GACE Curriculum & Instruction Review
Exam Questions & Answers 2025/2026
Norm Referenced - ANSWERScompare performance to other test takers; rank students; make
decisions about need for academic support; see if student functions at grade-level
Criterion Referenced - ANSWERSdetermine mastery of performance standards; measure
teacher effectiveness; progress (pre-test/post-test); how well a student has learned a specific
body of knowledge
Schema Theory - ANSWERSPart of cognitive theory (Piaget); learning involves categories &
building blocks
Social Development Theory - ANSWERSVygotsky; learn from social interactions & watching
others; modeling to teach
Diagnostic Test - ANSWERSused to assess areas of strength & weakness (esp. for a new student);
usually math & reading
Zone of Proximal Development Theory - ANSWERSmake connections between what the child
already knows and what he/she is learning; scaffolding; ex. use pretest to account for prior
knowldge
Assessment based on Bloom's Taxonomy - ANSWERSAssess various levels of understanding
Aptitude Test - ANSWERSdata about student's ability, strengths, potential; used to determine
courses to take; gifted & sped
, Think-Pair-Share - ANSWERSstrategy to help enhance retention
Mentor Programs - ANSWERSAccording to research, ________________________ have a
positive effect on teacher job satisfaction and commitment and, thus, increase retention of new
teachers.
Analytic Scoring - ANSWERSallows multiple criteria to be assessed separately
Cognitive Learning Theory - ANSWERSapply knowledge in new settings; based on
interelatedness of ideas and connecting content (ex. concept maps); tranfer of learning; Piaget
Cognitive Domain - ANSWERSrecalling ideas through cognitive skills; knowledge; inter-
relatedness of ideas; ex. labeling
Affective Domain - ANSWERSrelated to feelings, thoughts, & attitudes; ex. discussing a conflict
Psychomotor Domain - ANSWERSrelated to manual or physical skills; Ex. creating something,
role playing
Family-Centered Program & Parent Relationships - ANSWERSpromoted when classroom
activities relate to the needs & interests of students and families
Achievement Tests - ANSWERSMeasure mastery of content/skills & help teachers determine if a
student is on grade level
Portfolio Assessment - ANSWERSpromotes self-evaluation & progress over time but is subjective
and takes a lot of time
Exam Questions & Answers 2025/2026
Norm Referenced - ANSWERScompare performance to other test takers; rank students; make
decisions about need for academic support; see if student functions at grade-level
Criterion Referenced - ANSWERSdetermine mastery of performance standards; measure
teacher effectiveness; progress (pre-test/post-test); how well a student has learned a specific
body of knowledge
Schema Theory - ANSWERSPart of cognitive theory (Piaget); learning involves categories &
building blocks
Social Development Theory - ANSWERSVygotsky; learn from social interactions & watching
others; modeling to teach
Diagnostic Test - ANSWERSused to assess areas of strength & weakness (esp. for a new student);
usually math & reading
Zone of Proximal Development Theory - ANSWERSmake connections between what the child
already knows and what he/she is learning; scaffolding; ex. use pretest to account for prior
knowldge
Assessment based on Bloom's Taxonomy - ANSWERSAssess various levels of understanding
Aptitude Test - ANSWERSdata about student's ability, strengths, potential; used to determine
courses to take; gifted & sped
, Think-Pair-Share - ANSWERSstrategy to help enhance retention
Mentor Programs - ANSWERSAccording to research, ________________________ have a
positive effect on teacher job satisfaction and commitment and, thus, increase retention of new
teachers.
Analytic Scoring - ANSWERSallows multiple criteria to be assessed separately
Cognitive Learning Theory - ANSWERSapply knowledge in new settings; based on
interelatedness of ideas and connecting content (ex. concept maps); tranfer of learning; Piaget
Cognitive Domain - ANSWERSrecalling ideas through cognitive skills; knowledge; inter-
relatedness of ideas; ex. labeling
Affective Domain - ANSWERSrelated to feelings, thoughts, & attitudes; ex. discussing a conflict
Psychomotor Domain - ANSWERSrelated to manual or physical skills; Ex. creating something,
role playing
Family-Centered Program & Parent Relationships - ANSWERSpromoted when classroom
activities relate to the needs & interests of students and families
Achievement Tests - ANSWERSMeasure mastery of content/skills & help teachers determine if a
student is on grade level
Portfolio Assessment - ANSWERSpromotes self-evaluation & progress over time but is subjective
and takes a lot of time
