1
NES 601 Special Education Exam Prep:
Practice Questions with Accurate Solutions
(2025/2026)
1. She can use the lists when planning independent reading and research
projects for each student." - ANSWER
2. In the first week of school, a resource teacher asks her high school students
to make lists of things they know how to do well. How is this activity most
useful to the teacher? - ANSWER It is an informal assessment of their
writing skills and gives the teacher an idea of each student's interests and
abilities.
3. According to the Assistive Technology Act, assistive devices are Any device
that could help a disabled student in school or life functions. - ANSWER
4. A new high school student is being assessed. He reads a 500-word text. He
misreads 35 words. At what level is he reading? Term - ANSWER
Instructional level.
5. Students with nonverbal learning disabilities and students with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) typically share which of the following
characteristics? - ANSWER difficulty interpreting social cues
6. A student with cystic fibrosis is most susceptible to which of the following?
- ANSWER respiratory infection
7. A special education teacher is participating in a three-year reevaluation of a
high school student with an intellectual disability. As part of an assessment,
the teacher accompanies the student to a store and asks the student to locate
and purchase an item. This is an example of which of the following types of
assessments? - ANSWER Authentic
8. A fifth-grade student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attends a general
education class full time with support from a special education teacher.
Which of the following would be the most effective way for the
Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to integrate social skills
, 2
training into the general academic curriculum for this student? - ANSWER
Include peer-to-peer supports in the general education class as part of the
student's IEP.
9. A middle school social studies teacher consults with a special educator about
a new student who has cerebral palsy and an associated speech impairment.
The social studies teacher wants to know the best way to include the student
in class discussions. Which of the following would be the special educator's
most appropriate response? - ANSWER Discuss with the student her
preferred method of communication.
10.A special education teacher is planning to use drill-and-practice software to
reinforce the mathematical computation skills of a student with a learning
disability. This type of software would be especially useful for the teacher's
intended purpose because of its ability to provide: - ANSWER immediate
feedback on answers.
11.At the beginning of the school year, an elementary school student with
special needs is having difficulty transitioning from one activity to the next
within her classroom. The special education teacher must ask several times
for the student to switch activities before she complies. Which of the
following strategies should the teacher use first in addressing this behavior -
ANSWER Giving the student frequent visual and verbal cues about the time
allotted for each activity.
12.Which of the following disabilities is degenerative and often leads to death
in adolescence or early adulthood? - ANSWER Muscular dystrophy
13.Compared with children without hearing loss, children born with hearing
loss are more likely to experience significant delays in which of the
following developmental domains ? - ANSWER Language
14.Which of the following Fine-motor skills do children typically develop last -
ANSWER Cutting shapes with scissors
15.Compared with students with mild intellectual disabilities, students with
learning disabilities are more likely to have - ANSWER One or more
specific cognitive difficulties rather than global delays
, 3
16.Students with mild intellectual disabilities tend to exhibit which of the
following cognitive characteristics - ANSWER Difficulty applying newly
learned skills to different context
17.Which of the following gross motor skills do children typically develop last?
- ANSWER Jumping coward, taking off,and landing with two feet
18.Which of the following students is demonstrating characteristics most often
associated with an emotional impairment - ANSWER A second grade
student who frequently complains of a stomachache in the morning before
school
19.Which of the following students is demonstrating characteristics most often
associated with autism spectrum disorder - ANSWER Kindergarten student
who does not engage in play, talks exclusively about astronomy, and
misinterprets social cues
20.Which of the following is generally the most advanced linguistic skill a
typical eight year old can be expected to demonstrate - ANSWER Telling a
story that includes cause and effect relationships
21.Which of the following social/emotional abilities typically appears for the
first time during adolescence - ANSWER Understanding that the perspective
of others may be influenced by their background or circumstance
22.Which of the following describes atypical development for a first-grade
student?
A. Frequent changes in the friend group.
B. Recurring fear and crying when dropped off at school by a parent.
C. Challenging rules, such as the established bedtime.
D. A desire to do many things independently. - ANSWER Answer: B
23.Most typically developing first graders will be able to separate easily from a
parent at a familiar place, such as school.
