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NBCOT Practice Exam: Challenge Your Occupational Therapy Skills

Dive into free NBCOT practice questions and ace your occupational therapy practice test

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Ana VetrihUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for NBCOT practice exam quiz on teal background

This free NBCOT practice exam helps you check your readiness and practice clinical reasoning with exam-style cases and key facts. Use it to spot study gaps before test day. Warm up with sample questions or take a quick OT quiz.

Which splint is most appropriate for conservative management of carpal tunnel syndrome during sleep?
Volar wrist splint positioning the wrist in 0 to 10 degrees of extension [Explanation: Neutral to slight extension reduces median nerve compression during sleep]
Ulnar gutter splint with MCPs flexed 70 degrees
Thumb spica splint with wrist flexed 30 degrees
Dorsal blocking splint with wrist flexed and fingers in intrinsic-plus
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An OTA may independently select and implement an intervention plan without OT supervision.
False
True
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For a new wheelchair user, which measurement best determines seat width?
Measure the ASIS width and subtract 1 inch
Measure chest width and add 4 inches
Measure from popliteal fossa to heel and subtract 2 inches
Measure the widest point of the hips and add approximately 2 inches [Explanation: Adds clearance to prevent skin shear and allow clothing]
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Stage 1 pressure injury is characterized by non-blanchable erythema on intact skin.
True
False
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Which Allen Cognitive Level is best associated with goal-directed actions requiring visual cues?
Level 2
Level 5
Level 3
Level 4 [Explanation: Level 4 indicates goal-directed actions guided by visual cues, limited problem solving]
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The intrinsic-plus anti-deformity position for the hand includes MCP flexion and IP extension.
True
False
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Which developmental milestone typically emerges around 12 months of age?
Radial palmar grasp
Prone on elbows
Neat pincer grasp [Explanation: Tip-to-tip pincer typically by 10-12 months]
Symmetric tonic neck reflex onset
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A C6 spinal cord injury typically preserves wrist extension enabling tenodesis grasp.
False
True
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Which outcome measure best quantifies spasticity during passive stretch?
Glasgow Coma Scale
Nine Hole Peg Test
Modified Ashworth Scale [Explanation: MAS grades resistance to passive stretch]
Berg Balance Scale
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The COAST goal format requires listing diagnosis before the occupation.
False
True
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Which intervention is most appropriate to address unilateral spatial neglect after right CVA?
Visual scanning training toward the left with anchoring lines [Explanation: Compensatory scanning improves left-side attention]
Saccadic exercises to reduce convergence insufficiency
Patching left eye during reading
Occlusion of right visual field
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In lymphedema management, blood pressure should be taken on the affected limb to monitor swelling.
True
False
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Which wheelchair feature best facilitates pressure redistribution for a client with sacral skin breakdown?
Contoured headrest
High-density, pressure-redistributing cushion with adequate pelvic immersion [Explanation: Reduces peak pressures at sacrum/ischium]
Rigid wooden seat insert
Backrest reclined to 60 degrees without cushion
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An OTA may contribute to the evaluation process by administering delegated assessments and reporting results to the OT.
True
False
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Which approach is most appropriate initially for apraxia affecting ADL performance post-left CVA?
Unstructured free practice without cues
Complex multitasking challenges
Errorless learning with hand-over-hand guidance during tasks [Explanation: Reduces error, supports motor planning]
Only strength training of proximal muscles
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A spinal cord injury at C7 typically allows independent elbow extension for transfers.
True
False
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Which visual-perceptual test primarily assesses executive function and set shifting?
Fugl-Meyer Assessment
Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test
Trail Making Test Part B [Explanation: Measures divided attention and cognitive flexibility]
Snellen chart
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In manual lymph drainage, clearing proximal lymphatic territories before distal areas is recommended.
True
False
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Which positioning is best after a deep partial-thickness volar hand burn to prevent deformity?
Wrist neutral, MCP neutral, thumb adduction
Wrist extension 50 deg, MCP hyperextension
Wrist flexion 40 deg, MCP extension, IP flexion
Intrinsic-plus: wrist 20-30 deg extension, MCP 70-90 deg flexion, IP extension, thumb palmar abduction [Explanation: Counters clawing and contracture]
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For suspected dysphagia with risk of aspiration, thin liquids are typically safer than thickened liquids.
True
False
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand NBCOT Exam Format -

    Gain clarity on the structure and question types found in the nbcot practice exam to navigate the real test with confidence.

  2. Apply Clinical Reasoning -

    Use occupational therapy principles to analyze patient scenarios and select the most appropriate interventions, reflecting common exam content.

  3. Interpret Sample NBCOT Questions -

    Develop strategies for breaking down sample nbcot questions, improving accuracy when tackling similar items on the practice nbcot exam.

  4. Evaluate Performance and Track Progress -

    Assess your strengths and identify areas for improvement through free nbcot practice questions and detailed feedback.

  5. Manage Test-Taking Time -

    Practice pacing techniques in our occupational therapy practice test to complete questions efficiently under timed conditions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand the OTPF Process -

    The AOTA's Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF) divides practice into evaluation, intervention, and outcomes, so review each step thoroughly. Remember the three-stage process: "Assess, Plan, Act" to mirror common sample NBCOT questions. This structure ensures you know where tasks like client factors, performance skills, and activity demands fit in the nbcot practice exam.

  2. Master Standardized Assessment Properties -

    Familiarize yourself with psychometric properties such as reliability (ICC ≥ 0.80) and validity types (content, construct, criterion) from sources like the Journal of Allied Health. For example, the COPM is highly client-centered and shows strong test-retest reliability over two weeks. Use the mnemonic "RVC" (Reliability, Validity, Ceiling) to recall key features when answering practice nbcot exam items.

  3. Apply Biomechanical Principles -

    Review formulas such as torque (T = F × d) and leverage classes when evaluating joint mechanics in rehabilitation, as detailed in standard textbooks (e.g., Salvendy's Handbook). Knowing how moment arms change under different grip positions can help you solve biomechanics questions swiftly. When tackling sample nbcot questions on seating or splint design, recall "T = Force × Distance" to calculate joint loading accurately.

  4. Use Clear Documentation Standards -

    Brush up on SOAP note structure (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) and ICD-10/CPT coding guidelines provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Practice converting a brief client interaction into a concise SOAP note, as this skill often appears in occupational therapy practice tests. Remember: "SOAP = Story Of Actual Progress" to keep your notes consistent and exam-ready.

  5. Review AOTA's Code of Ethics -

    Study the six core principles - autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, veracity, fidelity - from the official AOTA Code of Ethics (2020). Create a memory phrase like "All Beneficial Nurses Judge Very Fairly" to recall each principle under pressure. This foundational knowledge frequently underpins scenarios in free NBCOT practice questions about professional conduct.

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