Article
FREE ARRT Sonography Study Guide 2026: The Two-Session Exam and the New Cut Score
Key Facts
- ARRT Sonography includes 400 total items, with 360 scored and 40 pilot items, according to ARRT content specifications.
- ARRT lists Sonography exam time as 390 minutes total test time and a 440-minute appointment window in two sessions with a scheduled break.
- OB-GYN is the largest Sonography domain at 153 of 360 scored questions (about 42.5%).
- Abdomen and Superficial Structures is the second-largest domain at 119 questions (about 33.1%).
- ARRT's Annual Exam Report for 2025 lists a 54.9% first-time pass rate for Sonography across 925 first-time candidates.
- ARRT began using a new Sonography cut score on August 1, 2026; it is still reported as a scaled 75 (with 7.5 section minimums) but needs about four more correct items overall.
- BLS reports median annual pay of $96,590 for diagnostic medical sonographers in May 2025, with 14% projected growth from 2025 to 2035.
ARRT Sonography Study Guide 2026: Prepare for the Biggest ARRT Imaging Exam Blueprint
ARRT Sonography is one of the most demanding ARRT pathways because of its total item volume, two-session format, and section-based scoring model. It tests both technical imaging decisions and clinically grounded interpretation logic across abdomen/superficial and OB-GYN coverage.
For 2026 candidates, there is an additional strategic issue: since August 1, 2026 , ARRT has used a new Sonography cut score that needs about four more correct items overall. That means study execution matters more than usual.
Exam Format & Structure
- Component Details
- Total Questions 400 total (360 scored + 40 pilot/unscored)
- Time Limit 390 minutes total test time (440-minute appointment)
Passing Score Scaled 75 overall plus 7.5 in both the Abdomen and OB/GYN sections; new cut score from Aug 1, 2026 (about four more correct items overall)
- Pass Rate 54.9% first-time pass rate (2025, 925 first-time candidates)
- Cost $225 primary pathway exam fee
- Testing Format Computer-based at Pearson VUE, two test sessions with scheduled section break
- Two-Session Breakdown
- Session Scored Items Pilot Items Test Time Appointment Time
- Session 1 220 20 240 min 260 min
- Section Break - - - 30 min
- Session 2 140 20 150 min 180 min
This structure is a stamina test as much as a knowledge test. Your prep must include endurance and focus recovery.