ILLINOIS ELEMENTARY
EDUCATION EXAM:
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
.
Six Content Subareas:
1. Language and Literacy
2. Mathematics
3. Science
4. Social Science
5. Fine Arts
6. Physical Development and Health
Practice Questions
Subarea I: Language and Literacy
1. A teacher reads a book titled "Crane." One student believes it is about the giant
birds, while another thinks it is about heavy machinery. As the teacher continues
reading, they encounter the word "bird," and both students now understand the
book is about birds. Which concept does this illustrate?
A. Pragmatics
B. Semantics
C. Morphology
D. Mutualism
Rationale: Semantics is the study of meaning in language, including how words can
have multiple meanings (homonyms) and how context clarifies intended meaning. The
word "bird" provides semantic information that disambiguates "crane" .
,2. A first-grade teacher uses a Big Book in a read-aloud session. Which method is
most effective for developing students' knowledge of print and emergent literacy
concepts?
A. Flipping pages and discussing illustrations before reading
B. Using a finger to track the text from left to right and line to line while reading
C. Explaining how words are composed of letters
D. Having students echo read the text
Rationale: Tracking text with a finger models directionality (left-to-right, top-to-
bottom), an essential early literacy skill. This demonstrates print awareness and the
connection between spoken and written words .
3. A fifth-grade teacher wants to develop word consciousness in students. Which
practice is most effective?
A. Giving students instruction in dictionary skills regularly
B. Having students write sentences with new words
C. Encouraging students to discuss well-chosen language they notice in literature
D. Having students keep a log of difficult words
Rationale: Word consciousness involves interest in and awareness of words. Discussing
well-chosen language promotes appreciation for word choice and encourages students
to notice sophisticated vocabulary in context .
4. A 1st-grade teacher reads a sensory poem promoting the five senses. She tells
students to close their eyes while she reads. After finishing, which step is most
appropriate?
A. Have the students write about what they felt
B. Stop in the middle and discuss feelings
C. Act out what they comprehended
D. Illustrate/draw what they felt regarding the five senses
Rationale: Drawing allows young students to express comprehension before they have
the writing skills to articulate responses in words. This is developmentally appropriate
for 1st graders .
5. What is a VCV word?
A. A word with a vowel-consonant-vowel pattern
B. A word ending in a consonant
C. A word with a vowel-consonant-vowel syllabication pattern, such as "se-cond"
,or "le-mon"
D. A word with two vowels together
Rationale: A VCV word follows a vowel-consonant-vowel pattern where the consonant
often goes with the second syllable, as in "se-cond," "le-mon," and "de-mon" .
Subarea II: Mathematics
6. Which equation is equivalent to 5⅜ − 2¹¹⁄₄?
A. 45/8 − 11/4
B. 43/8 − 11/4
C. 86/16 − 38/4
D. 4⁹⁄₁₂ − 5⁹⁄₂₄
Rationale: 5⅜ = 43/8. 2¹¹⁄₄ is an improper fraction representation, but the equivalent
form of 5⅜ is 43/8. The answer 43/8 − 11/4 represents the equivalent expression .
7. A meter stick is best used to measure which of the following?
A. A football field
B. A triangle's angles
C. A yard
D. An elementary student's height
Rationale: A meter stick is approximately 39 inches and is appropriate for measuring
objects of moderate size, such as a student's height. Football fields require longer
measuring tools .
8. What is the probability of getting heads on a single coin flip?
A. 1/3
B. 1/2
C. 3/5
D. 1/4
Rationale: A fair coin has two equally likely outcomes (heads or tails). The probability of
heads is 1 out of 2, or 1/2 .
9. How should you set up a problem when converting units?
, A. Multiply all numbers together
B. Use dimensional analysis with conversion factors
C. Divide by the largest number
D. Add all units together
Rationale: Unit conversion problems should be set up using dimensional analysis (the
"railroad track" method), where conversion factors are arranged so unwanted units
cancel out .
10. What is the "counting on" method?
A. Counting from 1 to 100
B. Beginning at the value of one number and counting up until reaching the
second number
C. Counting backward from 10
D. Skip counting by 2s
Rationale: The counting on method involves beginning at one addend and counting up
the number of units of the second addend to find the sum. This is a foundational
addition strategy .
Subarea III: Science
11. How are rainbows formed?
A. Light enters water droplets and is refracted and reflected
B. UV rays escape from the sun
C. Blue light reflects off the ground
D. Water evaporates into color
Rationale: Rainbows form when sunlight enters water droplets, is refracted (bent),
reflected off the back of the droplet, and refracted again as it exits, separating white
light into its component colors .
12. What is the correct order of the scientific method?
A. Hypothesis, observation, conclusion, experiment
B. Observation, hypothesis, experiment, conclusion
C. Experiment, observation, hypothesis, conclusion
D. Conclusion, experiment, hypothesis, observation
EDUCATION EXAM:
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
.
