PECT Practice Test

Unofficial practice for the Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests: a PreK–4 set and both Special Education modules.

PreK–4 here is one question for each objective. The full test, module by module: PECT PreK-4 practice test.

What does 22 Pa. Code § 4.21 say the opportunities a district gives children in the primary program must reflect?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

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Exam mode: 14 questions, no time limit.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Pennsylvania Department of Education or Pearson. Bank checked October 11, 2026.

Next step More PreK–4: Module 1 setMore special education law: Praxis 5354

PreK–4: all 14 questions

Module 1: development and practice 5

  • For how many years of teaching is a Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate valid before it must be converted to Instructional II? 22 Pa. Code § 49.82(a), Instructional I. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0005
  • The IES guide on reducing behavior problems in the elementary classroom tells teachers to draw on which relationships for continued guidance and support? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom, Recommendation 4. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0004
  • What does 22 Pa. Code § 4.21 say the opportunities a district gives children in the primary program must reflect? 22 Pa. Code § 4.21(a), Elementary education: primary and intermediate levels. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0001
Show all 14 questions (11 more)

Module 1: development and practice, continued

  • What does 22 Pa. Code § 4.52 say a school entity's local assessment system must be designed to include? 22 Pa. Code § 4.52(c), Local assessment system. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0002
  • Where are the accommodations that a student with a disability needs on state and districtwide assessments written down, under 34 CFR 300.320? 34 CFR 300.320(a)(6), Definition of individualized education program. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0003

Module 2: literacy, social studies, arts 6

  • For students in kindergarten, how much time each day does the IES elementary writing guide say should go to writing and developing writing skills? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers, Recommendation 1. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0009
  • In Pennsylvania arts standard 9.1.3.A, balance, contrast, emphasis and repetition are listed as what? 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4, Appendix D, Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities, standard 9.1.3.A. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0011
  • Put Reading First reports greater gains in reading and spelling when phonemic awareness instruction focuses on how many types of phoneme manipulation? National Institute for Literacy, Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read (third edition, on the NICHD website), Phonemic awareness instruction. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0007
  • What does the IES foundational reading guide say each student should do every day to support reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade, Recommendation 4. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0008
  • When does 22 Pa. Code § 4.21 say literacy skills such as phonemic awareness, fluency and vocabulary will begin? 22 Pa. Code § 4.21(b), Elementary education: primary and intermediate levels. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0006
  • Which term do Pennsylvania's civics and government standards define as the principle that every member of a society, even a ruler, must follow the law? 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4, Appendix C, Academic Standards for Civics and Government, glossary. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0010

Module 3: math, science, health 3

  • Children travel across the gym in straight, curved and zigzag lines. Which movement concept from the glossary of Pennsylvania's physical education standards are they exploring? 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4, Appendix D, Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education, glossary. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0014
  • Pennsylvania's grade 1 science standards ask children to plan and conduct investigations that give evidence that what can make sound? 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4, Appendix B-1, Pennsylvania Integrated Standards for Science, Environment, Ecology, Technology and Engineering (Grades K–5), Grade 1, Physical Science. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0013
  • Within what number do the Pennsylvania Core Standards ask kindergartners to use place value to compose and decompose numbers? 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4, Appendix A-2, Pennsylvania Core Standards for Mathematics, standard CC.2.1.K.B.1. Written to the PECT PreK–4 test, objective 0012

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the 14 objectives of the PECT PreK–4 test in the test design and test objectives of the PECT study guide on the Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests website, https://www.pa.nesinc.com/CONTENT/HTML_FRAG/STUDYGUIDE/Study_Guide_006007008_obj.htm (copyright 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.), read 2026-10-11: one question for each objective, five on Module 1, six on Module 2 and three on Module 3. None repeats a question of this site's PECT PreK-4 practice test. Every fact was read on the public page named under its question: 22 Pa. Code Chapters 4 and 49 and the standards in the appendices of Chapter 4, 34 CFR 300.320, practice guides of the Institute of Education Sciences and Put Reading First. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

Special Education Module 1: all 18 questions

Foundations and professional practice 6

  • A toddler served under Part C of the IDEA will take part in preschool special education. By when must an IEP, or an IFSP where allowed, be developed and being implemented under 34 CFR 300.124? 34 CFR 300.124(b), Transition of children from the Part C program to preschool programs. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0002
  • Before a school proposes or refuses to change a child's identification, evaluation or educational placement, what must it give the parents under 34 CFR 300.503? 34 CFR 300.503(a), Prior notice by the public agency; content of notice. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0001
  • From what age must a Pennsylvania student's IEP include a transition plan with measurable postsecondary goals? 22 Pa. Code § 14.131(a)(5), IEP. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0002
Show all 18 questions (15 more)

