Praxis Practice Test Flashcards
Which of the following is listed as one of the mindsets in the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies assessment?
A. Self-confidence in the ability to succeed
B. Positive attitude toward work and learning
C. Belief in the development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and physical well-being
D. Promotion and enhancement of student academic, career, and social/emotional outcomes
(D) is correct. This is the only listed mindset which corresponds to the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies assessment.
A school counselor should do which of the following to demonstrate positive change as a result of a classroom lesson?
A. Ask the teacher to evaluate the lesson
B. Ask the students to evaluate the lesson
C. Ask the students to complete pretests and posttests for the lesson
D. Ask the school principal to observe the lesson
(C) is correct. Having the students complete a pretest and a posttest is the best method for demonstrating positive change from before to after the lesson.
Liam is an eighth-grade student who is struggling in his classes. When he meets with his middle school counselor, he tells the counselor that he does not know how to study and often forgets what assignments he needs to complete. Liam and the counselor determine an objective for their sessions together that will help Liam use time-management, organizational, and study skills to improve his grades. Which of the following ASCA Mindsets & Behavior standards contains this objective?
A. Mindsets
B. Behavior: Learning Strategies
C. Behavior: Self-Management Skills
D. Behavior: Social Skills
(B) is correct. The objective is directly written from the Behavior Standard, Learning Strategies B-LS 3. Use time management, organizational, and study skills.
A frequently applied career theory used with students explores students’ knowledge of the self and the world of work by reflecting on their interests, abilities, and values. The theory classifies students according to six personality types: realistic,
investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. Which of the following is the name of this classification system?
A. Holland codes
B. Life-span, life-space approach
C. Circumscription and compromise theory
D. Happenstance learning theory
(A) is correct. The Holland codes are part of John Holland’s Theory of Vocational Choice (1973), which is one of the most well-known theories in career-based school counseling. The idea of career-based personality types is built into assessments.
Which of the following best describes consultation services?
A. School counselors make recommendations based on appraisal of tests, inventories, and other data to help students make decisions for their future.
B. School counselors work with students to analyze and assess their abilities, interests, skills, and achievements.
C. Multiple individuals work toward a common goal and share responsibility for the associated tasks.
D. Information is gathered from experts about student needs, and information, opinions, and recommendations are provided to individuals who can support those needs
(D) is correct. Gathering information from experts about student needs and providing information, opinions, and recommendations to individuals who can support those needs is the definition of consultation, according to the ASCA National Model.
Which of the following approaches should a school counselor take when making an outside referral for a student to receive long-term intensive services?
A. Agreeing to meet with the student outside of the school day to continue offering support if the school counselor has appropriate state licensing
B. Recommending specific trusted agencies within the community to the student for additional support
C. Providing multiple referrals from the district’s vetted list, being careful not to endorse or show a preference for a particular counselor or practice
D. Consulting with the student’s parents and agreeing to provide intensive services during the school day to make it convenient for the family
(C) is correct. According to the ASCA Ethical Standards, school counselors should always provide a list of referral options with multiple therapeutic counselors and agencies. The school counselors can work with the parents so that they are knowledgeable of what to ask for, but it is ultimately up to the parents to make the phone calls, conduct the interviews, and select the outside counselor or agency that they feel will best provide intensive services for their child.
Which of the following impacts does technology have on a school counselor when used with intentionality and purpose in serving all students?
A. It expands the school counselor’s reach and efficiency.
B. It places a school counselor in a potential legal and ethical dilemma.
C. It causes dual relationships and should be avoided.
D. It causes a school counselor’s role to become irrelevant.
(A) is correct. By using technology appropriately, a school counselor can reach and impact a greater number of students through the school counseling program and also meet the challenges of managing large caseloads.
A school counseling team wants to increase the number of students in the sixth grade that are meeting or exceeding standards according to the state math achievement tests. The school counseling team has determined that many parents do not have a strong understanding of the math curriculum and are not able to adequately assist their children with homework. Additionally, many students lack the study skills to appropriately prepare for the state test, which leads them to feel overwhelmed. Which of the following is a direct service the school counseling team can provide to help meet the goal?
A. Hosting a parent night in conjunction with the math department to help parents understand how to help their child with math
B. Providing a teacher in-service on creating a calming classroom environment for the weeks leading up to the state math achievement testing window
C. Disaggregating the testing data to see whether a specific population of students are struggling on the state math achievement test more than other student populations
D. Providing a series of classroom lessons on study skills, calming strategies, and ways to reduce test anxiety
(D) is correct. By providing classroom lessons, the school counseling department will be offering students a direct service that can help improve the students’ ability to reduce stress during the test.
A school counseling team wants to decrease the number of students with two or more failing grades from 50 students in the first semester of the year to 45 students in the second semester. Which of the following services correctly describes a collaborative indirect approach that would support the department’s goal?
A. Creating a targeted small group intervention for all 50 students for five sessions that will cover study skills, goal setting, and growth mindset strategies
B. Meeting with all 50 students individually to help them identify possible postsecondary options and create individual academic plans
C. Seeking out evidence-based resources to identify possible strategies or interventions that can be used to achieve the goal
D. Partnering with families, teachers, and administrators on a school counseling advisory council in order to elicit feedback on the goal
(D) is correct. Although the advisory council would be discussing the goal, it would not directly affect the students involved in the goal. The purpose of a fall advisory meeting is to present the data analysis results from the previous year and discuss the annual student outcome goals and interventions for the current school year.
Mr. Marris, a school counselor, has different cultural values than a student who is assigned to his caseload. The school counselor explains to his supervisor that he does not think he can work with the student due to a value clash. Mr. Marris is doing which of the following?
A. Allowing his personal biases to affect his practice of school counseling
B. Using good judgment by recognizing that it would be unethical to work with the student due to their differing values
C. Exhibiting respect for the student’s beliefs by choosing not to work with the student
D. Confronting and challenging his values to do what is best for the student
(A) is correct. Per the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors, the school counselor is not refraining from refusing services to the student and is basing his decision on his beliefs and values.
According to the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors, to ensure optimal professional effectiveness and competency, school counselors are expected to do which of the following?
A. Monitor their emotional and physical health and practice wellness
B. Collaborate with teachers to promote fair-share responsibilities
C. Avoid burnout by scheduling yearly vacations
D. Maintain a nonaltruistic attitude to be able to focus on their work
(A) is correct. The ASCA Ethical Standards indicate that school counselors are to monitor their emotional and physical health and practice wellness.
