Understanding students with cognitive impairments 6
A 1971 federal case challenged a state law that let public schools refuse a free education to children who had not reached a mental age of 5. Which case was it?Wikipedia, PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 001 (human development and learning).
A student counts coins, tells time and reads a short menu, but is easily talked into giving away his lunch money. Which adaptive skill area shows the weakness?Wikipedia, Adaptive behavior (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 002 (types and characteristics of cognitive impairments).
A student with a cognitive impairment and ADHD is prescribed a medicine that raises alertness, attention and energy. Which class of medication is it?National Institute of Mental Health, Mental Health Medications (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 001 (human development and learning).
Newborn screening finds phenylketonuria (PKU) in an infant. How is the condition usually managed so that phenylalanine does not build up to harmful levels?MedlinePlus Genetics, Phenylketonuria (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 002 (types and characteristics of cognitive impairments).
Under Michigan's rule on cognitive impairment, an intellectual assessment must show development at or below about what level?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1705 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 002 (types and characteristics of cognitive impairments).
Which condition is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability?Wikipedia, Fragile X syndrome (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 002 (types and characteristics of cognitive impairments).
Show all 48 questions (42 more)
Assessment, IEPs, IFSPs and transition plans 10
A 10-year-old scores at the 4th percentile on standardized tests of reading and arithmetic. How does that bear on eligibility under Michigan's cognitive impairment rule?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1705 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 004 (conducting assessments and interpreting results).
A 16-year-old's IEP must hold measurable postsecondary goals. What must those goals be based on?34 CFR 300.320 (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School) (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 005 (IEPs, IFSPs and transition plans).
A student with a cognitive impairment faces a disciplinary change of placement. Who carries out the manifestation determination review?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), 34 CFR 300.530 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 005 (IEPs, IFSPs and transition plans).
A teacher lists the nine steps of washing hands, then marks which steps a student does without help. What is the list of steps called?Wikipedia, Task analysis (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 003 (assessment instruments and practices).
An IEP team is deciding on extended school year services for a student who loses self-care skills over long breaks. How does Michigan's rule tell the team to decide?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1721e (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 005 (IEPs, IFSPs and transition plans).
An intelligence test has a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Which score sits 2 standard deviations below the mean?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1705 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 004 (conducting assessments and interpreting results).
How does an adaptive behavior scale such as the Vineland gather most of its information?Wikipedia, Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 003 (assessment instruments and practices).
In Michigan, how long may pass between a district's receipt of signed parental consent to evaluate and its notice of an offer of a free appropriate public education or of ineligibility?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1721b (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 005 (IEPs, IFSPs and transition plans).
Michigan's rule on cognitive impairment names one professional who must be on the multidisciplinary evaluation team. Who is it?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1705 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 004 (conducting assessments and interpreting results).
Which Michigan assessment is built for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, when the IEP team finds the general assessments inappropriate even with accommodations?Michigan Department of Education, MI-Access (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 005 (IEPs, IFSPs and transition plans).
Promoting development and learning 22
A graduate with a moderate cognitive impairment is hired at a grocery store for regular pay, with a job coach whose help fades over time. What is this arrangement called?Wikipedia, Supported employment (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 011 (daily living skills).
A nonverbal student communicates with manual signs and gestures. How is this form of augmentative and alternative communication classed?Wikipedia, Augmentative and alternative communication (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 008 (communication skills).
A student can say a full sentence about a field trip but cannot yet form letters. Which assistive technology lets the student put the sentence in writing?Wikipedia, Speech recognition (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 009 (academic skills in core subjects).
A student counts out coins correctly at the classroom store but not at the school cafeteria. What has the student not yet done with the skill?Wikipedia, Generalization (learning) (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 007 (individualizing instruction).
A student has a worksite-based learning placement at a hardware store. Under Michigan's rules, how often must the designated staff member visit the worksite?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1733 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 011 (daily living skills).
A student is learning to say "water." The teacher first rewards "wa," later only "wat," and at last only the whole word. Which procedure is this?Wikipedia, Shaping (psychology) (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 007 (individualizing instruction).
