School Counseling PK– to 12

Test Format and Sample Questions

The School Counseling PK– to 12 subject area test consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions. You will have two and one-half hours to complete the test.

Each question will contain four response options, and you will indicate your answer by selecting A, B, C, or D.

The table below presents types of questions on the exam and directs you to examples of these formats among the sample items that follow.

Table of Question Formats

Type of Question	Sample Question
Direct Question Choose the response option that best answers the question.	Question 1
Scenario Examine a situation, problem, or case study. Then answer a question, make a diagnosis, or recommend a course of action by selecting the best response option.	Question 3

Sample Questions

The following questions represent both the form and content of questions on the examination. These questions will acquaint you with the general format of the examination; however, these sample questions do not cover all of the competencies and skills that are tested and will only approximate the degree of examination difficulty.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of counseling

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following principles underlies the Adlerian approach to group counseling?

Choose an answer

1. communicating the value of transference
2. understanding the purposeful nature of behavior
3. recognizing the role of biology in decision making
4. developing rapport through statements of aspirations

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of counseling

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following terms describes the dynamic of a student venting pent-up emotions?

Choose an answer

1. impasse
2. catharsis
3. regression
4. acceptance

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 1—Knowledge of counseling

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A 4^thfourth-grade teacher referred a student to the school counselor after the student became distraught during a small-group meeting. The teacher had drawn attention to a few errors in the student's homework. The student tells the school counselor, "Everything I do is wrong; I don't do anything right. All the kids hear the teacher talk about my work and they joke about it. Because of the teacher, nobody likes me! I am so dumb!"

Which of the following responses by the school counselor is most facilitative?

Choose an answer

1. "You don't like the way the teacher talks about you and your work."
2. "A lot of us make mistakes now and then. There's nothing wrong with that."
3. "It's difficult to talk about mistakes because you think that other students won't like you."
4. "You seem to be embarrassed and hurt because of what your teacher said about your work."

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of programs and interventions for
addressing current issues in schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

When evaluating a specific school counseling program designed to address an identified student need, a school counselor should begin by considering which of the following questions?

Choose an answer

1. Is the program effectively integrated into the school's larger educational goals for students?
2. Do outcome data reveal a positive impact of the program on student learning or behavior?
3. Were sufficient student resources available to implement the program effectively and efficiently?
4. Is there evidence of student satisfaction and engagement with the program and follow-up activities?

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of programs and interventions for
addressing current issues in schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Many students drop out of school at the end of 9^thninth grade due to academic failure. A school counselor wants to develop a dropout prevention program for the school to help address this issue. As the counselor collaborates with partners to develop this program, it is most important to emphasize which of the following goals?

Choose an answer

1. maintaining a multicultural perspective
2. addressing barriers to school success
3. acknowledging teachers' instructional expertise
4. considering replacement of existing supports if possible

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 2—Knowledge of programs and interventions for
addressing current issues in schools

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following steps is most critical in fulfilling the assess component of a school counseling program within the American School Counselor Association's National Model?

Choose an answer

1. isolating the analysis of results into short chunks of time such as grading periods
2. emphasizing outcome data over process and perception data in reporting results
3. providing stakeholders with reports of results that are concise, clear, and meaningful
4. creating multiple opportunities to present an analysis of results to parents or guardians

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of assessment in promoting student success

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following statements best explains a correlation of .70 between scores on an intelligence test and a reading achievement test?

Choose an answer

1. Above-average reading achievement test scores are the result of higher intelligence.
2. High intelligence test scores and high reading achievement test scores are strongly related.
3. Seventy percent of the variance in reading achievement test scores is accounted for by intelligence.
4. There is minimal association between intelligence test scores and reading achievement test scores.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of assessment in promoting student success

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following assessments is used to measure mastery of content?

Choose an answer

1. diagnostic
2. achievement
3. norm referenced
4. performance based

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 3—Knowledge of assessment in promoting student success

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following statements describes the most important reason for maintaining confidentiality when using students' assessment results?

Choose an answer

1. School policies have been developed to secure student data.
2. Students will have a greater sense of trust regarding school staff.
3. School administrators have an expectation that student information is protected.
4. Students have a legal right to privacy with regard to their educational information.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of career development and postsecondary opportunities

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

John Holland's theory of career choice is founded on which of the following concepts?

