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SLP PRAXIS 5331 Speech-
Language Pathology Exam –
Complete Study Guide Already
Graded A+
PART 2: PRACTICE EXAM (200 QUESTIONS)
This practice exam is structured to mirror the difficulty and distribution of the actual PRAXIS.
Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed clinical rationale based on current
evidence-based practice.
Section I: Foundations & Professional Practice (Questions 1-44)
Focus: Typical Development, Etiology, Anatomy, Ethics, Research, and Professional Issues.
1. A 4-year-old child produces "wabbit" for "rabbit" and "thun" for "sun." This pattern is
known as:
A) Final consonant deletion
B) Stopping
C) Gliding
D) Fronting
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The substitution of /w/ for /r/ (glide for liquid) and /θ/ for /s/ (fricative stopping)
both fall under "gliding" errors. Option D (Fronting) refers to producing sounds farther forward
in the mouth than intended (e.g., "tat" for "cat").
,2. Which theory of language acquisition supports the concept of a "Language Acquisition
Device" (LAD)?
A) Behaviorism (Skinner)
B) Social Interactionism (Vygotsky)
C) Nativism (Chomsky)
D) Cognitive Theory (Piaget)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Noam Chomsky’s Nativist theory proposes that humans are born with an innate
biological capacity for language—a hypothetical "Language Acquisition Device"—rather than
learning language purely through imitation or reinforcement.
3. A patient presents with sudden onset of non-fluent, effortful speech, relatively good
auditory comprehension, and awareness of deficits. This describes:
A) Broca’s Aphasia
B) Wernicke’s Aphasia
C) Global Aphasia
D) Conduction Aphasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: These are hallmark features of Broca’s aphasia (expressive aphasia). Speech is
telegraphic and effortful, but comprehension is generally intact, often leading to frustration and
awareness of errors.
4. The mandible is elevated and protruded by which muscle?
A) Digastricus
B) Masseter
C) Temporalis
D) Medial pterygoid
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: While the masseter and temporalis elevate the jaw, the medial pterygoid assists in
both elevation and protrusion of the mandible. The lateral pterygoid is the primary protractor.
5. A 3-year-old uses "I drawed a picture." This error is best described as:
A) Semantic overextension
B) Phonological process
C) Overregularization (overgeneralization)
D) Telegraphic speech
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "Drawed" instead of "drew" is a classic example of overregularization, where the
, child applies regular grammatical rules (adding "-ed") to irregular verbs. This indicates cognitive
processing of rules rather than simple imitation.
6. During a MBSS (Modified Barium Swallow), the patient exhibits penetration to the level of
the true vocal folds but clears it with a voluntary cough. The Penetration-Aspiration Scale
(PAS) score is most likely:
A) 2
B) 4
C) 6
D) 8
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PAS scores range from 1 (material enters airway, stays above folds, cleared) to 8
(material enters airway, passes below folds, no attempt to clear). Score 2 describes penetration
above folds that is ejected. Score 4 is penetration to the folds without ejection.
7. A hospital-based SLP is asked to see a tracheostomized patient. The cuff is inflated. To
assess laryngeal elevation, what intervention is required?
A) Deflate the cuff fully
B) Deflate the cuff temporarily and use a speaking valve (PMV)
C) Increase the cuff pressure
D) Suction the trach immediately
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To assess laryngeal elevation and swallowing safety in a tracheostomized patient with
a cuffed tube, the cuff must be deflated (to allow laryngeal excursion). Often, a Passy-Muir Valve
(PMV) is placed to redirect airflow upward.
8. A test yields consistent results over repeated administrations. This describes:
A) Validity
B) Standardization
C) Reliability
D) Norm-referencing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reliability is the consistency and repeatability of a measurement. Validity refers to
whether the test measures what it claims to measure.
9. Which ethical principle requires the SLP to keep client information private unless mandated
by law?