24.In what grade do most typically developing children form an understanding
of the difference between reality and make-believe?
A. Preschool (Age 3)
B. Prekindergarten (Age 4)
C. Kindergarten (Age 5)
D. First Grade (Age 6) - ANSWER Answer: C
, 4
25.Typically developing kindergartners generally develop an understanding of
the difference between reality and make-believe.
26.Tristan is a third grader who's struggling with identification of sight words
and letter-sound correspondence. What can be said about Tristan?
A. His cognitive development is typical of his age and grade.
B. He is ready to begin the transition from learning to read to reading to
learn.
C. He could benefit from further practice on distinguishing cause-and-
effect relationships.
D. He could be targeted for interventions as his development is atypical. -
ANSWER Answer: D
27.By third grade, Tristan should definitely have mastered letter-sound-
correspondence and recognition of most sight words.
28.Mrs. Howard gives a math activity to her pre-k class in which she asks them
to write the different addition equations that lead to an answer of ten (Ex:
9+1, 8+2, etc). What will be the likely result?
A. Most students in this class will not be able to complete this activity as
it is not developmentally appropriate.
B. Assessment tool to enable a screen for developmental delays.
C. Typically developing children will be able to complete this activity
independently.
D. " with some scaffolding. - ANSWER Answer: A
This is more appropriate for an elementary school class, not a
prekindergarten class.
29.Marcus' a 1st grader in Mrs. Hyatt's class who very rarely speaks. She
notices that he's unable to answer the following question: "When's your
birthday?" What would her most likely reaction be?
A. She would not be concerned since a 1st grader wouldn't be expected to
know this answer.
B. She would likely be concerned about a possible speech or language
problem.
C. She would assume his family doesn't celebrate birthdays.
D. She would have concerns about a possible emotional disturbance. -
ANSWER Answer: B
Marcus's inability to respond to a simple "when" question and his
uncommunicativeness are concerning and might indicate a speech or
language problem.
NES 601 Special Education Exam Prep:
Practice Questions with Accurate Solutions
(2025/2026)
1. She can use the lists when planning independent reading and research
projects for each student." - ANSWER
2. In the first week of school, a resource teacher asks her high school students
to make lists of things they know how to do well. How is this activity most
useful to the teacher? - ANSWER It is an informal assessment of their
writing skills and gives the teacher an idea of each student's interests and
abilities.
3. According to the Assistive Technology Act, assistive devices are Any device
that could help a disabled student in school or life functions. - ANSWER
4. A new high school student is being assessed. He reads a 500-word text. He
misreads 35 words. At what level is he reading? Term - ANSWER
Instructional level.
5. Students with nonverbal learning disabilities and students with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) typically share which of the following
characteristics? - ANSWER difficulty interpreting social cues
6. A student with cystic fibrosis is most susceptible to which of the following?
- ANSWER respiratory infection
7. A special education teacher is participating in a three-year reevaluation of a
high school student with an intellectual disability. As part of an assessment,
the teacher accompanies the student to a store and asks the student to locate
and purchase an item. This is an example of which of the following types of
assessments? - ANSWER Authentic
8. A fifth-grade student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) attends a general
education class full time with support from a special education teacher.
Which of the following would be the most effective way for the
Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to integrate social skills
, 2
training into the general academic curriculum for this student? - ANSWER
Include peer-to-peer supports in the general education class as part of the
student's IEP.
9. A middle school social studies teacher consults with a special educator about
a new student who has cerebral palsy and an associated speech impairment.
The social studies teacher wants to know the best way to include the student
in class discussions. Which of the following would be the special educator's
most appropriate response? - ANSWER Discuss with the student her
preferred method of communication.
10.A special education teacher is planning to use drill-and-practice software to
reinforce the mathematical computation skills of a student with a learning
disability. This type of software would be especially useful for the teacher's
intended purpose because of its ability to provide: - ANSWER immediate
feedback on answers.
