CDM Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: A

5.6% loss in 1 month: significant; refer to the RDN and team: Correct. (160 − 151) ÷ 160 × 100 = 5.6%. A loss of 5% or more in 1 month is significant and calls for prompt referral and care plan review.

5.6% loss in 1 month: not significant until it reaches 7.5%: Wrong. 7.5% is the 3-month threshold. The 1-month threshold is 5%.

6.0% loss in 1 month: significant; refer to the RDN and team: Wrong. 6.0% divides by the current weight (9 ÷ 151). Percent change uses the previous weight (160).

9.0% loss in 1 month: severe; begin a supplement right away: Wrong. 9 is the number of pounds lost, not the percent, and adding a supplement needs an order and assessment.

Significant weight loss (CMS): 5% in 1 month, 7.5% in 3 months, 10% in 6 months. % change = (previous − current) ÷ previous × 100.

Answer: B

1.25 lb: Wrong. This uses the inverted factor (25 ÷ 80 = 0.3125) and would make far too little.

12.8 lb: Correct. Conversion factor = desired yield ÷ original yield = 80 ÷ 25 = 3.2. 4 lb × 3.2 = 12.8 lb.

3.2 lb: Wrong. 3.2 is the conversion factor itself, not the adjusted amount of beef.

16.0 lb: Wrong. 16 lb assumes four full batches (100 portions), which overproduces and wastes food.

Recipe conversion factor = new yield ÷ old yield. Multiply every ingredient by the factor, and round to measurable amounts.

Answer: A

Correct it, check others at risk, fix systems, monitor, set a date: Correct. An acceptable plan of correction addresses the cited issue, identifies others potentially affected, puts systemic measures in place (such as policy and training), monitors through audits or QAPI, and gives a completion date.

Write a letter explaining why the surveyor misread the situation: Wrong. Disputes go through informal dispute resolution. A plan of correction still has to describe the correction.

Discipline the cook on duty and state that the issue is now resolved: Wrong. Blaming one person does not address the system failure or show how it will be monitored.

Promise that staff will be more careful about labeling from now on: Wrong. A vague promise has no specific actions, monitoring or completion date.

Plan of correction elements: correct the deficiency, identify others at risk, make systemic changes, monitor (QAPI) and set a completion date.

Answer: A

Exclude her from the food establishment: Correct. Food employees with vomiting or diarrhea must be excluded. They may return after being symptom-free for at least 24 hours or with documentation from a medical practitioner.

Restrict her to washing dishes for the day: Wrong. Restriction, which keeps the employee away from exposed food and clean equipment, is not enough for active vomiting. The Food Code requires exclusion.

Let her work if she wears gloves and a mask: Wrong. Gloves and masks do not adequately prevent transmission of pathogens such as norovirus from a symptomatic worker.

Send her home only if she also has a fever: Wrong. Vomiting alone requires exclusion. Fever is not required.

Exclude food employees who have vomiting, diarrhea or jaundice, or a Big Six diagnosis where required, and follow the Food Code criteria for return to work.

Answer: C

The hazard analysis: Wrong. The hazard analysis identifies the hazards, such as Salmonella in raw poultry. It does not set the measurable limit.

The critical control point: Wrong. The cooking step is the critical control point. The 165°F requirement is the limit applied at that step.

The critical limit: Correct. A critical limit is the measurable minimum or maximum value, here 165°F for less than 1 second, that must be met at a CCP to control the hazard.

The corrective action: Wrong. A corrective action is what is done when the limit is not met, such as continuing to cook until 165°F is reached.

HACCP's seven principles: hazard analysis → CCPs → critical limits → monitoring → corrective actions → verification → record keeping. CCP = the step; critical limit = the measurable value at that step.

Answer: D

$930.00: Wrong. $930 is the cost per day for the whole facility ($27,900 ÷ 30), not per patient.

$232.50: Wrong. $232.50 is the cost per resident for the whole month ($27,900 ÷ 120), not per day.

$2.58: Wrong. $2.58 is roughly the cost per meal (the PPD ÷ 3 meals), not per patient day.

$7.75: Correct. Patient days = 120 × 30 = 3,600. PPD = $27,900 ÷ 3,600 = $7.75.

Cost PPD = total cost for the period ÷ patient days (average census × days). Compare it with the budgeted PPD to control costs.