Which of the following best describes privileged communication?
A. A condition in effect when a person opts to withhold what is believed to be vital information voluntarily or involuntarily
B. An obligation to notify members involved in a potentially harmful situation
C. A legal rule that protects communications within the counseling relationship from compelled disclosure in a court proceeding
D. Choosing words judiciously in an effort to maintain optimal communication with those who have the need to know
(C) is correct. Protected communication is a legal rule in which communication within certain protected relationships, such as that between a counselor and a client, may not be disclosed in court testimony.
A principal asks the school counselor to supervise lunch duty every day for ninth- and tenth-grade lunch periods. Which of the following best describes the principal’s request?
A. A job requirement
B. An appropriate school counselor activity
C. A one-time favor to assist the school counselor’s colleagues
D. An inappropriate school counselor activity
(D) is correct. ASCA states that lunch duty is an example of a non–school counselor task, or an inappropriate duty.
A school counselor is asked by the administration to coach the school’s volleyball team. Several students on the team are also on the school counselor’s caseload. If the school counselor chooses to accept the coaching position, which of the following is the most appropriate action to take?
A. Accepting the position despite the counseling relationship with the students
B. Obtaining informed consent, consultation, and supervision, and documenting the nature of the interactions that extend the boundaries of the counseling relationship
C. Asking for an assistant to coach the students on the team who are also on the school counselor’s caseload
D. Informing the entire team that the counselor will have dual relationships with some of the players
(B) is correct. While dual relationships should generally be avoided, if one is unavoidable, the school counselor should take appropriate professional precautions, such as obtaining informed consent, consultation, and supervision. Interactions that extend the boundaries of the conventional parameters of the school counselor-student relationship should also be documented per the ASCA Ethical Standards.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires public schools to do which of the following?
A. Mandate the caseload for school counselors to be at a student-to-counselor ratio of 250 to 1
B. Prohibit discrimination against all students with disabilities
C. Give all students with disabilities test-taking accommodations
D. Provide a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for all students
(D) is correct. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to students with disabilities.
Which of the following is the purpose of assessing a school counseling program?
A. To emphasize the importance of the school counseling program
B. To demonstrate the school counselor’s dedication to the school, students, and faculty
C. To determine how to implement the goals of the school counseling program
D. To identify the strengths and weaknesses of the school counseling program and provide direction for program improvement
(D) is correct. A school counseling program assessment is designed to help school counselors identify the strengths and weaknesses of the school counseling program and provide direction for program improvement.
It becomes evident that a student a school counselor is seeing for individual counseling requires long-term therapy. As a result, the school counselor should do which of the following?
A. Provide the student referrals to relevant community resources.
B. Discontinue individual counseling in the school setting.
C. Place the student in small-group counseling.
D. Learn new approaches to working with the student in individual counseling.
(A) is correct. When a student requires intensive therapy, it is often beyond the scope of what can be provided in the school setting. As such, the ASCA recommends that the school counselor provide appropriate referrals to other services.
A school counselor meets with a high school senior for post-secondary planning. The counselor asks the student what she plans to do after high school, and the student says she is looking forward to marrying and becoming a mother. The student states that she will not go to college because she has already met her future husband and they are very excited about starting a family immediately. In this scenario, the school counselor should do which of the following?
A. Insist that the student consider a certificate or associate’s degree at minimum at a nearby community or technical school.
B. Strongly encourage the student to enroll in a post-secondary option related to parenting and being a housewife, such as early childhood education.
C. Respect the student’s autonomous decision and values, but remind her that she has options if she changes her mind later.
D. Tell the student that many married women obtain degrees and seek employment.
(C) is correct. The ASCA Ethical Standards document supports this option in that it encourages school counselors to give students the information and support they need to move toward self-determination, self-development, and affirmation within their group identities and provide a safe school environment that promotes autonomy and justice and is free from abuse, bullying, harassment, and other forms of violence.
Which THREE of the following should a new school counselor include in a professional development plan to be shared with the principal?
A. A schedule of formal and structured weekly supervision sessions with an experienced school counselor
B. A request for funding to attend the ASCA national conference
C. A request for mental health days to prevent burnout
D. A self-assessment related to the professional standards and competencies
E. A request for a subscription to favorite counseling journals
(A), (B), and (D) are correct. Formal and structured weekly supervision with an experienced school counselor, a request for funding to attend the ASCA national conference, and a self-assessment related to the professional standards and competencies are all appropriate requests the school counselor can make in a professional development plan.
A school counselor is aware of a major change to educational law and district policy that will affect families at the school. Which of the following is an ethical action the counselor should be expected to take?
A. Striving to protect and inform students and families regarding their rights
B. Refusing to implement the policy if the counselor believes it is unfair
C. Contacting the state school counseling association and asking it to issue a statement about the new law
D. Presenting concerns about the change in the law to the local school board
(A) is correct. Striving to protect and inform students and families regarding their rights is the course of action recommended by the ASCA Ethical Standards.
A few high school students hang posters to protest a new school policy. The policy states that the school cannot plan field trips until standardized test scores improve. The principal hears about the posters and decides that the students who hung the posters will receive in-school suspension because “they have no right to protest a school policy.” The school counselor advocates that the students do have the constitutional right to free speech at school. The counselor can argue this based on which of the following court cases?
A. Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)
B. Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser (1986)
C. Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
D. Shen v. Albany Unified School District (2017)
(A) is correct. Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) established that students do not leave their constitutional right to free speech “at the schoolhouse gate.”
A high school student presents with suicidal ideation at 2:25 P.M. on Friday afternoon. School dismissal is at 2:30 P.M. The school counselor has not had time to conduct a suicide assessment, and the student normally rides the bus home and is alone for several hours after school. Based on the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors, which of the following is the best action for the school counselor to take?
A. Releasing the student if the counselor cannot reach the student’s parent or guardian, because detaining a student after school is illegal
B. Detaining the student at the school, attempting to contact the student’s parent or guardian, and following district policy if the student’s family cannot be reached
C. Detaining the student and calling the police for immediate transportation to the local hospital for an emergency psychological evaluation
D. Releasing the student and following up with a phone call to the student’s parent or guardian the following Monday
(B) is correct. Parents and guardians should be informed when a student poses a serious and foreseeable risk of harm to self or others, and the student should not be released before receiving proper and necessary support.
