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Section 4: Sample Selected-Response Questions
Physical Education EC–12 (258)

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This section presents some sample exam questions for you to review as part of your preparation for the exam. To demonstrate how each competency may be assessed, sample questions are accompanied by the competency that they measure. While studying, you may wish to read the competency before and after you consider each sample question. Please note that the competency statements do not appear on the actual exam.

The sample questions are included to illustrate the formats and types of questions you will see on the exam; however, your performance on the sample questions should not be viewed as a predictor of your performance on the actual exam.

Selected-Response Questions with Rationales

Each sample exam question here includes the correct answer and a rationale for each answer option.

Domain I—Movement Knowledge and Skills

Competency 001—(Motor Development and Motor Learning): Apply knowledge of principles and characteristics of motor development and motor learning.

1. Read the description below of "plenty of perfect practice"; then answer the question that follows.

Ideal practice in physical education skills is realized when student learning experiences can be described as follows:

  • pertinent
  • purposeful
  • progressive
  • paced
  • participatory

Which of the following statements best describes the conditions that must be met for students' practice to be purposeful?

  1. Students keep on task as much as possible in a manner that is aligned to the learning goals.
  2. Students are self-directed in the way they approach and complete physical activities.
  3. Students demonstrate mastery of both the cognitive and psychomotor skills needed for success.
  4. Students work with peers to develop and master skills in a logical, sequential way.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because purposeful practice in physical education refers to students remaining on task during developmentally appropriate and progressive skills instruction aligned with learning goals. In the context of "plenty of perfect practice," purposeful practice also means students engage in a lot of practice on skills and learning goals. Option B is incorrect because, while self-direction suggests purpose, whether students are self-directed or guided by a teacher or coach, they may or may not practice with purpose. Option C is incorrect because it is a result of practice, not a purposeful approach to practice. Option D is incorrect because, like option B, whether students work with peers, are self-directed, or guided by a teacher or coach, they may or may not practice with purpose, and working with peers could actually be distracting for some students.

Competency 002—(Movement Concepts and Biomechanics): Apply knowledge of biomechanical and movement concepts, principles, and practices for developing, combining, and integrating motor skills.

2. Which of the following activities would be most appropriate for teaching students the concept of coefficient of restitution?

  1. dropping different kinds of balls from the same height and measuring how high they rebound
  2. shining a laser light through clear jars or glasses that contain different kinds of liquids
  3. comparing how far one can throw a ball with how far one can hit a ball with a bat
  4. sliding an object at the same speed across different types of surfaces and measuring how far it travels
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because the coefficient of restitution refers to the ratio of the final speed to initial speed of two objects after they collide. In this case, the two objects are the balls and the ground or floor. The speed of the balls determines how high they will bounce after collision. Option B is incorrect because coefficient of restitution refers to two bodies or objects colliding, and a laser light is not a body or an object because it has no mass. Option C is incorrect because, while the speed and distance traveled of a ball after colliding with a bat would demonstrate the coefficient of restitution, a comparison of a thrown ball to a batted ball does not constitute two objects colliding. Option D is incorrect because it does not include two bodies or objects colliding.

Competency 003—(Movement Activities and Sports): Apply knowledge of techniques, skills, activities, rules, and safety practices for a variety of sports, games, and activities.

3. Many invasion games (e.g., ultimate, basketball, field hockey) share common tactical strategies. Which of the following tactical skills is an important defensive strategy to teach students in lead-up activities because of its transferability to many invasion games?

  1. passing a ball or object to a spot where an opponent cannot easily make a play
  2. positioning and repositioning to reduce or close up open space
  3. moving and creating open spaces and pathways
  4. sending a ball or object to the opposition so forcefully that they cannot return it
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because reducing and closing up space is a key defensive strategy in invasion sports, even in small-sided lead-up activities. Reducing or closing up space on defense makes it difficult for the other team to find openings and space to advance the ball or object. Option A is incorrect because, while passing a ball or object to a spot where an opponent cannot easily make a play might relieve pressure during a sustained offensive effort, such pressure is not likely to occur in lead-up activities. Option C is incorrect because when playing defense in invasion games, a main strategy is to close up open space, not create open space or pathways. Option D is incorrect because typically a key strategy is to keep the ball or object away from the opposition, not send the ball or object toward the opposition in the hope they cannot return it.

4. A student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a cognitive disability can gallop well but struggles with skipping with peers during a game of tag. Which of the following approaches by the physical education teacher would be most appropriate for promoting the success of this student?

  1. reinforcing to the student that this activity only works when everyone in the class skips
  2. pausing the activity and reteaching the techniques for skipping
  3. ensuring that instructional approaches are consistent with the student's accommodations
  4. enlisting peer tutors to work with the student on skipping
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because the teacher is obligated to ensure that their teaching aligns with the accommodations and learning goals specified in the student's IEP. Implementation of accommodations with fidelity will ensure equitable access to the classroom environment and lead to increased self-esteem for the student as well as engagement within the lesson. Option A is incorrect because communicating that the activity only works when everyone participates would place undue pressure on the student and it is also inaccurate—the activity would work even if the full class did not participate. Option B is incorrect because the student might have significant issues in understanding and executing skipping, and simply reteaching the skipping techniques is likely to be ineffective. Option D is incorrect because peer tutors are unlikely to help the student learn skipping quickly, and the student and peers may become frustrated in such situations.

