EKGLab Strip Workup
Create account

EKG Practice Strips

Lead II, 10 seconds. A real patient recording, PTB‑XL record 01299.

What's the rhythm?

Then read whole ECG strips, step by step

Read a real 10-second rhythm strip the systematic way, one question at a time: rhythm, rate, P waves, PR and QRS, then name it. Every answer is checked against the measurements the 12-lead machine made on that very recording.

The six steps of every read

  1. RhythmRegular, broken by early beats, patterned, or irregularly irregular.
  2. RateCount the complexes in 6 seconds, or divide 300 by the large boxes.
  3. P wavesOne before every QRS, extra ones, none, or flutter waves.
  4. PR intervalNormal, long, short, or varying from beat to beat.
  5. QRSNarrow or wide, and whether any beats look different.
  6. Name itPut the findings together and pick the rhythm.

Calipers and the magnifier are on every strip, and a seconds ruler runs under the paper. Rounds of 10 strips, easiest first, never the same rhythm twice in a row. Real recordings from the PTB-XL database (and one from the Ningbo First Hospital), shown in lead II, or in lead I or V1 when lead II is too small to read.

The rhythms on these EKG strips

949 real ECG strips, 18 rhythms, with how many of each. Every round of 10 starts easy and never shows the same rhythm twice in a row. Tap a rhythm for its definition in the EKG Dictionary.

Sinus rhythms

Early beats

Atrial and supraventricular

AV conduction

Paced

EKG and ECG strip practice, answered

Is an EKG the same as an ECG?

Yes. They are two names for the same test, the electrocardiogram. EKG comes from the German spelling and is common in the United States; ECG is used in most other countries. EKGLab uses both.

Are these real patient EKG strips?

Yes. Every strip is a real 10-second recording from the PTB-XL database of 12-lead ECGs (and one from the Ningbo First Hospital), shown in lead II, or in lead I or V1 when lead II is too small to read.

How are the answers checked?

Every answer is checked against the measurements the 12-lead machine made on that very recording. In Guided mode each step comes with a hint on how to check it, and why each answer is right.

Do I need an account?

No. These practice strips are free with no sign-up, and your best score stays in this browser. A free EKGLab account adds the full 12-lead library of 21,000+ real ECGs, every arrhythmia recording, and a starter flashcard deck with daily review.

Will it help me prepare for NCLEX, ACLS or a telemetry exam?

EKGLab is practice: reading real rhythm strips and 12-leads, with feedback on every answer. It is not a certification course and does not award a certificate.