An elementary school counselor is running a small group for students with incarcerated parents. Students meet for six weeks to make and send cards and pictures to their parents and discuss their feelings. The group promotes a sense that students are not alone in their problems. Irvin Yalom called this phenomenon
A. universality
B. cohesion
C. altruism
D. instillation of hope
(A) is correct. “Universality” refers to the common life circumstances or experiences that members of a counseling group share and that allow them to feel less isolated.
Which of the following research-based classroom management techniques may conflict with the school counselor role?
A. Establishing and teaching rules for whole-class instruction
B. Developing structures and routines
C. Using praise to reinforce positive behavior
D. Disciplining students for misbehavior
(D) is correct. To most effectively promote student achievement and development, school counselors must maintain strength-based relationships with students and therefore are not involved in administering discipline. The school counselor should be, by policy, designated as a neutral and resourceful consultant, mediator, and student advocate.
Which TWO of the following should a school counselor do to implement schoolwide trauma-informed practices?
A. Increase student accountability measures to ensure students know what is expected and know the consequences for not following rules.
B. Educate staff on the effects of trauma and how to refer students to the school counselor.
C. Train teachers on how to provide crisis counseling and trauma-informed counseling.
D. Collaborate with community organizations and groups to provide resources that support students.
E. Advocate on behalf of students who have experienced trauma, as they are likely unable to advocate for themselves.
(B) and (D) are correct. Educating staff on the effects of trauma and how to refer students to the school counselor and collaborating with community organizations and groups to provide resources to support students are appropriate interventions for implementing schoolwide trauma-informed practices. It is imperative that staff are educated on recognizing signs of trauma so that they can assist with getting the student help as soon as possible. Staff should also be familiar with community-based resources, as students who experience trauma will likely require intensive therapy that cannot be provided in the school setting.
Which of the following techniques is most useful when counseling students of all ages who are experiencing stress?
A. Cognitive behavioral techniques, such as identifying all-or-nothing thinking
B. Rogerian techniques, such as establishing rapport
C. Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation
D. Psychoanalytic therapy techniques, such as dream analysis
(C) is correct. Mindfulness has been used with children as young as preschool age as well as older adults. Mindfulness has been shown to significantly reduce stress. Techniques include meditation, biofeedback, deep breathing work, and yoga.
A school counselor has started a small group with ninth-grade students who are failing one or more classes. As the group progresses, the counselor notes that the students seem to believe they are not smart enough to excel in their coursework. Which of the following interventions is most appropriate for the students in this small group?
A. Growth mindset curriculum
B. Restorative practices
C. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
D. After-school tutoring
(A) is correct. The research of Carol Dweck (2008) suggests that having a growth mindset is associated with higher academic achievement. Success is not influenced by natural ability, but rather by mindset and desire to achieve to the highest potential and abilities.
Which stage of Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development is focused on living up to social roles and expectations?
A. Conventional morality
B. Postconventional morality
C. Formal operational
D. Concrete operational
(A) is correct. Conventional morality, the stage of the interpersonal relationship of moral development, is focused on living up to social expectations and roles. There is an emphasis on conformity, on being nice, and on the consideration of how choices influence relationships.
Which of the following theorists proposed that individuals can be classified into three personality groups: compliant, aggressive, and detached?
A. Sigmund Freud
B. Carl Jung
C. Alfred Adler
D. Karen Horney
(D) is correct. Karen Horney theorized three styles of coping that children adopt in relation to anxiety: moving toward people, or compliant; moving away from people, or detached; and moving against people, or aggressive.
Which TWO of the following digital tools will allow school counselors a way to identify and connect with students who may be uncomfortable reaching out for help in person or who are struggling to connect with others when they need support?
A. Social networking
B. Videoconferencing software
C. Google forms
D. Electronic newsletters
(A) and (B) are correct. For children, adolescents, and adults who may be reluctant to seek professional help, social networking and videoconferencing can offer alternative pathways for connecting with and learning from others.
Which of the following is aligned with the overall goals of a school and is focused on student success?
A. Vision statement
B. Student outcome goals
C. Mission statement
D. Mindsets-behaviors
(C) is correct. The ASCA defines the mission statement as being aligned to the school’s overall mission and school improvement goals, and is also student focused.
Which of the following provides concise documentation of effective school counseling interventions?
A. A results report
B. A RAMP report
C. An annual calendar
D. Advisory council minutes
(A) is correct. Results reports are used for school counselors to share effectiveness and impact of school counseling interventions.
A secondary-school counseling team works with small groups of tenth-grade students who are failing one or more classes at the middle of the first semester. They work diligently for six weeks with these students, employing best practices and interventions. They see positive results, including better grades and attitudes toward school. What accountability measures should the team of counselors take to show that they have made a positive difference with this group of students?
A. Collecting data to document all results
B. Informing the principal of their accomplishments
C. Praising the students at every small-group meeting
D. Meeting weekly to discuss the students’ progress
(A) is correct. Hard, or measurable, evidence of success is the best way to advocate for a comprehensive school counseling program. Professional school counselors must show how they make a positive difference in the lives of students through documentation.
Advocating for a revision to placement practices to increase enrollment of traditionally underserved students in honors courses is an effective way for school counselors to demonstrate how they can have an impact on which of the following?
A. Program planning
B. Outcome data
C. Systemic change
D. Direct student services
(C) is correct. Systemic change is directly related to improving a system—in this case, the honors placement practices.
Which of the following actions best aligns with the Define component of the ASCA National Model?
A. Examining Mindsets and Behaviors standards for students
B. Leading a school counseling advisory council
C. Conducting needs assessments
D. Facilitating an annual administrative conference with the principal
(A) is correct. Examining ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success is a foundational piece of the Define component.
A school counselor found that 75 percent of all students who performed poorly on a math test were from the same classroom. Which of the following is an appropriate course of action for the school counselor to take?
A. Informing the administrative team that there is a problem
B. Designing an intentional support plan for the identified students
C. Meeting with every student from the classroom to check in about individual progress
D. Placing all of the students in tutoring services
(B) is correct. Designing an intentional support plan for this classroom will not only benefit the students but will also help the teacher with strategies for success.
Using the results of an achievement test to help students create four-year plans to be successful in high school is an example of which of the following?
A. Consultation
B. Advisement
C. Collaboration
D. Assessment
(B) is correct. According to the ASCA National Model, advisement is the process through which school counselors make recommendations based on appraisals of tests.
A school counselor conducted a career assessment that showed that most twelfth-grade students want to attend three specific trade schools. Which of the following is the best next step to take based on the data?
