How Many Questions Are on the MFT Exam and What Is the Format? (2025 Guide)

When I first began preparing for the National Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) exam, one of my biggest questions was: “How many questions are on the exam, and what’s the format like?” Understanding the structure of the exam helps reduce test-day anxiety and lets you build an effective study plan. Let’s break it down for 2025.

How Many Questions Are on the MFT Exam?

The AMFTRB MFT exam consists of:

  • 180 multiple-choice questions in total.
  • 150 scored questions that count toward your exam result.
  • 30 pre-test (unscored) questions used for future exam development.

👉 You won’t know which questions are scored and which are pre-test — so treat every question as if it counts.

What Is the Format of the MFT Exam?

The exam is computer-based and delivered at approved testing centers (through Pearson VUE).

  • Question Style: Multiple-choice with four possible answers, only one correct.
  • Time Limit: 4 hours to complete all 180 questions.
  • Scoring: Scaled scoring system; typically need about 102–106 correct out of 150 scored items to pass (≈70%).
  • Domains Covered: Six main areas — systemic therapy, assessment, treatment planning, crisis management, ethics, and termination.

How the Questions Are Designed

The exam is less about memorization and more about application. Expect:

  • Case-based scenarios where you must choose the best next step.
  • Questions that test knowledge of family therapy models (e.g., Bowenian, Structural, Strategic, Narrative, CBT, Solution-Focused).
  • Ethics and legal dilemmas requiring careful decision-making.
  • Crisis situations such as risk of suicide, domestic violence, or child abuse.

Tips for Handling the Format

  1. Pace Yourself: 180 questions in 4 hours = about 1.3 minutes per question.
  2. Don’t Overthink Pre-Test Questions: If one feels unusually hard, move on — it might be unscored.
  3. Focus on Application: Practice with scenario-style questions, not just definitions.
  4. Simulate Exam Conditions: Take full-length timed practice exams to build stamina.

Pro Study Tip 📘

Since the exam includes both scored and unscored questions, aim higher than the minimum. Build your confidence by practicing with full-length simulations so you’re ready for all 180 items.

👉 Check out our MFT Practice Questions + Study Guide — updated for 2025, with 500+ case-based questions, rationales, and full-length timed practice tests that mimic the exact format of the real exam.

MFT Exam Format (2025)

Feature Details
Total Questions 180
Scored Questions 150
Unscored Questions 30 (pre-test items)
Format Multiple-choice (4 options)
Time Limit 4 hours
Passing Score Scaled ~102–106 correct (~70%)

 

✅ Final Thought: The MFT exam has 180 multiple-choice questions, of which 150 are scored and 30 are unscored pre-test items. With 4 hours to complete the test, success depends on pacing, practicing with case-based scenarios, and building confidence with full-length exam simulations.

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