of the heart located?
A. 2nd intercostal space
B. 4th intercostal space
C. 5th intercostal space
D. 6th intercostal space
,Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: The apex of the heart is located at the 5th intercostal space,
midclavicular line, which is where the apical pulse is best auscultated.
6. A medical assistant obtains a capillary blood glucose of 48 mg/dL.
What should they expect the provider to order?
A. IV fluids
B. Oral glucose
C. Insulin injection
D. Fasting test
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: A blood glucose of 48 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia. The
immediate treatment is oral glucose to raise blood sugar levels quickly.
7. A medical assistant is performing a pulmonary function test using
spirometry. How many measurements should they record?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Five
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: The ATS recommends recording at least three acceptable
spirometry maneuvers to ensure accuracy and reproducibility.
8. When obtaining a rectal temperature from an infant, how far
should the medical assistant insert the probe?
A. 1/4 inch
B. 1/2 inch
, C. 1 inch
D. 1 1/2 inches
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Inserting the probe approximately 1/2 inch into the rectum is
appropriate for infants to prevent injury and obtain an accurate reading.
9. A medical assistant is preparing to apply ointment to several
abrasions on a patient’s leg. Which of the following supplies should
the assistant use to remove the medication from the jar?
A. A gloved finger
B. A syringe
C. A cotton ball
D. A tongue blade
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: D
Rationale: A tongue blade should be used to remove ointment from a
jar to prevent contamination of the remaining medication in the
container.
10. Which of the following aseptic techniques involves using sound
waves to vibrate and cleanse surgical instruments?
A. Ultrasonic sanitization
B. Autoclaving
C. Chemical disinfection
D. Sterilization
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: Ultrasonic sanitization uses high-frequency sound waves to
create cavitation bubbles that dislodge debris from instrument surfaces.
ASSISTANT EXAM TEST PRACTICE
EXAM NEWEST VERSION ACTUAL
EXAM
1. A medical assistant measures a patient’s blood pressure at 168/98
mmHg. What should they do first?
A. Notify the provider immediately
B. Recheck the blood pressure after a few minutes
C. Document the reading only
D. Ask the patient if they feel dizzy
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Rechecking the BP after a few minutes helps rule out
temporary spikes, anxiety, or measurement errors before escalating to
the provider.
2. What angle should be used for an intramuscular (IM) injection?
A. 10°
B. 15°
C. 45°
D. 90°
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: D
Rationale: IM injections should always be administered at a 90-degree
angle to ensure the medication is deposited deep into the muscle tissue.
,3. Which of the following is the proper angle for a subcutaneous
injection?
A. 90° for all sites
B. 15°
C. 45° for most sites, 90° for some
D. 25°
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: A 45-degree angle is used for most subcutaneous injections
to deposit medication into the fatty tissue, but a 90-degree angle may be
used if the patient has sufficient tissue thickness.
4. A medical assistant is weighing a patient who is 72 kg. Which of
the following values is the patient's weight converted to pounds?
A. 144.0
B. 150.0
C. 158.4
D. 165.0
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: 72 kg × 2.2 = 158.4 lbs. This is the standard conversion
factor used in healthcare settings.
5. Where is the apex of the heart located?
A. 2nd intercostal space
B. 4th intercostal space
C. 5th intercostal space
D. 6th intercostal space
,Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: The apex of the heart is located at the 5th intercostal space,
midclavicular line, which is where the apical pulse is best auscultated.
6. A medical assistant obtains a capillary blood glucose of 48 mg/dL.
What should they expect the provider to order?
A. IV fluids
B. Oral glucose
C. Insulin injection
D. Fasting test
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: A blood glucose of 48 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia. The
immediate treatment is oral glucose to raise blood sugar levels quickly.
7. A medical assistant is performing a pulmonary function test using
spirometry. How many measurements should they record?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Five
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: C
Rationale: The ATS recommends recording at least three acceptable
spirometry maneuvers to ensure accuracy and reproducibility.
8. When obtaining a rectal temperature from an infant, how far
should the medical assistant insert the probe?
A. 1/4 inch
B. 1/2 inch
, C. 1 inch
D. 1 1/2 inches
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: B
Rationale: Inserting the probe approximately 1/2 inch into the rectum is
appropriate for infants to prevent injury and obtain an accurate reading.
9. A medical assistant is preparing to apply ointment to several
abrasions on a patient’s leg. Which of the following supplies should
the assistant use to remove the medication from the jar?
A. A gloved finger
B. A syringe
C. A cotton ball
D. A tongue blade
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: D
Rationale: A tongue blade should be used to remove ointment from a
jar to prevent contamination of the remaining medication in the
container.
10. Which of the following aseptic techniques involves using sound
waves to vibrate and cleanse surgical instruments?
A. Ultrasonic sanitization
B. Autoclaving
C. Chemical disinfection
D. Sterilization
Correct ,,,,answer,,,,: A
Rationale: Ultrasonic sanitization uses high-frequency sound waves to
create cavitation bubbles that dislodge debris from instrument surfaces.
