Getting ready for the Massachusetts nurse aide exam comes down to two things. Knowing the material, and knowing the format. A practice test handles both at once. It shows you what the questions feel like and points out the spots where you are shaky while you still have time to fix them. Below is a free set of practice questions built to match the 2026 Massachusetts exam, plus a quick rundown of the real test and how to study with it.
What the Massachusetts CNA Exam Looks Like in 2026
The state exam is called the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation, or NACE. Testing in Massachusetts runs through D&S Diversified Technologies, known as Headmaster, on its online TMU portal. The exam comes in two parts, and you have to pass both.
The Knowledge Test
This part is 60 multiple-choice questions with a 60-minute time limit. You need 76% to pass, which works out to 46 correct answers out of 60. The questions cover resident care, safety, infection control, communication, resident rights, and basic clinical tasks. You get up to four attempts within 24 months of finishing your training.
The Skills Test
The skills part assigns you three or four tasks at random, with one task always including handwashing. You get a 40-minute block to perform them, and you need to score 80% on each task. You get up to three attempts. A written practice test will not cover the skills, but knowing the steps cold helps on both parts.
How to Use a Practice Test the Right Way
A practice test is not a quiz to pass once and forget. Time yourself the way the real test is timed so the clock does not rattle you on exam day. Mark every question you guessed on, even the ones you got right, because a lucky guess is a gap you have not filled yet. Then go back to your training materials for each miss and learn the why behind the answer, not just the letter.
Sample CNA Practice Questions
Infection Control & Safety
- The most effective way to stop the spread of infection is: A) wearing gloves at all times, B) handwashing, C) wearing a gown, D) using hand lotion.
- Before entering the room of a resident on contact precautions, you should first: A) put on the right personal protective equipment, B) take the resident’s temperature, C) open the window, D) remove your badge.
- You notice a frayed electrical cord on a piece of equipment. You should: A) use it with care, B) tape over the frayed spot, C) take it out of service and report it, D) keep using it for now.
Personal Care & Daily Living
- When giving a bed bath, you wash the eye area: A) outer corner to inner corner, B) inner corner to outer corner, C) with soap, D) last.
- While shaving a resident with a safety razor, you hold the skin: A) loose, B) taut, C) wet only, D) with one finger.
- When transferring a resident from bed to wheelchair, the wheelchair should be: A) two feet away, B) locked and close to the bed, C) left with the brakes off, D) behind the resident.
- A resident who cannot move on their own should be repositioned at least every: A) hour, B) two hours, C) six hours, D) shift.
Communication & Resident Rights
- A resident refuses a bath. You should: A) tell them they have to, B) bathe them anyway, C) respect the refusal and report it, D) skip it and say nothing.
- Knocking before you enter a resident’s room supports their right to: A) privacy, B) free speech, C) vote, D) refuse medication.
- A resident who speaks little English seems upset. You should: A) speak louder, B) use gestures, stay patient, and find an interpreter if needed, C) leave the room, D) ignore it.
Vital Signs & Basic Care
- A normal adult resting pulse rate falls between: A) 20 and 40, B) 60 and 100, C) 100 and 140, D) 140 and 180 beats per minute.
- You report a blood pressure to the nurse right away if it reads: A) 118 over 76, B) 120 over 80, C) 190 over 110, D) 110 over 70.
- After a resident has a hot or cold drink, you wait before taking an oral temperature about: A) no wait, B) 5 minutes, C) 15 minutes, D) 1 hour.
- Output that a nurse aide records includes: A) food eaten, B) urine and other fluids leaving the body, C) water offered, D) medications.
- When feeding a resident who has trouble swallowing, you should: A) lay them flat, B) sit them upright and give small bites, C) give large bites quickly, D) let them eat fast.
Answer Key
1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-B, 5-B, 6-B, 7-B, 8-C, 9-A, 10-B, 11-B, 12-C, 13-C, 14-B, 15-B.
What to Do After You Score Yourself
Tally your score and see where it lands against that 76% mark. More useful than the number is the pattern. If most of your misses cluster in one area, like infection control or vital signs, that is where the next study session goes. The official candidate handbook on the Headmaster TMU site also lists sample questions and the full set of skills, so pairing this practice with that handbook covers both parts of the exam. These 15 are a starting point from a larger bank that runs past 50 questions across every content area the state tests. Steady review beats cramming, and walking in knowing the format is half of staying calm once the test starts.