Domain II—Health-Related Fitness

Competency 004—(Principles of Personal Fitness and Conditioning): Demonstrate understanding of the structures and functions of body systems and the components, benefits, and principles of personal fitness, physical conditioning, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

5. Sixth-grade students are developing goals as part of a personal fitness plan. Students have identified one or more physical activities that they will participate in as part of their plans. One student identifies basketball as the activity the student will participate in and sets the following goal.

At the end of six weeks, I will improve my jump shots, free throws, and layup shots to 90 percent accuracy.

Which of the following strategies by the physical education teacher would be most effective in helping the student achieve the identified goal?

  1. meeting weekly with the student to discuss overall progress and changes needed in their approach
  2. helping the student in identifying a reasonable overall timeline and incremental short-term benchmarks
  3. providing the student with a chart or graph for monitoring progress in mastering each type of shot
  4. encouraging the student to focus initially on achieving mastery with one type of shot
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because in the scenario, the teacher helps the student establish a plan to follow that includes a reasonable timeline and incremental short-term benchmarks, which aid in maintaining motivation and commitment. Creating short-term benchmarks, or "mini milestones," is important to ensure the student stays organized and focused. With a reasonable timeline, the student is likely to gain confidence from achievable steps. Option A is incorrect because the student likely needs guidance in creating a plan to achieve the goal before practicing the activities. Option C is incorrect because, while providing the student with progress-tracking materials might be helpful, it would be only one component of the plan, and also takes some of the planning out of the student's hands. Option D is incorrect because, while focusing on mastery of one shot initially might help the student, it may not: the student might benefit from a plan that recognizes the relative similarities between jump shots and free throws in a combined activity or activities.

6. Which of the following strategies by a physical education teacher is likely to be most effective in encouraging students' regular participation in physical activities both in and out of school?

  1. offering students general feedback on various aspects of their performance
  2. engaging students in tasks that are just beyond their skill levels to promote perseverance
  3. modeling specific skills for students at key points in the learning process
  4. providing students with choices that promote their autonomy and self-determination
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because it provides the students with agency and autonomy to make their own decisions and to set their own goals, a mindset that is likely to lead to the students' enjoyment of physical activity, which in turn may encourage the students to participate regularly in physical activities in and out of school and may lead students to pursue lifelong physical activity. Option A is incorrect because, while offering students feedback on various aspects of their performance might help them improve aspects of performance, it is not likely to encourage students to participate in physical education inside and outside of school. The approach does not lend itself to the kind of agency students need to pursue physical education activities outside of school and develop lifelong interest in health and fitness. Option B is incorrect because, while engaging students in this way might promote perseverance, it is not likely to promote a desire to participate in physical activity outside of school. Option C is incorrect because, while it would be helpful in teaching students specific skills, it is not likely to encourage participation in physical activities in and out of school.

Competency 005—(Development of Health-Related Fitness): Apply knowledge of principles, procedures, and activities for developing and maintaining health-related fitness.

7. A physical education teacher has a mixed class of 35 that includes students in grades 9–12. Four of the students have special needs and seven have 504 plans because of obesity. One of the teacher's goals for the class is to improve students' levels of cardiovascular fitness. Which of the following approaches to planning lessons would be the most appropriate for this class?

  1. employing a basic walk/run program that all students can participate in successfully
  2. establishing a calendar of aerobic activities with a different activity for each day of the week
  3. creating leveled workout plans with a variety of aerobic activities that students can choose from
  4. choosing for the entire class activities that are appropriate for the students with disabilities
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because regardless of the makeup of a class, creating leveled plans with a variety of activities for students to choose from is best practice that should be present in all classrooms—all students should have a safe and accessible learning environment in which to take risks and enjoy themselves. Following such best practice includes students with special needs or 504 plans, who will be able to participate and learn no matter what their performance or fitness level is. Option A is incorrect because calibrating an activity or program so that all students will succeed in it most likely means that the expectations of success and the suspected outcomes of the activity or the program will be lower than many students need, which will result in slowing their overall learning and progress. Option B is incorrect because, while offering an array of activities will be helpful for students, unless the activities are designed for all students, including those with special needs and those with 504 plans, a variety of activity options in itself will not be equitable. Option D is incorrect because it is not equitable. Students in the class without special needs or 504 plans will likely be unchallenged by activities that are calibrated for students with disabilities.

8. Use the illustration of an unsafe stretching exercise below to answer the question that follows.

person stretching

The image is of a person from the perspective of a side view. The person wears a t shirt and shorts. The person is in bare feet. The person is bent at the waist. Their legs are straight. Their arms are stretched straight down and they touch their toes with their fingertips.

The stretching exercise shown is considered unsafe and contraindicated primarily because it:

  1. places an undue stress on the tissues of the lumbar spine.
  2. hyperextends the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint.
  3. produces lateral and rotational forces on the knees.
  4. compresses the abdominal muscles and tendons.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because touching toes in the position conveyed in the image stresses the lumbar spine and over-stretches lower back ligaments. Option B is incorrect because the shoulder joint is not receiving much stress in this position. Option C is incorrect because the knees are not subject to lateral and rotational forces in this position. They are primarily static. Option D is incorrect because, while some compression of the abdomen happens in this position, it is not enough to be unsafe.

