COTA Exam Prep Questions and
Answers
(Evaluation) A 3-year-old child demonstrates the ability to use the toilet independently
except for wiping and readjusting clothing afterword. This behavior indicates the child is
performing at which of the following levels? - answer A. Significantly below age level
B. Slightly below age level
C. At age level
D. Above age level
(Treatment Planning) An older adult with diabetes is working on a macrame project as a
way of increasing standing tolerance. The MOST relevant safety factor for the COTA to
take into consideration is the: - answer A. length of the cords she will start with.
B. thickness of the cords she will be using.
C. texture of the cords she will be using.
D. type of surface she will be standing on.
(Treatment Planning) A COTA is working with a patient recovering from a hand injury
which complains of pain when any sensation is felt on the affected hand. In planning a
program of desensitization training for the patient, the MOST appropriate sequence for
grading the sensory stimuli that will be applied to the patient's hand is from: - answer
A. soft to hard to rough
B. tap to rub to touch
C. light to medium to heavy
D. rough to hard to soft
(Treatment Planning) A COTA is working with an individual with amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis who is no longer able to ambulate for kitchen or home management activities.
Which of the following interventions BEST addresses the goals of independence in meal
preparation for this individual? - answer A. Meal preparation techniques using a
wheelchair
B. Training in the use of adapted cooking equipment
C. Simple cooking activities while standing at the counter for gradually increasing
amounts of time
D. Beginning with cold meals and progressing to ht meals
(Treatment Planning) A child with behavioral problems has difficulty with peer
interactions. Which of the following aspects of the treatment plan is MOST important? -
answer A. Provide activities in an authoritarian environment
B. Allow the child the opportunity to develop basic social skills on his own
C. Provide enjoyable activities in a safe and accepting environment
D. Strictly enforce rules for group play
,(Treatment Planning) A COTA is preparing a work conditioning program for a patient
who has decreased endurance. The COTA's FIRST step in developing a work
conditioning program for this patient would be: - answer A. implementing, adapting,
or modifying work activities
B. creating nonspecific job-simulated work tasks
C. implementing job-specific work tasks
D. creating a simulated work environment
(Treatment Planning) A COTA is planning a meal preparation activity for an adult client
with attentional and organizational deficits secondary to alcohol abuse. The treatment
goals address the client's difficulties in properly sequencing tasks. The most appropriate
activity to use FIRST is: - answer A. setting the table
B. planning an entire meal
C. baking cookies using a recipe
D. preparing a shopping list
(Treatment Implementation) The COTA is attempting to increase playfulness with a 7-
year-old girl with sensory integrative dysfunctions. The child experiences difficulties with
motor tasks and often complains that no one likes her. After establishing rapport with
the child, the COTA would MOST likely introduce which of the following? - answer A.
Playing a game of "Go Fish"
B. Playing a game of checkers
C. Jumping rope
D. Role playing a tea party with "Barbie" dolls
(Treatment Implementation) A patient with a short below-elbow amputation is lacking
sensation in the residual limb. The MOST appropriate intervention would be for the
COTA to teach the patient: - answer A. techniques of tapping, rubbing, and
application of textures to the residual limb
B. to routinely inspect the skin closely for signs of skin breakdown
C. to perform deep massage on the residual limb
D. the necessary procedures of proper skin hygiene
(Treatment Implementation) A COTA is treating a restaurant worker with carpal tunnel
syndrome. The MOST important instruction for the COTA to give the client is to avoid or
modify activities that encourage: - answer A. increased wrist extension, such as
carrying dishes
B. prolonged wrist flexion, such as scrubbing pots and pans
C. tasks that increase ulnar deviation, such as wiping tables
D. increased radial deviation, such as screwing and unscrewing and filling sugar, salt,
and pepper containers
(Treatment Implementation) An individual has demonstrated competence in heating
canned soup. The COTA recommends modifying the treatment plan an upgrading the
cooking activity to: - answer A. baking brownies
B. making an apple pie
,C. making toast
D. making a fresh fruit salad
(Treatment Implementation) The mother of a physically disabled 3-year-old has a goal
that her child will be walking independently around the house. This is an unrealistic goal
for the child but one the would be helpful to the mother who is finding her child difficult
to lift. The BEST way to assist in the development of family-centered intervention for this
child would be to: - answer A. support and work on the parent's goal as is
B. suggest an alternative, realistic OT goal of improving sitting balance for playing
C. propose a modified goal that still meets the parent's needs
D. empower the child to set her own goals
(Treatment Implementation) A COTA is working with a child with a developmental
disability who frequently bites his siblings and parents. Which of the following would the
COTA MOST likely recommend? - answer A. Encourage the parents to use verbal
feedback, and explain to the child that biting is inappropriate
B. Tell the parents to enforce time-out periods for each biting incident
C. Encourage the child to wear a necklace with chewable objects attached
D. Tell the parents that the child will eventually stop biting when one of his siblings bites
him back
(Treatment Implementation) When treating individuals in the acute phase of cardiac
rehabilitation, it is important for the COTA to FIRST select activities that: - answer A.
