NBCOT EXAM NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 180 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS/NEWEST UPDATE!!
An OT is preparing to evaluate a toddler who has upper extremity orthopedic concerns.
How will the OT MOST likely obtain the majority of initial assessment data?
A. Measurement tools that assess visual-motor skills
B. Dynamometer and pinch meter readings.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
D. Functional independence measures.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
Through observation of the child during child-care center activities, the OT can collect
information about the child's motor performance skills and participation in activities that require
upper extremity/hand skill. Naturalistic observation is a method of ecological assessment, which
is "a primary mechanism for obtaining data relevant to the child's performance context..... Skilled
observation of child performing a functional task offers..... important information about the
child's performance". Answers A, B, ad D are all appropriate choices after the child is old enough
for these assessments.
During an initial evaluation, the OT suspects that a child has somatodyspraxia. In what
area should the OT focus the evaluation?
A. Ability to print or write.
B. Reading competency.
C. Math calculations.
D. New motor task planning.
D. New motor task planning.
"Somatodyspraxia is described as a deficit in learning new motor skills, planning new motor
actions, and generalizing motor plans." Inability to print or write (answer A) is termed
"dysgraphia." The term "dyslexia" (answer B) means dysfunction in reading. Inability to perform
mathematics (answer C) is known as "dyscalculia"
An OT working in a long-term care facility needs to evaluate the long-term memory of a
resident. Which of the following methods is BEST for evaluating memory or personally
experienced events (declarative memory)?
A. Show the person a series of objects and ask him to recall the objects within 60 seconds.
B. Ask the individual how he spent New Year's/
C. Have the individual state the place, date, and time.
D. Ask the client to remember to bring a specific item to the next therapy session
, 2
B Ask the individual how he spent New Year's
"Declarative memory is one aspect of long term memory and includes conscious memory for
events, knowledge or facts". It is commonly assessed through verbal interviews and informal
testing such as asking a question about an individual's recall of personal events (answer B).
Working memory refers to "the temporary storage of inforamtion while one is working with it or
attending to it" (answer A). "Prospective memory involves the ability to remember intentions or
activities that will be required in the future" (answer D). Knowing the date, place, and time is
indicative of orientation (answer C).
A child avoids playground equipment that requires her feet to be off the ground. What does
this behavior MOST likely indicate?
A. Difficulty modulating proprioception.
B. Somatodyspraxia
C. Gravitational insecurity
D. Bilateral integration/sequencing deficit.
C. Gravitational insecurity.
Gravitational insecurity is described as "fear response to movement". The child easily
experiences a fear of falling and prefers to keep her feet firmly on the ground. Tactile
defensiveness (answer A) is a term used to describe discomfort with various textures and with
unexpected touch. Somatodyspraxia (answer B) has is "foundation in somatosensory (e.g.
primarily tactile but also proprioceptive) discrimination deficits, which interfere with the
development of body scheme and awareness". Bilateral integration and sequencing deficits are
related to "poor vestibular-propioceptive discrimination, which interferes with the ability to
coordinate, sequence, and execute motor actions quickly and efficiently".
When the OT suspects tactile defensiveness as a rationale for a child's challenges, in what
area of participation should the OT focus on FIRST?
A. Play behavior
B. Dressing habits
C. Social skills
D. Leisure interests
B. Dressing habits
Children with tactile defensiveness are "bothered by tactile aspects of daily living activities....
specific types of clothing.... specific textures materials". The child may be bothered by certain
, 3
textures or avoid wearing turtlenecks, socks, or shoes. Conversely, some children may never take
off their shoes to avoid tactile stimulation. Play behavior (answer A), social skills (answer C),
and the choice of hobbies (answer D) could be affected secondarily, as a result of intolerance to
certain textures or human touch. Knowledge of the child's dressing habits will give the OT key
information at the start of the evaluation process.
An OT is working with an individual with schizophrenia who is in the process of preparing
to move from a state hospital to a group home. During a baking group, the client becomes
agitated and leaves the room when another client uses the electric hand mixer to mix the
cake batter, and again when two clients begin to argue loudly about which type of icing to
use. How would the OT BEST describe the behavior?
A. Low registration
B. Sensory avoiding
C. Sensation seeking
D. A hearing impairment
B. Sensory avoiding
The individual's actions are indicative of sensor avoiding behavior, characterized by a low
threshold to stimuli perceived as noxious, followed by an active response such as leaving the
room. Individuals with sensory avoiding behavior may "become distressed in situations in which
they cannot control the environment" and "do well in low stimulus situation or settings that
others find dull". An individual with low registration (answer A), sensory seeking behavior
(answer C), or a hearing impairment (answer D) would not have difficult with the auditory
stimulation caused by the roar of the mixer or loud voices.