A. Hosting a schoolwide career fair
B. Meeting with each student to review individual plans
C. Inviting individuals from the trade schools to come and deliver workshops
D. Facilitating small groups for all students to discuss various career pathways
(C) is correct. Intentionally invite those schools to come and deliver workshops to help students to determine which schools are best for them.
A school counselor found that none of the English learners (ELs) met their semester benchmark goals. Which of the following is the best next step to take based on this data?
A. Calling the families of the students and working with them on a weekly basis
B. Creating Section 504 plans for all of the students
C. Delivering lessons on study skills for the students
D. Facilitating a focus group with the students to understand barriers and offer support
(D) is correct. Facilitating a focus group with identified students would best help the counselor understand how culture and social influences affect the students.
Which of the following best describes how school counselors can use technology to manage their programs and activities?
A. Building a school counseling Web site
B. Calculating use of time on a data tracker
C. Counting the number of students who have submitted online counseling requests
D. Implementing a virtual school counseling program
(B) is correct. Calculating use of time helps school counselors to assess and improve their programs.
Effective annual student outcome goal plans measure impact on which of the following?
A. Attendance, behavior, and achievement
B. Attitudes, knowledge, and skills
C. Learning, motivation, and achievement
D. Outcomes, perceptions, and engagement
(A) is correct. Attendance, behavior, and achievement are correct because they represent multiple descriptors of data.
Effective pretests and posttests measure which of the following?
A. Attitudes, knowledge, and skills
B. Achievement, perceptions, and outcomes
C. Skills, beliefs, and competencies
D. Feedback, strengths, and weaknesses
(A) is correct. Per ASCA, pretests and posttests measure attitudes, knowledge, and skills attained in lessons, interventions, and activities.
Assessing student learning as a result of classroom instruction is most closely associated with which of the following types of data?
A. Outcome
B. Achievement
C. Mindsets & Behaviors
D. Participation
(C) is correct. Mindsets & Behaviors data directly influence student learning.
A school counselor wants to use data from a parents’ needs assessment to improve family-school engagement. Which of the following describes the best course of action to take?
A. Teach parents about what their students are learning
B. Start a parent-counseling group
C. Host an event for parents to have coffee with counselors
D. Develop a series of workshops based on parents’ interests
(D) is correct. By developing workshops based on interests, school counselors can ensure that data are used for program improvement.
The ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies Assessment is based on a school counselor’s
A. attainment of mindsets and behaviors required to best serve students
B. knowledge of ethical guidelines and the school counseling profession
C. impact on school services
D. use of time
(A) is correct. The school counselor professional standards and competencies assessment is a self-report that measures the acquisition of mindsets and behaviors needed to meet the demands of implementing a comprehensive school counseling program.
When school counselors use the results of their program assessments to improve a process in their schools, they are doing which of the following?
A. Demonstrating leadership and advocacy
B. Enacting systemic change
C. Modeling ethical standards
D. Defining a professional foundation
(B) is correct. School counselors build an environment to promote systemic change when they use the results of program assessments to improve a process in their schools. Systemic change comes from assessing for program improvement.
Which THREE of the following are reasons why school counselors should analyze their programs?
A. To examine program strengths
B. To assess areas for growth
C. To create short- and long-term improvement plans
D. To appraise student services to ensure academic success
E. To determine how to best increase the number of students who receive school counseling services
(A), (B), and (C) are correct. Examining program strengths, assessing areas for growth, and creating improvement plans all fall under program analysis.
A school counselor who develops a comprehensive school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model can be expected to
A. design program interventions that will be evaluated for effectiveness
B. design college preparation interventions exclusively
C. serve on the school’s wellness committee
D. educate teachers on the importance of wellness
(A) is correct. This reflects the ASCA National Model’s emphasis on designing program effectiveness.
School counselors can most effectively use the ASCA’s Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success to
A. assess student growth and development
B. ensure students’ admission to college
C. evaluate their classroom management
D. assess the needs of their school communities
(A) is correct. According to the ASCA National Model, the Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success are specifically for assessing the growth and development of students.
A school counselor collects data on interventions and analyzes the results to understand how different subgroups are performing. This is an example of which of the following?
A. Aggregating the data
B. Disaggregating the data
C. Averaging the data
D. Cross tabulating the data
(B) is correct. Disaggregating the data is breaking it down by subgroups.
A school counselor wants to show stakeholders the impact of a comprehensive school counseling program. Which of the following types of data would best demonstrate the program’s impact?
A. Process
B. Perception
C. Outcome
D. Participation
(C) is correct. Outcome data such as retention rates, attendance, etc., are the measure that allows others to see impact.
Which TWO of the following are benefits that a school counselor can expect from membership in the American School Counselor Association (ASCA)?
A. Professional development
B. Free conference attendance
C. National certification as a school counselor
D. Access to liability insurance
E. Job placement services
(A) and (D) are correct. Professional development and liability insurance are benefits offered by membership in ASCA.
A school counselor notices that students seem to be more anxious this year than last year and would like to conduct classroom lessons to help students manage their anxiety. The counselor wants to assess the effectiveness of the intervention by asking students to complete a questionnaire about their anxiety symptoms before and after the intervention to see if they decrease. The questionnaire was developed by a group of researchers with expertise in diagnosing anxiety and was tested to make sure it actually measures anxiety symptoms. Based on this information, the counselor can assume that the questionnaire has good
A. predictive validity
B. construct validity
C. inter-rater reliability
D. test-retest reliability
(B) is correct. Construct validity refers to whether an instrument measures the construct it purports to measure and is often supported by research conducted by experts in the topic.
Which of the following is the most-effective information school counselors can share with stakeholders to demonstrate the impact a comprehensive school counseling program can have on the school community?
A. A list of appropriate school counselor duties
B. A weekly calendar showing the proportion of the school counselor’s time spent on various tasks
C. The comprehensive school counseling program’s vision and mission statement
D. The ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success standards
(C) is correct. The foundational elements of the program vision and mission statement make this the most correct answer.
A school counselor has created a SMART goal to increase retention rates by five percent in the next academic year. The counselor is using which of the following types of data to achieve the goal?
A. Participation
B. Mindsets and Behaviors
C. Outcome
D. Perception
(C) is correct. Outcome data demonstrate measurable outcomes.
Annual student outcome goals should be primarily aligned to which of the following?
A. State testing requirements
B. The school’s closing-the-gap action plans
C. Annual goals of the other school counselors in the district
D. The school administrator’s personal preferences
(B) is correct. Annual student outcome goals should be set based on the school’s plans to close the information, achievement, and/or opportunity gaps.
