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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Psychology & Mental Health

Free BCBA Practice Exam - Test Your BCBA Knowledge

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Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
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Ready to elevate your study game? Our Free BCBA Practice Exam lets aspiring behavior analysts dive into realistic sample bcba exam questions with a mock test format. Whether you're just starting a bcba practice exam free session or sharpening skills with a free bcba mock exam, this interactive quiz provides targeted bcba test questions and instant feedback to pinpoint strengths and gaps. Explore our bcba exam practice tests and fine-tune your strategy through an immersive applied behavior analysis test . Challenge yourself now and take the first step toward exam success!

What best defines Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
An educational method without measurement
A therapy focused solely on cognitive processes
The science of behavior change using technological procedures
A disciplinary approach based on psychoanalysis
ABA is defined as a scientific approach to discovering environmental variables that reliably influence socially significant behavior and applying interventions to improve behavior. It emphasizes measurement, experimentation, and technological description of procedures. The goal is socially relevant behavior change. Learn more at BACB.
Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement?
Reducing screen time for missed homework
Removing chores after tantrum
Turning off TV for misbehavior
Giving praise when a child shares
Positive reinforcement occurs when a stimulus is added following a behavior, increasing its future occurrence. Praising a child for sharing adds attention, a positive stimulus. The praise makes sharing more likely. See BACB for details.
Which schedule provides reinforcement after every correct response?
Continuous schedule
Variable-ratio schedule
Fixed-ratio schedule
Variable-interval schedule
A continuous schedule delivers reinforcement every time the target behavior occurs. It is often used when shaping new behaviors. This schedule produces rapid acquisition but fast extinction if stopped. For more, see BACB.
Which of these is an unconditioned reinforcer?
Tokens
Money
Praise
Food for a hungry individual
Unconditioned reinforcers are those that do not require conditioning to function as reinforcers. Food is biologically motivating when an organism is hungry. Money, praise, and tokens are conditioned. See BACB.
What is a primary focus of behavior measurement?
Internal thoughts
Abstract traits
Unverified reports
Observable and quantifiable behaviors
ABA requires that behavior be measured in observable, objective, and quantifiable terms. This enables reliable data collection and analysis. Internal thoughts cannot be directly measured. More at BACB.
Which procedure decreases the future rate of a behavior by adding a stimulus?
Negative punishment
Extinction
Positive punishment
Negative reinforcement
Positive punishment involves introducing an aversive stimulus following a behavior to reduce its future occurrence. For example, a reprimand after a behavior. Negative reinforcement and extinction have different mechanisms. See BACB.
What is extinction in behavior analysis?
Withholding reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior
Increasing reinforcement delay
Presenting a discriminative stimulus
Applying a punisher after every response
Extinction occurs when a previously reinforced behavior no longer produces reinforcement, leading to a decrease in that behavior. Initially, extinction may cause an extinction burst. Continued nonreinforcement reduces the behavior. More info at BACB.
Which is a permanent product measure?
Recording vocalizations
Tracking eye movements
Timing duration of play
Counting worksheets completed
Permanent product recording measures the tangible outcomes of behavior rather than the behavior itself in real time. Worksheets completed are permanent products. Vocalizations and durations require continuous observation. See BACB.
A child stops tantruming when given candy. This is an example of:
Positive reinforcement
Extinction
Positive punishment
Negative reinforcement
Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus - in this case, the tantrum ends - following behavior, which increases the behavior that terminated the aversive stimulus. Candy is a reinforcer that removes the aversive tantrum procedure. See BACB.
Which dimension of behavior refers to the time between response opportunities?
Topography
Interresponse time
Latency
Duration
Interresponse time (IRT) is the elapsed time between consecutive responses. It's useful for analyzing response patterns. Latency refers to time from stimulus to response. For details, see BACB.
A stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement is called:
Establishing operation
Punishing stimulus
Conditioned reinforcer
Discriminative stimulus (SD)
An SD indicates that a response will be reinforced in its presence. It sets the occasion for behavior. A conditioned reinforcer is paired with primary reinforcers. See BACB.
Which concept refers to a motivating operation that increases the value of a reinforcer?
Chaining
Establishing operation
Discriminative stimulus
Punishment
An establishing operation (EO) temporarily increases the effectiveness of some stimulus as a reinforcer and evokes behavior that produces that stimulus. Deprivation is an EO for food. See BACB.
Which is a primary dimension of ABA research designs?
Replication
Surveying
Triangulation
Randomization
Replication strengthens experimental findings by repeating conditions and observing if effects recur. It is a hallmark of single-subject designs. Randomization is more typical of group designs. For more, see BACB.
Which reinforcement schedule yields the highest steady rate of responding?
Variable-interval schedule
Variable-ratio schedule
Fixed-interval schedule
Fixed-ratio schedule
Variable-ratio schedules produce high, steady rates of responding with minimal postreinforcement pauses. The unpredictability of reinforcer delivery maintains responding. See BACB.
What does 'IOA' stand for in measurement?
