CMA (AAMA) Practice Test

CMA (AAMA) Communication Practice Questions

Communication makes up 5 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest CMA (AAMA) practice test. Here are 10 of the 20 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-10 by the Tigertest team. Based on the AAMA Content Outline for the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam. Original questions; 50 per test, weighted like the real exam. Not affiliated with the AAMA.

1. 1. A patient who is angry about his heart disease starts running charity walks for heart research. Which defense mechanism is this?

   • A.Regression
   • B.Sublimation
   • C.Denial
   • D.Projection

   Answer: B. Sublimation channels difficult feelings into a socially valued activity. It is considered one of the healthier, adaptive defense mechanisms.

2. 2. A patient who is angry at himself for missing doses says, "You people are angry with me for being late on my pills." Which defense mechanism is this?

   • A.Repression
   • B.Compensation
   • C.Displacement
   • D.Projection

   Answer: D. Projection is attributing one's own feelings to someone else. Displacement would be taking the anger out on a safer target.

3. 3. A patient who forgot to take his pills says, "The pharmacy hours are just too short for anyone to keep up." Which defense mechanism is this?

   • A.Rationalization
   • B.Denial
   • C.Displacement
   • D.Projection

   Answer: A. Rationalization offers a reasonable-sounding excuse in place of the real reason. The medical assistant gently explores barriers, such as reminders, without arguing.

4. 4. A potty-trained 4-year-old starts wetting the bed after a new baby arrives. Which defense mechanism is this?

   • A.Sublimation
   • B.Intellectualization
   • C.Regression
   • D.Repression

   Answer: C. Regression is returning to behavior from an earlier stage of development under stress. It is common in young children and usually passes.

5. 5. A patient with a terminal diagnosis says, "Why is this happening to me? It isn't fair!" Which stage of grief does this show?

   • A.Depression
   • B.Acceptance
   • C.Anger
   • D.Denial

   Answer: C. In the Kübler-Ross model, anger often shows as "Why me?" and frustration aimed at others. Staff accept the feeling without arguing.

6. 6. After teaching, the medical assistant asks the patient to explain the steps back. In the sender-receiver model, what is this step?

   • A.Feedback
   • B.The channel
   • C.Noise
   • D.Encoding

   Answer: A. Feedback is the receiver's response that shows whether the message was understood. Noise is anything that interferes with the message, such as a loud room.

7. 7. During teaching, a patient sits with arms crossed and turned away. What does this nonverbal cue most likely mean?

   • A.She wants more detail now
   • B.She fully agrees with the plan
   • C.She is ready to ask questions
   • D.She feels closed off

   Answer: D. Crossed arms and turning away often signal discomfort or resistance. The medical assistant checks in gently rather than pressing on.

8. 8. Which behavior shows the patient that the medical assistant is listening?

   • A.Glancing at the clock
   • B.Eye contact and nodding
   • C.Typing while the patient talks
   • D.Finishing the patient's sentences

   Answer: B. Attentive posture, appropriate eye contact and brief nods show interest. Interrupting or multitasking tells the patient the listener is distracted.

9. 9. A patient quietly admits he cannot read well. How should the medical assistant give his discharge instructions?

   • A.Send the sheet to his portal only
   • B.Explain aloud and use pictures
   • C.Hand him the printed sheet
   • D.Tell him to ask a neighbor

   Answer: B. Verbal explanation with pictures and a demonstration, checked by having him explain it back, works without embarrassing him.

10. 10. A patient with an intellectual disability comes with a caregiver. How should the medical assistant communicate?

    • A.Use medical terms to be exact
    • B.Raise the voice and speak slowly
    • C.Talk only with the caregiver
    • D.Speak to the patient simply

    Answer: D. The patient is addressed directly with short, concrete sentences, involving the caregiver as needed. Ignoring the patient is disrespectful.