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100+ Free ACVREP COMS Practice Questions

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Which traffic-engineering feature most directly increases pedestrian risk for travelers who are blind by allowing right-turning vehicles to bypass the main signal?

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Key Facts: ACVREP COMS Exam

ACVREP COMS is the field's gatekeeping credential for O&M specialists working with infants through older adults with visual impairments. Candidates complete a Category 1 (university program in O&M) or Category 2 (equivalent bachelor's plus competency verification) pathway, log 350+ supervised internship hours under an experienced COMS, and pass a 4-hour computer-based exam. Certification is valid 5 years and renews through recertification application or exam.

Sample ACVREP COMS Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ACVREP COMS exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A COMS is teaching a novice adult cane traveler on a residential sidewalk with cracked, uneven concrete. Which cane technique provides the highest level of obstacle and drop-off detection?
A.Diagonal technique
B.Two-point touch
C.Constant-contact (touch-and-drag)
D.Three-point touch
Explanation: Constant-contact keeps the cane tip on the ground at all times, maximizing tactile information about cracks, level changes, and drop-offs. It is the standard initial technique for novice travelers, anyone on unfamiliar/uneven terrain, and travelers with balance or proprioceptive concerns. As skill develops, two-point touch is introduced for smoother surfaces.
2When using human guide technique with a consumer who has typical balance, where should the consumer's hand contact the guide?
A.Grasping the guide's wrist from behind
B.Just above the guide's elbow with thumb on the outside
C.On the guide's shoulder
D.Holding the guide's belt or waistband
Explanation: Standard human guide (sighted guide) technique places the consumer's hand just above the guide's elbow with the thumb on the outside, fingers on the inside. This grip position places the consumer about a half-step behind the guide, allowing them to read directional changes and elevation cues through the guide's arm without contact with the guide's body.
3A COMS is selecting a long cane length for a 9-year-old student. Which measurement guideline aligns with current best practice for pediatric cane prescription?
A.Cane tip touches the floor when the cane is held vertically at the chin
B.Cane reaches from the floor to the sternum (mid-chest), with longer lengths considered for active travelers
C.Cane reaches the iliac crest (top of the hip) for maximum control
D.Cane reaches from the floor to the shoulder for all school-age children
Explanation: Contemporary pediatric O&M practice recommends a cane that reaches at least the sternum/mid-chest, with many practitioners prescribing nose- or chin-height canes for active child travelers to provide adequate preview distance at walking speed. The older 'iliac crest' guideline is now considered too short for safety in dynamic environments.
4A COMS is teaching a consumer to cross a low-volume, uncontrolled residential intersection (no stop sign, no signal). The recommended strategy is to listen for a 'lull and parallel surge.' What does the parallel surge indicate?
A.Vehicles on the perpendicular street are accelerating away
B.Vehicles on the consumer's parallel street are moving with the green, indicating a safe time to start crossing the perpendicular street
C.An emergency vehicle is approaching
D.Pedestrian traffic is dense, signaling rush hour
Explanation: At a signalized parallel/perpendicular intersection without an APS, a parallel surge (vehicles on the consumer's parallel street accelerating from a stopped condition) signals that the parallel street has a green light and the perpendicular street has a red. This is the safest auditory cue for initiating a crossing of the perpendicular street.
5An Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) is being installed at a complex intersection. Which APS feature is required by the 2011 PROWAG and 2009 MUTCD guidance to be located within 5 feet of the curb line?
A.Vibrotactile arrow and locator tone on the pushbutton
