CPCE Prep | Assessment and Testing - Encyclopedia of
Counseling | Questions and Correct Answers Plus
Rationale | New Update 2026-2027
Foundations of Appraisal and Testing
1. Appraisal can be defined as:
A) the process of assessing or estimating attributes
B) testing which is always performed in a group setting
C) testing which is always performed on a single individual
D) a pencil and paper measurement of assessing attributes
Correct Answer: A) the process of assessing or estimating attributes
Rationale: Appraisal is a broad term encompassing various methods of assessing
or estimating attributes, including testing, observation, interviews, and informal
assessments. Testing is just one form of appraisal, not the definition itself.
2. A test can be defined as a systematic method of measuring a sample of
behavior. Test format refers to the manner in which test items are presented.
The format of an essay test is considered a(n) ______ format.
A) subjective
B) objective
C) very precise
D) concise
Correct Answer: A) subjective
Rationale: Essay tests require subjective scoring by the evaluator, as there is no
single correct answer. The scorer must judge the quality of the response, making it
a subjective format.
,3. The National Counselor Exam (NCE) is a(n) ______ test because the scoring
procedure is specific.
A) subjective
B) objective
C) projective
D) subtest
Correct Answer: B) objective
Rationale: The NCE is an objective test because it uses standardized scoring with
specific correct answers. The scoring procedure is precise and not open to
interpretation.
4. A short answer test is a(n) ______ test.
A) objective
B) culture free
C) forced choice
D) free choice
Expert Correct: D) free choice
Rationale: Short answer tests require the test-taker to generate their own
response rather than select from options, making them free choice (free
response) items.
5. The NCE and the CPCE would be examples of a(n) ________ test.
A) free choice
B) forced choice
C) projective
D) intelligence
Correct Answer: B) forced choice
,Rationale: Both the NCE and CPCE use multiple-choice questions, which are
forced-choice items where the test-taker must select one option from several
choices.
6. The __________ index indicates the percentage of individuals who answered
each item correctly.
A) difficulty
B) critical
C) intelligence
D) personal
Correct Answer: A) difficulty
Rationale: The item difficulty index indicates the percentage of test-takers who
answered a specific item correctly. A high difficulty index means the item was
easy.
7. Short answer tests and projective measures utilize free response items. The
NCE and the CPCE use forced choice or so-called _______ items.
A) vague
B) subjective
C) recognition
D) numerical
Correct Answer: C) recognition
Rationale: Forced-choice items require recognition of the correct answer from
options provided, rather than free recall or generation of answers.
8. A true/false test has _____ recognition items.
A) similar
B) free choice
, C) dichotomous
D) no
Correct Answer: C) dichotomous
Rationale: True/false items are dichotomous because there are only two possible
responses: true or false.
9. A test format could be normative or ipsative. In the normative format:
A) each item depends on the item before it
B) each item depends on the item after it
C) the client must possess an IQ within the normal range
D) each item is independent of all other items
Correct Answer: D) each item is independent of all other items
Rationale: In normative tests, each item is independent and scored separately,
with the total compared to group norms. This allows for comparison between
individuals.
10. A client who takes a normative test:
A) cannot legitimately be compared to others who have taken the test
B) can legitimately be compared to others who have taken the test
C) could not have taken an IQ test
D) could not have taken a personality test
Correct Answer: B) can legitimately be compared to others who have taken the
test
Rationale: Normative tests are designed to allow comparison of an individual's
scores to a normative group, enabling interpretation of relative performance.
11. In an ipsative measure the person taking the test must compare items to one
another. The result is that:
Counseling | Questions and Correct Answers Plus
Rationale | New Update 2026-2027
Foundations of Appraisal and Testing
1. Appraisal can be defined as:
A) the process of assessing or estimating attributes
B) testing which is always performed in a group setting
C) testing which is always performed on a single individual
D) a pencil and paper measurement of assessing attributes
Correct Answer: A) the process of assessing or estimating attributes
Rationale: Appraisal is a broad term encompassing various methods of assessing
or estimating attributes, including testing, observation, interviews, and informal
assessments. Testing is just one form of appraisal, not the definition itself.
2. A test can be defined as a systematic method of measuring a sample of
behavior. Test format refers to the manner in which test items are presented.
The format of an essay test is considered a(n) ______ format.
A) subjective
B) objective
C) very precise
D) concise
Correct Answer: A) subjective
Rationale: Essay tests require subjective scoring by the evaluator, as there is no
single correct answer. The scorer must judge the quality of the response, making it
a subjective format.
,3. The National Counselor Exam (NCE) is a(n) ______ test because the scoring
procedure is specific.
A) subjective
B) objective
C) projective
D) subtest
Correct Answer: B) objective
Rationale: The NCE is an objective test because it uses standardized scoring with
specific correct answers. The scoring procedure is precise and not open to
interpretation.
4. A short answer test is a(n) ______ test.
A) objective
B) culture free
C) forced choice
D) free choice
Expert Correct: D) free choice
Rationale: Short answer tests require the test-taker to generate their own
response rather than select from options, making them free choice (free
response) items.
5. The NCE and the CPCE would be examples of a(n) ________ test.
A) free choice
B) forced choice
C) projective
D) intelligence
Correct Answer: B) forced choice
,Rationale: Both the NCE and CPCE use multiple-choice questions, which are
forced-choice items where the test-taker must select one option from several
choices.
6. The __________ index indicates the percentage of individuals who answered
each item correctly.
A) difficulty
B) critical
C) intelligence
D) personal
Correct Answer: A) difficulty
Rationale: The item difficulty index indicates the percentage of test-takers who
answered a specific item correctly. A high difficulty index means the item was
easy.
7. Short answer tests and projective measures utilize free response items. The
NCE and the CPCE use forced choice or so-called _______ items.
A) vague
B) subjective
C) recognition
D) numerical
Correct Answer: C) recognition
Rationale: Forced-choice items require recognition of the correct answer from
options provided, rather than free recall or generation of answers.
8. A true/false test has _____ recognition items.
A) similar
B) free choice
, C) dichotomous
D) no
Correct Answer: C) dichotomous
Rationale: True/false items are dichotomous because there are only two possible
responses: true or false.
9. A test format could be normative or ipsative. In the normative format:
A) each item depends on the item before it
B) each item depends on the item after it
C) the client must possess an IQ within the normal range
D) each item is independent of all other items
Correct Answer: D) each item is independent of all other items
Rationale: In normative tests, each item is independent and scored separately,
with the total compared to group norms. This allows for comparison between
individuals.
10. A client who takes a normative test:
A) cannot legitimately be compared to others who have taken the test
B) can legitimately be compared to others who have taken the test
C) could not have taken an IQ test
D) could not have taken a personality test
Correct Answer: B) can legitimately be compared to others who have taken the
test
Rationale: Normative tests are designed to allow comparison of an individual's
scores to a normative group, enabling interpretation of relative performance.
11. In an ipsative measure the person taking the test must compare items to one
another. The result is that:
