Part 2 — Answer key

Compare your answers after you have finished Part 1.

1. In CDA coursework, which developmental domain focuses on how children think, reason, and solve problems?
   Cognitive development
2. Routine handwashing before meals and after outdoor play is a core health and safety practice expected on the CDA exam.
   True
3. It is acceptable under CDA professional standards to discuss a specific child’s challenging behavior with friends outside of work as long as you do not use the child’s name.
   False
4. During morning drop-off, you are completing a quick health check as part of CDA-recommended practice. Which observation should most immediately limit a child’s participation in group activities and lead to a call to the family?
   Slightly messy hair
5. You are setting up learning centers to align with CDA standards. Which center best supports children’s emergent literacy skills?
   Dramatic play area with dress-up clothes
6. According to typical health and safety guidance emphasized on the CDA exam, how long should you scrub your hands with soap during proper handwashing?
   About 20 seconds
7. You are compiling documentation for your CDA portfolio and want to show progress in a child’s drawing skills over several months. Which assessment tool is most suitable?
   Emergency contact form
8. According to typical developmental guidelines referenced in CDA training, all 3-year-olds should be able to read simple words independently.
   False
9. Using family-friendly language, avoiding jargon, and inviting questions are all effective CDA-recommended strategies for communicating with families.
   True
10. You want to document a child’s problem-solving skills during block play for your CDA portfolio. Which assessment method is most appropriate in this scenario?
    Daily attendance log
11. A child’s family speaks very limited English and you need to share a concern about the child’s biting behavior. What is the most appropriate first step to communicate effectively and respectfully?
    Use a translation app without the family present
12. You see a coworker post photos of children from your classroom on a personal social media account without written family permission. According to CDA professional standards, what should you do first?
    Confront the coworker angrily in front of others
13. A family asks why their child spends so much time in play activities instead of worksheets. What is the best CDA-aligned response?
    Tell them this is the director’s decision and you cannot discuss it
14. During a CDA practice test scenario, you observe a 4-year-old who climbs playground equipment confidently but struggles to use small beads for threading. Which conclusion is most accurate?
    Fine motor skills are stronger than gross motor skills
15. You are planning a CDA-aligned activity to support early writing skills in preschoolers. Which materials would be most appropriate to include in a writing center? Select all that apply.
    Stamps and ink pads; Crayons and blank paper; Clipboards and pencils
16. During free play, you want to support children’s social-emotional development in ways consistent with CDA practice. Which teacher actions are most appropriate? Select all that apply.
    Model calm problem-solving language; Label children’s feelings during conflicts
17. You are designing a "family information" section for your CDA portfolio. Which practices demonstrate strong, ongoing communication with families? Select all that apply.
    Holding regular family-teacher conferences; Maintaining a daily communication notebook; Using a bulletin board with photos and updates
18. Arrange the following steps in the most appropriate order for using observation data to plan individualized instruction in a CDA-aligned classroom.
    Correct order: Review observations and identify patterns → Compare patterns to developmental expectations → Set specific learning goals for the child → Plan targeted activities that match the goals
19. During a cda practice exam scenario, you observe a 30-month-old who stacks six blocks, uses two-word phrases, and resists sharing toys. Which interpretation best reflects a developmentally appropriate understanding?
    Language skills are severely delayed
20. You are designing an activity where preschoolers measure objects with unit blocks and compare lengths. Which CDA-aligned curriculum goal does this activity primarily support?
    Self-help skills
21. You are planning a small-group activity where children retell a familiar story using puppets. What is the primary learning objective of this CDA-style activity?
    Building phonemic awareness
22. A child in your CDA test practice scenario has a documented severe food allergy. Which steps should you take to maintain safety during snack time? Select all that apply.
    Post the allergy plan in the food prep area; Ensure all staff know how to use an epinephrine auto-injector; Check ingredient labels on all snacks
23. Your program serves a culturally diverse community. A new policy limits use of home languages in the classroom to only short greetings. Which action best reflects advanced CDA-level professionalism and advocacy?
    Stop using home languages entirely to avoid conflict
24. You are updating your CDA professional portfolio and want to show evidence of continuous professional growth. Which items are most appropriate to include? Select all that apply.
    Certificates from recent training workshops; Documentation of your participation in professional organizations; Reflective statements about what you learned from observations
25. You are choosing tools for ongoing assessment for your CDA portfolio. Which tools are appropriate for documenting children’s development over time? Select all that apply.
    Dated work samples; Developmental checklists; Anecdotal records