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CPCE (COUNSELOR PREPARATION
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION) 2026
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
CPCE (Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination) — 250 Practice Questions
SECTION 1: HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-40)
1. According to Jean Piaget, a child masters the concept of reversibility in which stage
of cognitive development?
• A. Sensorimotor stage
• B. Preoperational stage
• C. Concrete operational stage
• D. Formal operational stage
Answer: C
Rationale: Reversibility—the understanding that actions can be undone—is mastered in
Piaget's concrete operational stage (ages 7-11). This allows children to understand that a glass
of water poured into a different-shaped glass can be returned to its original form .
2. During a thunderstorm, a 6-year-old child in Piaget's preoperational stage says, "The
rain is following me." This is an example of:
• A. Egocentrism
• B. Conservation
• C. Centration
• D. Abstract thought
Answer: A
Rationale: Egocentrism in Piaget's theory refers to the child's inability to view the world
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from another person's perspective. The child assumes the rain is following them because they
cannot understand that others experience the rain differently .
3. Lawrence Kohlberg proposed how many levels of moral development?
• A. One level
• B. Two levels
• C. Three levels
• D. Four levels
Answer: C
Rationale: Kohlberg proposed three levels of moral development: Preconventional,
Conventional, and Postconventional. Each level contains two stages, for a total of six stages .
4. The Heinz dilemma is to Kohlberg's theory as:
• A. A brick is to a house
• B. Freud is to Jung
• C. The Menninger Clinic is to biofeedback
• D. A typing test is to the level of typing skill mastered
Answer: D
Rationale: The Heinz dilemma is an assessment tool used to evaluate moral reasoning,
similar to how a typing test assesses typing skills .
5. Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory consists of how many stages representing
psychosocial crises?
• A. Five stages
• B. Six stages
• C. Seven stages
• D. Eight stages
Answer: D
Rationale: Erikson's theory consists of eight stages, each representing a psychosocial crisis
or turning point. The final stage begins at approximately age 60 .
6. In Freudian theory, the statement "the ego is dependent on the id" would most likely
reflect the work of:
• A. Erik Erikson
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• B. Sigmund Freud
• C. Jay Haley
• D. Arnold Lazarus
Answer: B
Rationale: In Freudian psychodynamic theory, the id operates on the pleasure principle. The
ego mediates between the id's demands and reality. Erikson's theory emphasizes psychosocial
development; Haley is known for strategic therapy .
7. Which theorist is associated with the concept of dualistic thinking and relativistic
thinking in adult cognitive development?
• A. Jean Piaget
• B. Erik Erikson
• C. William Perry
• D. Lawrence Kohlberg
Answer: C
Rationale: William Perry's theory of adult cognitive development describes a progression
from dualistic thinking (conceptualizing things as good/bad, right/wrong) to relativistic
thinking (recognizing that multiple perspectives exist) .
8. The correct order of Piaget's four stages of cognitive development from stage 1 to
stage 4 is:
• A. Preoperational, Sensorimotor, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational
• B. Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational
• C. Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Formal Operational, Concrete Operational
• D. Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational, Sensorimotor
Answer: B
Rationale: The correct order is: Sensorimotor (birth-2 years), Preoperational (2-7 years),
Concrete Operational (7-11 years), and Formal Operational (11+ years) .
9. Idiographic research approaches examine individuals in-depth, whereas nomothetic
approaches examine:
• A. Individual cases
• B. Groups or populations
• C. Only children
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• D. Only adults
Answer: B
Rationale: Idiographic approaches examine individuals in depth, while nomothetic
approaches examine groups or populations to establish general laws or patterns .
10. According to Bowlby's attachment theory, an infant who exhibits distress when the
caregiver leaves and is happy upon return demonstrates:
• A. Avoidant attachment
• B. Ambivalent attachment
• C. Secure attachment
• D. Disorganized attachment
Answer: C
Rationale: Secure attachment is characterized by distress upon separation and comfort upon
reunion. Avoidant attachment involves indifference to caregiver's departure and return.
Ambivalent attachment involves intense distress and inconsistent comfort. Disorganized
attachment involves confused, contradictory behaviors .
11. Harry Harlow's research with rhesus monkeys demonstrated that infant monkeys
preferred contact comfort over:
• A. Food
• B. Warmth
• C. Play
• D. Sleep
Answer: A
Rationale: Harlow's experiments showed that infant monkeys spent more time with the cloth
"mother" than the wire "mother" that provided food, demonstrating that attachment is based
on contact comfort rather than feeding .
12. In Erikson's theory, the psychosocial crisis of Industry vs. Inferiority occurs during
which age range?