Competency 006—(Health and Wellness): Demonstrate understanding of health and wellness concepts, including those related to nutrition, weight management, stress management, and social and emotional health and well-being, and analyze ways in which personal behaviors influence health and wellness.

9. Which of the following activities would best help middle school and high school students develop the skills necessary to resist unrealistic expectations to conform to the idealized body types and standards of beauty that appear in popular media?

  1. locating body images that project similar messages through different types of media
  2. researching different types of body composition and comparing the results to media images
  3. investigating U.S. financial investments in media advertisements and the revenue that U.S. advertising generates
  4. researching actual physical characteristics of teens and comparing them with celebrities, models, and athletes
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because the students would learn in their research that there are a wide variety of body types and popular media generally depicts a very narrow range of idealized types. They could then apply this knowledge to help them begin the first step towards the process of gaining more body positivity and acceptance, and provide students with a more critical lens to evaluate popular media moving forward. Option A is incorrect because, while this approach would result in a better understanding of media, it would likely result in the students seeing idealized body types. Option C is incorrect because, while it would likely result in greater understanding of why popular media depicts primarily idealized body types, it would do little to help the students resist conforming to unrealistic body composition expectations. Option D is incorrect because the problem of unrealistic expectations to conform to idealized body types is age wide and not particular to teens.

10. A high school physical education teacher provides students with instruction on how to evaluate online health information. The teacher asks students to consider the following questions.

What are the credentials of the publisher of the information?
Who is the intended audience for the information?
Is the information current?
Do other sources corroborate the information?

Which of the following additional questions is most important to consider in the evaluation of online health information?

  1. Does the source for the information incorporate advertisements?
  2. Is the information free of misspellings and other mechanical errors?
  3. Does the source for the information provide a bibliography?
  4. Is the information presented based on scientific evidence?
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because a health information Web site should above all provide scientifically accurate, evidence-based information, without which it is not credible and should be avoided. Option A is incorrect because the inclusion of advertising in itself does not necessarily make a source unreliable. There may be health information online that includes an advertisement that still contains factual information, and the primary sources should be evaluated for their credibility. Option B is incorrect because, while sloppy writing can indicate a lack of seriousness and professionalism, a small number of misspellings or other errors does not mean that a source is unreliable. Option C is incorrect because, while a bibliography can be a helpful reference for the viewer or reader, its inclusion does not guarantee that the associated online health-related content is accurate. Bibliographies can list sources and references that draw on incorrect or non-scientifically based information.

Domain III—The Physical Education Program

Competency 007—(Instruction and Assessment in Physical Education): Apply principles of effective, developmentally appropriate instruction and assessment to prepare students who are physically educated and physically literate.

11. Which of the following instructional practices is likely to be most effective for encouraging students who need help developing positive social skills and inclusive behaviors in physical activity settings?

  1. asking students to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of individual, dual, and team sports and state which type they prefer and why
  2. assigning small groups of students to research games and sports that are shared by various nationalities and cultures
  3. having students keep an activity journal for one week in which they reflect on time spent participating with others in physical activities outside of school
  4. using closure activities at the end of classes in which students identify and discuss contributions that classmates make in group activities
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because it encourages students to focus on positive aspects of their peers on a regular basis, which is likely to enhance their social skills and inclusive behaviors. With intentional planning to provide a structure with positive expectations for this activity, and when students are explicitly taught that this activity is tied to specific skill building, this activity would provide students with an opportunity to practice. Option A is incorrect because a student discussion about sports will not contribute directly to the social and emotional wellness of most or all students, or foster inclusivity. Option B is incorrect because, while knowledge of world sports can help broaden student understanding and perhaps encourage inclusivity, it likely will have little effect on student development of social skills. Option C is incorrect because, while keeping a journal of physical activities outside of school may enhance student self-reflection, positivity, and inclusivity, it would not have as big an impact in these areas as option D.

12. In a first-grade physical education class, the teacher has set up the following activity stations designed to promote students' fundamental movement skills.

  • At Activity Station 1, students try to bound up from a mat onto a pile of thick mats. Then students slide down or jump off the pile of mats to the mat below.
  • At Activity Station 2, a zigzag course marked by poly spots and cones includes several boxes and benches. Students move through the course, staying within the boundaries of the cones and navigating over, under, or around the boxes and benches.
  • At Activity Station 3, twelve pairs of hoops are placed side by side in a ladder-type formation on the floor. Students move through the hoop course, stepping left foot in the left hoops and right foot in the right hoops.

Which of the following TEKS-related objectives do these station activities address most directly?

  1. The student is expected to practice proper foot balance while hopping, galloping, running, sliding, and skipping.
  2. The student is expected to travel over, under, around, and through using a variety of pathways, shapes, and levels.
  3. The student is expected to follow teacher instructions to improve performance for motor development skills.
  4. The student is expected to demonstrate bending, stretching, twisting, curling, and swaying while maintaining balance.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because the activity stations described in the scenario comprise movements over, under, around, and through objects using a variety of motor skills. In this way, students explore the important movement concepts of pathways, shapes, and levels. Option A is incorrect because the objective described primarily addresses using proper footwork and maintaining balance while performing locomotor skills. Option C is incorrect because, while following instructions is important, the scenario emphasizes movement skills, not classroom attentiveness or behavior. Option D is incorrect because the objective described focuses specifically on nonlocomotor movements and the movements described in the scenario are primarily locomotor.