A student speaks in clear sentences but interrupts, stands too close and does not take turns in conversation. Which area of language needs teaching?The answer rests on the text printed in the question and on the wording of the objective (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 008 (communication skills).
A student watches a short clip of a peer greeting a store clerk, then practices the same greeting. Which mode of teaching is this?Wikipedia, Video modeling (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 010 (social-emotional competence and interpersonal skills).
A student with a mild cognitive impairment joins a general education art class with a peer helper and adapted tools. What does federal regulation call such supports?34 CFR 300.42 (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School) (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 006 (planning and managing the learning environment).
A teacher begins the Picture Exchange Communication System with a student who does not speak. What is the student taught in Phase 1?Wikipedia, Picture Exchange Communication System (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 008 (communication skills).
A teacher has a student learn to recognize "exit," "stop" and "danger" as whole words, without sounding them out. What is this kind of word reading called?Wikipedia, Sight word (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 009 (academic skills in core subjects).
A teacher presents the day's schedule three ways: spoken aloud, as a row of photographs, and as objects a student can handle. Which Universal Design for Learning principle is at work?CAST, The UDL Guidelines (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 006 (planning and managing the learning environment).
A transition team begins by asking a student and her family what a good life after school looks like to her, then builds the supports around her answer. Which approach is this?Wikipedia, Person-centred planning (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 011 (daily living skills).
A young student holds a book upside down and does not yet know that the marks on the page carry the story. Which emergent literacy skill is missing?Wikipedia, Print awareness (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 009 (academic skills in core subjects).
At her IEP meeting a 17-year-old with a mild cognitive impairment says which job she wants and which supports help her. Which skill is she using?Wikipedia, Self-advocacy (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 010 (social-emotional competence and interpersonal skills).
Before a fire drill, a teacher reads with a student a short illustrated description of what will happen and what the student can do. Which tool is this?Wikipedia, Social Stories (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 010 (social-emotional competence and interpersonal skills).
Each time a hard worksheet is handed out, a student sweeps it to the floor and is sent to a quiet corner. The sweeping grows more frequent. What most likely maintains the behavior?Wikipedia, Functional behavior assessment (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 012 (behavioral interventions and supports).
Students earn a star for each job finished at the class café and trade ten stars for free time. In a token economy, what are the stars?Wikipedia, Token economy (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 012 (behavioral interventions and supports).
To reduce a student's hand biting, a teacher reinforces him for squeezing a ball with both hands, which he cannot do while biting. Which procedure is this?Wikipedia, Differential reinforcement (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 012 (behavioral interventions and supports).
To teach a student to make a sandwich, a teacher completes every step except pressing the two slices together, which the student does. Once that is firm, the student also does the step before it. Which method is this?Wikipedia, Chaining (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 007 (individualizing instruction).
Under Michigan's rules, what staffing does a severe cognitive impairment program need for up to 12 students?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1738 and R 340.1739 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 006 (planning and managing the learning environment).
Within positive behavioral interventions and supports, at which tier does a team build one student's plan from a functional behavior assessment?Center on PBIS, Tier 3 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 012 (behavioral interventions and supports).
Working in the professional environment 10
A Michigan teacher with reasonable cause to suspect child abuse phones centralized intake at once. What does the Child Protection Law require after that oral report?Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 722.623 (Michigan Legislature) (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 015 (professional, ethical and legal responsibilities).
A student needs help learning to button a coat, hold a spoon and use adapted scissors. Which related service addresses these tasks of independent functioning?34 CFR 300.34 (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School) (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 014 (partnerships with school personnel and community organizations).
A student's parents speak Arabic at home and little English. What must the district do for the IEP team meeting?34 CFR 300.322 (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School) (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 013 (communicating and collaborating with students and families).
According to the ethical principles of the Council for Exceptional Children, what kind of expectations do special educators maintain for individuals with exceptionalities?Council for Exceptional Children, Ethical Principles and Practice Standards (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 015 (professional, ethical and legal responsibilities).
For a Michigan child from birth to age 3 with a disability, where is eligibility for special education services documented?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1862 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 013 (communicating and collaborating with students and families).
