CPCE Lifespan Development Practice Questions (15 Free)
Published 2026-10-20 · Facts and text checked 2026-10-16 · Questions from our CPCE study guide · Reviewed by Hana N., Quality Reviewer
These free CPCE practice questions cover Lifespan Development, part of 3. Human Growth and Development on the exam. Development from childhood to late adulthood, crises, transitions and resilience. Each question comes from a practice test in our CPCE study guide and shows the correct answer with an explanation. The full exam has 160 questions (136 scored, 24 unscored).
Development from childhood to late adulthood, crises, transitions and resilience. On the exam this is part of 3. Human Growth and Development. Open each answer to read the explanation.
Question 1Hard
A 19-year-old says, "I don't know what I want to do with my life, and I'm not worried about it." This represents which identity status?
- A.Identity diffusion
- B.Moratorium
- C.Identity achievement
- D.Foreclosure
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Identity diffusion
Identity diffusion is characterized by lack of exploration and apathy about commitment. The client shows no active questioning, distinguishing it from moratorium, where exploration is present.
From practice test 8 of our CPCE study guide (question 68). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 2Easy
A 3-year-old child says, 'I runned outside.' This language error is known as:
- A.Overregularization
- B.Telegraphic speech
- C.Babbling
- D.Underextension
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Overregularization
Overregularization occurs when children apply grammatical rules too broadly, such as adding -ed to irregular verbs. 'Runned' is a classic example.
From practice test 9 of our CPCE study guide (question 79). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 3Hard
A school counselor works with a 14-year-old who has started skipping classes to spend time with a peer group that uses alcohol. When asked, the teen says, 'I know drinking is bad, but if I don't go along, they'll kick me out of the group.' Which factor indicates that this is an example of pathological peer conformity?
- A.The adolescent is experiencing normative parent-adolescent conflict
- B.The adolescent is engaging in exploratory behavior typical for this age
- C.The adolescent is showing signs of identity diffusion
- D.The adolescent is sacrificing a core value or safety behavior to maintain group acceptance
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. The adolescent is sacrificing a core value or safety behavior to maintain group acceptance
Pathological peer conformity occurs when an individual abandons personal values or engages in risky behaviors to gain or maintain peer acceptance. Here, the teen knowingly risks harm to stay in the group.
From practice test 3 of our CPCE study guide (question 50). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 4Hard
A developmental psychology student states that Piaget's sensorimotor stage consists of three substages. This statement is:
- A.Correct, because the stage is divided into reflexes, primary circular reactions, and secondary circular reactions.
- B.Incorrect; there are four substages based on the development of object permanence.
- C.Incorrect; Piaget actually described six substages within the sensorimotor period.
- D.Correct, because the stage ends when symbolic thought begins.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Incorrect; Piaget actually described six substages within the sensorimotor period.
Piaget identified six substages of the sensorimotor period: reflexes, primary circular reactions, secondary circular reactions, coordination of secondary schemas, tertiary circular reactions, and mental representation. Option D is incorrect about the number.
From practice test 5 of our CPCE study guide (question 70). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 5Medium
A 2-year-old child has a vocabulary of 150 words. According to typical language development, this vocabulary size is best described as:
- A.Indicative of a language delay
- B.Above average for age
- C.Below average and warrants a referral
- D.Within the typical range
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Within the typical range
The typical vocabulary at age 2 ranges from 50 to 300 words, so 150 words falls within normal limits. Below-average would be fewer than 50; above-average would exceed 300; language delay is diagnosed when the child fails to meet key milestones, but 150 words is not delayed.
From practice test 5 of our CPCE study guide (question 93). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 6Hard
A 15-month-old child is not yet walking independently. The pediatrician reassures the parents this is within normal limits. At what age would failure to walk alone typically warrant concern for a motor delay?
- A.18 months
- B.12 months
- C.15 months
- D.24 months
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. 18 months
Most children walk by 15 months, but 18 months is the upper end of the typical range. Failure by 18 months should prompt evaluation.
From practice test 6 of our CPCE study guide (question 9). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 7Medium
A pregnant client reports she did not take folic acid until the eighth week of pregnancy. Which developmental risk is most increased by this delay?
- A.Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders due to alcohol exposure
- B.Neural tube defects due to incomplete neural tube closure
- C.Placental insufficiency during the germinal stage
- D.Poor brain growth during the fetal stage
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Neural tube defects due to incomplete neural tube closure
The neural tube closes between weeks 3 and 4, making folic acid deficiency during that window a high risk for neural tube defects. Taking folic acid after week 8, though still beneficial, does not target the critical closure period.
