Surgical Instruments Practice Questions for the CST
Identifying instruments by function, application and classification is an outline task in Intraoperative Procedures. These questions test instrument names and uses in words: which scissors, clamp, forceps, retractor or suction tip fits a job, and how instruments are classified and cared for.
175 questions across every content area in 4 hours, with a score for surgical instruments and your total against the 98-of-150 passing score.
Free surgical instruments drill- 39 original surgical instruments questions, each explained
- Outline tasks I.B.9 and I.B.11, inside Intraoperative Procedures
- Perioperative Care content area (65% of the exam)
Which tissue forceps have atraumatic, finely grooved tips and are used on blood vessels?
What our surgical instruments questions cover
- Cutting and dissecting: scalpel blades and handles, Metzenbaum, Mayo, Potts and other scissors
- Clamping and occluding: hemostats, Kocher, right-angle, Allis, Babcock, vascular and intestinal clamps
- Grasping and holding: tissue forceps, needle holders, towel clips and sponge forceps
- Retracting: handheld and self-retaining retractors
- Suctioning, dilating and measuring: Yankauer, Frazier, Poole, Hegar dilators and the uterine sound
- Specialty instruments for orthopedic, spine, gynecologic, thoracic and vascular procedures, and instrument care
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 surgical instruments, then sit the full exam
175 questions across every content area in 4 hours, with a score for surgical instruments and your total against the 98-of-150 passing score.
Free surgical instruments drillIdeas the questions test most
- Metzenbaum scissors cut delicate tissue; straight Mayo scissors cut suture.
- Toothed instruments (Kocher, Allis, Adson 1x2) grip tissue that will be removed or sutured; atraumatic ones (Babcock, DeBakey, Doyen) hold tissue that stays.
- No. 3 handles take blades 10, 11, 12 and 15; No. 4 handles take blades 20 to 25.
Start the free surgical instruments drill · Perioperative Care drill · Full 175-question mock exam
Common questions
Does the CST have pictures of instruments?
NBSTSA does not publish its item formats beyond the sample questions in the content outline, which are text-only. Our instrument questions are written in words, testing names, functions and uses.
Which instruments should I know for the CST?
The outline asks you to identify instruments by function, application and classification. NBSTSA lists Nemitz’s Surgical Instrumentation on its reference list; start with the basic sets (cutting, clamping, grasping, retracting, suturing, suctioning) and add specialty instruments by procedure.
175 questions across every content area in 4 hours, with a score for surgical instruments and your total against the 98-of-150 passing score.
Free surgical instruments drillMore CST subject areas
- Preoperative Preparation · Perioperative Care
- 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
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.