Interoperator assessment
Item-object association
Interval observation analysis
Interobserver agreement
Interobserver agreement (IOA) is the degree to which two independent observers report the same observed values. High IOA indicates reliable measurement. It's essential for data integrity. Learn more at BACB.
In a functional analysis, which condition tests for attention-maintained behavior?
Play condition
Alone condition
Attention condition
Escape condition
The attention condition tests whether problem behavior is maintained by social attention. Attention is given contingent on problem behavior. Other conditions test different reinforcement functions. See BACB.
What type of chaining teaches the last step first?
Forward chaining
Total task presentation
Backward chaining
Stimulus fading
Backward chaining begins by teaching the final step, then adds preceding steps. This ensures the learner experiences the terminal reinforcer immediately. Forward chaining starts with the first step. Learn more at BACB.
Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) differs from DRI how?
DRA removes reinforcement; DRI adds reinforcers
DRA is extinction-based; DRI uses punishment
DRA reinforces any alternative; DRI reinforces incompatible behavior
DRA punishes; DRI ignores
In DRA, reinforcement is given for a specified alternative behavior, regardless of compatibility. In DRI, the alternative behavior cannot co-occur with the problem behavior. Both reduce unwanted behavior but differ in requirement. See BACB.
Which prompting method gradually fades prompts within the response?
Extrastimulus prompting
Time-delay prompting
Within-stimulus prompt fading
Least-to-most prompting
Within-stimulus prompting involves changing features of the stimulus (e.g., color, size) and slowly fading those prompts. It differs from extrastimulus by prompt type. It helps build stimulus control. See BACB.
What measure assesses variability of behavior?
Mean rate
Celeration
Latency
Standard deviation of event counts
Standard deviation quantifies the spread or variability of data points around the mean. It indicates consistency of behavior. Celeration measures change over time, not variability. Details at BACB.
Which design uses staggered intervention across subjects or settings?
Changing criterion design
Alternating treatments design
Multiple baseline design
Reversal design
Multiple baseline designs stagger the introduction of treatment across behaviors, subjects, or settings to demonstrate control. They are useful when reversal is impractical. Other designs have different structures. See BACB.
What is stimulus generalization?
Reinforcement of multiple responses
Behavior changes across sessions
Behavior occurs in the presence of stimuli sharing properties with the SD
Teaching multiple exemplars
Stimulus generalization is the transfer of a learned response to stimuli similar to the original SD. It shows flexible behavior across contexts. Teaching multiple exemplars can promote generalization. Learn more at BACB.
Which is an example of automatic reinforcement?
Hand flapping that produces sensory stimulation
Teen spills to avoid chore
Child cries to get attention
Student raises hand to speak
Automatic reinforcement occurs when the behavior itself directly produces its own reinforcement, like sensory feedback from hand flapping. It does not depend on social mediation. See BACB.
In verbal behavior, a 'mand' is:
A response to another person's verbal behavior
A label for an object
A request controlled by a motivating operation
A repetition of speech
A mand is a functional category of verbal behavior where the speaker asks for what they want or need under the influence of a motivating operation. It is reinforced by obtaining the requested item. See Skinner's analysis at BACB.
What term describes the correlation between two measures without implied causation?
Prediction
Alternating treatments
Covariation
Functional relation
Covariation refers to the measure of how two variables change together without asserting a causal link. Prediction is the capability to anticipate behavior, while functional relation implies causality. For more, see BACB.
Which error occurs when instructions are removed too quickly?
Stimulus discrimination error
Reinforcement schedule mismatch
Prompt dependence
Generalization failure
Prompt dependence happens when a learner relies on prompts because they have not been faded systematically. Removing prompts too fast prevents independent responding. Appropriate fading reduces dependence. See BACB.
What is the primary purpose of preference assessments?
Record problem behavior
Assess language skills
Measure client IQ
Identify potential reinforcers
Preference assessments determine which stimuli a learner prefers, guiding the selection of reinforcers for intervention. They can be paired stimulus, multiple stimulus, or single stimulus formats. They improve treatment effectiveness. See BACB.
Which approach assesses the functional relation by applying and withdrawing treatment?
Changing criterion
Reversal design
Alternating treatments
Multiple baseline
Reversal (ABAB) designs involve implementing the intervention, withdrawing it, and reapplying to demonstrate control over behavior change. They are powerful but can raise ethical concerns when withdrawing effective treatments. See BACB.
Which statistic measures the extent to which data points lie on a straight line in a graph?
Correlation coefficient
Mean difference
Standard deviation
Celeration value
The correlation coefficient (.r.) quantifies the degree and direction of the linear relationship between two variables. In single-case designs, it's used to evaluate trend. Other measures assess variability or change. See BACB.
In alternating treatments design, what controls for sequence effects?
Changing criterion
Reversal to baseline
Randomizing condition order
Using long phases
Alternating treatments designs present conditions in a rapid, often randomized sequence to reduce carryover or sequence effects. Randomization prevents predictable patterns. Long phases and reversals are not used in this design. See BACB.
Which component is NOT part of a behavior intervention plan?
Intervention strategies
Functional assessment results
Data collection procedures
Pharmacological treatment schedule
