Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > Movies

Criminal Minds Quiz: Test Your BAU Knowledge

Quick, free Criminal Minds trivia to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Doros Catalin-MihaiUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration with detective silhouette magnifying glass question mark Criminal Minds quiz on dark blue background

This Criminal Minds quiz helps you test your recall of BAU cases, character names, and plot twists, with instant results. Answer quick questions, track your score, and spot the episodes you might rewatch next. If you want more, try our Criminal Minds character quiz, or take a break with an NCIS quiz or The Mentalist quiz.

Who serves as the BAU unit chief for most of the series?
David Rossi
Emily Prentiss
Jason Gideon
Aaron Hotchner
Aaron Hotchner, often called "Hotch," is introduced in the pilot as the BAU unit chief and leads the team through most seasons of Criminal Minds. He's known for his calm, professional demeanor and sacrifices personal time to protect his team. .
What does the acronym BAU stand for?
Behavioral Apprehension Unit
Behavioral Arrest Unit
Behavioral Assessment Unit
Behavioral Analysis Unit
BAU stands for Behavioral Analysis Unit, the FBI division specializing in profiling and understanding criminal behavior. The show focuses on this unit's work to catch serial offenders. .
Which team member is the technical analyst for the BAU?
Jennifer Jareau
Dr. Spencer Reid
Penelope Garcia
Derek Morgan
Penelope Garcia is the witty, colorful technical analyst who provides computer support and vital profiling data for field operations. Her analytical expertise helps the BAU track down unsubs. .
Which actor portrays Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds?
Joe Mantegna
Thomas Gibson
Shemar Moore
Matthew Gray Gubler
Shemar Moore joined Criminal Minds in season 1 as Supervisory Special Agent Derek Morgan, a former Chicago PD officer known for his strength and protective nature. .
In which city is the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit headquartered?
Chicago, Illinois
Los Angeles, California
New York, New York
Quantico, Virginia
The FBI Academy and its Behavioral Analysis Unit are based in Quantico, Virginia. Many BAU back-briefings and team meetings take place on the Quantico grounds. .
What is Dr. Spencer Reid's reported IQ in the series?
200
140
160
187
Dr. Spencer Reid is said to have an IQ of 187, along with eidetic memory and the ability to read 20,000 words per minute. His genius-level intellect is central to many BAU cases. .
In which season does Emily Prentiss first join the BAU?
Season 4
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Emily Prentiss first appears in season 2, episode 1, as a Supervisory Special Agent who replaces Elle Greenaway on the BAU team. .
What are the first and last names of the agent nicknamed "JJ"?
Jillian Johnson
Jessica James
Jennifer Jareau
Juliet Jenkins
"JJ" stands for Jennifer Jareau, who begins as the team's communications liaison and later becomes a field agent and profiler. .
Which FBI division within the bureau does the BAU report to?
Organized Crime Division
Cyber Crimes Unit
Violent Crimes Section
Counterterrorism Division
The BAU operates under the Violent Crimes Section of the FBI, focusing specifically on serial and especially violent offenders. .
What is the name of Aaron Hotchner's son?
David Hotchner
Jack Hotchner
Michael Hotchner
John Hotchner
Aaron Hotchner's son is named Jack Hotchner. The character's welfare is a recurring emotional storyline for Hotch in the series. .
Which unsub traps Spencer Reid in an underground bunker in the two-part "100" episode?
Frank Breitkopf
Jack Vaughn
George Foyet
Ian Doyle
In the season 5 episodes "100" and "200," Jack Vaughn, an ex-government agent, works with Mr. Scratch to abduct Reid and place him in an underground bunker as part of a sadistic game. .
Which unsub is responsible for multiple IDD-driven murders and appears in the episode "The Instincts"?
David Rossi
Elias Voit
Tobias Hankel
Matthew Dawes
Tobias Hankel, also called the Dread Doctor, is a disassociated personality murderer featured in "The Instincts" and later in "Doubt." His dissociative identity disorder fuels his crimes. .
In the episode "Lake Effect," where does the BAU team investigate a series of subway murders?
Times Square Subway
Mall of America
Union Station
Chicago Transit
"Lake Effect" is set at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, where the unsub terrorizes shoppers in the mall's underground transit area. .
Who rejoins the BAU after a self-imposed hiatus to help solve the "Archangel" case?
Emily Prentiss
Derek Morgan
Penelope Garcia
Jason Gideon
Jason Gideon returns from his retirement to help the BAU with the "Archangel" case in season 1's final episodes, using his profiling expertise to advise Hotch's team. .
Which former BAU agent is revealed to be working with Interpol after faking her death?
Elle Greenaway
Alex Blake
Emily Prentiss
Kate Callahan
Emily Prentiss fakes her own death to work undercover as an Interpol agent in seasons 7 and 8, protecting her colleagues from the international criminal Ian Doyle. .
What is the full name of the serial killer known as "Mr. Scratch"?
Christopher Hayes
Jackson Rogan
Mr. Scratch does not reveal a real name
Halloran Roughan
Mr. Scratch is never officially identified by a given name in the series; he's an elusive unsub specializing in psychological warfare, first appearing in season 10's "Mr. Scratch." .
0
{"name":"Who serves as the BAU unit chief for most of the series?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"Who serves as the BAU unit chief for most of the series?, What does the acronym BAU stand for?, Which team member is the technical analyst for the BAU?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Characters -