Foundations and professional practice, continued

  • How many hours of staff development related to their assignment must an instructional paraprofessional in Pennsylvania show evidence of each school year? 22 Pa. Code § 14.105(a), Personnel. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0002
  • Under 22 Pa. Code § 14.145, may a student be removed from a regular education classroom solely because educating the student there would cost more? 22 Pa. Code § 14.145(4), Least restrictive environment requirements. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0001
  • Which federal court case, settled by a consent decree in 1972, made Pennsylvania responsible for a free public education for children with intellectual disabilities? Wikipedia, PARC v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Ruling. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0001

Understanding students with disabilities 6

  • For a child who is blind or visually impaired, what must the IEP team provide for unless it determines, after an evaluation, that it is not appropriate? 34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(iii), Development, review, and revision of IEP. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0004
  • In 22 Pa. Code § 14.101, one test of developmental delay for a child from age 3 to the age of beginners is a delay of what share of chronological age in one or more developmental areas? 22 Pa. Code § 14.101, Definitions, Developmental delay. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0003
  • In the IDEA definition of autism at 34 CFR 300.8, the disability is generally evident before what age? 34 CFR 300.8(c)(1), Child with a disability. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0003
  • In the IDEA definition of related services at 34 CFR 300.34, for what purposes are a physician's medical services included? 34 CFR 300.34, Related services. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0004
  • Under 22 Pa. Code § 14.123, which professional must be in the group that decides whether a child evaluated for a specific learning disability is a child with a disability? 22 Pa. Code § 14.123(a), Evaluation. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0003
  • Under 34 CFR 300.322, what must a school do so that parents who are deaf, or whose native language is other than English, understand the proceedings of the IEP meeting? 34 CFR 300.322(e), Parent participation. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0004

Assessment and program planning 6

  • After a Pennsylvania school entity receives written parental consent, how long does it have to complete an initial evaluation and present the report to the parents? 22 Pa. Code § 14.123(b), Evaluation. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0005
  • How often must a Pennsylvania student who is identified as having an intellectual disability be reevaluated? 22 Pa. Code § 14.124(c), Reevaluation. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0005
  • How soon must a Pennsylvania student's IEP be implemented after it is completed? 22 Pa. Code § 14.131(a)(6), IEP. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0006
  • In Pennsylvania's standards for extended school year (ESY) services, what is 'recoupment'? 22 Pa. Code § 14.132(a)(2), ESY. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0006
  • Under 22 Pa. Code § 14.131, which setting must an IEP team consider first when it determines a student's educational placement? 22 Pa. Code § 14.131(a)(1), IEP. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0006
  • Under 34 CFR 300.304, in what language or form must assessments be provided and administered to a child who is being evaluated? 34 CFR 300.304(c)(1)(ii), Evaluation procedures. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 1, objective 0005

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to Module 1 of the PECT Special Education PreK–8 test in the test design and test objectives of the PECT study guide on the Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests website, https://www.pa.nesinc.com/CONTENT/HTML_FRAG/STUDYGUIDE/Study_Guide_011012_obj.htm (copyright 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.), read 2026-10-11; the Special Education 7–12 test (https://www.pa.nesinc.com/CONTENT/HTML_FRAG/STUDYGUIDE/Study_Guide_015016_obj.htm, read the same day) has the same subareas and percentages: 41 selected-response items in 60 minutes; Foundations and Professional Practice (objectives 0001 and 0002), Understanding Students with Disabilities (0003 and 0004) and Assessment and Program Planning and Implementation (0005 and 0006), about 33 percent each. This set holds 18: three for each objective. Every fact was read on the public page named under its question: Pennsylvania's special education rules at 22 Pa. Code Chapter 14, the federal regulations at 34 CFR Part 300 and one Wikipedia article. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

Special Education Module 2: all 18 questions

Inclusive learning environments 9

  • A preschool child in Pennsylvania early intervention is within 1 year of moving to a school-age program. What must the child's IEP contain under 22 Pa. Code § 14.154? 22 Pa. Code § 14.154(e), IEP (early intervention). Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0009
  • A student who is learning English chats easily at recess but struggles with the language of textbooks. In Jim Cummins's terms, which proficiency is still developing? Wikipedia, Cognitive academic language proficiency, lead. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0008
  • According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, what is the simplest augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device? National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Assistive Devices for People with Hearing, Voice, Speech, or Language Disorders. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0008
Show all 18 questions (15 more)

Inclusive learning environments, continued

  • For a child with limited English proficiency, what must the IEP team consider under 34 CFR 300.324? 34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(ii), Development, review, and revision of IEP. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0008
  • The IES guide on reducing behavior problems in the elementary classroom says to identify the specifics of a problem behavior and what else? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom, Recommendation 1. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0007
  • On what must behavior support programs and plans be based under 22 Pa. Code § 14.133? 22 Pa. Code § 14.133(a), Positive behavior support. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0007
  • Under 22 Pa. Code § 14.132, which of these is a factor an IEP team weighs when it decides whether a student needs extended school year (ESY) services? 22 Pa. Code § 14.132(a) and (c), ESY. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0009
  • Which of these does 22 Pa. Code § 14.133 prohibit outright in educational programs? 22 Pa. Code § 14.133(b) and (c)(3), Positive behavior support. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0007
  • Which Pennsylvania type of support serves students who need services primarily in the academic, functional or vocational skills necessary for independent living? 22 Pa. Code § 14.131(a)(1), IEP, types of support. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0009