can be accomplished without causing fatigue
B. decrease the effects of prolonged activity
C. promote strength, ROM, and endurance
D. can be carried out independently after discharge
(Effectiveness of Treatment and Discharge Planning) An individual with lower extremity
paralysis uses a standard manual wheelchair and is ready to be discharged to home.
During the home evaluation, the COTA notes that the entrance to the bathroom is 32
inches wide and the toilet is 15 inches high. Which of the following recommendations
will BEST facilitate use of the bathroom for this individual? - answer A. Widen the
doorway
B. Raise the toilet
C. Widen the doorway and raise the toilet
D. Widen the doorway and lower the toilet
(Effectiveness of Treatment and Discharge Planning) The COTA is instructing a
carpenter recovering from a work injury in the proper use of body mechanics. Which of
the following statements in the discharge note would MOST likely indicate that the
patient was using proper body mechanics? - answer A. Patient worked a full day
without becoming fatigued
B. Patient reinstalled a door without rein jury
C. Patient used power tools without reports of upper extremity pain
D. Patient was able to hammer continuously for a sustained period of time
, (Occupational Therapy For Populations) An OT practitioner wishes to assess the results
of a life skills training program provided to individuals at a shelter for abused women.
Which of the following methods would be the MOST comprehensive method for
obtaining this information? - answer A. Final evaluation of each client involved
B. Client satisfaction survey
C. Program evaluation
D. Utilization review
(Evaluation) A COTA working in a long-term care facility frequently evaluates cognitive
performance. Which of the following methods is BEST for evaluating remote memory? -
answer A. Name three items, and ask the individual to list the items 5 minutes later
B. Ask the individual about the grade school he or she attended
C. Have the individual state the place, date, and time
D. Ask the individual what he or she had for breakfast that day
(Evaluation) While observing a child for the first time, the COTA notes that the child
responds to a loud noise by abducting and extending the arms. The reflex, or reaction,
observed in this child is documented by the COTA as a: - answer A. rooting reflex
B. Moro reflex
C. flexor withdrawal reflex
D. neck righting reaction
(Evaluation) An OT practitioner who is a member of an assistive technology team
evaluating an adult with severe motor limitations is MOST likely to: - answer A. make
recommendations for ways of operating the technology
B. recommend communication strategies
C. seek funding sources for the technology
D. solve mechanical or software problems
(Evaluation) What should the OT practitioner do FIRST to obtain accurate information
about a patient's family situation and about their occupational, cultural, and educational
backgrounds? - answer A. Read the medical record
B. Interview the patient's family
C. Interview the patient
D. Read the social worker's report
(Evaluation) An OT practitioner is evaluating two-point discrimination in an individual
with a median nerve injury. The MOST appropriate procedure is to: - answer A. apply
the stimuli beginning at the little finger and progress toward the thumb
B. test the thumb area first, then progress toward the little finger
C. present test stimuli in an organized pattern to improve reliability during retesting
D. allow the individual unlimited time to respond
(Evaluation) An individual who recently experienced an MI is now medically stable and
has been referred to OT. To determine the individual's current endurance level, the OT
Answers
(Evaluation) A 3-year-old child demonstrates the ability to use the toilet independently
except for wiping and readjusting clothing afterword. This behavior indicates the child is
performing at which of the following levels? - answer A. Significantly below age level
B. Slightly below age level
C. At age level
D. Above age level
(Treatment Planning) An older adult with diabetes is working on a macrame project as a
way of increasing standing tolerance. The MOST relevant safety factor for the COTA to
take into consideration is the: - answer A. length of the cords she will start with.
