A supervisor asks an RBT to revise the definition "Ben becomes aggressive when he is frustrated." Which revision is the best operational definition?

Ben strikes, kicks, or pushes another person with enough force to be heard or to move the person, excluding high fives and play tagging

Ben has a meltdown that lasts longer than one minute during work time

Ben acts out physically whenever he does not get what he wants

Ben shows anger toward peers or staff when a task is too hard for him

A paired-stimulus assessment ranked stickers as a child's top item, but when stickers were delivered after correct responses for two weeks, the child's correct responding did not increase. What is the most accurate conclusion?

Stickers are preferred but are not functioning as a reinforcer for this response

The child's correct responding is maintained by escape

The paired-stimulus assessment was run incorrectly

The child has no preference for stickers

A student asks the teacher for help about 20 times per class, which disrupts instruction, but asking for help is appropriate in moderation. Which procedure best fits the goal?

Differential reinforcement of low rates

Extinction of all requests for help

Response cost for every request

An RBT realizes that yesterday's session note lists the wrong start time. The organization uses paper notes. What is the correct way to fix the error?

Draw a single line through the error, write the correct time, and initial and date the correction

Leave the error, because notes cannot be changed

Rewrite the whole note and discard the original

Use correction fluid and write the correct time

Which operational definition of "on-task behavior" during independent seatwork is clearest and most complete?

The student's eyes are directed at the worksheet or teacher, and the student is writing, reading aloud, or raising a hand; talking to peers about non-task topics is excluded

The student is motivated to complete the assignment

The student looks busy and is not bothering anyone

The student is paying attention and trying hard

An RBT is assisting with a multiple-opportunity task- analysis assessment of hand washing. The client does not perform step 3. What should the RBT do?

Complete step 3 for the client (or have it completed) and give the client the opportunity to perform the remaining steps

Stop the assessment and score all remaining steps as incorrect

Restart the assessment from step 1

Prompt the client through step 3 and score it as independent

Which statement best describes a key difference between natural environment teaching (NET) and discrete-trial teaching (DTT)?

NET embeds teaching in play and routines and usually uses reinforcers naturally related to the response, while DTT is more structured and adult-directed

NET uses only edible reinforcers

DTT always occurs outside, and NET occurs at a table

Why is FCT more likely to succeed when the new communication response is easier than the problem behavior?

Because the learner is more likely to use the response that produces the reinforcer with the least effort

Because FCT works only for automatic reinforcement

Because harder responses are never reinforced

Because FCT requires full physical prompts

Which revision turns "Jonah was defiant all afternoon" into an objective statement?

"Jonah refused 6 of 9 instructions by saying 'no' and walking away; he followed 3 of 9 within 10 seconds."

"Jonah was very defiant all afternoon."

"Jonah was defiant because he was tired."

"Jonah seemed not to care about anything."

RBT

Free RBT Practice Questions

10 sample questions for the RBT, with the correct answer and an explanation for each. No account needed. Try each one before you open the answer.

Sections covered on the exam: Data Collection And Graphing, Data Collection and Graphing, Graphsandtrends, Behavior Assessment, Preferenceassessments, Skillassessments, Behavior Reduction, Behavior Acquisition, Reinforcement, Naturalisticteaching, Promptingandfading, Shaping, Punishmentprocedures, Secondaryeffects, Documentation And Reporting, Stakeholdercommunication, Seekingclinicaldirection, Reportingvariables, Sessionnotes, Recordsandconfidentiality, Ethics, Supervisionrequirements, Scopeandcompetence, Relationshipsandgifts, Responsibilitiestothebacb.