13. Students in a fourth-grade physical education class demonstrate a range of readiness levels with regard to basketball skills. The physical education teacher decides to develop tiered activities for the upcoming basketball unit. For example, with regard to manipulative skills, students may demonstrate their learning by dribbling the basketball while stationary, in straight-line forward motion, weaving through a series of cones, and mirroring the motion of a peer who is also dribbling. Which of the following statements provides the best rationale for the teacher's approach?

  1. Differentiation of learning tasks facilitates students' full participation in and success in physical activities.
  2. Variation of skill levels in learning tasks promotes students' interest during instruction.
  3. Teachers will be able to accurately assess proficiency levels when students perform multiple forms of the same task.
  4. Students will be able to master multiple physical education objectives in each period of instruction.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because differentiation of instruction helps to ensure that all students can actively participate and learn. With individualized support facilitated by tiered or differentiated instruction, all students are more likely to participate in activities that are appropriately leveled and support their skill progression and growth, which is likely to lead to lifelong learning for all students. Option B is incorrect because, while allowing for a variety of skill levels would likely promote interest in most students, differentiating instruction supports learning for all students. Option C is incorrect because students who are allowed to choose among tiered instructional activities may not necessarily perform them all, which would not allow a teacher to accurately assess a student's proficiency level. Option D is incorrect because the purpose of a tiered approach is to emphasize mastery of a single skill over time, and this answer choice focuses on mastery at each period of instruction rather than the process of developing mastery of skill for all students regardless of entry point.

Competency 008—(Learning Environments): Demonstrate understanding of factors relevant to learning and performance in physical education and of how to create learning environments and opportunities that promote students' development in various domains (e.g., cognitive, social, emotional).

14. An elementary school physical education teacher continuously scans and moves around the classroom as students engage in activities. Which of the following best describes an important benefit of this classroom management approach?

  1. Maintaining close proximity allows the teacher to provide positive reinforcement to students who are on task and encourages students who are off task to do what is asked.
  2. Seeking behavior that is detrimental to the learning environment allows the teacher to remove students who are engaging in disruptive behavior.
  3. Students will begin to recognize that the teacher is watching them at all times and will modify their behavior and actions accordingly.
  4. The strategy allows the teacher to enforce consequences for violating class rules and provides a strong step for encouraging students to take responsibility for their own actions.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because the teacher takes an active role in classroom management and can address the needs of the class holistically as well as individually by providing feedback to each student. Option B is incorrect because the focus is on removing disruptive students and not the whole class. This answer choice does not highlight positive behavior supports as a classroom management tool. Option C is incorrect because it suggests the student response to this approach is geared more toward discipline than learning. A focus on discipline is not an effective classroom management strategy. Option D is incorrect because students would likely respond to the teacher strategy out of concern about consequences rather than an interest and focus on learning. A best practice for classroom management would involve setting and holding high expectations for all students.

15. Which of the following statements best describes how student development can be positively enhanced by outdoor adventure-based program activities in which students encounter both physical and psychological challenges?

  1. Students learn to take personal responsibility and to share responsibility for their actions in new and challenging situations.
  2. Students expand their understanding of the need to follow directions and enforce consequences within the context of physically demanding activities.
  3. Students acquire self-confidence and learn to rely on and collaborate with others as they confront risks in supportive but challenging environments.
  4. Students are provided with opportunities to evaluate and compare their own abilities to peers' abilities in the context of unfamiliar activities.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because the combination of self-confidence and trust in others during challenging situations significantly enhances student development in a positive way. Option A is incorrect because, while taking responsibility for one's actions is an example of positive student development, sharing responsibility for one's actions is not. Option B is incorrect because, while following directions and enforcing consequences are important, they are not the most valuable outcomes of the response options provided. Option D is incorrect because, while a certain amount of measuring one's abilities can help student development, it is not the most important aspect of student development via outdoor adventure-based activities.

16. At the beginning of the school year, an upper elementary school physical education teacher notes that minor conflicts between students (e.g., tattling, bumping into one another) often occur. Once students have become familiar with class rules and routines, the teacher introduces students to the steps below for managing interpersonal conflicts. The teacher sets up one corner of the gym for students to use for conflict resolution and posts the steps there.

  1. Calm down (breathe, count to ten).
  2. Take turns.
  3. Explain the problem. Tell how you feel.
  4. Discuss and resolve it.
  5. Acknowledge it (bump fists or elbows, write it down).

Which of the following additional activities would be most effective to carry out with students to prepare them for steps 3 and 4?

  1. dividing students into teams and guiding them in civil debate of a physical education-related issue
  2. providing examples of how emotions and reactions can turn a verbal conflict into a physical conflict
  3. engaging students in role-playing "I statements" and active listening techniques in physical education situations
  4. assigning students who usually do not socialize with each other to pair up and work together on skill development
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because "I statements," as opposed to "You statements," are not confrontational. They express the feelings of the speaker rather than focus on the actions or behaviors of the listener. Active listening is also an important component of steps 3 and 4 because both sides in a conflict need to try to understand each other. Option A is incorrect because a guided debate is much different than a conflict and the skills needed in a debate differ from the skills needed for conflict resolution. Students would need support and practice verbalizing their individual perspective in this situation, rather than practice speaking to their class on a topic. Option B is incorrect because as a teacher supporting students with conflict resolution, best practice would be to support students with modeling de-escalation strategies rather than providing them with examples of physical conflict and escalation. Option D is incorrect because, while pairing students who do not usually socialize together might help students stay focused, it is not the most effective way to prepare students for steps 3 and 4.

