The SPI exam,
mastered.
Practice the way the real exam feels: 1,345 registry-style questions (809 illustrated), 8 unique 110-question timed mock exams with zero repeated questions, and a clear explanation for every answer. Written by Ramy Mena.
Know you are ready before test day
Built in the style of a real registry exam, so the timing, the pressure and the question style are familiar when it counts.
1,345 Questions
Registry-style questions organized into the 5 official SPI exam units, from physics and artifacts to Doppler and safety.
8 Unique Full Mock Exams
110 questions in 2 hours under real time pressure, drawn fresh from the bank every attempt.
Every Answer Explained
Show the answer on any question to see why it is right, so every mistake becomes a lesson.
Score by Topic
An SPI-style score report: scaled score (300–700, passing 555) plus your performance in every unit and topic.
The SPI exam at a glance
The Sonography Principles & Instrumentation exam is the physics exam given by ARDMS. You need it for every ARDMS credential, so it is usually the first registry exam sonographers take.
Multiple choice, taken on a computer at a test center. That is a little over one minute per question.
Scores are reported on a 300–700 scale. The scale is not a percentage and is not curved. You see your result at the test center, and it is posted to your Inteleos account within a week.
Pass the SPI plus a specialty exam to earn your credential. The two must be passed within five years of each other, in any order.
Paid when you apply through ARDMS (Inteleos). You can apply and test year-round.
You can reapply after 3 days, but you must wait 60 days before retaking the exam. Use that time to fix your weakest units.
Every question maps to one of five units below. Our practice questions use the same units and topic codes.
Perform Ultrasound Examinations
Sound–tissue interaction, gray-scale artifacts, bioeffects, beam steering, 3D/4D and contrast imaging, patient care.
Manage Ultrasound Transducers
Transducer selection and frequency, 2D and 3D/4D arrays, nonimaging probes.
Optimize Sonographic Images
Axial, lateral, elevational and temporal resolution, gain and TGC, harmonics, PRF and depth, dynamic range, compounding, M-mode.
Apply Doppler Concepts
Doppler angle, wall filter, sample gate, color maps, aliasing, CW, PW, color and power Doppler, spectral waveforms, hemodynamics, Doppler artifacts.
Clinical Safety & Quality Assurance
Infection control, machine and transducer QA, phantom testing, sensitivity and specificity.
How to pass the SPI
The habits Ramy teaches his classroom students: before the exam, on test day, and during the exam itself.
Prepare
- Study by unit, not by chapter. Spend the most time on Doppler (34%) and image optimization (26%).
- Understand the relationships (what goes up when something else goes down) instead of only memorizing formulas.
- Practice the core calculations until they are automatic: wavelength, the 13 µs rule, PRF and depth, Nyquist limit, Doppler shift, RI.
- Take full timed mocks of 110 questions in 2 hours to build pacing and stamina.
- Review every miss. Read the explanation, then retest only your missed questions a few days later.
- Book your date once your mock scores are consistently above passing, not before.
Arrive ready
- Check the ID rules on the ARDMS (Inteleos) site ahead of time. The name on your ID should match your application.
- Plan to arrive early so check-in and security don’t eat into your focus.
- Sleep, eat, hydrate. A rested brain does physics far better than a crammed one.
- No new topics today. A short formula review in the morning is enough.
- Follow test-center rules for phones, watches and notes. Personal items are stored outside the room.
Work the clock
- Pace at about one minute per question. Flag long calculations and come back to them.
- Read the last line first and watch for NOT, EXCEPT and MOST LIKELY.
- Eliminate first. Cross out answers that break a basic relationship, then choose the best of what is left.
- On images and waveforms, check the color bar, scale, baseline and angle before you answer.
- Never leave a question blank. An unanswered question cannot earn points.
- Change an answer only for a clear reason, not a feeling.
Exam facts from ARDMS/Inteleos as of October 2026. Always confirm current fees, ID rules and policies at inteleos.org. Sonotec Academy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by ARDMS or Inteleos.
Ramy Mena
Ramy has taught ultrasound physics in sonography schools. He is also the founder of Sonotec Imaging, a multi-location diagnostic ultrasound practice in Southern California, so every concept is taught the way it is actually used at the scanner.
His approach is simple: break the physics into small lectures, test every lecture, and never let a student move on until the foundation is solid.
Start practicing today
One payment, instant access. Try 10 questions free first if you like.
SPI Exam Simulator
- 1,345 registry-style questions (809 illustrated)
- 8 unique timed 110-question mock exams, no repeated questions
- Practice by the 5 SPI units, or mix your own
- Color Doppler Image Interpretation section
- SPI-style score report (scaled 300–700)
- An explanation for every answer
- Score by topic and attempt history
- Mark-for-review and question navigator
Free Demo
- Questions from across the SPI topics
- Explanations included
- See how the exam works before you buy
Digital product with instant access. All sales final, so please try the free demo first. By purchasing you agree to our Terms and Refund Policy. No score or pass is guaranteed.
The full SPI program
A complete lecture-by-lecture SPI course is in production: video lessons, study notes, homework after every lecture and timed unit exams. Start with the SPI Exam Simulator today, and join the waitlist to hear first when the full program opens.
Before you buy
Who is this for?
Sonography students and graduates preparing for the ARDMS Sonography Principles & Instrumentation (SPI) exam, and anyone who wants a solid foundation in ultrasound physics.
Can I try it before I buy?
Yes. The free demo has 10 questions with explanations, so you can see exactly how the exam works.
How long do I have access?
You get 12 months of access from the day you buy. Your scores, attempt history and Smart Review list are saved to your account, so you can switch between your phone and computer. One purchase is for one student, and your account can be signed in on one device at a time.
How is the SPI scored?
On a 300–700 scaled score; 555 or higher passes. Our simulator shows an estimated scaled score and your performance by unit so you know where you stand.
What if I don’t pass the SPI?
ARDMS lets you reapply after 3 days, but you must wait 60 days before retaking. Use our “missed questions” and unit practice sets to target your weakest units during that time.
Is this affiliated with ARDMS?
No. Sonotec Academy is an independent exam-preparation program. SPI and ARDMS are names of the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
Learn it once. Pass it once.
Take the simulator, find your weak spots, and walk into the SPI exam ready.
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