M exam guide
About the Mammography (M) exam
The ARRT Mammography examination assesses patient care, image production, and mammographic procedures across screening, diagnostic, post-treatment, implant, special-population, and interventional contexts. Preparation should integrate breast health, positioning, exposure, quality control, image evaluation, pathology, regulation, and compassionate communication.
MedPorium is an independent education platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Exam details can change; confirm them with the official source before applying.
M exam format at a glance
- Questions
- 140
- 115 scored; 30 unscored
- Time
- 150 minutes of test time within a 170-minute appointment
- Delivery
- Computer-based testing at Pearson VUE test centers
Knowledge to review for the M exam
These foundations support the practical tasks in the official examination matrix.
Patient and breast-health care
- History, risk, symptoms, prior studies, pregnancy, consent, privacy, communication, physical findings, and infection control
- Breast anatomy, physiology, benign and malignant disease, surgery, radiation, systemic therapy, screening, diagnostic pathways, and follow-up
Mammographic image production
- Equipment, target and filter, kVp, mAs, AEC, compression, grids, detectors, processing, tomosynthesis, artifacts, and dose
- MQSA, accreditation, quality control, phantom testing, repeat analysis, equipment evaluation, records, and corrective action
Positioning and procedures
- CC, MLO, lateral, exaggerated, cleavage, rolled, tangential, spot compression, magnification, implants, male and special-needs imaging
- Localization, specimen imaging, stereotactic or tomosynthesis-guided biopsy, pathology correlation, complications, and aftercare
M examination matrix
The percentages below are the approximate exam-score weights published by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Use them to allocate study time, then adjust for your own weak areas.
17.4%
Patient Care
Assess and communicate with the patient, review breast history and risk, and support safe, respectful care.
- Verify identity, indication, symptoms, pregnancy status, history, risk, surgery, therapy, and prior imaging
- Explain compression and procedures, adapt communication, protect privacy, and apply infection control
- Recognize physical findings and procedural complications and provide appropriate aftercare
26.1%
Image Production
Apply equipment, exposure, receptor, processing, dose, quality assurance, regulatory, and artifact principles.
- Relate target-filter choice, kVp, mAs, AEC, compression, grid, detector, processing, and tomosynthesis to image quality and dose
- Perform and interpret required quality-control procedures and take corrective action
- Evaluate positioning, exposure, contrast, sharpness, noise, artifacts, labeling, and completeness
56.5%
Procedures
The largest area covers breast anatomy and pathology, standard and supplemental positioning, special situations, and interventions.
- Perform and evaluate CC, MLO, lateral, magnification, spot, implant-displaced, and other problem-solving views
- Adapt positioning for body habitus, mobility, implants, male breast, postoperative change, and palpable findings
- Recognize mammographic patterns and support localization, biopsy, specimen imaging, pathology concordance, and follow-up
How to use this M diagnostic
The diagnostic samples the three current content areas. Review each error by deciding whether it arose from history and communication, positioning, exposure or receptor performance, MQSA or quality control, anatomy and pathology, special views, implants, localization, biopsy, or post-procedure care.
High-yield M study priorities
Priority 1
Diagnose positioning errors
For each CC and MLO image, assess posterior tissue, pectoral muscle, inframammary fold, nipple, motion, folds, symmetry, and compression.
Priority 2
Pair findings with next views
Practise choosing magnification, spot compression, true lateral, rolled, tangential, cleavage, and implant-displaced views by finding and location.
Priority 3
Know QC action thresholds
Review daily through annual tests, responsibilities, acceptable performance, documentation, and when correction is required before imaging continues.
Priority 4
Integrate procedures and pathology
Follow localization or biopsy from consent and targeting through sampling, specimen confirmation, hemostasis, marker placement, aftercare, and concordance.
M exam FAQ
How many questions are on the ARRT Mammography examination?
The current examination format contains 140 questions: 115 scored questions and 30 unscored pilot questions. Pilot questions are mixed into the examination and are not identified.
How long is the Mammography examination?
150 minutes of test time within a 170-minute appointment. ARRT's appointment time also includes the tutorial, nondisclosure agreement, and survey where applicable.
How is the content outline weighted?
The currently effective specification is approximately Patient Care 17.4%, Image Production 26.1%, Procedures 56.5%. These percentages are calculated from ARRT's scored-item counts, so rounding may prevent the displayed values from totaling exactly 100%.
What should I prioritize for Mammography?
Procedures is the largest scored content area at approximately 56.5%. Give it the largest share of practice, but continue sampling every area because the examination blueprint is broad.
What score is required to pass an ARRT examination?
ARRT reports examination results on a scaled score from 1 to 99, and a scaled score of 75 is required to pass. A 75 scaled score is not the same as answering 75% of questions correctly.
Does this diagnostic predict whether I will pass?
No. A 15-question diagnostic is a low-confidence baseline, not a validated pass prediction. Review every rationale and use larger mixed and content-specific sets to build a more stable readiness estimate.
Is MedPorium affiliated with ARRT?
No. MedPorium is an independent education platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Review and official source
Clinical reviewer: L. J. Jenkins
Exam format and matrix information were checked against the ARRT Mammography credential page and examination content specifications. Source reviewed October 15, 2026.
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