Competency 009—(Organization and Management): Apply knowledge of the structure, organization, goals, and purposes of physical education programs, including legal issues, supervision, planning and instruction, safety, first aid, and risk management.

17. Which of the following constitutes best practice with regard to inclusion in the physical education program?

  1. Each school district should establish and publish policies that are consistent with national physical education organizations.
  2. Every locker room should have some private options for changing, showering, and toileting for use by any student who desires them.
  3. All students must have a physician's authorization before being allowed access to physical education courses.
  4. The physical education department must post rules that specifically forbid bullying anyone.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because all students need access to privacy in locker rooms. Providing all students with a safe and private space to attend to their needs can help ensure students are confident and comfortable in the physical education environment. Option A is incorrect because schools are guided primarily by state and district policies. Option C is incorrect because students do not need a doctor's note to participate in physical education. Option D is incorrect because, while posting rules that forbid bullying could help address bullying concerns, the term "inclusion" is broader in scope than anti-bullying. The goal of inclusive practices would be to create a classroom culture that goes beyond addressing bullying as it occurs.

18. A physical education teacher is reviewing assessment data shown on the performance of 150 high school students in relation to three recent units of instruction.

Assessment Data Summary
(percentage of students achieving proficiency)
blank Nutrition, Exercise, and Body Composition Personal Fitness Plan General Safety Practices
Formative Skill Assessments 68% 72% 69%
Written Assessments 81% 83% 80%
Performance Assessments 85% 88% 84%

Based on these data, which of the following actions should the physical education teacher take next?

  1. emphasizing the use of paired or small-group tasks in class
  2. incorporating frequent use of hands-on guided practice activities
  3. implementing nongraded assignments into instruction
  4. adding weekly homework assignments
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct because students generally performed the best on Performance Assessments, indicating that when students are able to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, they are able to reach mastery, as opposed to other assessment formats that may present a burden to demonstration of those skills. Option A is incorrect because the data do not indicate the size of class groupings for any single assessment type. Option C is incorrect because the data do not indicate the effect of grades or the absence of grades for any single assessment type. Option D is incorrect because the data do not indicate that additional homework would improve student outcomes.

Domain IV—Educating All Learners and Professional Practice

Competency 010—(Differentiation Strategies in Planning and Practice): Understand how to identify and implement developmentally, socially, behaviorally, and culturally appropriate strategies and data-driven practices to effectively teach and engage all learners.

19. Which of the following situations would cause a physical education teacher to be in violation of the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators?

  1. A teacher uses the district-provided system to send a text message to remind students about an upcoming soccer test.
  2. A teacher asks students to run laps at the end of class before they change clothes.
  3. A teacher requests reimbursement for equipment bought at a TAHPERD convention.
  4. A teacher accepts donated equipment from a business in exchange for advertising at school sports venues.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because it is in violation of Standard 1.2 of the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators: "The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly misappropriate, divert, or use monies, personnel, property, or equipment committed to his or her charge for personal gain or advantage." Option A is incorrect because communicating with students via text message on a district-provided system is not in violation of the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators. Option B is incorrect because asking students to complete laps at the end of class is not in violation of the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators. Option C is incorrect because The Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (TAHPERD) is a not-for-profit professional association and it is not inappropriate to request reimbursement for equipment bought at a TAHPERD convention provided the equipment is used at school for student learning purposes.

20. A school offers a variety of opportunities to engage families in activities to support their children's learning, social skills, and emotional and physical development. For example, the school collaborates with community organizations to provide classes and workshops for families on some of the following topics.

  • understanding child development
  • modeling stress-management skills for children
  • monitoring children's screen time

Which of the following family engagement strategies does this scenario best exemplify?

  1. using a variety of communication methods with children
  2. supporting children's academic learning at home
  3. establishing various volunteer opportunities for families
  4. empowering families to further their child's achievements and health
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct because the school's offerings are designed to increase families' knowledge and skills in areas relevant to their children's health and wellness and daily lives. This type of engagement empowers families in promoting the achievement and well-being of their children. Option A is incorrect because the school offerings are designed primarily to help families support their children, not use a variety of communication methods with children. Option B is incorrect because it focuses on children's academic learning at home, but the school's initiative aims to help families support a wider range of outcomes, such as social skills and emotional and physical development. Option C is incorrect because the initiative does not aim to establish volunteer opportunities for families. Rather, it aims to support families.

Competency 011—(Culturally Responsive Practices): Understand how to identify and implement culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate practices to effectively teach and engage all learners.

21. A second-grade emergent bilingual student with a beginning level of English language proficiency has recently moved to the United States from another country. The physical education teacher can best support this student's initial adjustment to cultural differences through which of the following actions?

  1. communicating often with the student's parents/guardians to support the family
  2. providing one-to-one adult support for the student throughout the process of acclimating to a new culture
  3. suggesting peer role models to guide the student throughout the stages of acculturation
  4. initiating an evaluation to determine whether there are issues that may affect the student's access to cultural norms
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because peers, who are already very familiar with the culture, would be able to guide the student in a relevant, meaningful, and age-appropriate way. Peer supports can provide a more non-invasive and authentic opportunity for students to receive acculturation supports. Option A is incorrect because, while maintaining communication with the parents could help support the family, it does not specifically support the student's adjustment to cultural differences. Option B is incorrect because one-to-one adult support would likely not benefit the student as much as peer role models, to whom the student can more easily relate. Option D is incorrect because findings from an academic evaluation will not in and of themselves help the student adjust, and the physical education teacher could instead better address the student's acclimation to a new environment with other interventions.