B. thickness of the cords she will be using.
C. texture of the cords she will be using.
D. type of surface she will be standing on.
(Treatment Planning) A COTA is working with a patient recovering from a hand injury
which complains of pain when any sensation is felt on the affected hand. In planning a
program of desensitization training for the patient, the MOST appropriate sequence for
grading the sensory stimuli that will be applied to the patient's hand is from: - answer
A. soft to hard to rough
B. tap to rub to touch
C. light to medium to heavy
D. rough to hard to soft
(Treatment Planning) A COTA is working with an individual with amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis who is no longer able to ambulate for kitchen or home management activities.
Which of the following interventions BEST addresses the goals of independence in meal
preparation for this individual? - answer A. Meal preparation techniques using a
wheelchair
B. Training in the use of adapted cooking equipment
C. Simple cooking activities while standing at the counter for gradually increasing
amounts of time
D. Beginning with cold meals and progressing to ht meals
(Treatment Planning) A child with behavioral problems has difficulty with peer
interactions. Which of the following aspects of the treatment plan is MOST important? -
answer A. Provide activities in an authoritarian environment
B. Allow the child the opportunity to develop basic social skills on his own
C. Provide enjoyable activities in a safe and accepting environment
D. Strictly enforce rules for group play
,(Treatment Planning) A COTA is preparing a work conditioning program for a patient
who has decreased endurance. The COTA's FIRST step in developing a work
conditioning program for this patient would be: - answer A. implementing, adapting,
or modifying work activities
B. creating nonspecific job-simulated work tasks
C. implementing job-specific work tasks
D. creating a simulated work environment
(Treatment Planning) A COTA is planning a meal preparation activity for an adult client
with attentional and organizational deficits secondary to alcohol abuse. The treatment
goals address the client's difficulties in properly sequencing tasks. The most appropriate
activity to use FIRST is: - answer A. setting the table
B. planning an entire meal
C. baking cookies using a recipe
D. preparing a shopping list
(Treatment Implementation) The COTA is attempting to increase playfulness with a 7-
year-old girl with sensory integrative dysfunctions. The child experiences difficulties with
motor tasks and often complains that no one likes her. After establishing rapport with
the child, the COTA would MOST likely introduce which of the following? - answer A.
Playing a game of "Go Fish"
B. Playing a game of checkers
C. Jumping rope
D. Role playing a tea party with "Barbie" dolls
(Treatment Implementation) A patient with a short below-elbow amputation is lacking
sensation in the residual limb. The MOST appropriate intervention would be for the
COTA to teach the patient: - answer A. techniques of tapping, rubbing, and
application of textures to the residual limb
B. to routinely inspect the skin closely for signs of skin breakdown
C. to perform deep massage on the residual limb
D. the necessary procedures of proper skin hygiene
(Treatment Implementation) A COTA is treating a restaurant worker with carpal tunnel
syndrome. The MOST important instruction for the COTA to give the client is to avoid or
modify activities that encourage: - answer A. increased wrist extension, such as
carrying dishes
B. prolonged wrist flexion, such as scrubbing pots and pans
C. tasks that increase ulnar deviation, such as wiping tables
D. increased radial deviation, such as screwing and unscrewing and filling sugar, salt,
and pepper containers
(Treatment Implementation) An individual has demonstrated competence in heating
canned soup. The COTA recommends modifying the treatment plan an upgrading the
cooking activity to: - answer A. baking brownies
B. making an apple pie
,C. making toast
D. making a fresh fruit salad
(Treatment Implementation) The mother of a physically disabled 3-year-old has a goal
that her child will be walking independently around the house. This is an unrealistic goal
for the child but one the would be helpful to the mother who is finding her child difficult
to lift. The BEST way to assist in the development of family-centered intervention for this
child would be to: - answer A. support and work on the parent's goal as is
B. suggest an alternative, realistic OT goal of improving sitting balance for playing
C. propose a modified goal that still meets the parent's needs
D. empower the child to set her own goals
(Treatment Implementation) A COTA is working with a child with a developmental
disability who frequently bites his siblings and parents. Which of the following would the
COTA MOST likely recommend? - answer A. Encourage the parents to use verbal
feedback, and explain to the child that biting is inappropriate
B. Tell the parents to enforce time-out periods for each biting incident
C. Encourage the child to wear a necklace with chewable objects attached
D. Tell the parents that the child will eventually stop biting when one of his siblings bites
him back
(Treatment Implementation) When treating individuals in the acute phase of cardiac
rehabilitation, it is important for the COTA to FIRST select activities that: - answer A.