Behavior intervention plans focus on antecedent strategies, teaching procedures, consequence strategies, and measurement systems. Pharmacological treatments are medical, not typically in BIP. BIPs are purely behavioral. See BACB.
Which analysis assesses how varying reinforcement magnitude affects behavior?
Component analysis
Parametric analysis
Functional analysis
Ethological assessment
Parametric analyses systematically manipulate the values of an independent variable - such as reinforcement magnitude - to observe effects on behavior. Component analyses remove or add pieces of a treatment package. See BACB.
In a conditional discrimination task, which stimulus class is the 'conditional' stimulus?
Exemplar stimulus
Prompt stimulus
Sample stimulus
Comparison stimulus
In conditional discrimination, the sample (conditional) stimulus sets the occasion for choosing the correct comparison stimulus. The learner responds differently depending on which sample is presented. Comparisons are the choices. See BACB.
What is the difference between functional relation and functional correlation?
They are synonyms
One is parametric, the other is nonparametric
Relation implies causality; correlation does not
Correlation implies causality; relation does not
A functional relation is demonstrated when experimental manipulation of the independent variable results in reliable behavior change. Correlation merely indicates a coincidental change. Practitioners must demonstrate cause-effect. See BACB.
Which measure indicates how often a behavior occurs per unit of time?
Percent correct
IRT
Latency
Rate
Rate is calculated as count per unit time and reflects frequency of behavior. It's a fundamental measure in ABA. Percent correct is accuracy-based; latency measures time to respond. See BACB.
Which design uses criterion levels to gradually shift behavior?
Multiple baseline design
Alternating treatments design
Changing criterion design
Reversal design
Changing criterion designs involve a sequence of phases with different performance criteria for reinforcement, demonstrating experimental control. Behavior must meet each criterion before moving on. Other designs manipulate intervention differently. See BACB.
Which analytic strategy isolates the active components of a complex intervention?
Multiple baseline
Parametric analysis
Component analysis
Reversal design
Component analysis evaluates which elements of a multi-component treatment are necessary for behavior change by adding or removing components. Parametric analysis varies magnitude, not presence. See BACB.
Which term describes pairing a neutral stimulus with a reinforcer until it acquires reinforcing properties?
Generalized reinforcement
Unconditioned reinforcement
Conditioned reinforcement
Automatic reinforcement
A conditioned reinforcer is a previously neutral stimulus that acquires value through pairing with unconditioned or conditioned reinforcers. Money and tokens are examples. Generalized reinforcers require multiple pairings. See BACB.
What is an establishing operation's effect on behavior?
Serves as a discriminative stimulus
Increases the current effectiveness of a reinforcer and evokes related behavior
Decreases the value of a punisher
Signals punishment availability
An establishing operation temporarily increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer (e.g., food deprivation) and evokes behaviors that have produced that reinforcer in the past. Abolishing operations have the opposite effect. See BACB.
Which ethical principle requires behavior analysts to only use empirically supported procedures?
Confidentiality
Client dignity
Competence
Evidence-based practice
The BACB's professional and ethical compliance code mandates that practitioners use evidence-based interventions. This ensures treatment effectiveness and client safety. Other principles address respect and confidentiality. See BACB Ethics Code.
In a parametric analysis of reinforcement magnitude, what pattern indicates a dose - response relation?
No change across magnitudes
Behavior increases monotonically as magnitude increases
Irregular fluctuations
Behavior peaks then decreases
A dose - response relation shows systematic and predictable changes in behavior corresponding to changes in reinforcement magnitude. A monotonic increase suggests stronger reinforcers yield more behavior. Irregular patterns undermine parametric control. See BACB.
Which advanced analysis isolates contextual variables impacting behavior across settings?
Descriptive functional assessment
Multielement functional analysis
Repeated acquisition analysis
Behavioral chaining analysis
Multielement (multicontingency) functional analysis rapidly alternates conditions to identify contextual variables and contingencies across settings. It controls for setting variables. Descriptive assessment is observational only. See BACB.
In behavior-analytic research, which design allows assessment of generalization gradient?
Alternating treatments design
Stimulus generalization probe series
Multiple baseline design
Reversal design
Stimulus generalization probes involve presenting untrained stimuli to assess response gradients around the trained stimulus. The gradient shows how response strength decreases as similarity lessens. Other designs assess treatment effects, not generalization gradient. See BACB.
Which concept describes the probability a behavior will occur in contexts with stimulus control similar to the training context?
Adaptation
Generalization
Maintenance
Discrimination
Generalization refers to behavior transfer across contexts, stimuli, or responses similar to those in training. High probability of occurrence indicates successful generalization. Discrimination is responding only under specific conditions. See BACB.
Which advanced ethical scenario requires supervisory oversight according to the BACB Code?
When providing behavior-analytic services beyond one's competence
When interviewing potential staff members
When prescribing medication for clients
When billing insurance
The BACB Code requires that behavior analysts provide services only within their scope of competence and obtain appropriate supervision or training when working beyond it. Medication prescription is outside ABA scope entirely. See BACB Ethics Code.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the BCBA Exam Structure -

