NBCOT Practice Exam 1 Actual
questions and Answers 2026
Gravitational insecurity is described as "fear response to movement". The child easily
experiences a fear of falling and prefers to keep her feet firmly on the ground. Tactile
defensiveness (answer A) is a term used to describe discomfort with various textures
and with unexpected touch. Somatodyspraxia (answer B) has is "foundation in
somatosensory (e.g. primarily tactile but also proprioceptive) discrimination deficits,
which interfere with the development of body scheme and awareness". Bilateral
integration and sequencing deficits are related to "poor vestibular-propioceptive
discrimination, which interferes with the ability to coordinate, sequence, and execute
motor actions quickly and efficiently".
When the OT suspects tactile defensiveness as a rationale for a child's
challenges, in what area of participation should the OT focus on FIRST?
A. Play behavior
B. Dressing habits
C. Social skills
D. Leisure interests
B. Dressing habits
Children with tactile defensiveness are "bothered by tactile aspects of daily living
activities.... specific types of clothing.... specific textures materials". The child may be
bothered by certain textures or avoid wearing turtlenecks, socks, or shoes. Conversely,
some children may never take off their shoes to avoid tactile stimulation. Play behavior
(answer A), social skills (answer C), and the choice of hobbies (answer D) could be
affected secondarily, as a result of intolerance to certain textures or human touch.
Knowledge of the child's dressing habits will give the OT key information at the start of
the evaluation process.
An OT is working with an individual with schizophrenia who is in the process of
preparing to move from a state hospital to a group home. During a baking group,
the client becomes agitated and leaves the room when another client uses the
electric hand mixer to mix the cake batter, and again when two clients begin to
argue loudly about which type of icing to use. How would the OT BEST describe
the behavior?
A. Low registration
B. Sensory avoiding
C. Sensation seeking
D. A hearing impairment
B. Sensory avoiding
An OT is preparing to evaluate a toddler who has upper extremity orthopedic
concerns. How will the OT MOST likely obtain the majority of initial assessment
,data?
A. Measurement tools that assess visual-motor skills
B. Dynamometer and pinch meter readings.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
D. Functional independence measures.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
Through observation of the child during child-care center activities, the OT can collect
information about the child's motor performance skills and participation in activities that
require upper extremity/hand skill. Naturalistic observation is a method of ecological
assessment, which is "a primary mechanism for obtaining data relevant to the child's
performance context..... Skilled observation of child performing a functional task
offers..... important information about the child's performance". Answers A, B, ad D are
all appropriate choices after the child is old enough for these assessments.
During an initial evaluation, the OT suspects that a child has somatodyspraxia. In
what area should the OT focus the evaluation?
A. Ability to print or write.
B. Reading competency.
C. Math calculations.
D. New motor task planning.
D. New motor task planning.
"Somatodyspraxia is described as a deficit in learning new motor skills, planning new
motor actions, and generalizing motor plans." Inability to print or write (answer A) is
termed "dysgraphia." The term "dyslexia" (answer B) means dysfunction in reading.
Inability to perform mathematics (answer C) is known as "dyscalculia"
An OT working in a long-term care facility needs to evaluate the long-term
memory of a resident. Which of the following methods is BEST for evaluating
memory or personally experienced events (declarative memory)?
A. Show the person a series of objects and ask him to recall the objects within 60
seconds.
B. Ask the individual how he spent New Year's/
C. Have the individual state the place, date, and time.
D. Ask the client to remember to bring a specific item to the next therapy session
B Ask the individual how he spent New Year's
"Declarative memory is one aspect of long term memory and includes conscious
memory for events, knowledge or facts". It is commonly assessed through verbal
interviews and informal testing such as asking a question about an individual's recall of
personal events (answer B). Working memory refers to "the temporary storage of
inforamtion while one is working with it or attending to it" (answer A). "Prospective
memory involves the ability to remember intentions or activities that will be required in
,the future" (answer D). Knowing the date, place, and time is indicative of orientation
(answer C).
