COTA Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: D

Continue at the same level because diastolic pressure is stable: A drop in systolic pressure during exercise is abnormal even when diastolic pressure does not change.

Increase the workload slightly to raise the heart rate: Raising the workload when the cardiovascular response is already abnormal increases the risk of an adverse cardiac event.

Have the client rest and recheck pressure after 10 minutes: Resting is appropriate, but this abnormal response must also be reported to the OTR and medical team.

Stop the activity and report the response to the OTR and team: Correct. A systolic drop of more than 10 mm Hg with increasing workload, especially with symptoms, is a criterion to stop activity.

Normal exercise response: systolic BP rises with workload. A systolic drop of more than 10 mm Hg, or symptoms such as lightheadedness, means stop and report.

Answer: A

Photosensitivity, so sunscreen, a hat and shade are needed: Correct. Phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine increase sensitivity to sunlight, so sun protection is needed for outdoor activity.

Hypoglycemia, so a snack must be given before the group: Hypoglycemia is not a typical side effect of chlorpromazine; antipsychotics are more often linked with weight gain and hyperglycemia.

Bradycardia, so pulse must be taken every 10 minutes: Antipsychotics are more likely to cause orthostatic hypotension and reflex tachycardia than bradycardia.

Excessive salivation, so frequent rest breaks are needed: Chlorpromazine has anticholinergic effects that cause dry mouth, not excessive salivation.

Common first-generation antipsychotic effects to plan for: photosensitivity, orthostatic hypotension, anticholinergic effects and extrapyramidal symptoms.

Answer: D

About 30° of wrist flexion: Wrist flexion increases pressure in the carpal tunnel and worsens median nerve compression.

About 45° of wrist extension: Marked extension also raises carpal tunnel pressure; the goal is the position of lowest pressure.

About 20° of ulnar deviation: Deviation is not the aim of a carpal tunnel orthosis and does not lower tunnel pressure.

Neutral, at 0° to slight extension: Correct. Neutral to slight extension minimizes carpal tunnel pressure and protects the median nerve during sleep.

Carpal tunnel orthosis: wrist neutral (0° to slight extension), worn mainly at night, with education to avoid sustained wrist flexion.

Answer: C

The child does the first step, and the COTA finishes the rest: This describes forward chaining, in which the learner begins with the first step of the sequence.

The child tries all steps and gets help only when needed: This is whole-task practice with assistance, not chaining.

The COTA does every step except the last, which the child does: Correct. In backward chaining the learner completes the final step first, so each attempt ends with task completion and success.

The child watches the COTA tie the shoe several times: Demonstration alone is modeling; the child does not practice any part of the chain.

Backward chaining: teach the last step first and add earlier steps over time. It gives immediate success, which helps with low frustration tolerance.

Answer: B

Objective: The O section contains measurable, observed data, such as range of motion or level of assistance.

Subjective: Correct. Information the client reports, including self-rated pain, goes in the S section.

Assessment: The A section contains the practitioner's interpretation of progress and problems, not the client's own statements.

Plan: The P section lists future interventions, frequency and goals.

SOAP: S = what the client says; O = what the practitioner measures or observes; A = interpretation; P = plan.

Answer: C

Older adults living at home: This is the P (population or patient group).

The group falls-prevention program: This is the I (intervention) being studied.

The printed home-safety handout: Correct. The C is the comparison, the alternative the intervention is measured against.

The number of falls: This is the O (outcome) being measured.

PICO: Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome. It turns a clinical question into searchable terms.