During a self-care evaluation of an individual who recently sustained a brain injury, the OT
instructs the individual to comb his hair immediately after he washes his face. The
individual washes his face quickly, but then the therapist must give him several reminders
to comb his hair. The OT is MOST likely to identify this as a deficit in what area?
A. Working memory
B. Judgment
C. Hearing
D. Abstraction
A. Working memory
"Working memory is the temporary storage of information while one is working with it or
attending to it. It includes the ability to recall information immediately after exposure. It allows
, 4
one to focus conscious attention and keeps track of information as one is performing an activity".
This individual's inability to comb is hair without reminders suggests a deficit in working
memory (answer A). Judgment (answer B), the ability to make realistic and safe decisions based
on available environmental information, would not be needed for this task. Because the person
performed the first request, hearing (answer C) would seem to be intact. Abstraction (answer D)
is the ability to extrapolate information from an idea to generalize to another situation and would
not be needed to follow this direction.
A supermarket employee with obsessive-compulsive disorder takes an hour to stock 24
soup cans on the shelf because once he has placed the cans on the shelf, he removes them
and starts over, stating that "all labels were not lines up exactly in the same direction."
Which of the following methods would MOST effectively evaluate the individual's work
performance?
A. On-site observation of performance skills
B. Formal cognitive assessment
C. Verbal interview focusing on the requirements of the job
D. Task evaluation using a "clean" medium such as a puzzle
that is right
A. On-site observation of performance skills
An OT has been working with an individual who is recovering from a TBI. A standard
pivot transfer has been successfully demonstrated in the gym. The MOST appropriate way
to assess generalization of this new learning would be to have the patient perform which
activity?
A. Identify potential hazards in the patient's bathrooms that could make transfers unsafe
B. Select an appropriate tub bench and nonskid mat for the patient's bathroom at home
C. Attempt a standard pivot transfer from wheelchair to bed in the patient's hospital room
D. Attempt a sliding board transfer from wheelchair to tub
C. Attempt a standard pivot transfer from wheelchair to bed in the patient's hospital room
An OT is working with an individual with depression who is cognitively intact but
demonstrating difficulty carrying out self-care and other ADL tasks. The OT, who has no
advanced certifications, would like to identify a standardized assessment to measure ADL
performance. Which is the MOST appropriate tool for this purpose?
A. Bay Area Functional Performance Evaluation
B. Routine Task Inventory-Expanded
DETAILED ANSWERS/NEWEST UPDATE!!
An OT is preparing to evaluate a toddler who has upper extremity orthopedic concerns.
How will the OT MOST likely obtain the majority of initial assessment data?
A. Measurement tools that assess visual-motor skills
B. Dynamometer and pinch meter readings.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
D. Functional independence measures.
C. Observation of child during activities in the child-care center.
Through observation of the child during child-care center activities, the OT can collect
information about the child's motor performance skills and participation in activities that require
upper extremity/hand skill. Naturalistic observation is a method of ecological assessment, which
is "a primary mechanism for obtaining data relevant to the child's performance context..... Skilled
observation of child performing a functional task offers..... important information about the
child's performance". Answers A, B, ad D are all appropriate choices after the child is old enough
for these assessments.
During an initial evaluation, the OT suspects that a child has somatodyspraxia. In what
area should the OT focus the evaluation?
A. Ability to print or write.
B. Reading competency.
C. Math calculations.
D. New motor task planning.
D. New motor task planning.
"Somatodyspraxia is described as a deficit in learning new motor skills, planning new motor
actions, and generalizing motor plans." Inability to print or write (answer A) is termed
"dysgraphia." The term "dyslexia" (answer B) means dysfunction in reading. Inability to perform
mathematics (answer C) is known as "dyscalculia"
An OT working in a long-term care facility needs to evaluate the long-term memory of a
resident. Which of the following methods is BEST for evaluating memory or personally
experienced events (declarative memory)?
A. Show the person a series of objects and ask him to recall the objects within 60 seconds.
B. Ask the individual how he spent New Year's/
C. Have the individual state the place, date, and time.
D. Ask the client to remember to bring a specific item to the next therapy session
, 2
B Ask the individual how he spent New Year's
"Declarative memory is one aspect of long term memory and includes conscious memory for
events, knowledge or facts". It is commonly assessed through verbal interviews and informal
testing such as asking a question about an individual's recall of personal events (answer B).
Working memory refers to "the temporary storage of inforamtion while one is working with it or
attending to it" (answer A). "Prospective memory involves the ability to remember intentions or
activities that will be required in the future" (answer D). Knowing the date, place, and time is
indicative of orientation (answer C).
A child avoids playground equipment that requires her feet to be off the ground. What does
this behavior MOST likely indicate?