• A. Birth to 18 months
• B. 18 months to 3 years
• C. 6 to 11 years
• D. 12 to 18 years
CPCE (COUNSELOR PREPARATION
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION) 2026
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
CPCE (Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination) — 250 Practice Questions
SECTION 1: HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-40)
1. According to Jean Piaget, a child masters the concept of reversibility in which stage
of cognitive development?
• A. Sensorimotor stage
• B. Preoperational stage
• C. Concrete operational stage
• D. Formal operational stage
Answer: C
Rationale: Reversibility—the understanding that actions can be undone—is mastered in
Piaget's concrete operational stage (ages 7-11). This allows children to understand that a glass
of water poured into a different-shaped glass can be returned to its original form .
2. During a thunderstorm, a 6-year-old child in Piaget's preoperational stage says, "The
rain is following me." This is an example of:
• A. Egocentrism
• B. Conservation
• C. Centration
• D. Abstract thought
Answer: A
Rationale: Egocentrism in Piaget's theory refers to the child's inability to view the world
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from another person's perspective. The child assumes the rain is following them because they
cannot understand that others experience the rain differently .
3. Lawrence Kohlberg proposed how many levels of moral development?
• A. One level
• B. Two levels
• C. Three levels
• D. Four levels
Answer: C
Rationale: Kohlberg proposed three levels of moral development: Preconventional,
Conventional, and Postconventional. Each level contains two stages, for a total of six stages .
4. The Heinz dilemma is to Kohlberg's theory as:
• A. A brick is to a house
• B. Freud is to Jung
• C. The Menninger Clinic is to biofeedback
• D. A typing test is to the level of typing skill mastered
Answer: D
Rationale: The Heinz dilemma is an assessment tool used to evaluate moral reasoning,
similar to how a typing test assesses typing skills .
5. Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory consists of how many stages representing
psychosocial crises?
• A. Five stages
• B. Six stages
• C. Seven stages
• D. Eight stages
Answer: D
Rationale: Erikson's theory consists of eight stages, each representing a psychosocial crisis
or turning point. The final stage begins at approximately age 60 .
6. In Freudian theory, the statement "the ego is dependent on the id" would most likely
reflect the work of:
• A. Erik Erikson
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• B. Sigmund Freud
• C. Jay Haley
• D. Arnold Lazarus
Answer: B
Rationale: In Freudian psychodynamic theory, the id operates on the pleasure principle. The
ego mediates between the id's demands and reality. Erikson's theory emphasizes psychosocial
development; Haley is known for strategic therapy .
7. Which theorist is associated with the concept of dualistic thinking and relativistic
thinking in adult cognitive development?
• A. Jean Piaget
• B. Erik Erikson
• C. William Perry
• D. Lawrence Kohlberg
Answer: C
Rationale: William Perry's theory of adult cognitive development describes a progression
from dualistic thinking (conceptualizing things as good/bad, right/wrong) to relativistic
thinking (recognizing that multiple perspectives exist) .
8. The correct order of Piaget's four stages of cognitive development from stage 1 to
stage 4 is:
• A. Preoperational, Sensorimotor, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational
• B. Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational
• C. Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Formal Operational, Concrete Operational
• D. Preoperational, Concrete Operational, Formal Operational, Sensorimotor
Answer: B
Rationale: The correct order is: Sensorimotor (birth-2 years), Preoperational (2-7 years),
Concrete Operational (7-11 years), and Formal Operational (11+ years) .
9. Idiographic research approaches examine individuals in-depth, whereas nomothetic
approaches examine:
• A. Individual cases
• B. Groups or populations
• C. Only children
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• D. Only adults
Answer: B
Rationale: Idiographic approaches examine individuals in depth, while nomothetic
approaches examine groups or populations to establish general laws or patterns .
10. According to Bowlby's attachment theory, an infant who exhibits distress when the
caregiver leaves and is happy upon return demonstrates:
• A. Avoidant attachment
• B. Ambivalent attachment
• C. Secure attachment
• D. Disorganized attachment
Answer: C
Rationale: Secure attachment is characterized by distress upon separation and comfort upon
reunion. Avoidant attachment involves indifference to caregiver's departure and return.
Ambivalent attachment involves intense distress and inconsistent comfort. Disorganized
attachment involves confused, contradictory behaviors .
11. Harry Harlow's research with rhesus monkeys demonstrated that infant monkeys
preferred contact comfort over:
• A. Food
• B. Warmth
• C. Play
• D. Sleep
Answer: A
Rationale: Harlow's experiments showed that infant monkeys spent more time with the cloth
"mother" than the wire "mother" that provided food, demonstrating that attachment is based
on contact comfort rather than feeding .
12. In Erikson's theory, the psychosocial crisis of Industry vs. Inferiority occurs during
which age range?
• A. Birth to 18 months
• B. 18 months to 3 years
• C. 6 to 11 years
• D. 12 to 18 years