Specially designed instruction 9

  • According to Put Reading First, when does systematic phonics instruction produce the greatest impact on children's reading achievement? National Institute for Literacy, Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read (third edition, on the NICHD website), Phonics instruction. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0010
  • According to the IES response to intervention guide for mathematics, instruction during an intervention should be explicit and what else? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Response to Intervention for Elementary and Middle Schools, Recommendation 3. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0012
  • For students receiving mathematics interventions in kindergarten through grade 5, on what does the IES response to intervention guide say materials should focus intensely? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Response to Intervention for Elementary and Middle Schools, Recommendation 2. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0012
  • How does the IES foundational reading guide say to introduce non-decodable words that are essential to the meaning of a text? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade, Recommendation 3. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0010
  • The IES elementary writing guide recommends that students become fluent with handwriting, spelling, sentence construction, and which other skills? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers, Recommendation 3. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0011
  • In the IES foundational reading guide, how do students use Elkonin sound boxes? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade, Recommendation 2, Example 2.3. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0010
  • On what does the IES response to intervention guide for mathematics say instruction in solving word problems should be based? Institute of Education Sciences, practice guide Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Response to Intervention for Elementary and Middle Schools, Recommendation 4. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0012
  • Put Reading First names three word-learning strategies to teach directly. Which of these is one of them? National Institute for Literacy, Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read (third edition, on the NICHD website), Vocabulary instruction. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0011
  • Readers who know when they understand a text and when they do not, and who have strategies to 'fix up' problems, are doing what, in the words of Put Reading First? National Institute for Literacy, Put Reading First: The Research Building Blocks for Teaching Children to Read (third edition, on the NICHD website), Text comprehension instruction. Written to PECT Special Education PreK–8 Module 2, objective 0011

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to Module 2 of the PECT Special Education PreK–8 test in the test design and test objectives of the PECT study guide on the Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests website, https://www.pa.nesinc.com/CONTENT/HTML_FRAG/STUDYGUIDE/Study_Guide_011012_obj.htm (copyright 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.), read 2026-10-11; the Special Education 7–12 test (https://www.pa.nesinc.com/CONTENT/HTML_FRAG/STUDYGUIDE/Study_Guide_015016_obj.htm, read the same day) has the same subareas and percentages: 41 selected-response items in 60 minutes; Inclusive Learning Environments (objectives 0007 to 0009) and Delivery of Specially Designed Instruction (0010 to 0012), about 50 percent each. This set holds 18: three for each objective. Every fact was read on the public page named under its question: 22 Pa. Code Chapter 14, the federal regulations at 34 CFR Part 300, practice guides of the Institute of Education Sciences, Put Reading First, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and one Wikipedia article. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

This free PECT practice test has a short PreK–4 set and a set for each Special Education module. It is unofficial and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education or Pearson.

Read the full guide

Three sets

PreK–4 asks one question for each of that test's 14 objectives. Special Education Module 1 and Module 2 ask 18 each, three for every objective of the PreK–8 test; the 7–12 test has the same subareas and percentages. Exam mode gives a module set 26 minutes, the pace of the real 41 questions in 60.

Where the facts come from

Pennsylvania's special education rules in 22 Pa. Code Chapter 14, the federal IDEA regulations in 34 CFR Part 300, the standards in Chapter 4, practice guides of the Institute of Education Sciences, Put Reading First and two named Wikipedia articles. The page read is linked under each question.

  • PreK–4 has three modules and each Special Education test has two. Every module must be passed.
  • Pennsylvania puts a transition plan in the IEP from age 14. The federal rule starts with the IEP in effect at 16.

Questions and answers

Is this PECT practice test free?

Yes. All 50 questions and their explanations are free online, with no sign-up. They are our own: none is taken or reworded from the real tests or their sample questions, and no score is predicted.

What is the PECT test?

The Pennsylvania Educator Certification Tests, first given in April 2012. The program's site lists PreK–4, Special Education PreK–8 and Special Education 7–12, beside the PAPA basic skills assessment. Each test is split into modules.

How many questions are on the PECT?

PreK–4 has 36, 45 and 45 selected-response items in its three modules. Special Education PreK–8 and 7–12 each have 41 in each of two modules, with 60 minutes a module, according to the test pages read October 11, 2026.

What is the passing score for the PECT?

A scaled score of 220 on each Special Education module. PreK–4 asks 197 on Module 1 and 193 on Modules 2 and 3. Scaled scores are not percents, so this page gives your number right and no pass verdict.

Is there a PECT special education practice test?

Yes, on this page. Module 1 covers foundations and professional practice, understanding students with disabilities, and assessment and program planning. Module 2 covers inclusive learning environments and the delivery of specially designed instruction.

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