According to the ASCA National Model, what percent of their time should school counselors aspire to dedicate to direct and indirect student services?
A. 100%
B. 90%
C. 80%
D. 70%
(C) is correct. According to the annual agreement, school counselors should spend 80% of their time delivering direct and indirect services and 20% in program planning.
A school counselor is asked to help develop classroom lessons on bullying. Which of the following resources will be most effective in developing these lessons?
A. Interviews with students who have been victims of bullying
B. Literature on research-based bullying interventions
C. Consultation with teachers about the coping techniques they have used with students in the past
D. Lesson plans about bullying from a school counseling Web site
(B) is correct. Research-based interventions have been validated in the field and provide the most effective resource around which to develop lessons.
An assessment on which test takers receive similar scores across administrations of the test is considered to have strong
A. reliability
B. face validity
C. internal consistency
D. concurrent validity
(A) is correct. Assessments are considered reliable when test takers receive consistent scores across administrations of the test.
With what frequency does the ASCA recommend that a school counselor complete a use-of-time assessment?
A. Once a week
B. Bimonthly
C. Once a year
D. At least twice a year
(D) is correct. It is recommended by the ASCA to conduct a use-of-time assessment at least twice a year.
Which TWO of the following are appropriate activities for school counselors based on the ASCA National Model?
A. Providing counseling to students who have disciplinary problems
B. Maintaining student records
C. Protecting student records and information per state and federal regulations
D. Coordinating cognitive, aptitude, and achievement testing programs
(A) and (C) are correct. Providing counseling and addressing attendance gaps are both activities within the scope of the school counselor’s role. Additionally, protecting student records per FERPA is within the scope of the school counselor’s role and is therefore an appropriate activity.
Lev Vygotsky explained that there is a gap between children’s ability to solve problems on their own and their potential knowledge if taught through adult instruction. Which of the following terms best describes this gap?
A. Scaffolding
B. Transformative learning
C. Zone of proximal development
D. Potential intellectual ability
(C) is correct. The zone of proximal development is defined as the difference between what a student can do and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving with adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers.
Which of the following techniques is most developmentally appropriate to help elementary school students reduce stress and improve their overall emotional health?
A. Grounding
B. Cognitive restructuring and reframing
C. Behavioral rehearsal
D. Academic goal setting
(A) is correct. Grounding involves teaching children appropriate techniques to become mentally present by being attentive to what they can hear, feel, see, taste, and touch.
Children in Jean Piaget’s stage of preoperational thought have difficulty understanding that another person’s thoughts and opinions are different from their own. This type of thinking is referred to as
A. egocentrism
B. animism
C. artificialism
D. magical thinking
(A) is correct. Egocentrism is the inability to understand that a person’s thoughts or opinions are different from one’s own.
A student’s noncustodial parent arrives at an elementary school to talk with the student. The school counselor should do which of the following?
A. Politely ask the parent to leave and inform the custodial parent about the situation.
B. Contact the authorities and report the situation.
C. Allow the noncustodial parent to talk with the student but report it to the custodial parent.
D. Allow the noncustodial parent to talk with the student unless there is legal documentation prohibiting contact.
(D) is correct. Allowing the noncustodial parent to talk with the student unless there is legal documentation prohibiting contact is both an ethical and a legal course of action to take.
Which of the following is an appropriate activity for a school counselor with regard to students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and/or IEP meetings?
A. Serving as the IEP team coordinator and writing IEPs
B. Coordinating schoolwide IEP meetings
C. Serving as an advocate during Child Study Team and IEP meetings
D. Maintaining IEP records
(C) is correct. According to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), serving as a student advocate during CST and IEP meetings is the only appropriate activity for a school counselor with regard to IEP meetings and IEPs.
Which of the following is an appropriate role for a school counselor in regard to working with students with Section 504 plans?
A. Coordinating meetings for 504 plans
B. Developing 504 plans, including accommodations
C. Identifying the strengths and challenges of students with disabilities
D. Providing weekly counseling services for students to help them improve social skills
(C) is correct. Per ASCA, identifying the strengths of students with disabilities as well as their challenges is the only acceptable school counselor task.
A school counselor gets a request from a student’s family to provide the student with individual counseling because of a traumatic experience. Which of the following is the best action for the school counselor to take?
A. Creating and implementing a small-group curriculum for the student
B. Providing brief solution-focused individual counseling
C. Referring the student to the school crisis team
D. Referring the family to outside mental-health counseling options
(D) is correct. Individual counseling around trauma is outside the school counselor’s role and scope and is not appropriate for a small-group, in-school intervention. The student should be referred to outside services.
Which THREE of the following are roles of the school counselor within the framework of multi-tiered systems of support?
A. Analyzing disciplinary procedures for effectiveness
B. Referring students to school and community services as appropriate
C. Developing extracurricular offerings and community support networks
D. Evaluating academic and behavioral progress after interventions
E. Providing all students with a standards-based school counseling curriculum to address universal academic, career, and social/emotional development
(B), (D), and (E) are correct. Based on the ASCA Position Statement on the School Counselor and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (2008, 2014, 2018), this is an appropriate role of the school counselor within an MTSS.
Which of the following behaviors from the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies assessment is encompassed in professional foundation?
A. Making referrals to appropriate school and community resources
B. Applying legal and ethical principles of the school counseling profession
C. Assessing and reporting program results to the school community
D. Identifying gaps in achievement, attendance, discipline, opportunity, and resources
(B) is correct. Applying legal and ethical principles of the school counseling profession is listed as a “professional foundation” behavior in the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards and Competencies assessment.
According to Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, a middle-school student who is learning to use abstract reasoning is likely in which of the following stages?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
(D) is correct. Abstract thought is part of the formal operational stage.
To determine the impact of an antibullying program on students, changes in which of the following would be most useful to evaluate?
A. Attendance rates
B. Discipline referrals
C. Retention rates
D. Academic achievement
(B) is correct. Children who bully will often receive discipline referrals. If the number of discipline referrals goes down, the counselor will see the impact of the intervention.
As a part of a school counselor’s year-end evaluation, the counselor is planning to review the ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies Assessment. Which of the following areas are assessed in the document?
A. State testing guidelines
B. Ethical and legal standards of practice
C. School improvement plans
D. District IEP training
(B) is correct. Ethical practice is just one of the many areas that are highlighted in the assessment.
Assessing one’s school counseling program best allows counselors to do which of the following?