Choose an answer

1. A career match is based on an individual's personality.
2. A career selection is based on a person's self-concept.
3. A career decision is a developmental process over time.
4. A career path is influenced by prior positive or negative learning.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of career development and postsecondary opportunities

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A senior in high school has taken most of the school's business education classes and has a current GPA of 3.7. Recent college admissions test scores indicate that the student would be an excellent candidate for admission to a 4-year college or university. The student has previously expressed a desire to become an officer manager. Which of the following recommendations by the school counselor would be most helpful to the student in exploring postsecondary opportunities?

Choose an answer

1. seeking an entry-level job at a local business
2. investigating various careers in the field of business
3. meeting with business owners on the school's career day
4. completing different inventories to identify business-related interests

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 4—Knowledge of career development and postsecondary opportunities

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A high school counselor works with a number of students of multiracial heritages. Many students have told the counselor that they are unable to find a box to check on college applications that accurately reflects their heritage. This issue is most likely to contribute to which of the following experiences for the students?

Choose an answer

1. disequilibrium
2. marginalization
3. moral ambiguity
4. psychological confusion

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 5—Knowledge of consultation, collaboration, and coordination

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following elements is most essential to an effective middle school program to support the transition for incoming 6^thsixth-grade students?

Choose an answer

1. peer study partners
2. student orientation sessions
3. family information meetings
4. schoolwide welcome assembly

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 5—Knowledge of consultation, collaboration, and coordination

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

In which of the following situations would it be most appropriate for a school counselor to consult with the ESOL staff?

Choose an answer

1. A student from Haiti recently enrolled after being displaced by a natural disaster. The student does not speak English as the first language.
2. A student who is proficient in English and speaks only Spanish at home has been significantly struggling to achieve reading standards for 2 years.
3. A student recently enrolled after living on a military base in Germany since the age of 2. The family moved from Germany after the father was deployed.
4. A student who is fluent in Arabic and English enrolls after moving from the Middle East. The student's teachers share concern about the student's inability to focus and pay attention.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 5—Knowledge of consultation, collaboration, and coordination

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A school counselor has been counseling a student who is in involved in a domestic abuse relationship. The school administrator has requested to see the counselor's notes. Which of the following actions by the counselor would be most appropriate?

Choose an answer

1. handing over the notes to the administrator as requested
2. contacting the district office for guidance about providing the notes
3. notifying the student that the notes will be given to the administrator
4. informing the administrator that the notes are not available for viewing

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of professional, ethical, and legal considerations

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Frank Parsons's trait and factor theory is significant to the school counseling profession primarily because it had which of the following elements?

Choose an answer

1. utilizing vocational counselors to identify human talent
2. training of vocational counselors by educational institutions
3. matching careers to skills and personality characteristics in vocational guidance
4. embedding vocational counselors into the Vocations Bureau of the Civic Service

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of professional, ethical, and legal considerations

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to Florida Statutes, which of the following statements describes the legal threshold for child neglect?

Choose an answer

1. The child has been exposed to verbal threats of violence or injury.
2. The child has been denied attention to physical and emotional needs.
3. The child is injured by any person responsible for the child's care or supervision.
4. The child is exploited by any person responsible for the child's care or supervision.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 6—Knowledge of professional, ethical, and legal considerations

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Regulations enacted pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act stipulate that which of the following entities must provide families and eligible students with annual notification of the law?

Choose an answer

1. school principals
2. state regulatory offices
3. local education agencies
4. commissioners of education

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 7—Knowledge of student appraisal and advisement

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A school counselor provides college night and workshop events for families during the first semester of students' senior year. Which of the following information is most important to include in these efforts?

Choose an answer

1. GPA requirements of various colleges
2. college and financial aid application processes
3. high school graduation requirements for students
4. course advisement for students' second semester

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 7—Knowledge of student appraisal and advisement

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A school counselor examines a 4^thfourth-grade student's achievement test showing that the student is performing in the 95^thninety fifth percentile across content areas. These data would be most relevant when considering which of the following placement decisions?

