Prekindergarten/Primary PK–3
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Test Format and Sample Questions
The Developmental Knowledge subtest contains approximately 50 multiple-choice questions. You will have 70 minutes to complete the subtest.
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 |
---|---|
Sentence Completion Select the response option that best completes the sentence. |
Question 2 |
Direct Question Choose the response option that best answers the question. |
Question 3 |
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 5 |
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.
Question 1
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 1—Knowledge of child growth, child development, and relationships with families and the community
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following teacher strategies would be most effective in maintaining communication with families whose home language is not English?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 2
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 1—Knowledge of child growth, child development, and relationships with families and the community
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
In the United States, poverty or sudden loss of income affects the development of children primarily through
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 3
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 1—Knowledge of child growth, child development, and relationships with families and the community
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Object permanence is a milestone of cognitive development that typically is functionally in place by what age?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 4
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 1—Knowledge of child growth, child development, and relationships with families and the community
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Based on research, by the age of 6, children can typically be expected to have a vocabulary of approximately
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 5
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 1—Knowledge of child growth, child development, and relationships with families and the community
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A second grader is aggressive and has trouble getting along with other students. The teacher notices that this child is less popular, has lower grades, and is less cooperative than other students. Which factor has most likely influenced this child’s development?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 6
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 1—Knowledge of child growth, child development, and relationships with families and the community
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Expectant mothers who abuse drugs may deliver low-birth-weight babies with behavioral and medical problems, including
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 7
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 1—Knowledge of child growth, child development, and relationships with families and the community
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A teacher's class includes many students whose families are facing challenges and do not have support from extended family. The teacher can best help these families by
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 8
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
In the "nature versus nurture" controversy, the term nature refers to
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 9
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Who is credited with originating the operant learning theory?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 10
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
This person believed development occurs through unfolding; he compared the child to a seed that, once planted, germinates, brings forth a new shoot, and grows from a young, tender plant to a mature, fruit-producing one. He likened the role of the educator to that of a gardener and envisioned education of the young as occurring in a "garden of children." This description refers to
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 11
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is an element of Maria Montessori's program for educating young children?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 12
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
According to Jean Piaget's theory of intellectual development, children in the preoperational level engage in transductive reasoning. Which of the following is an example of how a child thinks during this stage?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 13
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The belief that basic needs must be met before higher level needs can develop is generally associated with the theories of
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 14
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following was an early proponent of the idea that young children learn best through active engagement with developmentally appropriate materials?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 15
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Children need to experience the physical representation of numbers before they can understand the symbolic representation, according to the theory of
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 16
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The "hundred languages of children" is a basic philosophy of which curriculum model?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 17
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which organization has advocacy for children and families as its primary goal?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 18
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The organization that specifically states its commitment to promoting quality care and education for young children and their families is the
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 19
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 2—Knowledge of the profession and foundations of early childhood (PreK–3) education
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Identifying children's speech and language disorders is the responsibility of
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 20
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A primary teacher wants the students to transition to the next activity. Which of the following is the best strategy for accomplishing this goal?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 21
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A kindergarten teacher is developing a unit on weather. Which of the following strategies should be utilized first when planning the unit?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 22
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Mrs. Kern is finding it difficult to teach her first graders how to pronounce words correctly when reading aloud in leveled texts during guided reading groups. The best basic approach would be to have the children
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 23
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following first-grade activities best describes a developmentally appropriate practice?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 24
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following practices by a kindergarten teacher would best facilitate students' transition from one activity to another?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 25
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
If a 3-year-old child is having difficulty working with and completing puzzles, what materials are most appropriate to help this child acquire the skill?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 26
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Mr. Reed notices that some of his kindergarten students always go to the block center during free choice time. To encourage them to spend time at other centers, he should
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 27
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A second-grade teacher observes that several students are having difficulty with rhyming patterns. Which of the following would be the most effective grouping strategy to ensure that all students master this objective?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 28
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is the most accurate statement about daily schedules for 3- to 5-year-old students?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 29
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Kevin and Jill are prekindergarten students. During play, Kevin plans, shares, and organizes members of the group in play scenarios around themes or goals. Jill follows other children and imitates their play behavior, but she does not interact with the other children. From these descriptions, it can be inferred that Kevin is in the cooperative stage of play and Jill is in the
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 30
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is the best approach for adults to use in order to build nurturing and trusting relationships with pre-kindergarten students?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 31
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 3—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A student struggling in math is receiving intensive, individualized interventions. Which of the following documents provides the most reliable evidence that these interventions are effective?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 32
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 4—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate curricula
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Third graders are writing stories about their family members. Which of the following accommodations would be most beneficial for several beginner-level English language learners in the class?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 33
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 4—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate curricula
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Listening skills are best achieved through which of the following activities?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 34
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 4—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate curricula
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A first-grade class is having difficulty with reading comprehension. Which of the following centers would be best for developing comprehension skills?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 35
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 4—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate curricula
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following activities would best improve preschoolers' hand-eye coordination and development of finger muscles?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 36
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 4—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate curricula
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A first-grade teacher used an approach in which she focused instruction on students' internalizing regular patterns of spelling-sound correspondence. This approach is known as
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 37
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 4—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate curricula
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A first grader is reading a self-selected story about trucks. She easily comprehends the story, but she stumbles on the word tire and asks her teacher for help. The teacher should respond by
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 38
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 4—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate curricula
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Mrs. Bunker, a prekindergarten teacher, is planning a unit for Fire Safety Week. Which activity would be most developmentally appropriate for teaching her students fire safety concepts?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 39
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 5—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate intervention strategies and resources available to meet the needs of all students
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following components of effective co-teaching is most likely to positively impact student learning?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 40
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 5—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate intervention strategies and resources available to meet the needs of all students
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A kindergarten student with cognitive delays due to prenatal drug exposure would likely benefit most from a(an)
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 41
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 5—Knowledge of developmentally appropriate intervention strategies and resources available to meet the needs of all students
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
According to most research on second language acquisition, kindergarten students who speak a language other than English should receive reading instruction
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 42
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is the most appropriate approach for facilitating preschool students’ pretend play in the classroom?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 43
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Students and teachers would collect samples of the students' best work to create a
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 44
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
At the beginning of the year, a third-grade teacher should use what information to plan for her students' reading instruction?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 45
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A third-grade teacher has given several 10-item mathematics tests. The test scores do not seem to be consistent from one test to another. To improve the reliability of the tests, which change should the teacher make?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 46
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The most effective type of assessment for determining first-grade students' ability to recognize high frequency words is
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 47
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A second-grade teacher wants to involve students in the assessment process. She asks the students to help select samples of their best work to document their progress throughout the year. The teacher then compiles samples of each child's work, records of teacher observations, the child's self-evaluations, and all other information that aided in assessment during the year. This is an example of a(an)
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 48
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A second-grade class is using portfolios during its creative writing workshop. The most instructionally effective portfolio considering the purpose of the workshop includes
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 49
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following statements describes how anecdotal records are different from running records?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 50
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following types of assessment instruments would be the most appropriate to use when measuring the skills and knowledge children have learned in first grade?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 51
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 6—Knowledge of diagnosis, assessment, and evaluation
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is the first step in the response to intervention process?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 52
Developmental Knowledge Subtest
Competency 7—Knowledge of child guidance and classroom behavioral management
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A teacher can best develop children's self-confidence and positive feelings toward learning by providing activities that