B.Audible countdown timer on a pole 20 feet away
C.Pedestrian volume monitor
D.Traffic signal controller cabinet
Explanation: PROWAG and the MUTCD require APS pushbuttons (with raised tactile arrow aligned with the crossing direction, vibrotactile WALK indication, and locator tone) to be installed within 5 feet of the crosswalk line and within 10 feet of the curb. Proper placement is critical for both finding the button and confirming the crossing direction.
6A 4-year-old with cortical/cerebral visual impairment (CVI) demonstrates Roman-Lantzy Phase II characteristics: visual latency, color preference for red, and difficulty with complex arrays. Which O&M instructional adaptation is MOST appropriate?
A.Use highly complex visual environments to build tolerance
B.Allow extended visual latency, reduce array complexity, and incorporate the child's preferred color into landmarks
C.Eliminate vision use and teach exclusively tactile strategies
D.Place the child in bright sunlight to maximize visual input
Explanation: Phase II CVI requires honoring visual latency (waiting for visual response without rushing), reducing environmental complexity (sensory and visual array), and leveraging the child's preferred color (commonly red or yellow) to support visual access. Complexity reduction and pacing are the cornerstones of CVI-informed O&M.
7A consumer with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) reports difficulty traveling at dusk and in dimly lit indoor environments. What functional implication best explains this complaint?
A.Loss of central acuity affecting reading
B.Rod photoreceptor degeneration causing night blindness (nyctalopia) and reduced low-light adaptation
C.Lens opacity reducing color perception
D.Macular edema producing fluctuating central vision
Explanation: RP is a progressive degeneration of the rod photoreceptors first, causing nyctalopia (night blindness) and difficulty with dim-light adaptation, followed by progressive peripheral field constriction (tunnel vision). Central acuity is often preserved until late stages.
8Which federal law guarantees a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) to students with disabilities ages 3-21 and is the primary statutory basis for school-based O&M services on an IEP?
A.Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
B.Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II
C.Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B
D.Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Explanation: IDEA Part B governs special education for ages 3-21 and lists orientation and mobility as a related service. School-based O&M services are documented on an IEP. Part C of IDEA covers early intervention birth-to-3 services documented on an IFSP.
9A COMS is shorelining a residential sidewalk that has grass strips on the left side. The consumer is using a two-point touch technique. To shoreline the grass edge, the consumer should:
A.Center the cane arc on the body midline and walk straight
B.Extend the arc slightly to the left so the cane tip taps the grass edge on each left arc
C.Hold the cane vertically and tap the ground
D.Use the diagonal technique angled to the right
Explanation: Shorelining maintains contact with an edge feature (grass-concrete junction, wall, fence). With two-point touch, the consumer slightly extends the left arc to tap the grass edge on each leftward swing, using the auditory and tactile difference between concrete and grass as a line of travel. This keeps the consumer parallel to the sidewalk without relying on visual cues.
10What is the primary safety concern when teaching a consumer to navigate a modern roundabout?
A.Vehicles do not yield to pedestrians at roundabouts
B.Continuous, low-speed traffic flow and lack of definitive stop cues for pedestrian crossings
C.Roundabouts always lack marked crosswalks
D.Roundabouts are too quiet for traffic analysis
Explanation: Roundabouts present unique challenges for pedestrians who are blind: traffic flows continuously at relatively low speeds without coming to a complete stop, eliminating the clear 'lull' cue used at signalized intersections. Newer designs incorporate pedestrian-activated signals (RRFB, PHB) and channelized splitter islands as accessibility countermeasures.

