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FREE ARRT Radiography Study Guide 2026: 85.8% Pass Rate
Key Facts
- The ARRT Radiography exam has 230 total items: 200 scored and 30 unscored pilot items (ARRT 2026 Primary Eligibility Pathway Handbook).
- ARRT allows 230 minutes of test time for Radiography inside a 250-minute appointment (ARRT 2026 Primary Eligibility Pathway Handbook).
- ARRT uses a scaled passing score of 75 and states there is no penalty for guessing.
- ARRT's Annual Exam Report – 2025 shows an 85.8% first-time pass rate for Radiography among 14,070 first-time candidates.
- ARRT lists a $225 primary pathway exam fee for Radiography on its fees page.
- BLS reports a May 2025 median annual wage of $80,110 for radiologic technologists and technicians, with 5% projected growth for radiologic and MRI technologists from 2025 to 2035.
- BLS projects about 15,300 openings each year, on average, for radiologic and MRI technologists over the 2025–2035 decade.
ARRT Radiography Study Guide 2026: What Actually Gets You to a Passing Score
The ARRT Radiography credential is still the core entry point for most X-ray technologists in the United States. It is a high-stakes exam because it controls licensure pathways in many states and directly affects hiring options in hospitals, outpatient imaging, and trauma centers. Most candidates know the basics, but many still lose points by using a study plan that does not match ARRT domain weighting.
This guide fixes that. You will get the official exam structure, a weighted domain strategy, a practical 8-week schedule, and a career outlook tied to current labor-market data.
Exam Format & Structure
- Component Details
- Total Questions 230 total (200 scored + 30 pilot/unscored)
- Time Limit 230 minutes test time (250-minute appointment)
- Passing Score Scaled score of 75
- Pass Rate 85.8% first-time pass rate (ARRT Annual Exam Report – 2025)
- Cost $225 primary pathway exam fee
- Testing Format Computer-based at Pearson VUE
ARRT does not penalize guessing, so every question should be answered. Because only 200 items are scored, losing focus in one domain can quickly drag your scaled score below 75.