CCMA Practice Test

CCMA EKG & Cardiovascular Testing Practice Questions

EKG & Cardiovascular Testing makes up 2 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest CCMA practice test. Here are 8 of the 8 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-10 by the Tigertest team. Weighted to the NHA CCMA test plan (3.0). Scope of practice varies by state.

1. 1. When placing chest leads for a 12-lead EKG, where does the medical assistant place electrode V1?

   • A.4th intercostal space, left sternal border
   • B.4th intercostal space, right sternal border
   • C.5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line
   • D.5th intercostal space, left midaxillary line

   Answer: B. V1 is at the fourth intercostal space at the right sternal border, and V2 mirrors it on the left. The fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line is V4.

2. 2. A medical assistant has placed V1 and V2 and is now locating V4. Where does V4 belong?

   • A.4th intercostal space, left sternal border
   • B.Left anterior axillary line, at the level of V2
   • C.Left midaxillary line, level with V1
   • D.5th intercostal space, left midclavicular line

   Answer: D. V4 sits in the fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line, then V3 is placed halfway between V2 and V4. V5 and V6 follow at the anterior and midaxillary lines level with V4, not V1 or V2.

3. 3. At the standard paper speed of 25 mm per second, one small box on EKG paper equals:

   • A.0.04 seconds
   • B.0.20 seconds
   • C.0.12 seconds
   • D.1.0 second

   Answer: A. Each small 1 mm box is 0.04 seconds at 25 mm/s, and a large box of five small boxes is 0.20 seconds. A normal PR interval is 0.12 to 0.20 seconds, which can make those values tempting.

4. 4. Which part of the EKG waveform represents ventricular repolarization?

   • A.P wave
   • B.QRS complex
   • C.T wave
   • D.PR interval

   Answer: C. The T wave shows the ventricles recovering (repolarizing) before the next beat. The QRS complex is ventricular depolarization and the P wave is atrial depolarization.

5. 5. During an EKG, the tracing shows irregular, jittery spikes in all leads while the patient is shivering and talking. The medical assistant should:

   • A.Unplug nearby electrical equipment
   • B.Replace every electrode with new ones
   • C.Warm and reassure the patient, then rerun
   • D.Increase the paper speed to 50 mm per second

   Answer: C. Erratic spikes from shivering or movement are somatic tremor artifact, fixed by a blanket, relaxation, and keeping the patient still and quiet. Unplugging equipment fixes 60-cycle AC interference, which looks regular rather than erratic.

6. 6. The tracing shows a thick, evenly spaced fuzzy baseline in every lead. A fan and lamp are running beside the table. The medical assistant should:

   • A.Unplug nearby devices and straighten the lead wires
   • B.Ask the patient to hold the breath
   • C.Apply lotion under each electrode
   • D.Turn the sensitivity down to half standard and rerun

   Answer: A. Regular, fuzzy 60-cycle (AC) interference comes from nearby electrical devices or crossed lead wires, so those are unplugged or moved. Lotion causes poor contact and a wandering baseline rather than fixing artifact.

7. 7. During an EKG, the medical assistant sees a wide, fast rhythm of about 180 beats per minute, and the patient reports dizziness. The medical assistant should:

   • A.Finish the tracing and place it in the provider's inbox
   • B.Tell the patient it shows ventricular tachycardia
   • C.Send the patient back to the waiting room
   • D.Stay with the patient and summon the provider

   Answer: D. A wide, fast rhythm with symptoms may be ventricular tachycardia, a life-threatening rhythm, so the medical assistant stays with the patient and gets the provider immediately. Naming the rhythm to the patient is interpretation, which is outside the medical assistant's scope.

8. 8. A patient is being fitted with a 24-hour Holter monitor. Which instruction should the medical assistant give?

   • A.Shower and bathe normally while wearing the monitor
   • B.Keep a diary of activities and symptoms
   • C.Avoid all usual daily activities
   • D.Remove the electrodes at bedtime

   Answer: B. The diary lets the provider match symptoms and activities to the recorded rhythm, so normal routines should continue. The monitor must stay dry, so no showering or bathing while it is worn.