# CHES Exam Prep: 120 Practice
Questions, Answers, and Rationales for
the Certified Health Education Specialist
Examination
### Question 1
**A health educator is planning a community needs assessment for a
rural county with limited healthcare access. Which of the following is
the BEST first step?**
A) Distribute surveys to all county residents
B) Review existing epidemiological data for the county
C) Conduct focus groups with community leaders
D) Implement a health screening program
**Answer: B) Review existing epidemiological data for the county**
**Rationale:** The needs assessment process should begin with
reviewing secondary data (existing epidemiological data) to
understand the scope of health issues, identify gaps, and avoid
duplicating efforts. Primary data collection (surveys, focus groups)
should follow once gaps in knowledge are identified.
,---
### Question 2
**Which of the following data collection methods would yield the
MOST comprehensive understanding of a community's health
needs?**
A) Telephone survey
B) Key informant interviews
C) Mixed-methods approach
D) Mail questionnaire
**Answer: C) Mixed-methods approach**
**Rationale:** A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative
(surveys, epidemiological data) and qualitative (interviews, focus
groups) methods provides both statistical trends and contextual
understanding of community needs.
---
### Question 3
**A health educator is conducting a windshield survey. This is BEST
described as:**
,A) A systematic observation of a community's physical environment
B) A door-to-door household interview
C) A statistical analysis of hospital discharge data
D) A randomized telephone survey
**Answer: A) A systematic observation of a community's physical
environment**
**Rationale:** A windshield survey involves observing a community
by driving or walking through it to assess physical characteristics,
housing conditions, environmental hazards, and community
resources.
---
### Question 4
**Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of conducting
an asset mapping in a needs assessment?**
A) To identify health problems and risk factors
B) To inventory community resources, strengths, and capacities
C) To analyze demographic trends
D) To prioritize health issues for intervention
, **Answer: B) To inventory community resources, strengths, and
capacities**
**Rationale:** Asset mapping focuses on identifying existing
community strengths and resources rather than deficits. This
strengths-based approach helps build upon existing capacities when
planning interventions.
---
### Question 5
**A health educator identifies that 75% of residents in a community
lack access to fresh produce. This finding represents which type of
data?**
A) Primary data
B) Secondary data
C) Needs assessment data
D) Evaluation data
**Answer: C) Needs assessment data**
**Rationale:** Identifying gaps between current and desired health
status (such as lack of access to fresh produce) is a core function of
needs assessment. This information helps prioritize interventions.
Questions, Answers, and Rationales for
the Certified Health Education Specialist
Examination
### Question 1
**A health educator is planning a community needs assessment for a
rural county with limited healthcare access. Which of the following is
the BEST first step?**
A) Distribute surveys to all county residents
B) Review existing epidemiological data for the county
C) Conduct focus groups with community leaders
D) Implement a health screening program
**Answer: B) Review existing epidemiological data for the county**
**Rationale:** The needs assessment process should begin with
reviewing secondary data (existing epidemiological data) to
understand the scope of health issues, identify gaps, and avoid
duplicating efforts. Primary data collection (surveys, focus groups)
should follow once gaps in knowledge are identified.
,---
### Question 2
**Which of the following data collection methods would yield the
MOST comprehensive understanding of a community's health
needs?**
A) Telephone survey
B) Key informant interviews
C) Mixed-methods approach
D) Mail questionnaire
**Answer: C) Mixed-methods approach**
**Rationale:** A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative
(surveys, epidemiological data) and qualitative (interviews, focus
groups) methods provides both statistical trends and contextual
understanding of community needs.
---
### Question 3
**A health educator is conducting a windshield survey. This is BEST
described as:**
,A) A systematic observation of a community's physical environment
B) A door-to-door household interview
C) A statistical analysis of hospital discharge data
D) A randomized telephone survey
**Answer: A) A systematic observation of a community's physical
environment**
**Rationale:** A windshield survey involves observing a community
by driving or walking through it to assess physical characteristics,
housing conditions, environmental hazards, and community
resources.
---
### Question 4
**Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of conducting
an asset mapping in a needs assessment?**
A) To identify health problems and risk factors
B) To inventory community resources, strengths, and capacities
C) To analyze demographic trends
D) To prioritize health issues for intervention
, **Answer: B) To inventory community resources, strengths, and
capacities**
**Rationale:** Asset mapping focuses on identifying existing
community strengths and resources rather than deficits. This
strengths-based approach helps build upon existing capacities when
planning interventions.
---
### Question 5
**A health educator identifies that 75% of residents in a community
lack access to fresh produce. This finding represents which type of
data?**
A) Primary data
B) Secondary data
C) Needs assessment data
D) Evaluation data
**Answer: C) Needs assessment data**
**Rationale:** Identifying gaps between current and desired health
status (such as lack of access to fresh produce) is a core function of
needs assessment. This information helps prioritize interventions.
