NCOA ACTUAL 2026 CORE EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What are the three levels of cognitive domain - ✔✔1. Knowledge - remember, recall,
recognize information read
2. Comprehension - Translation, interpretation, and extrapolation
-Important in order to draw conclusions
-Describe a relationship between two related concepts
3. Application - Applies what was learned- use manual to calculate an employee's
vacation time, apply laws or statistics
✔✔When processing case studies and scenarios ask yourself what? - ✔✔1. Are the
characters' actions, decisions, or behaviors appropriate or inappropriate? (correct or
incorrect) NO sliding scale
2. " " Effective or ineffective ; sliding scale
3. " " most effective
✔✔I observe an Airman outside in uniform without a hat on. - ✔✔1. Choosing to correct
the Airman is appropriate --choosing to not correct is inappropriate (but no degree of
right or wrong. You cannot be MORE right or MORE wrong In making the decision)
2. When correcting the Airman my behavior can range from least effective to most
effective -- Verbal reprimand v. private = both are effective in that they both have the
airman put his hat on, but of these which one is MORE effective.
3. The expected behavior needs to be stated. The counseling could be completely
ineffective if the airman doesn't understand
✔✔Steps of the Learning Process - ✔✔1. Read for comprehension, take notes, study,
practice, testing, lifelong learning
✔✔IDDP - ✔✔Identify (5 Ws what is the problem), Differentiate (effectiveness,
inappropriate v appropriate), Determine, Predict
✔✔Things that lead to stress - ✔✔unrealistic deadlines, insufficient training, emotional
fatigue, role ambiguity
✔✔Thinking that is purposeful, reasoned and goal directed involved in solving
problems, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making - ✔✔Critical
Thinking
✔✔It is the cognitive ability to imagine and innovate - ✔✔Creative Thinking
,✔✔Thinking that results in efficiency, evolutionary, and revolutionary improvements and
advancements - ✔✔Innovative Thinking
✔✔Thinking one demonstrates when confronted by unanticipated circumstances during
the execution of a planned activity (military operation) - ✔✔Adaptive Thinking
✔✔Thinking that concentrates on what we know, what we need to know, and how we
bridge the gap - ✔✔Reflective Thinking
✔✔Thinking that requires generative thinking (divergent) the development of ideas -
✔✔Analytical Thinking
✔✔The practice of visionaries, those who skillfully see desired goals and outcomes
through their mind's eyes - ✔✔Future Thinking
✔✔Ability to combine or compile various pieces of information, ideas, concepts,
conclusions in new and different ways - ✔✔Synthesis
✔✔How does Critical Thinking skills impact your effectiveness as an NCO - ✔✔Make
well-reasoned judgments about what to believe, well-reasoned decisions, open minded,
ask better questions, regulate actions, understand that in many situations there is no
right answer
✔✔What four sub-skill sets of critical thinking? - ✔✔Investigative, Create and Develop,
Communicate, Evaluate
✔✔Four color temperaments - ✔✔1. Green - competence, develop contempt for
individuals they consider incompetent, work in solitude, ask endless "why", all
assignments need to be meaningful, never ending search for improved ways, challenge
status quo
2.Blue - Interpersonal values and interactions, close relationships
3. Orange - Values competitiveness, hands on work, and work as hard as they play, like
colors, fun, happy go lucky
4. Gold - Goal oriented, ready to complete any task requiring little prompting or
encouragement, structure, security, law-abiding, well organized, disorder is unsettling
for them
✔✔The four quadrants - ✔✔1. Open- known to self and known to others
2. Hidden - known to self, not known to others
, -skeletons within closet
-fears, traumatic experiences
3. Unknown - not known to self, not known to others
-you will never know if you like or despise broccoli or not unless you try it, no one else
would know either until you share your opinion
4. Blind - not known to self, known to others
-others notice you avoid eye contact
-Receiving feedback will help self-awareness
✔✔The ability to remove your primary lens (temperament) and see others, situation,
and environment thorough another lens is called what - ✔✔Maturity
✔✔SMSgt Brock calls SSgt Downy into her office and says "I noticed you and your fire
team ranger rolling your hats. Smiling Downy replies "Ma'am I believe it creates a more
aggressive look, besides the ladies really like them. Brock says, You may not be aware,
or even care, Downy, but ranger rlling your hat is not authorized. Stand up she adds, I
know you dislike the rule and it is your nature to take risks, but the ranger rolls end
today. Are we clear? Reluctantly, Downy replies, Yes ma'am. The next day Brock
notices Downy and his team wearing their hats appropriately .
SMSgt Brock's actions BEST illustrate her understanding of SSgt Downy's ___ and its
impact on NCO effectiveness. - ✔✔Temperament
Understanding different temperaments allows leaders to communicate better with their
subordinates. Based on her understanding of temperaments, Brock recognizes Downy's
preferred temperament is orange. From statements like
"I believe it creates a more aggressive appearance and ladies really like them"
"I realize you do not care for all these rules and it is your nature to take risks"
✔✔Blind spots - ✔✔Areas outside a person's preferred temperament range, which can
create barriers to communication, misunderstandings, and unhealthy relationships.
✔✔MSgt Norton calls SSgt Pyle one of her most motivated NCOs, into his office and
announces he is going on emergency leave and has tasks for her. Pyle asks nervously,
"Am I familiar with these tasks sir?" Norton replies, Not at all, but they are career
enhancing opportunities. She replies Great let me grab my planner. Norton says there is
no time for note-taking or to-do lists. Relax, I'll explain everything you need to know on
the way to the airport.
