ANCC PNP Certification Exam PRACTICE
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS |DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM PREP
GRADED A+*INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 2-month-old infant is brought for a well-child examination.
Which developmental milestone is most appropriate for this age?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from abdomen to back
C. Social smiling
D. Using two-word phrases
Answer: C. Social smiling
Rationale: Social smiling typically emerges around 6–8 weeks. Sitting
independently and two-word phrases occur much later, while rolling
usually develops around 4–6 months.
2. Which developmental milestone is expected in most 6-month-old
infants?
A. Walking independently
B. Using three-word sentences
C. Rolling from abdomen to back
D. Copying a square
Answer: C. Rolling from abdomen to back
Rationale: Rolling is a common gross-motor milestone around 4–6
months. Independent walking and copying shapes occur during the
toddler and preschool years.
,3. A 12-month-old child is evaluated during a well visit. Which finding
is most concerning for developmental delay?
A. Pulls to stand
B. Uses a pincer grasp
C. Waves bye-bye
D. Does not sit independently
Answer: D. Does not sit independently
Rationale: Independent sitting is generally achieved by approximately
6–9 months. Failure to sit independently by 9 months warrants
developmental evaluation.
4. Which milestone is expected in a typical 15-month-old child?
A. Hops on one foot
B. Walks independently
C. Copies a triangle
D. Uses four-word sentences
Answer: B. Walks independently
Rationale: Most children walk independently by approximately 12–15
months.
5. A 2-year-old child is being assessed. Which language ability is
expected?
A. Reads simple sentences
B. Uses 100% understandable speech
C. Uses two-word phrases
D. Uses complex grammatical sentences
Answer: C. Uses two-word phrases
,Rationale: Two-word combinations are expected around age 2.
Speech intelligibility increases progressively during the preschool
years.
6. Which developmental finding in a 3-year-old should prompt
further evaluation?
A. Pedals a tricycle
B. Copies a circle
C. Uses three-word sentences
D. Cannot jump with both feet
Answer: D. Cannot jump with both feet
Rationale: Jumping with both feet is generally expected by
approximately 2–3 years. Failure may indicate gross-motor delay.
7. A 4-year-old child should generally be able to:
A. Tie shoelaces
B. Hop on one foot
C. Write paragraphs
D. Ride a two-wheel bicycle
Answer: B. Hop on one foot
Rationale: Hopping on one foot is a typical preschool gross-motor
milestone.
8. Which finding is expected in a healthy newborn?
A. Persistent central cyanosis
B. Respiratory rate of 70/min
C. Acrocyanosis of the hands and feet
D. Absent Moro reflex
, Answer: C. Acrocyanosis of the hands and feet
Rationale: Peripheral cyanosis can be normal during the first several
days of life. Central cyanosis is abnormal and requires evaluation.
9. The anterior fontanelle in a healthy infant normally closes by
approximately:
A. 3 months
B. 6 months
C. 18 months
D. 36 months
Answer: C. 18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanelle typically closes between
approximately 9 and 18 months.
10. Which reflex should normally disappear by approximately 4–6
months?
A. Babinski
B. Patellar
C. Moro
D. Achilles
Answer: C. Moro
Rationale: The Moro reflex is present at birth and generally
disappears by about 4–6 months.
11. A child crosses two percentile lines downward on the growth
chart over several months. What is the most appropriate initial
response?
QUESTIONS |ORIGINAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS |DETAILED RATIONALES
|HINTED COMPLETE EXAM PREP
GRADED A+*INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 2-month-old infant is brought for a well-child examination.
Which developmental milestone is most appropriate for this age?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from abdomen to back
C. Social smiling
D. Using two-word phrases
Answer: C. Social smiling
Rationale: Social smiling typically emerges around 6–8 weeks. Sitting
independently and two-word phrases occur much later, while rolling
usually develops around 4–6 months.
2. Which developmental milestone is expected in most 6-month-old
infants?
A. Walking independently
B. Using three-word sentences
C. Rolling from abdomen to back
D. Copying a square
Answer: C. Rolling from abdomen to back
Rationale: Rolling is a common gross-motor milestone around 4–6
months. Independent walking and copying shapes occur during the
toddler and preschool years.
,3. A 12-month-old child is evaluated during a well visit. Which finding
is most concerning for developmental delay?
A. Pulls to stand
B. Uses a pincer grasp
C. Waves bye-bye
D. Does not sit independently
Answer: D. Does not sit independently
Rationale: Independent sitting is generally achieved by approximately
6–9 months. Failure to sit independently by 9 months warrants
developmental evaluation.
4. Which milestone is expected in a typical 15-month-old child?
A. Hops on one foot
B. Walks independently
C. Copies a triangle
D. Uses four-word sentences
Answer: B. Walks independently
Rationale: Most children walk independently by approximately 12–15
months.
5. A 2-year-old child is being assessed. Which language ability is
expected?
A. Reads simple sentences
B. Uses 100% understandable speech
C. Uses two-word phrases
D. Uses complex grammatical sentences
Answer: C. Uses two-word phrases
,Rationale: Two-word combinations are expected around age 2.
Speech intelligibility increases progressively during the preschool
years.
6. Which developmental finding in a 3-year-old should prompt
further evaluation?
A. Pedals a tricycle
B. Copies a circle
C. Uses three-word sentences
D. Cannot jump with both feet
Answer: D. Cannot jump with both feet
Rationale: Jumping with both feet is generally expected by
approximately 2–3 years. Failure may indicate gross-motor delay.
7. A 4-year-old child should generally be able to:
A. Tie shoelaces
B. Hop on one foot
C. Write paragraphs
D. Ride a two-wheel bicycle
Answer: B. Hop on one foot
Rationale: Hopping on one foot is a typical preschool gross-motor
milestone.
8. Which finding is expected in a healthy newborn?
A. Persistent central cyanosis
B. Respiratory rate of 70/min
C. Acrocyanosis of the hands and feet
D. Absent Moro reflex
, Answer: C. Acrocyanosis of the hands and feet
Rationale: Peripheral cyanosis can be normal during the first several
days of life. Central cyanosis is abnormal and requires evaluation.
9. The anterior fontanelle in a healthy infant normally closes by
approximately:
A. 3 months
B. 6 months
C. 18 months
D. 36 months
Answer: C. 18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanelle typically closes between
approximately 9 and 18 months.
10. Which reflex should normally disappear by approximately 4–6
months?
A. Babinski
B. Patellar
C. Moro
D. Achilles
Answer: C. Moro
Rationale: The Moro reflex is present at birth and generally
disappears by about 4–6 months.
11. A child crosses two percentile lines downward on the growth
chart over several months. What is the most appropriate initial
response?