A child avoids playground equipment that requires her feet to be off the ground.
What does this behavior MOST likely indicate?
A. Difficulty modulating proprioception.
B. Somatodyspraxia
C. Gravitational insecurity
D. Bilateral integration/sequencing deficit.
C. Gravitational insecurity.
The individual's actions are indicative of sensor avoiding behavior, characterized by a
low threshold to stimuli perceived as noxious, followed by an active response such as
leaving the room. Individuals with sensory avoiding behavior may "become distressed in
situations in which they cannot control the environment" and "do well in low stimulus
situation or settings that others find dull". An individual with low registration (answer A),
sensory seeking behavior (answer C), or a hearing impairment (answer D) would not
have difficult with the auditory stimulation caused by the roar of the mixer or loud voices.
During a self-care evaluation of an individual who recently sustained a brain
injury, the OT instructs the individual to comb his hair immediately after he
washes his face. The individual washes his face quickly, but then the therapist
must give him several reminders to comb his hair. The OT is MOST likely to
identify this as a deficit in what area?
A. Working memory
B. Judgment
C. Hearing
D. Abstraction
A. Working memory
"Working memory is the temporary storage of information while one is working with it or
attending to it. It includes the ability to recall information immediately after exposure. It
allows one to focus conscious attention and keeps track of information as one is
performing an activity". This individual's inability to comb is hair without reminders
suggests a deficit in working memory (answer A). Judgment (answer B), the ability to
make realistic and safe decisions based on available environmental information, would
not be needed for this task. Because the person performed the first request, hearing
(answer C) would seem to be intact. Abstraction (answer D) is the ability to extrapolate
information from an idea to generalize to another situation and would not be needed to
follow this direction.
A supermarket employee with obsessive-compulsive disorder takes an hour to
stock 24 soup cans on the shelf because once he has placed the cans on the
shelf, he removes them and starts over, stating that "all labels were not lines up
exactly in the same direction." Which of the following methods would MOST
effectively evaluate the individual's work performance?
, A. On-site observation of performance skills
B. Formal cognitive assessment
C. Verbal interview focusing on the requirements of the job
D. Task evaluation using a "clean" medium such as a puzzle
that is right
A. On-site observation of performance skills
An OT has been working with an individual who is recovering from a TBI. A
standard pivot transfer has been successfully demonstrated in the gym. The
MOST appropriate way to assess generalization of this new learning would be to
have the patient perform which activity?
A. Identify potential hazards in the patient's bathrooms that could make transfers
unsafe
B. Select an appropriate tub bench and nonskid mat for the patient's bathroom at
home
C. Attempt a standard pivot transfer from wheelchair to bed in the patient's
hospital room
D. Attempt a sliding board transfer from wheelchair to tub
C. Attempt a standard pivot transfer from wheelchair to bed in the patient's hospital
room
An OT is working with an individual with depression who is cognitively intact but
demonstrating difficulty carrying out self-care and other ADL tasks. The OT, who
has no advanced certifications, would like to identify a standardized assessment
to measure ADL performance. Which is the MOST appropriate tool for this
purpose?
A. Bay Area Functional Performance Evaluation
B. Routine Task Inventory-Expanded
C. Kohlman Evaluation of Living Skills
D. Assessment of Motor and Process Skills
C. Kohlman Evaluation of Living Skills
An OT is conducting a perceptual function screening with an individual who has
had a CVA. Which of the following informal screening activities would the
therapist ask the individual to perform in order to identify the presence of
agnosia?