22. An elementary student is performing a striking skill incorrectly in physical education class. Which of the following statements is the most appropriate for the teacher to make when addressing this situation?

  1. "You could have more control and power and make more consistent contact if you position your feet like this."
  2. "Your stance is incorrect. You need to try just a little bit harder at this skill."
  3. "You made good contact with the ball. Look at how I place my feet when I hit the ball. Let's work on that skill next."
  4. "Good try. Keep working at it. The more you practice, the better you will become."
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because the teacher feedback starts with a positive and then specifically guides the student toward improvement by modeling proper positioning for skill execution. Option A is incorrect because the feedback emphasizes control and power rather than the basics of striking. Option B is incorrect because the feedback notes an incorrect stance without providing guidance on how to improve stance. Using language with students that empowers them is more likely to result in continued practice resulting in mastery of the skill. Option D is incorrect because, while supportive, the feedback is vague.

23. A high school physical education class is learning how to use equipment in a weight room. One student is off task and playing with extra equipment in a corner of the room. To effectively implement appropriate behavior management, the teacher should take which of the following actions first?

  1. reviewing weight room safety procedures and expectations with the entire class
  2. having the student sit out for the remainder of the current lesson but allowing the student to participate in the next lesson
  3. asking the student to shadow the teacher as the teacher models appropriate weight room behaviors
  4. reassessing whether there is too much risk associated with teaching weight room activities to this age group
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct because it focuses on the student and appropriate procedures for using equipment safely while not disrupting the rest of the class and provides the teacher with another opportunity to model the expected behavior while in the weight room. Option A is incorrect because only one student is off task, not the whole class. Option B is incorrect because the student will miss the lesson in this scenario and the student needs guidance, not a restriction and singling out that affects their learning. Option D is incorrect because a reassessment of risk is not needed for this age group based on a single student's actions. A reassessment of risk would be appropriate if the physical education teacher saw multiple students engaging in off-task and unsafe behavior.

Competency 012—(Data-Driven Practice and Formal/Informal Assessment): Understand the types, selection, and uses of data-driven, developmentally appropriate assessments and assessment practices to effectively support program improvement and all students' learning.

24. Which of the following statements about Response to Intervention (RtI) is accurate and should guide teacher decisions and actions?

  1. Schools should provide parents with notice whenever their child begins to receive intervention strategies such as RtI.
  2. RtI is an effective way to address academic but not behavioral concerns.
  3. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) encourages schools to use an RtI approach before a referral for evaluation.
  4. RtI should be implemented only for students who are eligible for special education.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because parents/guardians must be notified whenever their child(ren) are recommended for or receive intervention strategies, according to Texas law. Having parents/guardians involved in support planning for their student is a critical component of the process. Option B is incorrect because RtI is a protocol that can address both academic and behavioral concerns. Option C is incorrect because while the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act outlines protections for students with disabilities in the public school setting, it does not outline or dictate intervention or evaluation processes for schools. Option D is incorrect because RtI can be used for all students, not just those eligible for special education. The RtI process should not interfere with the evaluation process for special education services.

25. A physical education teacher has a large number of students and wants to collect data not only on fitness levels for each student but also on manipulative skills, locomotor skills, and movement patterns. Which of the following actions would best allow the teacher to accurately capture relevant information on which to make instructional adjustments?

  1. using an observation sheet or app in each class period that already includes student names and school identification photos
  2. having students journal about their own skills and reviewing that information at the end of each week
  3. during each planning period, reviewing a checklist of student names and recording observations made that day of each student's skill performance
  4. asking classroom teachers to provide information on students' performance in other classes, especially writing and reading
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct because prepopulating names and student IDs would allow the teacher to accurately capture the desired motor skills-related information in real time for each student without having to set up and populate an observation sheet or app with student names and photos as class begins. This strategy would allow the teacher to gather large amounts of overall data on skill development for each class to implement tiered supports based on skill mastery. Option B is incorrect because student journaling about their skills is unlikely to provide the teacher with the targeted skills information. Option C is incorrect because the data collection on fitness levels for all students should happen in real time during the class period and should not be based on what a teacher can recall during a lateral planning period. Option D is incorrect because it is not direct observation and analysis, and performance in other areas such as writing and reading will not provide an assessment of students' manipulative skills, locomotor skills, and movement.

Additional Selected-Response Questions

This section includes additional sample selected-response questions for you to review in preparation for the exam. The correct answer is provided for each question below.

Domain I—Movement Knowledge and Skills

Competency 001—(Motor Development and Motor Learning): Apply knowledge of principles and characteristics of motor development and motor learning.

26. Performing which of the following activities skillfully is most dependent on the acquisition and refinement of temporal awareness?

  1. moving about in a confined space
  2. hitting a thrown ball
  3. performing consecutive dance steps
  4. walking on a balance beam
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct.

27. Which of the following approaches to observational learning is most likely to produce the best results when a physical education teacher is introducing a new motor skill?

