MACE Study Guide
This guide walks through everything the MACE covers, in the order that matches how the exam is weighted, so your study time lands where the points are. Each section ends with what to practice before moving on.
10+ yrs
exam-prep publishing
Free
on iOS & Android
Built to help you pass faster — by exam-prep publishers with 10+ years' experience
- 💡 Key Takeaways — the one transferable rule per question
- 🔍 Hint highlights — the decisive cue phrases in each stem
- 📖 Full rationales — why every option is right or wrong
Every MACE question is written to the current exam outline for quick learning and a clear pass strategy.
Written and reviewed by the LexPort exam-prep team, led by our Founder & Exam-Prep Lead. LexPort builds certification practice questions — this is exam-preparation material, not medical advice. Last reviewed August 2026.
Practice the full MACE simulator — free to start
Full question bank · timed mock exams · every answer explained — right in your browser
Before you start — where do you stand?
A study plan works better when you know your gaps. Three practice questions, two minutes.
Question 1
To adhere to the "Right Documentation" principle of medication administration, at which exact point must the Medication Aide (MA-C) sign the Medication Administration Record (MAR)?
▸ Why B is the answer
Documenting immediately after witnessing the resident receive the medication is correct; this ensures accurate, real-time tracking and prevents other staff from accidentally administering a duplicate dose.
Question 2
According to national scope of practice standards, under which circumstance is a Medication Aide (MA-C) permitted to accept a telephone medication order directly from a prescriber?
▸ Why C is the answer
Under no circumstances is correct; accepting verbal or telephone orders requires clinical licensure (like an RN or LPN) and is strictly prohibited for Medication Aides.
Question 3
The Medication Aide (MA-C) is preparing to give a routine oral medication to a resident with severe Alzheimer's disease who frequently wanders. The resident does not have a wristband on, and there is no photo in the Medication Administration Record (MAR). How must the MA-C verify the resident's identity?
▸ Why D is the answer
Having a familiar licensed staff member positively identify the resident is correct; when standard identifiers (photo, wristband) are missing and the resident cannot self-identify, staff verification is the safest approved method.
Unlock the full MACE question bank
Timed, scored, with progress tracking and every answer explained. Free to start.
Medication Administration, Observation & Reporting (60%)
The largest section. Know the six rights of medication administration cold, the common routes (oral, topical, ophthalmic, otic, and others within an aide’s scope), and — just as important — what to observe after giving a medication and what changes you must report to the nurse. Expect scenario questions asking what you would do next.
Medication Concepts & Measurements (24%)
Covers drug classifications, common side effects, and the math: household-to-metric conversions and reading a medication label or order. This is where careless errors cost points, so practice conversions until they are automatic and always check the units.
Authorized Duties (16%)
Defines the boundaries of the medication aide role — what you may do, what only a licensed nurse may do, and the legal and ethical limits. Many questions here test whether you recognize when to stop and hand off. Learn the tasks a medication aide may not perform.
Your prep plan
Spend roughly three to four weeks: administration and the six rights first, then concepts and measurements, then authorized duties and legal/ethical limits. Finish with timed full-length practice at the real pace — 60 questions in 120 minutes — so the clock feels familiar on test day.