A) Beneficence
B) Non-maleficence
SLP PRAXIS 5331 Speech-
Language Pathology Exam –
Complete Study Guide Already
Graded A+
PART 2: PRACTICE EXAM (200 QUESTIONS)
This practice exam is structured to mirror the difficulty and distribution of the actual PRAXIS.
Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed clinical rationale based on current
evidence-based practice.
Section I: Foundations & Professional Practice (Questions 1-44)
Focus: Typical Development, Etiology, Anatomy, Ethics, Research, and Professional Issues.
1. A 4-year-old child produces "wabbit" for "rabbit" and "thun" for "sun." This pattern is
known as:
A) Final consonant deletion
B) Stopping
C) Gliding
D) Fronting
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The substitution of /w/ for /r/ (glide for liquid) and /θ/ for /s/ (fricative stopping)
both fall under "gliding" errors. Option D (Fronting) refers to producing sounds farther forward
in the mouth than intended (e.g., "tat" for "cat").
,2. Which theory of language acquisition supports the concept of a "Language Acquisition
Device" (LAD)?
A) Behaviorism (Skinner)
B) Social Interactionism (Vygotsky)
C) Nativism (Chomsky)
D) Cognitive Theory (Piaget)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Noam Chomsky’s Nativist theory proposes that humans are born with an innate
biological capacity for language—a hypothetical "Language Acquisition Device"—rather than
learning language purely through imitation or reinforcement.
3. A patient presents with sudden onset of non-fluent, effortful speech, relatively good
auditory comprehension, and awareness of deficits. This describes:
A) Broca’s Aphasia
B) Wernicke’s Aphasia
C) Global Aphasia
D) Conduction Aphasia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: These are hallmark features of Broca’s aphasia (expressive aphasia). Speech is
telegraphic and effortful, but comprehension is generally intact, often leading to frustration and
awareness of errors.
4. The mandible is elevated and protruded by which muscle?
A) Digastricus
B) Masseter
C) Temporalis
D) Medial pterygoid
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: While the masseter and temporalis elevate the jaw, the medial pterygoid assists in
both elevation and protrusion of the mandible. The lateral pterygoid is the primary protractor.
5. A 3-year-old uses "I drawed a picture." This error is best described as:
A) Semantic overextension
B) Phonological process
C) Overregularization (overgeneralization)
D) Telegraphic speech
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "Drawed" instead of "drew" is a classic example of overregularization, where the
, child applies regular grammatical rules (adding "-ed") to irregular verbs. This indicates cognitive
processing of rules rather than simple imitation.
6. During a MBSS (Modified Barium Swallow), the patient exhibits penetration to the level of
the true vocal folds but clears it with a voluntary cough. The Penetration-Aspiration Scale
(PAS) score is most likely:
A) 2
B) 4
C) 6
D) 8
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: PAS scores range from 1 (material enters airway, stays above folds, cleared) to 8
(material enters airway, passes below folds, no attempt to clear). Score 2 describes penetration
above folds that is ejected. Score 4 is penetration to the folds without ejection.
7. A hospital-based SLP is asked to see a tracheostomized patient. The cuff is inflated. To
assess laryngeal elevation, what intervention is required?
A) Deflate the cuff fully
B) Deflate the cuff temporarily and use a speaking valve (PMV)
C) Increase the cuff pressure
D) Suction the trach immediately
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To assess laryngeal elevation and swallowing safety in a tracheostomized patient with
a cuffed tube, the cuff must be deflated (to allow laryngeal excursion). Often, a Passy-Muir Valve
(PMV) is placed to redirect airflow upward.
8. A test yields consistent results over repeated administrations. This describes:
A) Validity
B) Standardization
C) Reliability
D) Norm-referencing
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reliability is the consistency and repeatability of a measurement. Validity refers to
whether the test measures what it claims to measure.
9. Which ethical principle requires the SLP to keep client information private unless mandated
by law?
A) Beneficence
B) Non-maleficence
