Page 1 of 45
NBCOT PRACTICE EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
NBCOT Practice Exam 1
A child has considerable difficulty with problem-solving when playing with
interlocking blocks, becomes frustrated, and gives up easily. An OT would
MOST likely suspect a problem in what area?
A. Sensorimotor play
B. Pretend play
C. Constructional play
D. Play with rules
C. Constructional play
The OT is making recommendations to a community living site for a 13-year-
old child with moderate intellectual disabilities. Which statement MOST
accurately describes the functional ability of this child?
A. The child requires nursing care for basic survival skills
B. The child can usually handle routine daily functions in a supervised home
C. The child requires supervision to accomplish productive, nonroutine work.
D. The child is able to learn academic skills at the third- to seventh-grade level
B. The child can usually handle routine daily functions in a supervised home
An individual with borderline personality disorder has been referred to
occupational therapy. Which of the following would be MOST important to
evaluate?
A. Activities of daily living
, Page 2 of 45
B. Instrumental ADLs
C. Interpersonal skills
D. Sensorimotor skills
C. Interpersonal skills
An OT performing a motor skills evaluation observes that a child is awkward at
many gross motor tasks. Though able to skip rope forward, the child is unable
to skip rope backward, even after several attempts. This information would
lead the therapist to be particularly observant for which additional signs?
A. Delayed reflex integration
B. Inadequate bilateral coordination
C. Developmental dyspraxia
D. General incoordintion
C. Developmental dyspraxia
A preteen with spastic cerebral palsy wants to use a computer. Prior to
evaluating computer needs, what should the OT learn about FIRST?
A. The student's and family's goals for the device use
B. The family's ability to afford a computer and its upgrades
C. Computer learning programs to facilitate student's participation in the
classroom
D. The student's physical and cognitive capacities to determine appropriate
keyboard and screen options
A. The student's and family's goals for the device use
An OT has been asked to develop a stress management program for clients
with eating disorders. For this population in particular, which is the MOST
important strategy to include?
A. A physical activity such as yoga or tai chi
B. Diaphragmatic breathing or progressive relaxation techniques
C. Training to acknowledge feeling and express emotions
D. Role-playing stressful situations
C. Training to acknowledge feeling and express emotions
, Page 3 of 45
The office doorway of an individual using a wheelchair has a clear opening of
28 inches. According to ADA guidelines, which of the following
recommendations would be the MOST appropriate to facilitate clear passage
of the wheelchair through the doorway?
A. The doorway width needs to be expanded to have a minimum clearance of
32 inches
B. The client needs to obtain a wheelchair narrower than 28 inches
C. The doorway width needs to be expanded to have a minimum clear opening
of 45 inches
D. The doorway width is satisfactory and needs no modification
A. The doorway width needs to be expanded to have a minimum clearance of 32
inches
An individual is about to be discharged from outpatient OT after rehabilitation
for a hand injury. The individual has not been able to work for 3 months and is
unable to perform all of the job requirements as a truck driver. Which of the
following should the OT practitioner recommend at discharge?
A. A home exercise program
B. Home health OT
C. Work hardening
D. No further OT services
C. Work hardening
An older adult has been hospitalized with a diagnosis of major depressive
disorder following an overdose of sleeping pills. In obtaining an occupational
profile, the OT discovers the patient has knitted and crocheted and enjoyed
cooking. What activity should the OT practitioner recommend FIRST to
achieve the goals of increasing a sense of confidence?
A. Crocheting a sweater for her teenage granddaughter
B. Making spaghetti and garlic bread for her husband
C. Knitting a small hat for her newborn grandson
D. Planning meals for the week in anticipation of discharge
C. Knitting a small hat for her newborn grandson
, Page 4 of 45
A child demonstrates aggressive and disruptive behavior in school as result of
a low sensory threshold. Which suggestions would be MOST useful to discuss
with the teacher regarding an upcoming class bus trip to the zoo?
A. Review the bus rules with the child and apply consequences consistently
B. Seat the child at the from of the bus and use earmuffs to dampen noise
C. Have child monitor classmates as "bus patrol" and report behavior
D. Let the child set the criteria for a successful trip, and provide a reward if the
criteria are met
B. Seat the child at the from of the bus and use earmuffs to dampen noise
As the school team meets to develop the IEP for a third-grade student with
autism spectrum disorder, the OT helps to project longer-term academic and
functional performance outcomes for the student in middle school and high
school. What is the MOST significant benefit of this approach for program
planning?
A. Assurance that services will be available for the student in future years
B. Likelihood for optimal progress toward relevant post-high school goals
C. Current services that focus on steps to achieve targeted long-range
outcomes
D. Avoidance of unnecessary duplication of services from year to year
C. Current services that focus on steps to achieve targeted long-range outcomes
A preschooler is having difficulty performing tasks requiring eye-hand
coordination as a result of poor visual tracking skills. What activity should the
OT use FIRST to promote visual tracking skills?
A. Tossing and catching a water balloon
B. Catching and bursting soap bubbles
C. Throwing and catching a beach ball
D. Playing softball
B. Catching and bursting soap bubbles
A homemaker with weak grip strength wishes to prepare a muffin mix but
cannot open the bag. Which of the following would the OT MOST likely
recommend?