A. Demonstrate effective planning and programming
B. Share systemic failures with administration
C. Contact other counselors to consult and collaborate
D. Eliminate nonschool counseling related duties from their workload
(A) is correct. Proving worth and effectiveness is the most important reason to assess one’s program.
Which of the following is a purpose of school counseling program evaluation?
A. To assess whether the school counselor has the necessary competencies to be effective
B. To determine how the school counselor makes use of time
C. To provide examples of formal and informal leadership
D. To quantitatively demonstrate the impact that the school counseling program has on students
(D) is correct. The purpose of assessing a school counseling program is to determine the impact the program has on students and to identify areas of improvement.
Which of the following is a benefit of ASCA membership that most closely aligns with the Responsibilities to Self standard of the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors?
A. Reduced fees for professional development
B. Advocacy for equitable school counseling program practices
C. Opportunities to develop and maintain competence in current issues and best practices
D. Access to professional liability insurance
(C) is correct. The Responsibilities to Self standard refers to maintaining memberships in school counselor professional organizations to stay up-to-date on current research and maintain professional competence in current school counseling issues and topics, which can be accomplished by taking part in workshops and other development opportunities offered by the ASCA as well as attendance at the national conference.
Which of the following is best supported by the Behaviors component of the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success?
A. The learning strategies, self-management skills, and social skills students need to achieve academic success
B. Students’ sense of belonging in the school environment
C. The understanding that post-secondary education and lifelong learning are necessary for long-term career success
D. Students’ attitudes or beliefs students have about themselves in relation to academic work
(A) is correct. The ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors standards include behaviors commonly associated with being a successful student and are grouped into three subcategories: learning strategies, self-management skills, and social skills.
School counselors can best support students as they develop personal identities by:
A. encouraging students to commit to a career choice early and to stick with it
B. discouraging social relationships in which students may experience discomfort
C. providing students with experiences that reinforce one viewpoint
D. providing students with a wide range of information about of academic, social, and career opportunities
(D) is correct. Adolescents are best served when they can experience a wide variety of academic, social/emotional, and career opportunities as they develop their sense of self and personal identity. School counselors can provide these experiences in their school counseling curriculum and in events that give students the opportunity to explore their interactions with others and career choices.
According to Lev Vygotsky’s developmental theory, which of the following provides students with structure to help them master a skill within their zone of proximal development?
A. Process-relational development
B. Scaffolding
C. Metacognition
D. Executive function
(B) is correct. In cognitive development theory, scaffolding allows students to gain independence in learning tasks as they reach their goals. The tasks become progressively more difficult as the students gain more knowledge and come closer to reaching their potential level of cognitive development.
Which of the following developmental theories describes basic conflicts one must face and resolve as one moves through various life stages?
A. Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development
B. John Bowlby’s attachment theory
C. Albert Bandura’s social learning theory
D. Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development
(A) is correct. Erik Erikson’s eight-stage theory of psychosocial development describes growth and change throughout life, focusing on social interaction and conflicts that arise during different stages of development.
Which of the following activities would be most appropriate for helping a high school student develop career readiness?
A. Participating in take your child to work day
B. Taking a career interest inventory
C. Crafting a project about various jobs to present on career day
D. Engaging in a cooperative work experience
(D) is correct. During a cooperative work experience, students are employed in a part-time job and may receive pay, school credit, or both. They are evaluated on performance and job completion. This experience typically occurs in the junior and senior years in high school.
Which of the following has the greatest potential to create systemic change and a safe school environment?
A. Conducting individual counseling with students who are involved in the highest incidence of conflict
B. Providing school counseling curriculum that teaches conflict resolution
C. Planning voluntary small-group intervention for specific sets of students
D. Engaging in schoolwide collaboration among administration, teachers, staff, and the school counseling program
(D) is correct. By engaging in schoolwide collaboration, teachers, staff, school counselors, and other stakeholders have the potential to create systemic change.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of instruction as part of direct student services within the school counseling curriculum?
A. To assist students in attaining selected ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success
B. To assist targeted students who need more intervention
C. To monitor the effectiveness of other interventions
D. To meet the program goals set annually at the beginning of the school year
(A) is correct. The school counseling curriculum is designed from the lens of students meeting the standards in the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success.
Which of the following is an appropriate responsibility of school counselors when assisting in planning for students with disabilities?
A. Coordinating, writing, or supervising the implementation of the IEP
B. Collaborating with other related student support professionals in the delivery of services
C. Making singular decisions regarding placement or retention
D. Providing long-term therapy
(B) is correct. School counselors serve on a student service team whose members collaborate to provide the services students with disabilities need.
Which of the following types of data would best help a school counselor gain understanding about factors that contribute to achievement gaps?
A. Outcome
B. Participation
C. Supplemental
D. Mindset & Behaviors
(C) is correct. Supplemental methods solicit additional information from students and relevant stakeholders about the gaps present in school data.
Which of the following represents data separated into component parts by specific variables such as ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status?
A. Outcome data
B. Disaggregated data
C. Supplemental data
D. Participation data
(B) is correct. Disaggregated data are data separated into component parts by specific variables such as ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status.
By serving on committees involved in making school-based decisions, the school counselor is acting in which of the following roles?
A. Leader
B. Teacher
C. Advocate
D. Consultant
(A) is correct. School counselors participate in the school improvement process as a leader in bringing the school counseling perspective to the development of school goals.
Which of the following pieces of data would be most helpful in identifying an opportunity gap?
A. Percentage of low-socioeconomic students in the school
B. Percentage of minority students taking honors-level courses
C. Number of students with excessive absences
D. Number of students performing below academic reading standards
(B) is correct. Disaggregated data showing the percentage of minority students in honors-level courses may indicate an unintended opportunity gap for the students.
According to the ASCA National Model, which of the following are the three main types of data school counselors use in assessing program effectiveness?
A. Process, perception, and goal data
B. Participation, Mindsets & Behavior, and outcome data
C. Disaggregated, ranked, and filtered data
D. Socioeconomic, referral, and graduation data
(B) is correct. Participation, Mindsets & Behavior, and outcome data are outlined in the ASCA National Model as the most effective types of data to use to demonstrate program effectiveness.
Which THREE of the following are components of the ASCA National Model (2019) annual administrative conference template?
A. Annual student outcome goals
B. Assigned duty
C. Ratio and caseload
D. Materials wish list
E. School and district committees and professional work
(A), (C), and (E), are correct. Per the ASCA National Model, annual student outcome goals, ratio and caseload, and documenting service on school and district committees and other professional work are all components of the annual administrative conference template.