A. Demonstrate common gestures such as waving
B. Name objects through touch only
C. Identify or demonstrate the use of common household objects
D. Read a paragraph and explain its meaning.
C. Identify or demonstrate the use of common household objects
An individual with an L4 spinal cord injury wishes to become independent in
driving an automobile. The MOST appropriate piece of adaptive equipment for
this individual is:
questions and Answers 2026
Gravitational insecurity is described as "fear response to movement". The child easily
experiences a fear of falling and prefers to keep her feet firmly on the ground. Tactile
defensiveness (answer A) is a term used to describe discomfort with various textures
and with unexpected touch. Somatodyspraxia (answer B) has is "foundation in
somatosensory (e.g. primarily tactile but also proprioceptive) discrimination deficits,
which interfere with the development of body scheme and awareness". Bilateral
integration and sequencing deficits are related to "poor vestibular-propioceptive
discrimination, which interferes with the ability to coordinate, sequence, and execute
motor actions quickly and efficiently".
When the OT suspects tactile defensiveness as a rationale for a child's
challenges, in what area of participation should the OT focus on FIRST?
A. Play behavior
B. Dressing habits
C. Social skills
D. Leisure interests
B. Dressing habits
Children with tactile defensiveness are "bothered by tactile aspects of daily living
activities.... specific types of clothing.... specific textures materials". The child may be
bothered by certain textures or avoid wearing turtlenecks, socks, or shoes. Conversely,
some children may never take off their shoes to avoid tactile stimulation. Play behavior
(answer A), social skills (answer C), and the choice of hobbies (answer D) could be
affected secondarily, as a result of intolerance to certain textures or human touch.
Knowledge of the child's dressing habits will give the OT key information at the start of
the evaluation process.
An OT is working with an individual with schizophrenia who is in the process of
preparing to move from a state hospital to a group home. During a baking group,
the client becomes agitated and leaves the room when another client uses the
electric hand mixer to mix the cake batter, and again when two clients begin to
argue loudly about which type of icing to use. How would the OT BEST describe
the behavior?
A. Low registration
B. Sensory avoiding
C. Sensation seeking
D. A hearing impairment
B. Sensory avoiding
An OT is preparing to evaluate a toddler who has upper extremity orthopedic
concerns. How will the OT MOST likely obtain the majority of initial assessment
,data?
A. Measurement tools that assess visual-motor skills
B. Dynamometer and pinch meter readings.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
D. Functional independence measures.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
Through observation of the child during child-care center activities, the OT can collect
information about the child's motor performance skills and participation in activities that
require upper extremity/hand skill. Naturalistic observation is a method of ecological
assessment, which is "a primary mechanism for obtaining data relevant to the child's
performance context..... Skilled observation of child performing a functional task
offers..... important information about the child's performance". Answers A, B, ad D are
all appropriate choices after the child is old enough for these assessments.
During an initial evaluation, the OT suspects that a child has somatodyspraxia. In
what area should the OT focus the evaluation?
A. Ability to print or write.
B. Reading competency.
C. Math calculations.
D. New motor task planning.
D. New motor task planning.
"Somatodyspraxia is described as a deficit in learning new motor skills, planning new
motor actions, and generalizing motor plans." Inability to print or write (answer A) is
termed "dysgraphia." The term "dyslexia" (answer B) means dysfunction in reading.
Inability to perform mathematics (answer C) is known as "dyscalculia"
An OT working in a long-term care facility needs to evaluate the long-term
memory of a resident. Which of the following methods is BEST for evaluating
memory or personally experienced events (declarative memory)?
A. Show the person a series of objects and ask him to recall the objects within 60
seconds.
B. Ask the individual how he spent New Year's/
C. Have the individual state the place, date, and time.
D. Ask the client to remember to bring a specific item to the next therapy session
B Ask the individual how he spent New Year's
"Declarative memory is one aspect of long term memory and includes conscious
memory for events, knowledge or facts". It is commonly assessed through verbal
interviews and informal testing such as asking a question about an individual's recall of
personal events (answer B). Working memory refers to "the temporary storage of
inforamtion while one is working with it or attending to it" (answer A). "Prospective
memory involves the ability to remember intentions or activities that will be required in
,the future" (answer D). Knowing the date, place, and time is indicative of orientation
(answer C).
