BCBA Practice Questions: Discrete Trial Teaching Domain

Published: June 12, 2025 | 5 min read

Test your BCBA knowledge with 5 practice questions from the Discrete Trial Teaching domain. Includes detailed explanations and answers.

BCBA Practice Questions

Master the Discrete Trial Teaching Domain

Test your knowledge in the Discrete Trial Teaching domain with these 5 practice questions. Each question is designed to help you prepare for the BCBA certification exam with detailed explanations to reinforce your learning.

Question 1

A BCBA is supervising a therapist who is implementing discrete trial teaching. The therapist consistently uses the same prompt for all tasks. What feedback should the BCBA provide?

A) Continue using the same prompt to maintain consistency.

B) Vary the prompts to promote generalization and reduce prompt dependency.

C) Use no prompts to encourage independent responses.

D) Increase the number of prompts to ensure task completion.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: CORRECT: Varying prompts can help promote generalization and reduce prompt dependency. OPTION A: Consistency in prompts may lead to prompt dependency and hinder generalization. OPTION C: Using no prompts may not provide sufficient support for learning. OPTION D: Increasing prompts without variation may reinforce dependency.

Question 2

An RBT is using DTT to teach a client to label pictures. The client is showing signs of frustration and avoidance. What should the BCBA do?

A) Tell the RBT to continue until the client completes the task.

B) Immediately increase the reinforcement schedule.

C) Consult with the RBT to review the session and analyze the client's behavior, potentially adjusting the task difficulty or teaching methods.

D) Ignore the situation; the client will get used to it.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: Option C prioritizes the client's well-being and effective teaching by actively collaborating with the RBT to address the issue. Options A and D disregard the client's discomfort, while B may not be the effective approach if the problem is related to task difficulty or teaching method.

Question 3

A behavior analyst notices that a child is consistently making the same error during a DTT session. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

A) Increase the number of trials with the same prompt level.

B) Introduce a more intrusive prompt to ensure correct responding.

C) Provide a break to reduce potential frustration.

D) Switch to a different instructional method.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: CORRECT: Introducing a more intrusive prompt can help the child respond correctly, allowing for error correction and learning. OPTION A: Increasing trials without prompt adjustment may reinforce errors. OPTION B: A more intrusive prompt ensures correct responding and reduces errors. OPTION C: While a break may reduce frustration, it doesn't address the error pattern. OPTION D: Changing the method without addressing the error may not resolve the issue.

Question 4

During DTT, a client successfully completes 5 trials of identifying colors. The therapist then introduces a new skill: shape identification. What is the MOST appropriate procedure?

A) Continue with color identification until the client masters it completely before introducing shapes.

B) Introduce shape identification immediately after the color trials and alternate between the two skills throughout the session.

C) Introduce shape identification only if the client answers every color question perfectly.

D) Only teach shape identification if the client displays a high level of engagement in the previous task

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Option B utilizes the principles of task variation to maintain engagement and prevent satiation. Alternating tasks maintains motivation and allows for a more varied and interesting learning session for the client. Options A and C are inflexible and might not be the best approach for maintaining client engagement and teaching multiple skills. Option D uses an unreliable criteria for introducing the next skill

Question 5

After implementing a new intervention in DTT, you notice a decrease in the target behavior. What is the best way to determine if this is a true effect of the intervention?

A) Assume the intervention is effective and continue using it.

B) Continuously monitor the data to ensure that the behavior reduction is maintained and not a temporary change.

C) Stop the intervention to determine if the behavior returns to previous levels.

D) Change the intervention to something different.

Show Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: B

Explanation: Option B emphasizes the importance of ongoing data collection and analysis to confirm the intervention's efficacy. Options A is premature, C may disrupt positive gains, and D is done without sufficient data.

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About BCBA Certification

The BCBA certification validates your expertise in discrete trial teaching and other critical domains. Our comprehensive practice questions are carefully crafted to mirror the actual exam experience and help you identify knowledge gaps before test day.