A school counselor applying Carl Rogers’ approach to individual counseling would most likely employ which of the following techniques?
A. Unconditional positive regard
B. Dream analysis
C. Role-playing scenarios
D. Identifying the student’s role within the family
(A) is correct. Unconditional positive regard is a major component of Carl Rogers’ person-centered theory.
The miracle question is a technique most used in which model of counseling?
A. Psychoanalytic
B. Solution-focused
C. Existential
D. Family systems
(B) is correct. The miracle question is a major facet of solution-focused therapy.
According to Bruce Tuckman’s theory of group development, a small group in the storming stage would likely exhibit which of the following behaviors?
A. Struggling to determine group goals
B. Discussing group rules
C. Working cohesively as a group
D. Reviewing and evaluating the group’s work
(A) is correct. Struggling to determine group goals is a major component of the storming group phase. Members may disagree on team goals, and subgroups and cliques may form around strong personalities or areas of agreement. To get through this stage, members must work to overcome obstacles, to accept individual differences, and to work through conflicting ideas on team tasks and goals.
Which of the following is the most appropriate activity for a school counselor to facilitate to prepare students for the transition from middle school to high school?
A. A dinner for students and parents to encourage family engagement
B. A parent meeting to promote academic excellence
C. A pep rally for school spirit
D. A panel discussion between middle and high school students to answer questions
(D) is correct. A panel discussion between middle and high school students allows for younger students to have their questions answered by students currently attending the high school.
In an individual student planning session, a student failing math and science expresses interest in becoming a professional athlete. How might a school counselor best advise this student for postsecondary success?
A. Assisting the student in making the connection between passing classes and playing sports
B. Explaining that the student would be more suited to a career in another field
C. Bringing awareness to the benefit that playing sports has on the student’s social skills
D. Engaging the student in a mock interview for a career in the sports field
(A) is correct. Assisting the student in making the connection between passing classes and playing sports best enables the student to see the relationship between academics and both playing sports in high school and pursuing a postsecondary athletic career.
According to Donald Super’s career theory, a student who is forming a tentative career plan is likely in which of the stages of career development?
A. Growth
B. Exploration
C. Establishment
D. Maintenance
(B) is correct. During the exploration stage, students begin to understand where they fit in the world of work and to develop a tentative career plan.
Which of the following strategies best illustrates prevention of crisis situations in trauma-informed care?
A. Helping students identify triggers and creating coping plans
B. Working with students to minimize self-blame
C. Ensuring that students have a “safe person” to turn to in crisis
D. Encouraging intrinsic motivation in students
(A) is correct. Helping students identify triggers and create coping plans may help to prevent the onset of a crisis situation.
For which of the following situations would peer mediation be the best intervention for a school counselor to recommend?
A. Conflict resolution between a parent and an administrator
B. Conflict resolution between the perpetrator and the victim in a bullying situation
C. Conflict resolution between a teacher and a student over grades
D. Conflict resolution between two friends
(D) is correct. Equal student-to-student conflict is the only appropriate model for peer mediation.
Which of the following interventions should a school counselor use to help as many students as possible reduce anxiety?
A. Designing and facilitating a classroom lesson on coping skills
B. Facilitating a small-group curriculum called stress busters
C. Using brief solution-focused individual counseling techniques
D. Using motivational-interviewing techniques for crisis counseling
(A) is correct. Coping skills will address stress and emotional regulation necessary to reducing anxiety, while a classroom lesson includes the most students out of all the choices provided.
According to ASCA, how often should school counselors host advisory council meetings?
A. Only in the fall
B. Two times per year, once in the fall and once in the spring
C. Only at the end of each school year
D. Three times each school year: in the fall, at the beginning of spring, and at the end of the school year
(B) is correct. It is recommended to have two meetings, one in the fall and one in the spring.
A middle school student struggles to develop positive relationships with peers and reports having few friends. According to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the student is having trouble with which of the following?
A. Belongingness
B. Esteem
C. Self-actualization
D. Physiological needs
(A) is correct. The need for friends and intimate relationships is part of the need for belongingness under Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
A student scores in the 50th percentile on a standardized reading assessment. Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the student’s test results?
A. The student answered half the questions on the assessment correctly.
B. The student scored in the above-average range.
C. The student scored in the below-average range.
D. The student scored in the average range.
(D) is correct. The 50th percentile is average and means the student scored as well or better than 50 students out of 100.
A student with an IQ score of 100 on the normal curve scores at the 50th percentile on a standardized math assessment. Which of the following is true about the student’s IQ and math score in relation to the normal curve?
A. The student’s IQ is higher than the math score.
B. The IQ and math score match.
C. The student’s math score is higher than the student’s IQ.
D. The student answered 50% of the questions correctly on both the math test and the IQ assessment.
Option (B) is correct. The student’s IQ and math score both fall into the 50th percentile on the normal curve and are a match.
A high school student completed the Holland career assessment and scored high on the social indicator. Which of the following career experiences is the student most likely to benefit from?
A. Sitting in on a company’s board of directors meeting
B. Interviewing an artist
C. Job shadowing an elementary school teacher
D. Helping repair a car
(C) is correct. Job shadowing an elementary school teacher is the only option with a Holland code that falls into the social area; education/training matches with college professor.
A fifth-grade student struggles to pay attention in class. While meeting with the student’s parents, the school counselor learns that the student is taking doctor-prescribed medication to help with focus. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step for the school counselor to take?
A. Referring the student to the school psychologist for special education testing
B. Making a child find referral to the Section 504 team for evaluation
C. Setting up a parent-teacher conference with the student’s teachers
D. Requesting that the student’s schedule be changed to include resource classes
(B) is correct. Once the school counselor learns of the student’s prescribed medication to assist with learning and that the student is still struggling, the medical diagnosis is enough to trigger a 504-eligibility evaluation according to the child find mandate.
A teacher asks the school counselor to help design an intervention that would be beneficial for the whole class. In the process of consultation, which of the following roles does the school counselor take?
A. Mediator
B. Advisor
C. Facilitator
D. Collaborator
(D) is correct. A school counselor in the collaborator role participates as a team member in defining, designing, and implementing a solution.
While working with a student who identifies as LGBTQ, the school counselor learns that a teacher has used inappropriate and homophobic language, which made the student uncomfortable. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step for the school counselor to take?