Six Content Subareas:
1. Language and Literacy
2. Mathematics
3. Science
4. Social Science
5. Fine Arts
6. Physical Development and Health
Practice Questions
Subarea I: Language and Literacy
1. A teacher reads a book titled "Crane." One student believes it is about the giant
birds, while another thinks it is about heavy machinery. As the teacher continues
reading, they encounter the word "bird," and both students now understand the
book is about birds. Which concept does this illustrate?
A. Pragmatics
B. Semantics
C. Morphology
D. Mutualism
Rationale: Semantics is the study of meaning in language, including how words can
have multiple meanings (homonyms) and how context clarifies intended meaning. The
word "bird" provides semantic information that disambiguates "crane" .
,2. A first-grade teacher uses a Big Book in a read-aloud session. Which method is
most effective for developing students' knowledge of print and emergent literacy
concepts?
A. Flipping pages and discussing illustrations before reading
B. Using a finger to track the text from left to right and line to line while reading
C. Explaining how words are composed of letters
D. Having students echo read the text
Rationale: Tracking text with a finger models directionality (left-to-right, top-to-
bottom), an essential early literacy skill. This demonstrates print awareness and the
connection between spoken and written words .
3. A fifth-grade teacher wants to develop word consciousness in students. Which
practice is most effective?
A. Giving students instruction in dictionary skills regularly
B. Having students write sentences with new words
C. Encouraging students to discuss well-chosen language they notice in literature
D. Having students keep a log of difficult words
Rationale: Word consciousness involves interest in and awareness of words. Discussing
well-chosen language promotes appreciation for word choice and encourages students
to notice sophisticated vocabulary in context .
4. A 1st-grade teacher reads a sensory poem promoting the five senses. She tells
students to close their eyes while she reads. After finishing, which step is most
appropriate?
A. Have the students write about what they felt
B. Stop in the middle and discuss feelings
C. Act out what they comprehended
D. Illustrate/draw what they felt regarding the five senses
Rationale: Drawing allows young students to express comprehension before they have
the writing skills to articulate responses in words. This is developmentally appropriate
for 1st graders .
5. What is a VCV word?
A. A word with a vowel-consonant-vowel pattern
B. A word ending in a consonant
C. A word with a vowel-consonant-vowel syllabication pattern, such as "se-cond"
,or "le-mon"
D. A word with two vowels together
Rationale: A VCV word follows a vowel-consonant-vowel pattern where the consonant
often goes with the second syllable, as in "se-cond," "le-mon," and "de-mon" .
Subarea II: Mathematics
6. Which equation is equivalent to 5⅜ − 2¹¹⁄₄?
A. 45/8 − 11/4
B. 43/8 − 11/4
C. 86/16 − 38/4
D. 4⁹⁄₁₂ − 5⁹⁄₂₄
Rationale: 5⅜ = 43/8. 2¹¹⁄₄ is an improper fraction representation, but the equivalent
form of 5⅜ is 43/8. The answer 43/8 − 11/4 represents the equivalent expression .
7. A meter stick is best used to measure which of the following?
A. A football field
B. A triangle's angles
C. A yard
D. An elementary student's height
Rationale: A meter stick is approximately 39 inches and is appropriate for measuring
objects of moderate size, such as a student's height. Football fields require longer
measuring tools .
8. What is the probability of getting heads on a single coin flip?
A. 1/3
B. 1/2
C. 3/5
D. 1/4
Rationale: A fair coin has two equally likely outcomes (heads or tails). The probability of
heads is 1 out of 2, or 1/2 .
9. How should you set up a problem when converting units?
, A. Multiply all numbers together
B. Use dimensional analysis with conversion factors
C. Divide by the largest number
D. Add all units together
Rationale: Unit conversion problems should be set up using dimensional analysis (the
"railroad track" method), where conversion factors are arranged so unwanted units
cancel out .
10. What is the "counting on" method?
A. Counting from 1 to 100
B. Beginning at the value of one number and counting up until reaching the
second number
C. Counting backward from 10
D. Skip counting by 2s
Rationale: The counting on method involves beginning at one addend and counting up
the number of units of the second addend to find the sum. This is a foundational
addition strategy .
Subarea III: Science
11. How are rainbows formed?
A. Light enters water droplets and is refracted and reflected
B. UV rays escape from the sun
C. Blue light reflects off the ground
D. Water evaporates into color
Rationale: Rainbows form when sunlight enters water droplets, is refracted (bent),
reflected off the back of the droplet, and refracted again as it exits, separating white
light into its component colors .
12. What is the correct order of the scientific method?
A. Hypothesis, observation, conclusion, experiment
B. Observation, hypothesis, experiment, conclusion
C. Experiment, observation, hypothesis, conclusion
D. Conclusion, experiment, hypothesis, observation