Choose an answer

1. ESE E S E  services
2. Section 504 eligibility
3. ELL E L L  program services
4. gifted education classes

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 7—Knowledge of student appraisal and advisement

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Participating in dual enrollment at a community college would be most beneficial to a student in which of the following situations?

Choose an answer

1. The student plans to attend an out-of-state college.
2. The student intends to enroll in a technical school program.
3. The student is seeking a cost-effective postsecondary option.
4. The student will be applying for career apprenticeship training.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 8—Knowledge of the development and assessment of exemplary comprehensive school counseling programs

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to the American School Counselor Association, which of the following activities is an example of direct services to students?

Choose an answer

1. delivering planned lessons to students within a grade level or school
2. referring students to school or community resources for additional assistance
3. sharing strategies that support student achievement with families or teachers
4. meeting with another educator to advocate for equity and access for all students

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 8—Knowledge of the development and assessment of exemplary comprehensive school counseling programs

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A program assessment for a comprehensive school counseling program is conducted primarily for which of the following purposes?

Choose an answer

1. determining the effectiveness of the counseling program
2. providing documentation of specific counseling services
3. creating activities to support the goals of the counseling program
4. supporting the need for additional counseling staff and resources

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Competency 8—Knowledge of the development and assessment of exemplary comprehensive school counseling programs

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A school counselor makes a practice of gathering academic and attendance data on a regular basis. These data are most appropriately used for which of the following purposes?

Choose an answer

1. closing opportunity gaps
2. implementing school change
3. identifying students who may be at risk
4. evaluating the effectiveness of instruction

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 8—Knowledge of the development and assessment of exemplary comprehensive school counseling programs

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following program outcomes would be most appropriate to share with parents or guardians through a school counseling program newsletter?

Choose an answer

1. Average scores by 7^thseventh-grade students on state reading assessments have improved since last year.
2. The number of students who participated in small-group counseling to address anger management has increased.
3. Following small-group lessons in self-advocacy, students who are LGBTQ have experienced fewer incidents of harassment.
4. Since the initiative to improve school attendance was implemented, absences have decreased and students' grades have improved.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Competency 9—Knowledge of technology and digital citizenship

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A school counselor is working with 8^theighth-grade students to prepare them for the transition to high school. The counselor decides to use a free organizer application with students as one strategy for achieving this goal. Incorporating this type of technology is likely to benefit students most in which of the following skill areas related to high school success?

Choose an answer

1. study habits
2. critical thinking
3. time management
4. personal advocacy

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 9—Knowledge of technology and digital citizenship

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

School counselors in a district will be receiving personal tablets to manage the IEP I E P  schedule, which is shared with several stakeholders. Which of the following technology solutions would be most appropriate for this task?

Choose an answer

1. word-processing software
2. graphic organizer program
3. cloud-based calendar program
4. multimedia presentation software

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Competency 10—Knowledge of cultural competence for school counselors

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Recent data reveal a gap in graduation rates for ELLs E L Ells . Which of the following supports is most likely to have a positive impact to increase graduation rates for this population?

Choose an answer

1. increasing the frequency of informal classroom assessments
2. providing differentiated instruction and learning environments
3. maintaining an updated list of school and community resources
4. customizing school websites to display different language options

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 10—Knowledge of cultural competence for school counselors

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A middle school principal suggests that a school counselor attend professional development workshops to help staff develop cross-cultural relationships. This strategy would be most appropriate for supporting the counselor in achieving which of the following goals?

Choose an answer

1. facilitating activities with staff to promote effective communication
2. helping staff identify hidden biases and implement equitable practices
3. demonstrating for staff how to exhibit empathy with students and families
4. supporting staff in understanding the various aspects of personal identity

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Competency 10—Knowledge of cultural competence for school counselors

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A school's student population includes approximately 45 percent of students whose families have recently fled poverty or political unrest in their home countries. A school counselor wants to work closely with teachers to help them develop strategies for building relationships with the students and learning about their backgrounds. This approach is most likely to have which of the following outcomes?

Choose an answer

1. The students will experience fewer language barriers.
2. The students will have liaisons within the school community.
3. The students will freely share personal information about their lives.
4. The students will gain knowledge and understanding of U.S. society.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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