11.At the beginning of the school year, an elementary school student with
special needs is having difficulty transitioning from one activity to the next
within her classroom. The special education teacher must ask several times
for the student to switch activities before she complies. Which of the
following strategies should the teacher use first in addressing this behavior -
ANSWER Giving the student frequent visual and verbal cues about the time
allotted for each activity.
12.Which of the following disabilities is degenerative and often leads to death
in adolescence or early adulthood? - ANSWER Muscular dystrophy
13.Compared with children without hearing loss, children born with hearing
loss are more likely to experience significant delays in which of the
following developmental domains ? - ANSWER Language
14.Which of the following Fine-motor skills do children typically develop last -
ANSWER Cutting shapes with scissors
15.Compared with students with mild intellectual disabilities, students with
learning disabilities are more likely to have - ANSWER One or more
specific cognitive difficulties rather than global delays
, 3
16.Students with mild intellectual disabilities tend to exhibit which of the
following cognitive characteristics - ANSWER Difficulty applying newly
learned skills to different context
17.Which of the following gross motor skills do children typically develop last?
- ANSWER Jumping coward, taking off,and landing with two feet
18.Which of the following students is demonstrating characteristics most often
associated with an emotional impairment - ANSWER A second grade
student who frequently complains of a stomachache in the morning before
school
19.Which of the following students is demonstrating characteristics most often
associated with autism spectrum disorder - ANSWER Kindergarten student
who does not engage in play, talks exclusively about astronomy, and
misinterprets social cues
20.Which of the following is generally the most advanced linguistic skill a
typical eight year old can be expected to demonstrate - ANSWER Telling a
story that includes cause and effect relationships
21.Which of the following social/emotional abilities typically appears for the
first time during adolescence - ANSWER Understanding that the perspective
of others may be influenced by their background or circumstance
22.Which of the following describes atypical development for a first-grade
student?
A. Frequent changes in the friend group.
B. Recurring fear and crying when dropped off at school by a parent.
C. Challenging rules, such as the established bedtime.
D. A desire to do many things independently. - ANSWER Answer: B
23.Most typically developing first graders will be able to separate easily from a
parent at a familiar place, such as school.
24.In what grade do most typically developing children form an understanding
of the difference between reality and make-believe?
A. Preschool (Age 3)
B. Prekindergarten (Age 4)
C. Kindergarten (Age 5)
D. First Grade (Age 6) - ANSWER Answer: C
, 4
25.Typically developing kindergartners generally develop an understanding of
the difference between reality and make-believe.
26.Tristan is a third grader who's struggling with identification of sight words
and letter-sound correspondence. What can be said about Tristan?
A. His cognitive development is typical of his age and grade.
B. He is ready to begin the transition from learning to read to reading to
learn.
C. He could benefit from further practice on distinguishing cause-and-
effect relationships.
D. He could be targeted for interventions as his development is atypical. -
ANSWER Answer: D
27.By third grade, Tristan should definitely have mastered letter-sound-
correspondence and recognition of most sight words.
28.Mrs. Howard gives a math activity to her pre-k class in which she asks them
to write the different addition equations that lead to an answer of ten (Ex:
9+1, 8+2, etc). What will be the likely result?
A. Most students in this class will not be able to complete this activity as
it is not developmentally appropriate.
B. Assessment tool to enable a screen for developmental delays.
C. Typically developing children will be able to complete this activity
independently.
D. " with some scaffolding. - ANSWER Answer: A
This is more appropriate for an elementary school class, not a
prekindergarten class.
29.Marcus' a 1st grader in Mrs. Hyatt's class who very rarely speaks. She
notices that he's unable to answer the following question: "When's your
birthday?" What would her most likely reaction be?
A. She would not be concerned since a 1st grader wouldn't be expected to
know this answer.
B. She would likely be concerned about a possible speech or language
problem.
C. She would assume his family doesn't celebrate birthdays.
D. She would have concerns about a possible emotional disturbance. -
ANSWER Answer: B
Marcus's inability to respond to a simple "when" question and his
uncommunicativeness are concerning and might indicate a speech or
language problem.
