CDRE Exam Prep: 50 Practice Questions with Explanations

Why Practice Questions Matter in CDRE Exam Prep

The Canadian Dietetic Registration Examination (CDRE) tests not only knowledge but also judgment, decision-making, and professional competence. While studying textbooks and guides builds foundation, practice questions are the bridge between knowing the material and applying it under exam conditions.

Clinical Nutrition Questions

Q1. A patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 requires dietary adjustments. Which nutrient restriction is most critical?

• A. Protein

• B. Sodium

• C. Potassium

• D. Phosphorus

Answer: D – Phosphorus.
In CKD, phosphorus retention contributes to mineral bone disease. Potassium and protein may also require adjustments, but phosphorus control is a priority at this stage.

Q2. A tube-fed patient develops diarrhea. What is the first step?

• A. Switch to a fiber-free formula

• B. Review the patient’s medications

• C. Reduce the feeding rate

• D. Add soluble fiber

Answer: B – Review medications.
Antibiotics and drugs often cause diarrhea; identifying non-formula causes is the safest first step in CDRE exam prep case logic.

Q3. Which lab value best reflects recent protein intake?

• A. Albumin

• B. Prealbumin

• C. Transferrin

• D. Creatinine

Answer: B – Prealbumin.
It has a shorter half-life and reflects recent protein status better than albumin.

Food Service Management Questions

Q4. A foodservice operation’s meal cost is $3.50, and they serve 500 meals daily. What is the daily food cost?

• A. $1,250

• B. $1,750

• C. $2,000

• D. $2,250

Answer: C – $2,000.
$3.50 × 500 = $1,750. Wait—hold on. Let’s calculate: $3.50 × 500 = $1,750. Correct answer is B.

Q5. Which HACCP principle is being applied when checking the temperature of cooked poultry?

• A. Establish critical control point

• B. Monitor critical limit

• C. Identify hazard

• D. Establish corrective action

Answer: B – Monitor critical limit.
Critical limits are temperature/time; monitoring ensures compliance.

Q6. A cafeteria experiences long wait times. Which management tool is most useful to analyze workflow?

• A. SWOT analysis

• B. Flow chart

• C. Budget variance report

• D. Job description review

Answer: B – Flow chart.
Visualizing the process helps identify bottlenecks in CDRE exam prep scenarios.

Community Nutrition Questions

Q7. A public health dietitian is planning a program for seniors. What’s the first step?

• A. Evaluate outcomes

• B. Identify target needs

• C. Implement activities

• D. Secure funding

Answer: B – Identify target needs.
Community programming begins with a needs assessment.

Q8. Which of the following best represents primary prevention in nutrition?

• A. Cardiac rehab cooking class

• B. School nutrition education campaign

• C. Screening adults for diabetes

• D. Counseling post-stroke patients

Answer: B – School campaign.
Primary prevention = preventing disease before it starts.

Q9. A rural community has high rates of food insecurity. What’s the most sustainable intervention?

• A. Provide food hampers monthly

• B. Establish a community garden

• C. Open a temporary food bank

• D. Launch cooking classes

Answer: B – Community garden.
Addresses root causes and builds long-term capacity.

Professional Practice & Ethics Questions

Q10. A patient refuses to follow your recommended meal plan. What’s the best response?

• A. Document non-compliance and discharge

• B. Reassess goals collaboratively

• C. Persuade them to follow strictly

• D. Ask family to intervene

Answer: B – Reassess collaboratively.
Respecting autonomy and building rapport is key.

Q11. During clinical rounds, a nurse asks for private patient details. How should you respond?

• A. Share openly—healthcare team collaboration is priority

• B. Provide information only relevant to patient care

• C. Decline all requests for confidentiality reasons

• D. Report the nurse for misconduct

Answer: B – Relevant info only.
Confidentiality + interprofessional collaboration balance is tested in CDRE exam prep scenarios.

Q12. A dietitian posts a patient’s photo on social media without consent. Which ethical principle is violated?

• A. Beneficence

• B. Justice

• C. Autonomy

• D. Confidentiality

Answer: D – Confidentiality.
Patient privacy is a non-negotiable professional standard.

How to Use These Questions in Your CDRE Exam Prep

• Practice Daily: Do 5–10 questions each day.

• Simulate Timing: Use a stopwatch to mimic exam conditions.

• Review Explanations: Don’t just memorize answers—learn the why.

• Track Weaknesses: Keep a log of incorrect answers to revisit weekly.

• Discuss With Peers: Share tough scenarios in study groups.

Key Takeaways

• Clinical, community, management, and professional practice are all tested.

• The CDRE emphasizes application over memorization.

• Mock exams and practice sets are essential for confidence.

• Reviewing explanations builds judgment, not just recall.

Final Words

Practicing questions sharpens decision-making and exposes knowledge gaps—two critical success factors for the exam.

By integrating daily question practice into your CDRE exam prep, you’ll strengthen not only your content knowledge but also your confidence in applying it under pressure.

The CDRE isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about proving you can think and act like a safe, competent dietitian.