Question 1 · Data Collection And Graphing
A supervisor asks an RBT to revise the definition "Ben becomes aggressive when he is frustrated." Which revision is the best operational definition?
- A.Ben has a meltdown that lasts longer than one minute during work time
- B.Ben acts out physically whenever he does not get what he wants
- C.Ben strikes, kicks, or pushes another person with enough force to be heard or to move the person, excluding high fives and play tagging
- D.Ben shows anger toward peers or staff when a task is too hard for him
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Ben strikes, kicks, or pushes another person with enough force to be heard or to move the person, excluding high fives and play tagging
A strong definition names observable movements and states what is excluded, so two observers would agree. The other versions rely on internal states (anger, frustration), labels (meltdown, acting out), or guesses about why the behavior happens.
Question 2 · Preferenceassessments
A paired-stimulus assessment ranked stickers as a child's top item, but when stickers were delivered after correct responses for two weeks, the child's correct responding did not increase. What is the most accurate conclusion?
- A.Stickers are preferred but are not functioning as a reinforcer for this response
- B.The child's correct responding is maintained by escape
- C.The paired-stimulus assessment was run incorrectly
- D.The child has no preference for stickers
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Stickers are preferred but are not functioning as a reinforcer for this response
A preference assessment identifies potential reinforcers; a stimulus is a reinforcer only if it increases the behavior it follows. The RBT should report the data so the supervisor can select or test other reinforcers.
Question 3 · Naturalisticteaching
A child sees an airplane overhead and says "airplane," and the RBT says, "Yes, a big airplane!" What verbal operant did the child emit?
- A.Echoic
- B.Mand
- C.Intraverbal
- D.Tact
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Tact
A tact is a label controlled by a nonverbal stimulus in the environment (the airplane) and is reinforced by social attention, not by receiving the item.
Question 4 · Behavior Reduction
A student asks the teacher for help about 20 times per class, which disrupts instruction, but asking for help is appropriate in moderation. Which procedure best fits the goal?
- A.Extinction of all requests for help
- B.Response cost for every request
- C.DRI
- D.Differential reinforcement of low rates
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Differential reinforcement of low rates
DRL reinforces a behavior when it occurs at or below a set rate. It suits behaviors that are acceptable but occur too often, rather than behaviors that should be eliminated.
Question 5 · Sessionnotes
An RBT realizes that yesterday's session note lists the wrong start time. The organization uses paper notes. What is the correct way to fix the error?
- A.Leave the error, because notes cannot be changed
- B.Rewrite the whole note and discard the original
- C.Use correction fluid and write the correct time
- D.Draw a single line through the error, write the correct time, and initial and date the correction
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Draw a single line through the error, write the correct time, and initial and date the correction
Paper records are corrected with a single line through the error so it remains readable, followed by the correction with initials and date, according to policy. Erasing, covering, or replacing records is not acceptable.
Question 6 · Data Collection And Graphing
Which operational definition of "on-task behavior" during independent seatwork is clearest and most complete?
- A.The student's eyes are directed at the worksheet or teacher, and the student is writing, reading aloud, or raising a hand; talking to peers about non-task topics is excluded
- B.The student is motivated to complete the assignment
- C.The student looks busy and is not bothering anyone
- D.The student is paying attention and trying hard
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. The student's eyes are directed at the worksheet or teacher, and the student is writing, reading aloud, or raising a hand; talking to peers about non-task topics is excluded
A complete definition lists observable examples of the behavior and states nonexamples, so any observer could score it consistently. The other choices describe internal states or vague impressions.
Question 7 · Behavior Assessment
An RBT is assisting with a multiple-opportunity task- analysis assessment of hand washing. The client does not perform step 3. What should the RBT do?
- A.Stop the assessment and score all remaining steps as incorrect
- B.Restart the assessment from step 1
- C.Complete step 3 for the client (or have it completed) and give the client the opportunity to perform the remaining steps
- D.Prompt the client through step 3 and score it as independent
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Complete step 3 for the client (or have it completed) and give the client the opportunity to perform the remaining steps
In a multiple-opportunity assessment, the assessor completes the missed step and lets the client attempt every remaining step. Step 3 is scored as incorrect, and data are recorded for all steps.
Question 8 · Naturalisticteaching
Which statement best describes a key difference between natural environment teaching (NET) and discrete-trial teaching (DTT)?
- A.NET uses only edible reinforcers
- B.NET embeds teaching in play and routines and usually uses reinforcers naturally related to the response, while DTT is more structured and adult-directed
- C.DTT always occurs outside, and NET occurs at a table
- D.NET never uses prompts
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. NET embeds teaching in play and routines and usually uses reinforcers naturally related to the response, while DTT is more structured and adult-directed
NET follows the learner's interests in natural contexts and uses natural consequences (asking for a swing produces swinging). DTT uses structured, repeated trials often led by the adult.
Question 9 · Behavior Reduction
Why is FCT more likely to succeed when the new communication response is easier than the problem behavior?
- A.Because FCT works only for automatic reinforcement
- B.Because harder responses are never reinforced
- C.Because FCT requires full physical prompts
- D.Because the learner is more likely to use the response that produces the reinforcer with the least effort
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Because the learner is more likely to use the response that produces the reinforcer with the least effort
Behavior tends to follow the path of least effort. If the replacement response is easier and produces the reinforcer as quickly as the problem behavior, the learner is more likely to use it.
Question 10 · Sessionnotes
Which revision turns "Jonah was defiant all afternoon" into an objective statement?
- A."Jonah was very defiant all afternoon."
- B."Jonah was defiant because he was tired."
- C."Jonah refused 6 of 9 instructions by saying 'no' and walking away; he followed 3 of 9 within 10 seconds."
- D."Jonah seemed not to care about anything."
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. "Jonah refused 6 of 9 instructions by saying 'no' and walking away; he followed 3 of 9 within 10 seconds."
Objective documentation states what the client did in observable terms, with numbers where possible, and avoids labels and explanations about internal states.

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