    After completing the quiz, you'll be able to confidently name protagonists and recurring figures from the BAU team, enhancing your recall of character names in Criminal Minds.

  2. Recall Major Plot Twists -

    You will sharpen your memory of pivotal case details and storyline turns, reinforcing your grasp of Criminal Minds trivia.

  3. Differentiate Case Types -

    Learn to distinguish between various BAU investigations and offender profiles encountered throughout the series.

  4. Analyze Trivia Questions -

    Develop critical thinking by breaking down quiz questions and answers to uncover recurring themes and patterns.

  5. Apply Quiz Strategies -

    Implement effective recall and test-taking techniques to boost your performance in this Criminal Minds trivia game.

  6. Evaluate Knowledge Gaps -

    Use your final score to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses in your Criminal Minds quiz expertise and target areas for improvement.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Behavioral Patterns and M.O. Fundamentals -

    From the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit (fbi.gov/BAU), study how offenders' signature and modus operandi shape criminal minds profiling. Use the "M.E.A.L.S." mnemonic (Modus, Escalation, Anatomy, Location, Signature) to recall key elements in any criminal minds trivia question and to boost your criminal minds quiz score.

  2. Key Character Profiles -

    Review character names in criminal minds by focusing on each BAU team member's background: Aaron Hotchner (lead profiler), Spencer Reid (genius analyst), Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (liaison), and more. The acronym "HJRMMT" (Hotch, JJ, Rossi, Morgan, Reid, Tara) can help you quickly nail questions in your next criminal minds quiz.

  3. Notable Episodic Cases and Plot Twists -

    Familiarize yourself with iconic episodes like "100" (JJ's milestone) and "Revelations" (Morgan's captivity), since many criminal minds trivia questions and answers reference these pivotal moments. Chart each case by season and use flashcards to memorize the critical plot twist and suspect profiles.

  4. Psychological Themes and Subtypes -

    Understand key psychological profiles such as organized vs. disorganized offenders and signature behaviors, referencing studies from the Journal of Criminal Psychology. Create a mind map to differentiate offender subtypes and sharpen your skills for any criminal minds trivia game.

  5. Effective Study and Quiz Strategies -

    Prepare for the criminal minds quiz by using active recall: draft your own trivia questions and answers, run timed drills, and employ spaced repetition via apps like Anki. These proven techniques will build confidence and ensure long-term retention of BAU facts.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

Television Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker