Study Guide

Field 041: School Counselor
Sample Multiple-Choice Questions

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The following reference material will be available to you during the test:

Objective 0001
Human Development and the Learning Process (Standard 1)

1. A school counselor is planning a guidance lesson for seventh- and eighth-grade students. Which of the following instructional approaches would likely be most responsive to the developmental needs of students in this age range?

  1. small-group activities that involve active participation
  2. open-ended activities that encourage free exploration
  3. counselor-directed activities that are highly structured
  4. individual activities that encourage friendly competition
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of learning theories and research related to the learning process and their implications for instruction. Research has shown that instruction is most effective when it reflects the developmental needs and characteristics of the students being taught. Students in the middle school years tend to be highly social and need to feel personally connected to their peers and teachers. In addition, their increasing metacognitive capabilities predispose them to enjoy activities that are both challenging and engaging. Small-group activities that involve active participation are therefore especially appropriate for middle school students.

Objective 0001
Human Development and the Learning Process (Standard 1)

2. Lev Vygotsky's theory of human cognition and learning emphasizes which of the following concepts?

  1. the role of trial and error in learning
  2. learning as a conditioned response to external stimuli
  3. the role of social interaction in learning
  4. learning as a process that unfolds in a sequence of stages
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: C.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of theories of human development and characteristics and processes of cognitive development. Lev Vygotsky argued that receiving guidance and support from "more knowledgeable others" (e.g., adults, more capable peers) is critical to children's progression from their current levels of knowledge or understanding to higher levels of understanding. Social interaction is therefore a key element in Vygotsky's view of human cognitive growth and development.

Objective 0002
Theories and Practices in Education and School Counseling (Standard 2)

3. A school counseling department has been asked by the principal to implement a suicide prevention initiative at the school. Which of the following strategies would be most effective for the counselors to use in collaborating with teachers on this effort?

  1. encouraging teachers to make referrals to help identify the students most at risk of suicide
  2. meeting with teachers to plan how best to integrate the initiative into the existing school program
  3. training teachers to deliver a suicide prevention unit through classroom guidance lessons
  4. arranging for teachers to be responsible for publicizing the initiative throughout the school community
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of strategies for collaborating with stakeholders to ensure a safe and secure learning environment by developing and implementing school safety initiatives. One key guideline for the successful implementation of schoolwide programs is to seek input from stakeholders whose classes or schedules may be affected. By collaborating with teachers on decisions regarding when, where, and how the new program will be implemented, the counselors described in the scenario can help ensure that the new program will be implemented with a minimum of disruption and a maximum of support from stakeholders.

Objective 0003
The School Counseling and Guidance Program (Standard 3)

4. A school counselor wishes to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of a developmental guidance unit on discrimination and harassment. Which of the following strategies would be the best to use for such an evaluation?

  1. surveying the opinions of faculty and staff on whether such behaviors have decreased
  2. interviewing parents/guardians about types of behaviors being demonstrated by their children at home
  3. using a spreadsheet to track incident reports related to such behavior at school
  4. soliciting feedback from students who are participating in behavior-related counseling groups
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: C.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of strategies and methods for analyzing data to evaluate outcomes. Using a spreadsheet would be an especially effective strategy in the situation described because it would facilitate the collection and comparison of pre- and post-unit data. Analyzing such data would enable the counselor to assess both the progress that has been made and the current status of the problem, thus facilitating decision making on how best to proceed.

Objective 0003
The School Counseling and Guidance Program (Standard 3)

5. A school counselor wants to facilitate ongoing evaluation and feedback with regard to the counseling program's individual planning component. The most effective strategy for this purpose would be to:

  1. interview students with whom the counselor has conducted individual planning to discuss how the experience helped them and how it might be improved.
  2. maintain a chart of each student seen for individual planning, the amount of time spent with each student, and the primary issues and topics addressed.
  3. conduct periodic comparisons between the academic records of students who have been seen for individual planning and those of students who have not.
  4. ask the teachers of students who have received individual planning services to inform the counselor of any changes they notice in their students afterward.
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of strategies for continually evaluating school counseling services to assess their impact on students. In the area of individual planning, the counselor's best source of information on the effectiveness of services would be the students with whom the counselor has worked. Interviewing individual students about which services they found most or least helpful would assist the counselor in identifying areas of professional strength as well as in recognizing areas in need of further personal reflection and/or professional development.