From practice test 7 of our CPCE study guide (question 128). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 8Medium
A 12-month-old infant in the Strange Situation clings to the caregiver, becomes extremely distressed upon separation, and upon reunion both seeks contact and angrily resists it. The caregiver has been inconsistently responsive. This attachment pattern is best described as:
- A.Anxious-resistant
- B.Secure
- C.Anxious-avoidant
- D.Disorganized
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Anxious-resistant
Anxious-resistant (or ambivalent) attachment involves clingy, distressed behavior with ambivalent responses to reunion, and is linked to inconsistent caregiving. Secure infants are comforted by reunion; avoidant infants ignore the caregiver; disorganized infants show fear or confusion.
From practice test 5 of our CPCE study guide (question 119). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 9Medium
A counselor is educating a client planning a pregnancy about prenatal nutrition. The counselor emphasizes folic acid supplementation because deficiency around weeks 3 and 4 increases the risk of which condition?
- A.Cardiac anomalies
- B.Cleft palate
- C.Fetal alcohol syndrome
- D.Neural tube defects
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Neural tube defects
Folic acid deficiency during the critical period of neural tube closure (weeks 3-4) increases the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. Other options are associated with different teratogens or periods.
From practice test 7 of our CPCE study guide (question 8). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 10Medium
A 4-year-old child watches as equal amounts of juice are poured into a tall, narrow glass and a short, wide glass. When asked which glass has more juice, the child points to the tall glass. This response reflects which characteristic of preoperational thought?
- A.Animism
- B.Centration
- C.Egocentrism
- D.Reversibility
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Centration
Centration is the tendency to focus on one aspect of a situation while ignoring others. The child fixates on the height of the glass, neglecting the width, which is characteristic of the preoperational stage.
From practice test 9 of our CPCE study guide (question 91). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 11Hard
A 4-year-old child is shown two identical balls of clay. The experimenter rolls one ball into a long, thin shape. The child insists the rolled clay has more clay because it is longer. This response illustrates which characteristic of preoperational thought?
- A.Centration
- B.Egocentrism
- C.Irreversibility
- D.Animism
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Centration
Centration is the tendency to focus on one salient feature (length) while ignoring others (width). Animism attributes life to inanimate objects; egocentrism is difficulty taking another's perspective; irreversibility is inability to reverse mental operations.
From practice test 5 of our CPCE study guide (question 67). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 12Medium
An 18-month-old toddler is not yet walking independently. The pediatrician notes that the child can cruise along furniture and has no other developmental concerns. According to typical milestones, what intervention is most appropriate?
- A.Continue monitoring without intervention
- B.Prescribe leg braces
- C.Order an MRI of the spine
- D.Refer for physical therapy evaluation
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Refer for physical therapy evaluation
Walking independently usually occurs by 15-18 months; failure to walk by 18 months, even with cruising, warrants a physical therapy evaluation to assess motor development. While some children may walk later, the upper limit of typical is 18 months, so monitoring alone is insufficient.
From practice test 8 of our CPCE study guide (question 65). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 13Medium
A society allows teenagers to explore different careers without immediate commitment. Erikson called this period:
- A.Foreclosure
- B.Psychosocial moratorium
- C.Identity achievement
- D.Identity diffusion
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Psychosocial moratorium
The psychosocial moratorium is a time of exploration before committing to an identity. Foreclosure is commitment without exploration; diffusion is lack of exploration and commitment.
From practice test 8 of our CPCE study guide (question 38). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 14Medium
A 14-month-old toddler who previously could walk independently has stopped walking and now only crawls. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?
- A.Wait another 2 months to see if walking resumes
- B.Refer to a pediatrician for developmental evaluation
- C.Provide a walker
- D.Encourage more floor time
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Refer to a pediatrician for developmental evaluation
Loss of previously acquired skills is a red flag requiring prompt evaluation. Waiting or intervening without assessment is not appropriate.
From practice test 6 of our CPCE study guide (question 102). Original question, not an official exam item.
Question 15Easy
An 8-year-old child consistently struggles to complete school assignments and receives frequent criticism from the teacher. According to Erikson, if this pattern continues, the child is most likely to develop a sense of:
- A.inferiority
- B.guilt
- C.autonomy
- D.industry
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. inferiority
At ages 6 to 12, Erikson's psychosocial stage is industry versus inferiority. Persistent failure and criticism lead to inferiority, not industry. Autonomy is the toddler stage (ages 1-3), and guilt is the preschool stage (ages 3-6).
From practice test 2 of our CPCE study guide (question 16). Original question, not an official exam item.
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