A. Difficulty modulating proprioception.
B. Somatodyspraxia
C. Gravitational insecurity
D. Bilateral integration/sequencing deficit.
C. Gravitational insecurity.
Gravitational insecurity is described as "fear response to movement". The child easily
experiences a fear of falling and prefers to keep her feet firmly on the ground. Tactile
defensiveness (answer A) is a term used to describe discomfort with various textures and with
unexpected touch. Somatodyspraxia (answer B) has is "foundation in somatosensory (e.g.
primarily tactile but also proprioceptive) discrimination deficits, which interfere with the
development of body scheme and awareness". Bilateral integration and sequencing deficits are
related to "poor vestibular-propioceptive discrimination, which interferes with the ability to
coordinate, sequence, and execute motor actions quickly and efficiently".
When the OT suspects tactile defensiveness as a rationale for a child's challenges, in what
area of participation should the OT focus on FIRST?
A. Play behavior
B. Dressing habits
C. Social skills
D. Leisure interests
B. Dressing habits
Children with tactile defensiveness are "bothered by tactile aspects of daily living activities....
specific types of clothing.... specific textures materials". The child may be bothered by certain
, 3
textures or avoid wearing turtlenecks, socks, or shoes. Conversely, some children may never take
off their shoes to avoid tactile stimulation. Play behavior (answer A), social skills (answer C),
and the choice of hobbies (answer D) could be affected secondarily, as a result of intolerance to
certain textures or human touch. Knowledge of the child's dressing habits will give the OT key
information at the start of the evaluation process.
An OT is working with an individual with schizophrenia who is in the process of preparing
to move from a state hospital to a group home. During a baking group, the client becomes
agitated and leaves the room when another client uses the electric hand mixer to mix the
cake batter, and again when two clients begin to argue loudly about which type of icing to
use. How would the OT BEST describe the behavior?
A. Low registration
B. Sensory avoiding
C. Sensation seeking
D. A hearing impairment
B. Sensory avoiding
The individual's actions are indicative of sensor avoiding behavior, characterized by a low
threshold to stimuli perceived as noxious, followed by an active response such as leaving the
room. Individuals with sensory avoiding behavior may "become distressed in situations in which
they cannot control the environment" and "do well in low stimulus situation or settings that
others find dull". An individual with low registration (answer A), sensory seeking behavior
(answer C), or a hearing impairment (answer D) would not have difficult with the auditory
stimulation caused by the roar of the mixer or loud voices.
During a self-care evaluation of an individual who recently sustained a brain injury, the OT
instructs the individual to comb his hair immediately after he washes his face. The
individual washes his face quickly, but then the therapist must give him several reminders
to comb his hair. The OT is MOST likely to identify this as a deficit in what area?
A. Working memory
B. Judgment
C. Hearing
D. Abstraction
A. Working memory
"Working memory is the temporary storage of information while one is working with it or
attending to it. It includes the ability to recall information immediately after exposure. It allows
, 4
one to focus conscious attention and keeps track of information as one is performing an activity".
This individual's inability to comb is hair without reminders suggests a deficit in working
memory (answer A). Judgment (answer B), the ability to make realistic and safe decisions based
on available environmental information, would not be needed for this task. Because the person
performed the first request, hearing (answer C) would seem to be intact. Abstraction (answer D)
is the ability to extrapolate information from an idea to generalize to another situation and would
not be needed to follow this direction.
A supermarket employee with obsessive-compulsive disorder takes an hour to stock 24
soup cans on the shelf because once he has placed the cans on the shelf, he removes them
and starts over, stating that "all labels were not lines up exactly in the same direction."
Which of the following methods would MOST effectively evaluate the individual's work
performance?
A. On-site observation of performance skills
B. Formal cognitive assessment
C. Verbal interview focusing on the requirements of the job
D. Task evaluation using a "clean" medium such as a puzzle
that is right
A. On-site observation of performance skills
An OT has been working with an individual who is recovering from a TBI. A standard
pivot transfer has been successfully demonstrated in the gym. The MOST appropriate way
to assess generalization of this new learning would be to have the patient perform which
activity?
A. Identify potential hazards in the patient's bathrooms that could make transfers unsafe
B. Select an appropriate tub bench and nonskid mat for the patient's bathroom at home
C. Attempt a standard pivot transfer from wheelchair to bed in the patient's hospital room
D. Attempt a sliding board transfer from wheelchair to tub
C. Attempt a standard pivot transfer from wheelchair to bed in the patient's hospital room
An OT is working with an individual with depression who is cognitively intact but
demonstrating difficulty carrying out self-care and other ADL tasks. The OT, who has no
advanced certifications, would like to identify a standardized assessment to measure ADL
performance. Which is the MOST appropriate tool for this purpose?
A. Bay Area Functional Performance Evaluation
B. Routine Task Inventory-Expanded