In a cooking unit one teacher runs a measuring table, the other a recipe-reading table and an aide a hand-washing table, while groups of students move from table to table. Which co-teaching model is this?Wikipedia, Co-teaching (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 014 (partnerships with school personnel and community organizations).
In a Michigan severe cognitive impairment program, who is responsible for the instructional program and coordinates the work of the aides?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1738 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 014 (partnerships with school personnel and community organizations).
Under the federal least restrictive environment rule, when may a student with a cognitive impairment be removed from regular classes?34 CFR 300.114 (Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School) (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 015 (professional, ethical and legal responsibilities).
Up to what age may a Michigan student who has not graduated from high school be a "student with a disability" under the state's rules?MARSE With Related IDEA Federal Regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), R 340.1702 (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 015 (professional, ethical and legal responsibilities).
Which practice does Michigan law prohibit for public school personnel under all circumstances, including emergency situations?Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 380.1307b (Michigan Legislature) (read 2026-10-13). Outline: MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115) test objectives, objective 015 (professional, ethical and legal responsibilities).
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the test objectives of the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) field 115, Cognitive Impairment, as the MTTC site prints them (https://www.mttc.nesinc.com/Content/STUDYGUIDE/MI_SG_obj_115.htm and the test page https://www.mttc.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/MI115_TestPage.html, read 2026-10-13): Understanding students with cognitive impairments, 13%; Assessing students and developing IEPs, IFSPs and transition plans, 20%; Promoting development and learning, 47%; Working in the professional environment, 20%; 100 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours 30 minutes of testing time, passing score 220. This bank holds 48 questions, spread 6, 10, 22, 10 over those subareas. Every fact was read on 2026-10-13 in the public page named under its question: the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education with the related federal regulations (Michigan Department of Education, May 2025), the Michigan Compiled Laws on the Michigan Legislature's site, Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations at the Legal Information Institute, the MI-Access page of the Michigan Department of Education, the UDL Guidelines of CAST, the Center on PBIS, the National Institute of Mental Health, MedlinePlus, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Wikipedia article named for each remaining question. 1 question rests on a case printed in the question and on the wording of the objective. Licence: Questions, passages, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
This MTTC cognitive impairment practice test covers field 115 with 48 questions of our own, many written from Michigan's special education rules. It is unofficial: the site has no tie to the Michigan Department of Education or to Pearson.
Read the full guide
MTTC CI test study guide: what field 115 covers
By the test objectives read October 13, 2026: understanding students with cognitive impairments 13%; assessment, IEPs, IFSPs and transition plans 20%; promoting development and learning 47%; the professional environment 20%. Fifteen objectives in all. This bank holds 6, 10, 22 and 10. Exam mode draws 40 for 60 minutes, the pace of the real test.
Michigan's own rules
Fourteen questions rest on Michigan sources: the 2 standard deviations and lowest 6 percentiles of R 340.1705, the 30 school days from consent to an offer, staffing of a severe cognitive impairment program, worksite visits every 30 calendar days, MI-Access, and the restraints the school code bans outright.
Nearly half the test is subarea III: seven objectives on the learning environment, instruction, communication, academics, social skills, daily living and behavior.
Objective 015 names the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education. Read its rules on eligibility, timelines and programs for cognitive impairment.
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the MTTC Cognitive Impairment test?
Its test page lists 100 multiple-choice questions on a computer: 2 hours 30 minutes of testing inside an appointment of 2 hours 45 minutes. The test may include questions that are being tried out and do not count toward the score.
What score passes MTTC Cognitive Impairment (115)?
220 or higher on a scale of 100 to 300. The Michigan Department of Education sets the passing score, and a number is reported only to those who do not pass.
Is the Cognitive Impairment test enough for the SA endorsement?
Not for initial certification. The test page says both the Cognitive Impairment test (115) and a Professional Knowledge and Skills test (117, 121, 135 or 136) are required. It sends questions about endorsements to the department or your preparation program.
Is there an MTTC CI test study guide?
Yes. The MTTC site has a four-section study guide for field 115 with the test objectives and sample multiple-choice questions, and registration gives access to an online practice test. The questions here repeat none of them.