TEXAS SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE & RATIONALE|INSTANT
DOWNLOAD
1. A school psychologist is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of
a 9-year-old student suspected of having a Specific Learning
Disability (SLD). Under IDEA, which pattern of evidence provides
the strongest support for an SLD determination?
A. Low achievement alone on a standardized reading test
B. Significant academic deficits accompanied by evidence that the
difficulties are not primarily due to intellectual disability, sensory
impairment, emotional disturbance, cultural factors, environmental
disadvantage, or lack of appropriate instruction
C. Teacher reports indicating the student struggles more than classmates
D. Parent concerns regarding homework completion
Answer: B
Rationale: IDEA requires multiple sources of evidence
demonstrating significant academic deficits while excluding other
primary causes. A comprehensive evaluation integrates
standardized testing, observations, intervention data, educational
history, and exclusionary factors rather than relying on one test
score or subjective reports alone.
2. During an initial evaluation, a school psychologist explains
procedural safeguards to parents. Which ethical principle is
primarily demonstrated?
1
,A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Respect for the dignity and rights of all persons
D. Fidelity
Answer: C
Rationale: Providing procedural safeguards promotes informed
participation, autonomy, and respect for parents' legal rights.
Ethical practice requires ensuring families understand evaluation
procedures, consent, confidentiality, and decision-making processes.
3. Which cognitive process is most strongly associated with reading
decoding difficulties in developmental dyslexia?
A. Visual memory
B. Phonological processing
C. Processing speed only
D. Fluid reasoning
Answer: B
Rationale: Research consistently identifies deficits in phonological
awareness, phonological memory, and rapid automatized naming as
primary contributors to dyslexia. Although other cognitive abilities
may influence reading, phonological processing remains the
strongest predictor of decoding impairment.
4. Which assessment practice best minimizes cultural bias?
A. Using only standardized intelligence tests
2
,B. Comparing students only to local classmates
C. Using multiple methods, culturally responsive interviews,
observations, and interpreting results within cultural and linguistic
context
D. Ignoring language differences during testing
Answer: C
Rationale: Culturally responsive assessment requires integrating
formal and informal measures, family interviews, ecological factors,
language proficiency, and awareness of cultural influences. No
single assessment instrument is free from cultural influences.
5. A school psychologist is interpreting a student's WISC-V profile.
Which index primarily measures reasoning using visual stimuli?
A. Verbal Comprehension Index
B. Working Memory Index
C. Visual Spatial Index
D. Processing Speed Index
Answer: C
Rationale: The Visual Spatial Index measures the ability to perceive,
analyze, and reproduce visual patterns and relationships. Tasks
require integration of visual details and spatial reasoning rather
than verbal knowledge.
6. Which intervention is considered Tier 1 within a Multi-Tiered
System of Supports (MTSS)?
A. Individualized daily tutoring
3
, B. Universal evidence-based classroom instruction for all students
C. Intensive one-on-one intervention
D. Special education placement
Answer: B
Rationale: Tier 1 consists of high-quality core instruction delivered
universally. Approximately 80–90% of students should succeed
through effective Tier 1 instruction before requiring targeted
interventions.
7. During a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), the school
psychologist identifies that a student's disruptive behavior
consistently results in removal from difficult assignments. The
behavior is most likely maintained by:
A. Tangible reinforcement
B. Sensory stimulation
C. Escape from academic demands
D. Peer approval
Answer: C
Rationale: When disruptive behavior consistently results in
avoidance of challenging work, negative reinforcement through
escape maintains the behavior. Effective intervention should address
academic difficulty while teaching appropriate replacement
behaviors.
8. Which reliability coefficient best reflects internal consistency?
A. Cohen's Kappa
4
CERTIFICATION EXAM ACTUAL 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE & RATIONALE|INSTANT
DOWNLOAD
1. A school psychologist is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of
a 9-year-old student suspected of having a Specific Learning
Disability (SLD). Under IDEA, which pattern of evidence provides
the strongest support for an SLD determination?
A. Low achievement alone on a standardized reading test
B. Significant academic deficits accompanied by evidence that the
difficulties are not primarily due to intellectual disability, sensory
impairment, emotional disturbance, cultural factors, environmental
disadvantage, or lack of appropriate instruction
C. Teacher reports indicating the student struggles more than classmates
D. Parent concerns regarding homework completion
Answer: B
Rationale: IDEA requires multiple sources of evidence
demonstrating significant academic deficits while excluding other
primary causes. A comprehensive evaluation integrates
standardized testing, observations, intervention data, educational
history, and exclusionary factors rather than relying on one test
score or subjective reports alone.
2. During an initial evaluation, a school psychologist explains
procedural safeguards to parents. Which ethical principle is
primarily demonstrated?
1
,A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Respect for the dignity and rights of all persons
D. Fidelity
Answer: C
Rationale: Providing procedural safeguards promotes informed
participation, autonomy, and respect for parents' legal rights.
Ethical practice requires ensuring families understand evaluation
procedures, consent, confidentiality, and decision-making processes.
3. Which cognitive process is most strongly associated with reading
decoding difficulties in developmental dyslexia?
A. Visual memory
B. Phonological processing
C. Processing speed only
D. Fluid reasoning
Answer: B
Rationale: Research consistently identifies deficits in phonological
awareness, phonological memory, and rapid automatized naming as
primary contributors to dyslexia. Although other cognitive abilities
may influence reading, phonological processing remains the
strongest predictor of decoding impairment.
4. Which assessment practice best minimizes cultural bias?
A. Using only standardized intelligence tests
2
,B. Comparing students only to local classmates
C. Using multiple methods, culturally responsive interviews,
observations, and interpreting results within cultural and linguistic
context
D. Ignoring language differences during testing
Answer: C
Rationale: Culturally responsive assessment requires integrating
formal and informal measures, family interviews, ecological factors,
language proficiency, and awareness of cultural influences. No
single assessment instrument is free from cultural influences.
5. A school psychologist is interpreting a student's WISC-V profile.
Which index primarily measures reasoning using visual stimuli?
A. Verbal Comprehension Index
B. Working Memory Index
C. Visual Spatial Index
D. Processing Speed Index
Answer: C
Rationale: The Visual Spatial Index measures the ability to perceive,
analyze, and reproduce visual patterns and relationships. Tasks
require integration of visual details and spatial reasoning rather
than verbal knowledge.
6. Which intervention is considered Tier 1 within a Multi-Tiered
System of Supports (MTSS)?
A. Individualized daily tutoring
3
, B. Universal evidence-based classroom instruction for all students
C. Intensive one-on-one intervention
D. Special education placement
Answer: B
Rationale: Tier 1 consists of high-quality core instruction delivered
universally. Approximately 80–90% of students should succeed
through effective Tier 1 instruction before requiring targeted
interventions.
7. During a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), the school
psychologist identifies that a student's disruptive behavior
consistently results in removal from difficult assignments. The
behavior is most likely maintained by:
A. Tangible reinforcement
B. Sensory stimulation
C. Escape from academic demands
D. Peer approval
Answer: C
Rationale: When disruptive behavior consistently results in
avoidance of challenging work, negative reinforcement through
escape maintains the behavior. Effective intervention should address
academic difficulty while teaching appropriate replacement
behaviors.
8. Which reliability coefficient best reflects internal consistency?
A. Cohen's Kappa
4