  1. requesting a student to demonstrate the new skill to the entire class
  2. having students watch the skill being performed in game situations
  3. modeling proper performance for students prior to practicing the new skill
  4. asking students to describe the component parts of the new skill
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct.

28. Which of the following statements best describes an appropriate analysis of the relationship between students' development of personal social skills and their involvement in a physical education program?

  1. Personal social skills typically develop concurrently with fitness and motor skills given a supportive physical education environment.
  2. Personal social skills learned at home should be reinforced as part of the physical education curriculum.
  3. Personal social skills are most effectively enhanced through direct instruction in the physical education program.
  4. Personal social skills are most appropriately addressed in physical education after fitness and motor skills are well developed.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct.

29. During a tennis unit, a high school student is having trouble making contact with the ball while practicing the overhead smash. Which of the following teacher cues is likely to be most helpful for this student?

  1. "Lock the wrist."
  2. "Keep the racket in front of you."
  3. "Up on the toes."
  4. "Point the off hand at the ball."
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

Competency 002—(Movement Concepts and Biomechanics): Apply knowledge of biomechanical and movement concepts, principles, and practices for developing, combining, and integrating motor skills.

30. Mastering which of the following physical education activities is most dependent upon the development of fine motor skills?

  1. changing strides while playing soccer
  2. catching a thrown ball
  3. moving along a predetermined path
  4. walking along a balance beam
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct.

31. Elementary students are playing a game called "shark." Two students are initially designated as sharks who try to tag other students as they move from one "island" (safe mat) to another. This activity is most appropriate for assessing which of the following movement concepts?

  1. force of movement
  2. spatial awareness
  3. time and velocity
  4. body awareness
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct.

32. An elementary school physical education teacher engages second-grade students in "scoop games" where the students use large plastic scoops to toss and catch lightweight beanbags and to lob the beanbags into bins at various distances. These activities are most beneficial for the development of which of the following skills?

  1. spatial awareness
  2. manipulative
  3. movement patterns
  4. nonlocomotor
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct.

Competency 003—(Movement Activities and Sports): Apply knowledge of techniques, skills, activities, rules, and safety practices for a variety of sports, games, and activities.

33. A high school student wants to improve performance in distance swimming. Which of the following approaches is likely to be most effective in meeting this goal?

  1. demonstrating for the student proper technique to perform flip turns
  2. creating a program in which the student cross-trains with other sports
  3. having the student watch videos of skilled distance swimmers
  4. establishing a program to increase the student's aerobic capacity
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

34. A high school physical education teacher is planning a unit on navigation and wants to integrate information from other academic areas into the lessons. Which of the following topics from other academic areas would be most appropriate to include?

  1. concepts of latitude and longitude
  2. causes and applications of magnetism
  3. principles of weather patterns
  4. basic laws of physical motion
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct.

35. A student is having difficulty with eye-hand coordination while attempting to hit a softball with a bat. Which of the following suggestions from the physical education teacher would most help the student acquire this skill?

  1. lifting the front foot and leg when the pitch approaches
  2. starting the swinging motion slowly right before the pitch is thrown
  3. positioning the feet and body at the front of the batter's box
  4. choking up slightly on the bat and moving closer to the plate
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

Domain II—Health-Related Fitness

Competency 004—(Principles of Personal Fitness and Conditioning): Demonstrate understanding of the structures and functions of body systems and the components, benefits, and principles of personal fitness, physical conditioning, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

36. In which of the following ways is physical activity most likely to improve cognitive function?

  1. enhancing alertness to attend more fully to environmental stimuli
  2. creating endorphins to minimize gaps in neural synapses in the brain
  3. increasing accurate recall of recent events and recollection of past experiences
  4. improving blood flow to the brain to support the development of new brain cells
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

37. A physical education teacher works with several student athletes who have designed personal strength-training routines. Midway through the school year, some of the students tell the teacher that they seem to have reached a plateau in their training. The teacher advises the students to adapt their training routines to incorporate the concept of progressive overload. Which of the following adaptations to the students' routines best illustrates this concept?

  1. expanding the range of activities and equipment beyond what is in the current routine
  2. regularly monitoring heart rate to ensure exercise at 85 percent or more during the routine
  3. changing the frequency of the routine to every other day to allow muscles to recover and repair
  4. incrementally increasing the weight, frequency, or number of repetitions in the routine
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

38. A physical education teacher instructs students on how to use graphing tools to monitor changes in their skill levels. This practice can be expected to increase students' motivation to participate in physical activity primarily by:

  1. prompting students' ongoing reflection on their skills and abilities.
  2. enabling students to visualize their progress in different skill areas.
  3. allowing students to view their skill development in relation to that of their peers.
  4. conveying to students that they are responsible for their own skill development.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct.

Competency 005—(Development of Health-Related Fitness): Apply knowledge of principles, procedures, and activities for developing and maintaining health-related fitness.

39. Which of the following sets of fitness test items would be most appropriate for assessing the strength and flexibility of muscles involved in maintaining posture and lower-back health?

  1. walk test, crunch, and flexed-arm hang
  2. push-up, shoulder stretch, and body mass index
  3. curl-up, trunk lift, and sit-and-reach
  4. modified pull-up, trunk twist, and percent body fat
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option C is correct.