can be accomplished without causing fatigue
B. decrease the effects of prolonged activity
C. promote strength, ROM, and endurance
D. can be carried out independently after discharge
(Effectiveness of Treatment and Discharge Planning) An individual with lower extremity
paralysis uses a standard manual wheelchair and is ready to be discharged to home.
During the home evaluation, the COTA notes that the entrance to the bathroom is 32
inches wide and the toilet is 15 inches high. Which of the following recommendations
will BEST facilitate use of the bathroom for this individual? - answer A. Widen the
doorway
B. Raise the toilet
C. Widen the doorway and raise the toilet
D. Widen the doorway and lower the toilet
(Effectiveness of Treatment and Discharge Planning) The COTA is instructing a
carpenter recovering from a work injury in the proper use of body mechanics. Which of
the following statements in the discharge note would MOST likely indicate that the
patient was using proper body mechanics? - answer A. Patient worked a full day
without becoming fatigued
B. Patient reinstalled a door without rein jury
C. Patient used power tools without reports of upper extremity pain
D. Patient was able to hammer continuously for a sustained period of time
, (Occupational Therapy For Populations) An OT practitioner wishes to assess the results
of a life skills training program provided to individuals at a shelter for abused women.
Which of the following methods would be the MOST comprehensive method for
obtaining this information? - answer A. Final evaluation of each client involved
B. Client satisfaction survey
C. Program evaluation
D. Utilization review
(Evaluation) A COTA working in a long-term care facility frequently evaluates cognitive
performance. Which of the following methods is BEST for evaluating remote memory? -
answer A. Name three items, and ask the individual to list the items 5 minutes later
B. Ask the individual about the grade school he or she attended
C. Have the individual state the place, date, and time
D. Ask the individual what he or she had for breakfast that day
(Evaluation) While observing a child for the first time, the COTA notes that the child
responds to a loud noise by abducting and extending the arms. The reflex, or reaction,
observed in this child is documented by the COTA as a: - answer A. rooting reflex
B. Moro reflex
C. flexor withdrawal reflex
D. neck righting reaction
(Evaluation) An OT practitioner who is a member of an assistive technology team
evaluating an adult with severe motor limitations is MOST likely to: - answer A. make
recommendations for ways of operating the technology
B. recommend communication strategies
C. seek funding sources for the technology
D. solve mechanical or software problems
(Evaluation) What should the OT practitioner do FIRST to obtain accurate information
about a patient's family situation and about their occupational, cultural, and educational
backgrounds? - answer A. Read the medical record
B. Interview the patient's family
C. Interview the patient
D. Read the social worker's report
(Evaluation) An OT practitioner is evaluating two-point discrimination in an individual
with a median nerve injury. The MOST appropriate procedure is to: - answer A. apply
the stimuli beginning at the little finger and progress toward the thumb
B. test the thumb area first, then progress toward the little finger
C. present test stimuli in an organized pattern to improve reliability during retesting
D. allow the individual unlimited time to respond
(Evaluation) An individual who recently experienced an MI is now medically stable and
has been referred to OT. To determine the individual's current endurance level, the OT