    Gain clarity on the format and content areas of the BCBA practice exam, including question types and scoring mechanics.

  2. Analyze Sample BCBA Exam Questions -

    Break down real-world-style questions to identify key concepts and improve your test-taking strategies.

  3. Apply ABA Principles to Mock Scenarios -

    Use core Applied Behavior Analysis theories to solve practice problems and reinforce critical thinking.

  4. Evaluate Personal Performance -

    Review your scored responses to pinpoint strengths and target areas for improvement.

  5. Develop a Targeted Study Plan -

    Create a focused revision strategy based on your mock exam results to boost your readiness for the BCBA test.

Cheat Sheet

  1. A-B-C Data Collection Mastery -

    Accurately collecting Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence data allows you to pinpoint environmental triggers and reinforce desired behaviors systematically. For example, note what happens right before and after the target behavior - Antecedent (e.g., request to share a toy), Behavior (child shares), Consequence (verbal praise). Use the mnemonic "ABC Always Brings Clarity" from BACB guidelines to cement the sequence in your memory.

  2. Understanding Schedules of Reinforcement -

    Knowing fixed and variable schedules (FR, VR, FI, VI) is crucial for your bcba practice exam as each yields distinct response patterns. For instance, a VR-5 schedule (variable ratio averaging five responses) produces high, steady rates of behavior, whereas FI-30 (fixed interval 30 seconds) often generates scalloped responding. Remember "FRuits are Fixed, VInes are Variable" to recall the difference between fixed and variable schedules.

  3. Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) Process -

    Master each step of the FBA - indirect assessment, direct observation, hypothesis development, and functional analysis - following BACB standards. Identify the four main functions (Attention, Escape, Tangible, Sensory), often learned with the mnemonic "A.E.T.S.", to classify behavior. Solid FBA skills will help you tackle sample BCBA exam questions on function-based interventions.

  4. Chaining and Task Analysis Techniques -

    Break complex skills into discrete steps using task analysis and select forward or backward chaining based on learner needs. Forward chaining teaches steps in natural order, while backward chaining capitalizes on completing the final, reinforcing step first. Citing University of Kansas research, pairing chaining with prompt fading enhances mastery and generalization.

  5. Measurement, Graphing, and IOA Calculations -

    Accurate data measurement (rate, duration, latency) and clear graphs are essential in both the free BCBA mock exam and real-world practice. Compute interobserver agreement (IOA) with the formula: (smaller count ÷ larger count) × 100 to ensure reliability in your observations. Visual inspection of trend, level, and variability on a line graph is often tested in BCBA test questions for single-subject research design.

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