Objective 0004
Individual Counseling, Small-Group Counseling, and Classroom Guidance (Standard 4)

6. After collecting referral data from teachers, an elementary school counselor concludes that it will be necessary to implement several small counseling groups focused on social skills. When selecting the members for each group, the counselor could best promote group effectiveness by:

  1. assembling groups of students whose members share similar backgrounds and values.
  2. creating groups whose members are already friends.
  3. establishing groups in which at least one member is a positive role model for other students.
  4. forming groups that have fewer than five members.
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: C.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of factors that affect group dynamics. An example of a positive role model in a counseling group would be a student who demonstrates constructive behaviors such as good listening skills, commitment to the group process and goals, and adherence to group rules. By ensuring that each of the proposed social-skills groups includes at least one student who is a positive role model, the counselor described in the scenario could help set the stage for effective group interactions.

Objective 0004
Individual Counseling, Small-Group Counseling, and Classroom Guidance (Standard 4)

7. In response to a large caseload, a school counselor decides to implement small-group counseling as an efficient way to meet students' needs. Which of the following steps would be best for the counselor to take first when implementing such counseling?

  1. obtaining informed consent from parents/guardians
  2. conducting a needs assessment to identify potential topics and participants
  3. developing goals and an action plan for the group
  4. publicizing the decision to administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, and students
Answer and Rationale
Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of strategies for implementing proactive prevention planning to support the healthy development of all students. Small-group counseling can be an effective and efficient way to meet the needs of students who are dealing with similar issues. Conducting a needs assessment will allow the counselor to determine issues of particular concern or prevalence at the school and identify which students are struggling with which specific issues. Once this information has been collected and analyzed, the counselor will be able to select the topics most important to address and the students to include in specific groups.

Objective 0005
Responsive Services and Crisis Counseling (Standard 5)

8. When meeting with the school counselor, a student reveals that she often feels faint and has been losing a significant amount of hair. During the session, the counselor observes that the student makes several negative comments about herself and her appearance and that she is wearing clothes that are noticeably too large. The student's disclosures and behaviors are most likely indicative of which of the following problems?

  1. drug or alcohol abuse
  2. a mood disorder
  3. physical abuse
  4. an eating disorder
Answer
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of indicators of mental health problems and at-risk behaviors. Research has shown that specific indicators or constellations of indicators are frequently associated with specific mental health problems. The indicators described—hair loss, negative self-talk about one's body and appearance, and wearing clothing that conceals the shape and size of the body—have all been found to be associated with eating disorders.

Objective 0005
Responsive Services and Crisis Counseling (Standard 5)

9. A teacher at an elementary school dies suddenly during the school year and the school counselor is notified. The counselor's initial action in this situation should be to:

  1. offer to help plan a memorial service for the teacher.
  2. assemble the school's crisis response team.
  3. schedule individual and group counseling for students.
  4. announce the school's cancellation for the rest of the week.
Answer
Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of methods, techniques, and protocols for crisis management, including strategies for collaborating with stakeholders to implement crisis-management plans. Every school must have a team of personnel trained and ready to assume specific responsibilities and follow established protocols in the event of a crisis. The sudden death of a teacher would constitute such a crisis, and the school counselor's initial action in such a situation should be to assemble the team immediately in order to set the planned response in motion.

Objective 0005
Responsive Services and Crisis Counseling (Standard 5)

10. A school counselor meets with a student who has shown signs of depression, including social withdrawal and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. At one point during the meeting, the student discloses having recurring thoughts about suicide. Which of the following would be the counselor's best response in this situation?

  1. pointing out to the student that suicide is an irreversible act
  2. arranging to conduct a series of individual counseling sessions, beginning the following day
  3. informing the student that the counselor must contact the student's family immediately
  4. asking the student questions to evaluate the degree of risk
Answer
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of intervention strategies for counseling students who exhibit at-risk behaviors or are facing other crisis situations. In situations such as the one described, in which a student discloses information that suggests a risk of suicide, the counselor should respond by assessing the degree of risk. Asking questions not only enables the counselor to collect information about the degree of risk (e.g., by determining whether the student has an actual plan and the means to carry it out) and to challenge irrational beliefs (e.g., about being better off dead), but it also gives the student the opportunity to talk openly about his or her thoughts and feelings.

