Ready to Ace Your AST Practice Test?
Tackle our free AST practice exam: 250 questions to conquer your AST exam
This AST practice test helps you prepare for the exam with 250 free questions on basic science, perioperative care, and intraoperative management. Work through realistic scenarios in airway management, aseptic technique, and pharmacology to spot gaps before test day; you can also review a CST practice set and more anesthesia technician questions.
Study Outcomes
- Understand Basic Sciences Principles -
Gain a solid grasp of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology concepts as they appear on the AST practice test, ensuring you can confidently answer fundamental science questions.
- Apply Perioperative Care Guidelines -
Learn to integrate preoperative assessment, patient preparation, and safety protocols into your decision-making process, mirroring the scenarios encountered on the AST exam.
- Implement Intraoperative Management Strategies -
Practice selecting appropriate monitoring techniques, equipment usage, and intervention protocols to manage intraoperative challenges effectively.
- Analyze Performance and Identify Knowledge Gaps -
Use detailed feedback from 250 practice questions to pinpoint weak areas, track your progress, and focus your study on topics that need improvement.
- Simulate Real Exam Conditions -
Experience timed, exam-style questioning to build familiarity with the AST practice exam format and pacing, reducing test-day anxiety.
- Build Confidence and Test-Taking Skills -
Develop effective strategies for reading questions, eliminating incorrect options, and managing your time to maximize your score on the AST certification exam.
Cheat Sheet
- Local Anesthetic Classification & Metabolism -
Understand the two main classes of local anesthetics - amides (e.g., lidocaine, bupivacaine) and esters (e.g., procaine) - and their metabolic pathways in the liver or by plasma cholinesterase, respectively (Goodman & Gilman's, 13th ed.). Remember the mnemonic "I before E except after Amide" to recall that amides contain two "I"s. Reviewing these distinctions on your AST practice test will help you predict onset, duration, and toxicity profiles.
- Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation for Acid - Base Balance -
Mastering pH = pKa + log([A - ]/[HA]) is key for interpreting arterial blood gases; this formula is highlighted in many physiology texts (Guyton & Hall, 14th ed.). A handy trick is "pHaKa" to remind you that pH and pKa are paired. Applying this on AST practice questions will sharpen your skills for acid - base perioperative scenarios.
- ASA Physical Status Classification -
Familiarize yourself with the ASA I - VI scale to stratify surgical risk, as outlined by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Use the phrase "Healthy, Mild, Severe, Emergency, Moribund, Donor" to recall each category. Accurately assigning ASA status on your AST practice exam improves perioperative planning and patient safety.
- Maintenance Fluid Calculation: 4-2-1 Rule -
Use the classic 4 mL/kg for first 10 kg, 2 mL/kg for next 10 kg, 1 mL/kg for remaining body weight to estimate hourly maintenance IV fluids (Pediatric Advanced Life Support guidelines). For example, a 70 kg adult receives 4×10 + 2×10 + 1×50 = 90 mL/hr. Practicing this on AST practice questions ensures precise intraoperative hydration management.
- End-Tidal CO₂ Monitoring & Norms -
Know that normal ETCO₂ ranges from 35 - 45 mm Hg and use capnography waveforms to detect hypoventilation, circuit leaks, or airway obstruction (AAGBI Standards). The rhyme "High flat line, check your pipeline; low spike, ventilate right" helps recall common alarms. Testing this on your ast practice test reinforces vigilant intraoperative monitoring.