A. Setting up a parent-teacher conference to discuss the issue
B. Sending an e-mail to inform the teacher of the student’s LGBTQ status
C. Consulting with the building-level supervisor about the teacher’s comments
D. Requesting that the student’s schedule be changed to another class to avoid the teacher
(C) is correct. School counselors are advocates for their students while also working to maintain their students’ confidentiality. This option addresses the situation with the building-level supervisor, but the student’s orientation is not divulged.
Which of the following is an example of a Tier 2 intervention?
A. Creating a lesson for the counselor to present to the whole class
B. Engaging select students in a daily check-in/check-out system with the school counselor
C. Providing referrals to parents for outside counseling services
D. Conducting grade-level meetings to remind students there are consequences for violating school rules
(B) is correct. Engaging in a daily check-in/check-out with the school counselor is a targeted intervention for one student to address a specific problem, which is the definition of a Tier 2 intervention.
A school counselor learns that a student has recently experienced a house fire and that the student might be temporarily homeless as a result. Which of the following is the next best step for the school counselor to take?
A. Referring the student’s family to the school social worker for community resources and supports
B. Organizing a community drive to donate food and clothes to the student and family
C. Explaining the student’s situation to the teachers
D. Referring the student to the school crisis team
(A) is correct. The role of the school counselor in this instance is to connect the student’s family to community resources and liaisons available through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to protect the student’s access to education during an emergency.
Which TWO of the following describe ways in which school counselors can directly collaborate with stakeholders to create learning environments that support success for all students?
A. Partnering with others to advocate for student achievement and educational equity and opportunities
B. Helping students and families navigate postsecondary education options and financial aid processes
C. Identifying and involving appropriate school and community professionals as well as the family in a crisis situation
D. Reviewing, disaggregating, and interpreting student achievement, attendance, and discipline data
E. Developing student outcome goals aligned with school improvement plans
(A) and (C) are correct. Partnering with others to advocate for student equity and achievement and identifying and involving parents and other stakeholders in a crisis situation are ASCA standards for school counselor competency related to collaboration with stakeholders to support student success.
A school counselor wants to gather feedback on the services provided in the middle school counseling program. Which of the following is the most efficient strategy to collect input from multiple sources?
A. Conducting interviews with a sample group of students
B. Administering an electronic survey to students, teachers, and parents
C. Facilitating a discussion during a faculty meeting
D. Distributing a paper survey to one class per grade level in the school
(B) is correct. An electronic survey will provide feedback only from a student perspective about the specific services of the school counseling program. Electronic survey platforms can analyze responses and provide summary data efficiently.
A school counselor is trying to transform the school counseling program from a stand-alone service to an integral part of the total educational process. Which of the following should the counselor do first?
A. Align the school counseling program goals to the school improvement goals.
B. Survey teachers for topics to present in school counseling classroom lessons.
C. Hold meetings to introduce the counseling program to parents.
D. Request professional development opportunities from the principal.
(A) is correct. When the school counseling program is working toward the same goals as the school, it is better situated to provide services and programs that help all students achieve success.
Which of the following is the most appropriate first step for a school counselor to take in designing a new school counseling program?
A. Reviewing the school data profile
B. Discussing activities that should be included in the counseling program with administration
C. Developing a closing-the-gap action plan
D. Establishing vision and mission statements for the counseling program
(D) is correct. Because the vision and mission statements of the school counseling program serve as the foundation for all program activities and services, these statements should be aligned to the school and district vision and mission statements to ensure that the counseling program is an integral part of the educational process.
A school counselor wants to ensure the counseling program uses evidence-based practices to respond to an increase in student absences. Which of the following is an example of an evidenced-based practice the counselor should utilize?
A. Arranging for volunteers to call students who do not come to school
B. Asking the school social worker to conduct a home visit after a student misses three days of school
C. Conducting a small counseling group for students with more than five school absences
D. Implementing a previously validated attendance program
(D) is correct. Evidence-based practices are concepts or strategies that are informed by objective evidence or research with metrics for student impact. These programs have been tested and identified as effective interventions.
Ms. Khan, a school counselor, is preparing to conduct individual advisement sessions with middle school students. As she reviews the students’ cumulative records, she notices that many of them have results from a formal assessment that she is not familiar with, so she researches the assessment to determine whether it consistently produces the same responses over time. Ms. Khan is looking for the assessment’s
A. reliability
B. internal consistency
C. face validity
D. content validity
(A) is correct. Assessment reliability refers to the assessment’s ability to produce consistent responses over time. The school counselor can better interpret the results of the assessment if she knows that the assessment has been shown to be reliable.
A school counselor sponsored a virtual college fair for high school students. Students logged in using their school-issued student identification. After the event, the counselor was able to download a report that included the students’ names, grade levels, and how long they spent participating in the event. This report is an example of
A. outcome data
B. perception data
C. participation data
D. Mindsets and Behaviors data
(C) is correct. Participation data describes how many students participated in an activity and how long they participated in the activity.
During an individual advisement meeting with a twelfth-grade student, the school counselor explains a standardized testing student score report. The student scored a composite of 21 on the standardized test, with a national percentile rank score of 56%. The national percentile rank score means that
A. the student earned a 56 on the test
B. 56% of the students who took the test scored a 21 or below
C. 56% of the students who took the test scored a 56
D. the student got 56% of the questions correct
(B) is correct. The percentile rank score shows how many of the students who took the same test scored the same or lower than the composite score.
Teachers have expressed concern over giving up instructional time for school counseling lessons. The principal has asked the school counselor to prepare a presentation to share with faculty about the importance of delivering the school counseling curriculum. Which type of data will be most valuable in showing the positive impact of the school counseling curriculum?
A. Participation data
B. Student outcome data
C. Needs assessment data
D. Mindsets and Behaviors data
(B) is correct. Student outcome data shows the impact of the counseling service or intervention on student achievement, attendance, or discipline. Student outcome data is most closely associated with school improvement goals.
After a school counselor’s first year working in the field, the counselor wants to know which activities or interventions made the largest impact on student growth and success. Which of the following data sources should the school counselor review?
A. Annual results report
B. School data profile
C. School counselor standards and competencies assessment
D. School counselor performance appraisal
(A) is correct. The annual results report includes participation, Mindsets and Behaviors, and student outcome data and helps to identify effective activities and interventions.
Which of the following theorists discusses the importance of self-efficacy and modeling in social cognitive development?
A. Jean Piaget
B. Erik Erikson
C. Albert Bandura
D. Mary Ainsworth
Option (C) is correct. Albert Bandura discusses self-efficacy and modeling as part of his theory.