Objective 0006
Career and Postsecondary Educational Guidance and Counseling (Standard 6)

11. A school counselor is planning a career development lesson focused on helping preteens expand their self-understanding. Which of the following types of assessments would likely be most effective to use in conjunction with this lesson?

  1. interest inventories
  2. achievement tests
  3. behavioral observations
  4. intelligence tests
Answer
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of strategies for helping students analyze their own strengths and needs and recognize their personal interests, preferences, values, talents, and skills. Interest inventories typically ask students to rate the attractiveness of various activities or types of activities. By meeting with individual students to review and discuss their responses, counselors can promote students' exploration of their personal interests and preferences. This process is a key component of career exploration activities for preteens.

Objective 0006
Career and Postsecondary Educational Guidance and Counseling (Standard 6)

12. A student with a physical disability is meeting with the school counselor to discuss postsecondary planning. The student is pessimistic about having a rewarding career and says that employers don't hire people with disabilities for anything but "boring jobs." Which of the following would be the counselor's best response?

  1. providing the student with examples of famous people with disabilities who have achieved success in various careers
  2. reminding the student that individuals with disabilities have employment rights that are guaranteed by federal and state law
  3. seeking out successfully employed individuals with similar disabilities who are willing to serve as mentors to the student
  4. pointing out that many individuals who start out in entry-level jobs achieve career success through persistence and hard work
Answer
Correct Response: C.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of diversity issues in education and career development. In the scenario, a student with a disability expresses the feeling that the disability will significantly limit the student's future options. A strategy that has proven highly effective under such circumstances is connecting students with people with similar disabilities who can be models of success. Such mentors can share their own experiences, offer advice and encouragement, and help build the confidence and morale of students with disabilities who are feeling discouraged about their future options.

Objective 0007
The Leadership Role of the School Counselor (Standard 7)

13. Data on course enrollment at a high school indicate that students from a particular demographic group have been significantly underrepresented in college preparatory courses over the past four years. The school counselor's best initial response would be to:

  1. develop in-service training for teachers on how to guide targeted students to enroll in advanced-level courses.
  2. schedule a parent night focused on how students' course selections can affect their prospects for postsecondary success.
  3. develop informational handouts for entering ninth graders that stress the idea that every student is capable of succeeding in college.
  4. schedule a meeting with the school principal to assess the scope of the problem and begin developing an action plan.
Answer
Correct Response: D.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of strategies for advocating for all students and modeling fairness and equitable treatment for all. When a school counselor sees that data for different student groups suggest inequities, the counselor must immediately initiate steps to address the situation. The first such step would be to meet with the school principal to raise and discuss the issue, analyze its scope, and develop a strategy for addressing it.

Objective 0007
The Leadership Role of the School Counselor (Standard 7)

14. A school counselor is reviewing a database of dropout rates for the school. The counselor sees that the school's ninth-grade dropout rate last year fell by 8 percent from the previous year. To obtain more precise information on school effectiveness, the counselor should take which of the following steps next?

  1. inspect different graphic representations of the data
  2. disaggregate the data by various student subgroups
  3. review similar data for other middle schools in the region
  4. extend the current trend to project next year's dropout rate
Answer
Correct Response: B.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the use of achievement-gap data to advocate for needed systemic change to promote educational equity and success for all students. While the overall data on the school's ninth-grade dropout rate represent a positive trend, the professional school counselor must investigate further. Disaggregating the data by student subgroups will allow the counselor to determine whether some demographic groups are performing better than others in this regard. If an analysis of disaggregated data reveals that such is the case, the school counselor must take the lead in advocating for institutional change to promote equity and success for all students.

Objective 0008
Professional, Legal, and Ethical Standards and Issues in School Counseling (Standard 8)

15. During a meeting with a school counselor, a student confides that she is pregnant and asks for information on obtaining an abortion. The counselor has a strong moral objection to abortion and is hesitant to provide the requested information. Under these circumstances, the counselor has an ethical responsibility to:

  1. refer the student to another counselor at the school.
  2. explain that many people believe abortion to be wrong.
  3. suggest that the student consider alternative options.
  4. probe the student's level of commitment to her decision.
Answer
Correct Response: A.
This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of the ethical responsibilities of working with all students in a school setting. In situations in which a school counselor's personal beliefs or values threaten to interfere with the counselor's ability to provide services impartially, the counselor is ethically obligated to refer the student to another counselor who can address the student's needs in a professional manner.