Because MSgt Norton ____, his actions will MOST likely ___ SSgt Pyle's effectiveness -
✔✔misunderstands SSgt Pyle's temperament ; hinder
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What are the three levels of cognitive domain - ✔✔1. Knowledge - remember, recall,
recognize information read
2. Comprehension - Translation, interpretation, and extrapolation
-Important in order to draw conclusions
-Describe a relationship between two related concepts
3. Application - Applies what was learned- use manual to calculate an employee's
vacation time, apply laws or statistics
✔✔When processing case studies and scenarios ask yourself what? - ✔✔1. Are the
characters' actions, decisions, or behaviors appropriate or inappropriate? (correct or
incorrect) NO sliding scale
2. " " Effective or ineffective ; sliding scale
3. " " most effective
✔✔I observe an Airman outside in uniform without a hat on. - ✔✔1. Choosing to correct
the Airman is appropriate --choosing to not correct is inappropriate (but no degree of
right or wrong. You cannot be MORE right or MORE wrong In making the decision)
2. When correcting the Airman my behavior can range from least effective to most
effective -- Verbal reprimand v. private = both are effective in that they both have the
airman put his hat on, but of these which one is MORE effective.
3. The expected behavior needs to be stated. The counseling could be completely
ineffective if the airman doesn't understand
✔✔Steps of the Learning Process - ✔✔1. Read for comprehension, take notes, study,
practice, testing, lifelong learning
✔✔IDDP - ✔✔Identify (5 Ws what is the problem), Differentiate (effectiveness,
inappropriate v appropriate), Determine, Predict
✔✔Things that lead to stress - ✔✔unrealistic deadlines, insufficient training, emotional
fatigue, role ambiguity
✔✔Thinking that is purposeful, reasoned and goal directed involved in solving
problems, formulating inferences, calculating likelihoods, and making - ✔✔Critical
Thinking
✔✔It is the cognitive ability to imagine and innovate - ✔✔Creative Thinking
,✔✔Thinking that results in efficiency, evolutionary, and revolutionary improvements and
advancements - ✔✔Innovative Thinking
✔✔Thinking one demonstrates when confronted by unanticipated circumstances during
the execution of a planned activity (military operation) - ✔✔Adaptive Thinking
✔✔Thinking that concentrates on what we know, what we need to know, and how we
bridge the gap - ✔✔Reflective Thinking
✔✔Thinking that requires generative thinking (divergent) the development of ideas -
✔✔Analytical Thinking
✔✔The practice of visionaries, those who skillfully see desired goals and outcomes
through their mind's eyes - ✔✔Future Thinking
✔✔Ability to combine or compile various pieces of information, ideas, concepts,
conclusions in new and different ways - ✔✔Synthesis
✔✔How does Critical Thinking skills impact your effectiveness as an NCO - ✔✔Make
well-reasoned judgments about what to believe, well-reasoned decisions, open minded,
ask better questions, regulate actions, understand that in many situations there is no
right answer
✔✔What four sub-skill sets of critical thinking? - ✔✔Investigative, Create and Develop,
Communicate, Evaluate
✔✔Four color temperaments - ✔✔1. Green - competence, develop contempt for
individuals they consider incompetent, work in solitude, ask endless "why", all
assignments need to be meaningful, never ending search for improved ways, challenge
status quo
2.Blue - Interpersonal values and interactions, close relationships
3. Orange - Values competitiveness, hands on work, and work as hard as they play, like
colors, fun, happy go lucky
4. Gold - Goal oriented, ready to complete any task requiring little prompting or
encouragement, structure, security, law-abiding, well organized, disorder is unsettling
for them
✔✔The four quadrants - ✔✔1. Open- known to self and known to others
2. Hidden - known to self, not known to others
, -skeletons within closet
-fears, traumatic experiences
3. Unknown - not known to self, not known to others
-you will never know if you like or despise broccoli or not unless you try it, no one else
would know either until you share your opinion
4. Blind - not known to self, known to others
-others notice you avoid eye contact
-Receiving feedback will help self-awareness
✔✔The ability to remove your primary lens (temperament) and see others, situation,
and environment thorough another lens is called what - ✔✔Maturity
✔✔SMSgt Brock calls SSgt Downy into her office and says "I noticed you and your fire
team ranger rolling your hats. Smiling Downy replies "Ma'am I believe it creates a more
aggressive look, besides the ladies really like them. Brock says, You may not be aware,
or even care, Downy, but ranger rlling your hat is not authorized. Stand up she adds, I
know you dislike the rule and it is your nature to take risks, but the ranger rolls end
today. Are we clear? Reluctantly, Downy replies, Yes ma'am. The next day Brock
notices Downy and his team wearing their hats appropriately .
SMSgt Brock's actions BEST illustrate her understanding of SSgt Downy's ___ and its
impact on NCO effectiveness. - ✔✔Temperament
Understanding different temperaments allows leaders to communicate better with their
subordinates. Based on her understanding of temperaments, Brock recognizes Downy's
preferred temperament is orange. From statements like
"I believe it creates a more aggressive appearance and ladies really like them"
"I realize you do not care for all these rules and it is your nature to take risks"
✔✔Blind spots - ✔✔Areas outside a person's preferred temperament range, which can
create barriers to communication, misunderstandings, and unhealthy relationships.
✔✔MSgt Norton calls SSgt Pyle one of her most motivated NCOs, into his office and
announces he is going on emergency leave and has tasks for her. Pyle asks nervously,
"Am I familiar with these tasks sir?" Norton replies, Not at all, but they are career
enhancing opportunities. She replies Great let me grab my planner. Norton says there is
no time for note-taking or to-do lists. Relax, I'll explain everything you need to know on
the way to the airport.
Because MSgt Norton ____, his actions will MOST likely ___ SSgt Pyle's effectiveness -
✔✔misunderstands SSgt Pyle's temperament ; hinder