A child avoids playground equipment that requires her feet to be off the ground.
What does this behavior MOST likely indicate?
A. Difficulty modulating proprioception.
B. Somatodyspraxia
C. Gravitational insecurity
D. Bilateral integration/sequencing deficit.
C. Gravitational insecurity.
The individual's actions are indicative of sensor avoiding behavior, characterized by a
low threshold to stimuli perceived as noxious, followed by an active response such as
leaving the room. Individuals with sensory avoiding behavior may "become distressed in
situations in which they cannot control the environment" and "do well in low stimulus
situation or settings that others find dull". An individual with low registration (answer A),
sensory seeking behavior (answer C), or a hearing impairment (answer D) would not
have difficult with the auditory stimulation caused by the roar of the mixer or loud voices.
During a self-care evaluation of an individual who recently sustained a brain
injury, the OT instructs the individual to comb his hair immediately after he
washes his face. The individual washes his face quickly, but then the therapist
must give him several reminders to comb his hair. The OT is MOST likely to
identify this as a deficit in what area?
A. Working memory
B. Judgment
C. Hearing
D. Abstraction
A. Working memory
"Working memory is the temporary storage of information while one is working with it or
attending to it. It includes the ability to recall information immediately after exposure. It
allows one to focus conscious attention and keeps track of information as one is
performing an activity". This individual's inability to comb is hair without reminders
suggests a deficit in working memory (answer A). Judgment (answer B), the ability to
make realistic and safe decisions based on available environmental information, would
not be needed for this task. Because the person performed the first request, hearing
(answer C) would seem to be intact. Abstraction (answer D) is the ability to extrapolate
information from an idea to generalize to another situation and would not be needed to
follow this direction.
A supermarket employee with obsessive-compulsive disorder takes an hour to
stock 24 soup cans on the shelf because once he has placed the cans on the
shelf, he removes them and starts over, stating that "all labels were not lines up
exactly in the same direction." Which of the following methods would MOST
effectively evaluate the individual's work performance?
, A. On-site observation of performance skills
B. Formal cognitive assessment
C. Verbal interview focusing on the requirements of the job
D. Task evaluation using a "clean" medium such as a puzzle
that is right
A. On-site observation of performance skills
An OT has been working with an individual who is recovering from a TBI. A
standard pivot transfer has been successfully demonstrated in the gym. The
MOST appropriate way to assess generalization of this new learning would be to
have the patient perform which activity?
A. Identify potential hazards in the patient's bathrooms that could make transfers
unsafe
B. Select an appropriate tub bench and nonskid mat for the patient's bathroom at
home
C. Attempt a standard pivot transfer from wheelchair to bed in the patient's
hospital room
D. Attempt a sliding board transfer from wheelchair to tub
C. Attempt a standard pivot transfer from wheelchair to bed in the patient's hospital
room
An OT is working with an individual with depression who is cognitively intact but
demonstrating difficulty carrying out self-care and other ADL tasks. The OT, who
has no advanced certifications, would like to identify a standardized assessment
to measure ADL performance. Which is the MOST appropriate tool for this
purpose?
A. Bay Area Functional Performance Evaluation
B. Routine Task Inventory-Expanded
C. Kohlman Evaluation of Living Skills
D. Assessment of Motor and Process Skills
C. Kohlman Evaluation of Living Skills
An OT is conducting a perceptual function screening with an individual who has
had a CVA. Which of the following informal screening activities would the
therapist ask the individual to perform in order to identify the presence of
agnosia?
A. Demonstrate common gestures such as waving
B. Name objects through touch only
C. Identify or demonstrate the use of common household objects
D. Read a paragraph and explain its meaning.
C. Identify or demonstrate the use of common household objects
An individual with an L4 spinal cord injury wishes to become independent in
driving an automobile. The MOST appropriate piece of adaptive equipment for
this individual is:
