DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES 2026 PRACTICE EXAM
WITH WELL ELABORATED 100 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Question 1
The nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which gross motor
milestone would the nurse expect the infant to have achieved?
A) Rolling from back to front
B) Rolling from front to back
C) Sitting without support
D) Standing with support
Correct Answer: B) Rolling from front to back
Rationale: Rolling from front to back typically develops at 4 months. Rolling from back to
front develops at 6 months. Sitting without support develops at 6-8 months. Standing with
support develops at 7-9 months.
Question 2
A 12-month-old infant is being assessed for fine motor development. Which milestone would
the nurse expect the infant to demonstrate?
A) Raking grasp
B) Pincer grasp
C) Palmar grasp
D) Voluntary release
,Correct Answer: B) Pincer grasp
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using thumb and index finger to pick up small objects) is well-
established by 12 months. The raking grasp develops at 6-7 months. The palmar grasp is a
primitive reflex present at birth. Voluntary release develops at 10-12 months.
Question 3
The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old toddler's language development. Which milestone would be
expected?
A) Uses 2-3 word phrases
B) Uses 3-4 word sentences
C) Tells simple stories
D) Uses complex sentences
Correct Answer: A) Uses 2-3 word phrases
Rationale: At 24 months, toddlers typically use 2-3 word phrases. Three to four word
sentences develop at 30-36 months. Telling simple stories develops at 48 months. Using
complex sentences develops at 60-72 months.
Question 4
A 5-year-old child is being assessed for gross motor development. Which skill would the nurse
expect the child to demonstrate?
A) Hopping on one foot
B) Skipping
C) Standing on one foot for 10 seconds
D) All of the above
,Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: By age 5, children can hop on one foot, skip, and stand on one foot for 10 seconds.
These are all expected gross motor milestones for a 5-year-old.
Question 5
The nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant's social development. Which milestone would be
expected?
A) Stranger anxiety
B) Separation anxiety
C) Plays peek-a-boo
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: By 9 months, infants typically demonstrate stranger anxiety, separation anxiety,
and enjoy interactive games like peek-a-boo. These are all expected social developmental
milestones for this age.
Question 6
A 15-month-old toddler is being assessed for language development. Which finding would
indicate a potential language delay?
A) Uses 5 words
B) Points to objects of interest
C) Follows simple commands
D) No words
Correct Answer: D) No words
Rationale: By 15 months, toddlers should have at least 3-5 words. Having no words at 15
, months is a significant language delay requiring further evaluation. Using 5 words, pointing,
and following simple commands are all expected at this age.
Question 7
The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child's fine motor skills. Which milestone would be
expected?
A) Drawing a circle
B) Copying a square
C) Cutting out shapes with scissors
D) Copying a triangle
Correct Answer: A) Drawing a circle
Rationale: Drawing a circle is expected at age 3. Copying a square is expected at age 5.
Cutting out shapes is expected at age 6. Copying a triangle is expected at age 5-6.
Question 8
A 6-month-old infant is being assessed for gross motor development. Which milestone would
be expected?
A) Sitting with support
B) Sitting without support
C) Crawling
D) Pulling to stand
Correct Answer: A) Sitting with support
Rationale: Sitting with support is expected at 5-6 months. Sitting without support develops at
6-8 months. Crawling develops at 6-9 months. Pulling to stand develops at 8-10 months.
WITH WELL ELABORATED 100 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Question 1
The nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which gross motor
milestone would the nurse expect the infant to have achieved?
A) Rolling from back to front
B) Rolling from front to back
C) Sitting without support
D) Standing with support
Correct Answer: B) Rolling from front to back
Rationale: Rolling from front to back typically develops at 4 months. Rolling from back to
front develops at 6 months. Sitting without support develops at 6-8 months. Standing with
support develops at 7-9 months.
Question 2
A 12-month-old infant is being assessed for fine motor development. Which milestone would
the nurse expect the infant to demonstrate?
A) Raking grasp
B) Pincer grasp
C) Palmar grasp
D) Voluntary release
,Correct Answer: B) Pincer grasp
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using thumb and index finger to pick up small objects) is well-
established by 12 months. The raking grasp develops at 6-7 months. The palmar grasp is a
primitive reflex present at birth. Voluntary release develops at 10-12 months.
Question 3
The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old toddler's language development. Which milestone would be
expected?
A) Uses 2-3 word phrases
B) Uses 3-4 word sentences
C) Tells simple stories
D) Uses complex sentences
Correct Answer: A) Uses 2-3 word phrases
Rationale: At 24 months, toddlers typically use 2-3 word phrases. Three to four word
sentences develop at 30-36 months. Telling simple stories develops at 48 months. Using
complex sentences develops at 60-72 months.
Question 4
A 5-year-old child is being assessed for gross motor development. Which skill would the nurse
expect the child to demonstrate?
A) Hopping on one foot
B) Skipping
C) Standing on one foot for 10 seconds
D) All of the above
,Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: By age 5, children can hop on one foot, skip, and stand on one foot for 10 seconds.
These are all expected gross motor milestones for a 5-year-old.
Question 5
The nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant's social development. Which milestone would be
expected?
A) Stranger anxiety
B) Separation anxiety
C) Plays peek-a-boo
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: By 9 months, infants typically demonstrate stranger anxiety, separation anxiety,
and enjoy interactive games like peek-a-boo. These are all expected social developmental
milestones for this age.
Question 6
A 15-month-old toddler is being assessed for language development. Which finding would
indicate a potential language delay?
A) Uses 5 words
B) Points to objects of interest
C) Follows simple commands
D) No words
Correct Answer: D) No words
Rationale: By 15 months, toddlers should have at least 3-5 words. Having no words at 15
, months is a significant language delay requiring further evaluation. Using 5 words, pointing,
and following simple commands are all expected at this age.
Question 7
The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child's fine motor skills. Which milestone would be
expected?
A) Drawing a circle
B) Copying a square
C) Cutting out shapes with scissors
D) Copying a triangle
Correct Answer: A) Drawing a circle
Rationale: Drawing a circle is expected at age 3. Copying a square is expected at age 5.
Cutting out shapes is expected at age 6. Copying a triangle is expected at age 5-6.
Question 8
A 6-month-old infant is being assessed for gross motor development. Which milestone would
be expected?
A) Sitting with support
B) Sitting without support
C) Crawling
D) Pulling to stand
Correct Answer: A) Sitting with support
Rationale: Sitting with support is expected at 5-6 months. Sitting without support develops at
6-8 months. Crawling develops at 6-9 months. Pulling to stand develops at 8-10 months.
