WGU D187 Differentiated Instruction Mastery Quiz 2026
1. What is the primary objective of Differentiated Instruction?
A. To ensure all students cover the same material at the same speed.
B. To assign more homework to gifted and talented students.
C. To simplify the curriculum for students who are struggling.
D. To provide different avenues for students to learn and demonstrate mastery.
Answer: D
Rationale: Differentiated instruction is a framework that involves providing different
students with different avenues to learning, often in the same classroom.
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the three student characteristics that
teachers differentiate for?
A. Readiness
B. Interest
C. Learning Profile
D. Socioeconomic Status
Answer: D
Rationale: While socioeconomic status impacts learning, Tomlinson’s DI model specifically
focuses on differentiating based on Readiness, Interest, and Learning Profile.
,3. When a teacher adjusts the ‘what’ of the lesson—the materials or
information being taught—they are differentiating:
A. Content
B. Product
C. Process
D. Environment
Answer: A
Rationale: Content refers to the knowledge, understanding, and skills students need to
learn or how the student will get access to the information.
4. What does the ‘Process’ element of differentiation refer to?
A. The end result of a unit of study.
B. The state-mandated standards for the grade level.
C. The physical layout of the classroom.
D. The activities through which students make sense of or ‘own’ the content.
Answer: D
Rationale: Process involves the activities designed to help the student make sense of or
learn the ideas and skills.
5. Assigning a student to write a poem, create a poster, or record a podcast to
show what they learned is differentiating the:
A. Standard
B. Content
C. Product
D. Management
Answer: C
Rationale: Product refers to items students can use to demonstrate what they have come
to know, understand, and be able to do.
, 6. What is ‘Readiness’ in the context of Differentiated Instruction?
A. A student’s attitude toward a specific subject.
B. A student’s current proximity to specified learning goals.
C. A student’s preferred way of processing information.
D. A student’s level of physical development.
Answer: B
Rationale: Readiness is a student’s entry point relative to a particular understanding or
skill.
7. Which instructional strategy involves groups working on different tasks that
vary in difficulty but target the same essential learning?
A. Curriculum Compacting
B. Anchor Activities
C. Jigsaw Strategy
D. Tiered Lessons
Answer: D
Rationale: Tiered lessons are designed to provide different levels of complexity for the
same essential understanding.
8. What is the purpose of an ‘Anchor Activity’?
A. To serve as the main lecture for the entire class.
B. To act as a final exam at the end of the semester.
C. To anchor the students’ desks to the floor for safety.
D. To provide meaningful work for students when they finish an assignment.
Answer: D
Rationale: Anchor activities are ongoing tasks that students work on independently when
they complete their regular assignments.
1. What is the primary objective of Differentiated Instruction?
A. To ensure all students cover the same material at the same speed.
B. To assign more homework to gifted and talented students.
C. To simplify the curriculum for students who are struggling.
D. To provide different avenues for students to learn and demonstrate mastery.
Answer: D
Rationale: Differentiated instruction is a framework that involves providing different
students with different avenues to learning, often in the same classroom.
2. Which of the following is NOT one of the three student characteristics that
teachers differentiate for?
A. Readiness
B. Interest
C. Learning Profile
D. Socioeconomic Status
Answer: D
Rationale: While socioeconomic status impacts learning, Tomlinson’s DI model specifically
focuses on differentiating based on Readiness, Interest, and Learning Profile.
,3. When a teacher adjusts the ‘what’ of the lesson—the materials or
information being taught—they are differentiating:
A. Content
B. Product
C. Process
D. Environment
Answer: A
Rationale: Content refers to the knowledge, understanding, and skills students need to
learn or how the student will get access to the information.
4. What does the ‘Process’ element of differentiation refer to?
A. The end result of a unit of study.
B. The state-mandated standards for the grade level.
C. The physical layout of the classroom.
D. The activities through which students make sense of or ‘own’ the content.
Answer: D
Rationale: Process involves the activities designed to help the student make sense of or
learn the ideas and skills.
5. Assigning a student to write a poem, create a poster, or record a podcast to
show what they learned is differentiating the:
A. Standard
B. Content
C. Product
D. Management
Answer: C
Rationale: Product refers to items students can use to demonstrate what they have come
to know, understand, and be able to do.
, 6. What is ‘Readiness’ in the context of Differentiated Instruction?
A. A student’s attitude toward a specific subject.
B. A student’s current proximity to specified learning goals.
C. A student’s preferred way of processing information.
D. A student’s level of physical development.
Answer: B
Rationale: Readiness is a student’s entry point relative to a particular understanding or
skill.
7. Which instructional strategy involves groups working on different tasks that
vary in difficulty but target the same essential learning?
A. Curriculum Compacting
B. Anchor Activities
C. Jigsaw Strategy
D. Tiered Lessons
Answer: D
Rationale: Tiered lessons are designed to provide different levels of complexity for the
same essential understanding.
8. What is the purpose of an ‘Anchor Activity’?
A. To serve as the main lecture for the entire class.
B. To act as a final exam at the end of the semester.
C. To anchor the students’ desks to the floor for safety.
D. To provide meaningful work for students when they finish an assignment.
Answer: D
Rationale: Anchor activities are ongoing tasks that students work on independently when
they complete their regular assignments.
