Preoperative Preparation Practice Questions for the CST
Preoperative Preparation is 19 of the 150 scored questions. It covers everything before the incision: the room, the supplies, the scrub, gowning and gloving, and getting the patient positioned, prepped and draped for the time out.
175 questions across every content area in 4 hours, with a score for preoperative preparation and your total against the 98-of-150 passing score.
Free preoperative preparation drill- 44 original preoperative preparation questions, each explained
- 19 of 150 scored questions on the real exam (outline I.A)
- Perioperative Care content area (65% of the exam)
A drape has been placed in the wrong position near the incision site. What should the scrubbed person do?
What our preoperative preparation questions cover
- Basic hand wash, the surgical scrub (counted, timed or waterless) and putting on PPE
- Preference cards, reserving equipment and reviewing consent, allergies and other preoperative documentation
- Patient needs: bariatric, older adult, pediatric, immunocompromised and allergic patients
- Preparing the room: temperature, humidity, damp-dusting and traffic patterns
- Checking package integrity, opening sterile supplies and setting up the back table and Mayo stand
- Gowning and gloving yourself and the team, transfer, safety devices, positioning and skin prep
- Draping the patient and equipment such as the C-arm, and taking part in the Universal Protocol time out
This list is our own summary of the outline tasks, written for practice. NBSTSA publishes the full task list in the CST Examination Content Outline.
Drill preoperative preparation, then sit the full exam
175 questions across every content area in 4 hours, with a score for preoperative preparation and your total against the 98-of-150 passing score.
Free preoperative preparation drillIdeas the questions test most
- The sterile part of a gown is the front from chest to table level and the sleeves from 2 inches above the elbow to the cuff.
- Open the far flap of a wrapped package first; a wet or torn package is contaminated.
- Skin prep runs from the incision outward; the umbilicus or other contaminated area is cleaned separately.
- Alcohol-based preps must dry completely before draping because the vapor can ignite.
Start the free preoperative preparation drill · Perioperative Care drill · Full 175-question mock exam
Common questions
How many CST questions cover preoperative preparation?
Preoperative Preparation is 19 of the 150 scored questions, part of the Perioperative Care content area.
Does the CST test patient positioning?
Yes. Participating in positioning the patient is an outline task, along with applying safety devices and compression devices. Expect questions on arm abduction, lithotomy, prone chest rolls and when each position is used.
175 questions across every content area in 4 hours, with a score for preoperative preparation and your total against the 98-of-150 passing score.
Free preoperative preparation drillMore CST subject areas
- Intraoperative Procedures · Perioperative Care
- Postoperative Procedures · Perioperative Care
- Administrative and Personnel · Ancillary Duties
- Sterilization and Equipment · Ancillary Duties
- Anatomy and Physiology · Basic Science
- Microbiology · Basic Science
- Surgical Pharmacology · Basic Science
- Surgical Instruments · Perioperative Care
Content areas, subject areas, item counts and tasks: NBSTSA: CST certification (format, passing score, content areas) · NBSTSA: CST Examination Content Outline, checked November 2026.
CST® and Certified Surgical Technologist® are registered marks of the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by NBSTSA, the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) or PSI. Our questions are original and are not taken from the CST exam.