539 practice questions for the NPTE-PT, the national licensing exam for physical therapists, split the way the January 2024 content outline splits the real test: musculoskeletal and neuromuscular about half, cardiovascular and pulmonary next, then integumentary, lymphatic, metabolic, GI, GU and system interactions, plus devices, modalities, safety, professional responsibilities and research. Most are clinical cases: the findings, then the best test, intervention, precaution or referral. Every question carries its outline code, so your score report shows the cells you miss. We wrote every question ourselves and each answer names its public source. A study aid, not clinical guidance.
The real test: 225 multiple-choice questions (180 scored, 45 unscored pretest) in 5 sections of 45, 5 hours, at a Prometric center on fixed dates four times a year. Scored 200 to 800; 600 passes in every state. Our practice test is 90 scored questions plus 22 unscored, split by the content outline, with a 70% practice mark.
Passing score: The NPTE passing score (600), and the retake limits
Here: 539 questions. Our own practice questions, with every fact cited to a public source (CDC, NIH, HHS, CMS, OSHA, FDA labeling, published clinical practice guidelines; anatomy checked against OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, CC BY 4.0). Topics are the body systems and nonsystem areas of the FSBPT NPTE-PT content outline (January 2024). Not the exam's questions. Free.
Start studying, freeOpens the PT Ticket study guide. No sign-up, nothing to install.| Topic | On the test | In the guide |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular & Pulmonary | ~12 | 34 |
| Musculoskeletal | ~25 | 68 |
| Neuromuscular & Nervous | ~22 | 61 |
| Integumentary | ~5 | 13 |
| Metabolic & Endocrine | ~3 | 7 |
| Gastrointestinal | ~2 | 6 |
| Genitourinary | ~2 | 5 |
| Lymphatic | ~3 | 8 |
| System Interactions | ~5 | 13 |
| Equipment, Devices & Technologies | ~3 | 8 |
| Therapeutic Modalities | ~3 | 7 |
| Safety & Protection | ~3 | 8 |
| Professional Responsibilities | ~2 | 8 |
| Research & Evidence-Based Practice | ~2 | 6 |
"On the test" is the rough share of a 90-question test for each topic, following the exam's published weights.
A patient rates a cycling bout as 13 on the 6-20 Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale. How should the therapist read this?
C. Somewhat hard: moderate intensity
A 24-year-old soccer player planted and pivoted, felt a pop, and had a swollen knee within two hours. Which test is the most sensitive for the suspected ligament injury?
B. Lachman test with the knee in about 20 to 30 degrees of flexion
An 80-year-old scores 41 of 56 on the Berg Balance Scale. How should the therapist interpret this score?
D. Increased risk of falls; a score under 45 is the commonly used cutoff
A sacral pressure injury is full thickness, with fat visible in the wound bed but no bone, tendon or muscle exposed, and the base is not obscured. How is it staged?
B. Stage 3
During exercise, a patient with type 1 diabetes becomes shaky, sweaty and confused. Which condition is most likely?
A. Hypoglycemia
While the examiner presses under the right rib cage, the patient takes a deep breath and stops suddenly because of pain. This positive Murphy sign suggests inflammation of the:
C. Gallbladder
A patient with urinary leakage starts pelvic health care. Which tool records how often she voids, how much she drinks and when leaks happen over several days?
A. A bladder (voiding) diary
The therapist cannot pinch and lift a fold of skin at the base of the patient's second toe, though it lifts easily on the other foot. This positive finding suggests:
D. Lymphedema of that leg
A 62-year-old with a history of prostate cancer has new low back pain that is worse at night and not eased by rest, with a 10-pound weight loss he did not try for. What should the therapist do?
A. Refer to the physician promptly to rule out metastatic disease
A patient with painful osteoarthritis of the right knee is learning to use a single-point cane. How should it be used?
D. In the left hand, moving with the right leg