When preparing for the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) exam, one of the most common questions candidates ask is, “How many questions can I miss and still pass?”
While the exact number isn’t fixed due to the exam’s unique scoring system, understanding its structure and scoring process can help you estimate a target and prepare effectively.
In this detailed article, we’ll break down the RBT exam, explain how it’s scored, and provide a practical answer to how many questions you can miss while still achieving a passing score.
What Is the RBT Exam?
The RBT exam is a certification test administered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for individuals aiming to become Registered Behavior Technicians.
RBTs work under the supervision of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) to deliver applied behavior analysis (ABA) services, often to individuals with autism or other developmental disorders.
Passing the RBT exam is a critical step toward earning your certification and starting a career in ABA therapy.
Exam Structure: Total Questions and Scored Questions
The RBT exam consists of 85 multiple-choice questions, each with four answer options. However, not all of these questions contribute to your final score. Here’s the breakdown:
- 75 questions are scored: These are the ones that determine whether you pass or fail.
- 10 questions are unscored: These are pilot questions used by the BACB to test new content for future exams. They’re mixed in with the scored questions, and you won’t know which ones they are.
Since only 75 questions are scored, your performance on these is what matters.
You’re given 90 minutes to complete the entire exam, which works out to roughly 1 minute per question.
How Is the RBT Exam Scored?
Unlike a simple percentage-based test, the RBT exam uses a scaled scoring system. Here’s how it works:
- Your raw score (the number of questions you answer correctly out of the 75 scored questions) is converted to a scaled score.
- The scaled score ranges from 0 to 250.
- To pass, you need a scaled score of 200 or higher.
The passing score is set using the modified Angoff method, a technique where a panel of experts evaluates the difficulty of each question to determine the minimum score needed to demonstrate competency.
Because question difficulty can vary between exam versions, the number of correct answers required to reach a scaled score of 200 isn’t always the same.
This ensures fairness across different test forms but means there’s no universal “magic number” of correct answers.
How Many Questions Can You Miss and Still Pass?
Since the passing score is scaled and varies slightly depending on the exam form, there’s no definitive number of questions you can miss.
However, based on common guidance from study resources and training programs, candidates are often advised to aim for at least 80% accuracy on the scored questions.
Let’s break this down:
- There are 75 scored questions.
- Aiming for 80% accuracy means getting at least 60 questions correct (since 60 ÷ 75 = 0.8, or 80%).
- This allows you to miss up to 15 questions and still have a strong chance of achieving a scaled score of 200.
Is 80% a Guarantee?
Not exactly. The 80% figure (60 correct answers) is an approximation, not an official requirement. Depending on your exam’s difficulty:
- On a harder exam, fewer correct answers (e.g., 58 or 59) might still yield a passing score.
- On an easier exam, you might need slightly more (e.g., 61 or 62).
To play it safe, aiming for 65 correct answers (about 87%) would allow you to miss only 10 questions, providing a buffer in case your exam requires a higher raw score to reach 200.
Why Isn’t There a Fixed Number?
The lack of a fixed number stems from the scaled scoring system. This system adjusts for question difficulty across different exam versions. For example:
- If your exam has tougher questions, the BACB might assign more weight to each correct answer, so fewer correct responses could still result in a passing scaled score.
- If the questions are easier, you might need more correct answers to hit the same threshold.
This variability ensures all candidates meet the same competency standard, regardless of the specific test they take.
Practical Implications for Test-Takers
Since you won’t know which 10 questions are unscored pilot questions, you should treat all 85 questions as if they count. Additionally, there’s no penalty for guessing, so answer every question, even if you’re unsure. Here’s what this means for your strategy:
- Focus on answering as many questions correctly as possible.
- A reasonable target is 60 to 65 correct answers out of the 75 scored questions, allowing you to miss 10 to 15 questions.
Tips for Maximizing Your Score
To increase your chances of passing, preparation is key. Here are some actionable tips:
- Master the RBT Task List: The exam is based on the RBT Task List (2nd edition), which outlines six key areas:
- Measurement
- Assessment
- Skill Acquisition
- Behavior Reduction
- Documentation and Reporting
- Professional Conduct and Scope of Practice
Study these thoroughly, as they form the foundation of the test.
- Take Practice Tests: Simulate exam conditions with practice tests to get comfortable with the format and timing. Aim for scores above 80% to build confidence.
- Focus on Application: The RBT exam tests your ability to apply ABA concepts, not just memorize facts. Practice scenarios where you implement techniques like reinforcement or data collection.
- Manage Your Time: With 90 minutes for 85 questions, pace yourself to avoid rushing at the end. If a question stumps you, make an educated guess and move on.
- Guess Wisely: Since there’s no penalty for wrong answers, eliminate obviously incorrect options and guess from the remaining choices.
What If You Don’t Pass?
If you don’t pass on your first try, you can retake the exam up to three times within a calendar year. After three failures in a year, you’ll need to wait one year before trying again.
Use any unsuccessful attempts to refine your approach:
- Review the RBT Task List areas where you struggled.
- Take more practice tests to identify weak spots.
- Seek additional training or study resources if needed.
Conclusion
So, how many questions can you miss on the RBT exam and still pass?
While there’s no exact answer due to the scaled scoring system, a practical guideline is to aim for at least 80% accuracy, answering 60 out of 75 scored questions correctly, which lets you miss up to 15 questions.
For extra security, strive for 65 correct answers, reducing your misses to 10.
Since the passing threshold varies by exam form, your best bet is to prepare thoroughly and aim high.
Focus on mastering the RBT Task List, practice applying ABA principles, and use tools like practice exams to gauge your readiness.
By doing so, you’ll not only answer enough questions to pass but also build the skills needed to excel as a Registered Behavior Technician. Good luck on your journey to certification!