NBCOT PRACTICE EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
NBCOT Practice Exam 1
A child has considerable difficulty with problem-solving when playing with
interlocking blocks, becomes frustrated, and gives up easily. An OT would
MOST likely suspect a problem in what area?
A. Sensorimotor play
B. Pretend play
C. Constructional play
D. Play with rules
C. Constructional play
The OT is making recommendations to a community living site for a 13-year-
old child with moderate intellectual disabilities. Which statement MOST
accurately describes the functional ability of this child?
A. The child requires nursing care for basic survival skills
B. The child can usually handle routine daily functions in a supervised home
C. The child requires supervision to accomplish productive, nonroutine work.
D. The child is able to learn academic skills at the third- to seventh-grade level
B. The child can usually handle routine daily functions in a supervised home
An individual with borderline personality disorder has been referred to
occupational therapy. Which of the following would be MOST important to
evaluate?
A. Activities of daily living
, Page 2 of 45
B. Instrumental ADLs
C. Interpersonal skills
D. Sensorimotor skills
C. Interpersonal skills
An OT performing a motor skills evaluation observes that a child is awkward at
many gross motor tasks. Though able to skip rope forward, the child is unable
to skip rope backward, even after several attempts. This information would
lead the therapist to be particularly observant for which additional signs?
A. Delayed reflex integration
B. Inadequate bilateral coordination
C. Developmental dyspraxia
D. General incoordintion
C. Developmental dyspraxia
A preteen with spastic cerebral palsy wants to use a computer. Prior to
evaluating computer needs, what should the OT learn about FIRST?
A. The student's and family's goals for the device use
B. The family's ability to afford a computer and its upgrades
C. Computer learning programs to facilitate student's participation in the
classroom
D. The student's physical and cognitive capacities to determine appropriate
keyboard and screen options
A. The student's and family's goals for the device use
An OT has been asked to develop a stress management program for clients
with eating disorders. For this population in particular, which is the MOST
important strategy to include?
A. A physical activity such as yoga or tai chi
B. Diaphragmatic breathing or progressive relaxation techniques
C. Training to acknowledge feeling and express emotions
D. Role-playing stressful situations
C. Training to acknowledge feeling and express emotions
, Page 3 of 45
The office doorway of an individual using a wheelchair has a clear opening of
28 inches. According to ADA guidelines, which of the following
recommendations would be the MOST appropriate to facilitate clear passage
of the wheelchair through the doorway?
A. The doorway width needs to be expanded to have a minimum clearance of
32 inches
B. The client needs to obtain a wheelchair narrower than 28 inches
C. The doorway width needs to be expanded to have a minimum clear opening
of 45 inches
D. The doorway width is satisfactory and needs no modification
A. The doorway width needs to be expanded to have a minimum clearance of 32
inches
An individual is about to be discharged from outpatient OT after rehabilitation
for a hand injury. The individual has not been able to work for 3 months and is
unable to perform all of the job requirements as a truck driver. Which of the
following should the OT practitioner recommend at discharge?
A. A home exercise program
B. Home health OT
C. Work hardening
D. No further OT services
C. Work hardening
An older adult has been hospitalized with a diagnosis of major depressive
disorder following an overdose of sleeping pills. In obtaining an occupational
profile, the OT discovers the patient has knitted and crocheted and enjoyed
cooking. What activity should the OT practitioner recommend FIRST to
achieve the goals of increasing a sense of confidence?
A. Crocheting a sweater for her teenage granddaughter
B. Making spaghetti and garlic bread for her husband
C. Knitting a small hat for her newborn grandson
D. Planning meals for the week in anticipation of discharge
C. Knitting a small hat for her newborn grandson
, Page 4 of 45
A child demonstrates aggressive and disruptive behavior in school as result of
a low sensory threshold. Which suggestions would be MOST useful to discuss
with the teacher regarding an upcoming class bus trip to the zoo?
A. Review the bus rules with the child and apply consequences consistently
B. Seat the child at the from of the bus and use earmuffs to dampen noise
C. Have child monitor classmates as "bus patrol" and report behavior
D. Let the child set the criteria for a successful trip, and provide a reward if the
criteria are met
B. Seat the child at the from of the bus and use earmuffs to dampen noise
As the school team meets to develop the IEP for a third-grade student with
autism spectrum disorder, the OT helps to project longer-term academic and
functional performance outcomes for the student in middle school and high
school. What is the MOST significant benefit of this approach for program
planning?
A. Assurance that services will be available for the student in future years
B. Likelihood for optimal progress toward relevant post-high school goals
C. Current services that focus on steps to achieve targeted long-range
outcomes
D. Avoidance of unnecessary duplication of services from year to year
C. Current services that focus on steps to achieve targeted long-range outcomes
A preschooler is having difficulty performing tasks requiring eye-hand
coordination as a result of poor visual tracking skills. What activity should the
OT use FIRST to promote visual tracking skills?
A. Tossing and catching a water balloon
B. Catching and bursting soap bubbles
C. Throwing and catching a beach ball
D. Playing softball
B. Catching and bursting soap bubbles
A homemaker with weak grip strength wishes to prepare a muffin mix but
cannot open the bag. Which of the following would the OT MOST likely
recommend?