40. High school students are learning to use exercise weight machines. The teacher should warn students that performing behind-the-head lat (latissimus dorsi) pulldowns is generally considered unsafe because the exercise:

  1. creates a very destabilizing effect on the shoulder joint.
  2. can cause pinched nerves in the neck.
  3. requires hyperextension of the cervical spine.
  4. leads to hyperflexion of the elbow joint.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct.

41. Which of the following exercises would be most effective for helping to correct a posture problem that includes slouching in the shoulders and upper back?

  1. chin-ups
  2. supine bench press
  3. clean and jerk
  4. shoulder shrugs
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

Competency 006—(Health and Wellness): Demonstrate understanding of health and wellness concepts, including those related to nutrition, weight management, stress management, and social and emotional health and well-being, and analyze ways in which personal behaviors influence health and wellness.

42. Which of the following resources is likely to have the greatest positive effect on students' understanding of the relationships between behavior choices and personal health and wellness?

  1. multimedia reference materials defining the various aspects of health and wellness
  2. presentations by other students on the consequences of unhealthy choices they made
  3. a school environment that encourages students to make their own choices and learn from them
  4. positive role models who promote understanding of health and wellness issues
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

43. Maintaining hydration before, during, and after exercise has which of the following benefits for overall physical performance?

  1. reducing the risk of injury to the skeletal system
  2. improving the ability to self-assess functioning of various body systems
  3. reducing the body's core temperature level
  4. improving the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to working muscles
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

Domain III—The Physical Education Program

Competency 007—(Instruction and Assessment in Physical Education): Apply principles of effective, developmentally appropriate instruction and assessment to prepare students who are physically educated and physically literate.

44. Which of the following student learning goals is most consistent with the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) model of physical education?

  1. in bowling, learning posture and hand placement before learning delivery stride
  2. in baseball, learning how to bunt before learning when to use a bunt to facilitate scoring
  3. in golf, learning the function of each club before learning how to drive and putt
  4. in basketball, learning how to move to get open for a shot before learning shooting techniques
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

45. Which of the following statements explains the greatest benefit for students of regularly analyzing data of their physical activity?

  1. Data analysis often serves as a motivating factor for students in reaching and maintaining fitness goals.
  2. Data analysis promotes collaboration with other students and instills a healthy sense of fitness competition.
  3. Data analysis introduces students to technology that enhances their digital literacy skills.
  4. Data analysis is a cross-curricular activity that increases students' understanding of other academic subjects.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct.

Competency 008—(Learning Environments): Demonstrate understanding of factors relevant to learning and performance in physical education and of how to create learning environments and opportunities that promote students' development in various domains (e.g., cognitive, social, emotional).

46. Which of the following strategies used by a physical education teacher is likely to be most appropriate for encouraging students' development of positive social skills and inclusive behaviors?

  1. assigning small groups of students to research games and sports that are shared by various nationalities and cultures
  2. conducting a lesson closure at the end of class during which each student is asked to identify a helpful contribution that a classmate made during class
  3. asking students to prepare a brief speech about the advantages and disadvantages of individual and team physical activities
  4. having students keep an activity journal for one week in which they reflect on time spent participating with others in physical activities outside of school
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct.

Competency 009—(Organization and Management): Apply knowledge of the structure, organization, goals, and purposes of physical education programs, including legal issues, supervision, planning and instruction, safety, first aid, and risk management.

47. Which of the following strategies is likely to be most effective and appropriate for promoting the values of an elementary physical education program and encouraging public support and active participation in the program?

  1. periodically organizing exhibition games in which siblings and parents/guardians compete against students in team games such as soccer, kickball, and basketball
  2. organizing regular family events as part of the physical education program that feature fun and challenging individual and group activities
  3. conducting a series of fundraising events throughout the school year such as dunk booths, bike rodeos, walkathons, and student sales of school spirit supplies or snacks
  4. publicizing the importance of the physical education program as one of the ten integrated components of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) approach
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option B is correct.

48. Which of the following should be an important part of a physical education department's plan to reduce risk?

  1. liability waivers signed by each student's parents/guardians
  2. a list of injuries and their outcomes that have occurred in the past year
  3. a list of emergency contacts for all students in the program
  4. scheduled maintenance and repairs of equipment and facilities
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option D is correct.

Domain IV—Educating All Learners and Professional Practice

Competency 010—(Differentiation Strategies in Planning and Practice): Understand how to identify and implement developmentally, socially, behaviorally, and culturally appropriate strategies and data-driven practices to effectively teach and engage all learners.

49. A student entering a class has a type of disability with which the physical education teacher is unfamiliar. Which of the following steps should the teacher take first to determine instructional strategies, activities, and modifications that would be appropriate to use with this particular student?

  1. collaborating with members of the student's Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee
  2. requesting staffing assistance from another professional who is familiar with the disability
  3. researching the characteristics of the disability that the teacher is likely to encounter
  4. interviewing the student's parents/guardians to determine the student's potential needs
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct.

Competency 012—(Data-Driven Practice and Formal/Informal Assessment): Understand the types, selection, and uses of data-driven, developmentally appropriate assessments and assessment practices to effectively support program improvement and all students' learning.

50. Which of the following guidelines is most essential for teachers to understand and adhere to when selecting and using standardized assessments for measuring students' learning?

  1. using assessment results only for purposes for which they have been validated
  2. administering assessments in a consistent way for all students
  3. sharing assessment results only with students and their parents/guardians
  4. making the same assessments appropriate for students at multiple developmental levels
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Option A is correct.