Instructional Strategies – 2026 Actual
Questions and Answers (WGU) Pass the
OA
SECTION 1 — INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING & ALIGNMENT
1. A teacher begins planning by determining what students should know and be able to do at
the end of instruction. Which approach is being used?
A. Direct instruction
B. Backward design
C. Cooperative learning
D. Discovery learning
Correct Answer: B. Backward design
Rationale: Backward design begins with the desired learning results, followed by determining
acceptable evidence and then planning instruction.
2. What is the primary purpose of aligning standards, objectives, instruction, and assessment?
A. To make lessons longer
B. To ensure all components work toward the intended learning outcomes
C. To eliminate formative assessment
D. To allow teachers to avoid differentiation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Instructional alignment ensures that what students are expected to learn, what they
practice, and what they are assessed on are connected.
3. Which objective is most measurable?
A. Students will understand fractions.
B. Students will appreciate mathematics.
,C. Students will identify three equivalent fractions.
D. Students will know fractions.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "Identify" describes an observable behavior that can be measured.
4. Which verb is most appropriate for a measurable learning objective?
A. Understand
B. Know
C. Appreciate
D. Analyze
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Analyze describes an observable cognitive action.
5. Which component specifies the circumstances under which a learner will demonstrate the
expected behavior?
A. Condition
B. Behavior
C. Criterion
D. Assessment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A well-written objective can include condition, behavior, and criterion.
6. In the objective "Given a map, students will identify five major rivers with 90% accuracy,"
what is the behavior?
A. Given a map
B. Students
C. Identify five major rivers
D. 90% accuracy
Correct Answer: C
, 7. In the same objective, what represents the criterion?
A. Given a map
B. Identify
C. Five major rivers
D. 90% accuracy
Correct Answer: D
8. Which objective is least measurable?
A. Students will compare two ecosystems.
B. Students will list five causes of erosion.
C. Students will understand ecosystems.
D. Students will classify organisms.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "Understand" is difficult to directly observe or measure without specifying an
observable behavior.
9. What is the main purpose of a learning objective?
A. To describe what the teacher will do
B. To describe what students should demonstrate as a result of instruction
C. To replace standards
D. To determine classroom seating
Correct Answer: B
10. A teacher uses an assessment that directly measures the skill stated in the learning
objective. This demonstrates:
A. Instructional alignment
B. Randomization
C. Differentiation only
D. Classroom management
Correct Answer: A