About the ACVREP COMS Exam

The ACVREP Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) credential is the required-for-employment certification to work as an O&M specialist in schools, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Service, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, and private blindness-services organizations. The computer-based exam draws from the COMS Body of Knowledge: professional information, medical information, learning theories, assessment, program planning, O&M concepts, orientation strategies, mobility skills, sensory skills, additional disabilities, diverse consumers, environmental analysis, and psychosocial implications.

Questions

140 scored questions

Time Limit

4 hours (computer-based)

Passing Score

Criterion-referenced scaled score (set by ACVREP psychometric panel)

Exam Fee

Approx. $755 total (Eligibility Application $140 + Exam $490 + Certification $125) (Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP))

ACVREP COMS Exam Content Outline

Foundational

Professional Information

ADA Title II/III, IDEA Part B/C, Rehabilitation Act Section 504, AER position statements (e.g., NIMAS, expanded core curriculum), code of ethics, and history of O&M from Hoover/Hines forward

Foundational

Relevant Medical Information

Eye anatomy and pathways, refractive error, ocular pathology (AMD, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, RP, ROP), pediatric CVI, albinism, optic atrophy, deafblind syndromes, diabetes, seizure precautions

Core

O&M Assessment

Functional vision assessment, learning media assessment, motor assessment, environmental assessment, progress monitoring, and IFSP/IEP/IPE goal writing

Core

Mobility Skills

Human guide (sighted guide) technique, upper/lower protective techniques, trailing, diagonal cane, constant-contact, two-point touch, three-point touch, shoreline, ascending/descending stairs, escalators, doors, narrow passages

Core

Street Crossings and Transportation

Stop-controlled, signalized, all-pedestrian (Barnes Dance), roundabouts, channelized turn lanes, complex intersections, APS, RRFB, LPI; fixed-route bus, light rail, paratransit, ride-share

Core

Sensory Skills and ETAs

Auditory training (sound localization, traffic analysis, drop-off detection), tactile/kinesthetic skills, low vision training, and integration of electronic travel aids (e.g., UltraCane, WeWALK, smartphone GPS apps)

Specialty

Additional Disabilities

CVI behaviors and intervention, deafblind communication (tactile sign, print-on-palm, haptics), motor adaptations, AAC integration, and complex medical needs

Specialty

Diverse Consumers and Psychosocial

Pediatric (0-3, school-age), transition-age, working-age adult, and older adult populations; adjustment to vision loss; cultural responsiveness; family-centered practice

How to Pass the ACVREP COMS Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Criterion-referenced scaled score (set by ACVREP psychometric panel)
  • Exam length: 140 questions
  • Time limit: 4 hours (computer-based)
  • Exam fee: Approx. $755 total (Eligibility Application $140 + Exam $490 + Certification $125)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ACVREP COMS Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize cane technique selection rules: constant-contact for novices/uneven surfaces, two-point touch for residential pace, diagonal for indoor familiar settings
2Master street-crossing decision logic: LPS at uncontrolled, signalized with APS detection, roundabout entry/exit lane analysis, channelized turn lane risks
3Drill ADA and IDEA distinctions: Part C (0-3), Part B (3-21), Section 504 plans, FAPE/LRE, and how O&M services are documented on IFSPs vs IEPs vs IPEs
4Learn CVI characteristics (Roman-Lantzy 10) and how each affects O&M instruction - especially complexity, novelty, and visual latency
5Practice eye-condition functional implications: central vs peripheral loss, photophobia in albinism, night blindness in RP, color/contrast losses
6Review deafblind communication options (tactile ASL, print-on-palm, Tadoma, haptics) and pediatric considerations like CHARGE syndrome
7Study traffic engineering basics: APS button placement, RRFB phasing, LPI duration, roundabout yield rules, and channelized right-turn risks
8Understand age-band cane prescription: long cane vs adaptive mobility device (AMD) for toddlers, pediatric cane length (sternum to floor), older adult considerations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ACVREP COMS exam format?

Computer-based with approximately 140 multiple-choice questions delivered in a single 4-hour proctored session. The exam was developed with PhD-level psychometricians and follows standard scientific test-construction practices.

How is the COMS exam scored?

Criterion-referenced. ACVREP's psychometric panel sets a scaled passing standard rather than a fixed percentage. Results are reported as pass/fail, and ACVREP does not publish per-cycle pass rates.

What are the COMS eligibility requirements?

Category 1: bachelor's or master's degree from an ACVREP-recognized O&M university program. Category 2: equivalent bachelor's plus a Core Domain Area Checklist verified by a supervising COMS. Both categories require 350+ hours of supervised O&M internship under an experienced COMS.

How much does the COMS credential cost?

Approximately $755 total: $140 Eligibility Application fee, $490 Certification Examination fee (covers up to two attempts), and $125 Certification fee. A practice exam from ACVREP costs an additional $65.

How long is COMS certification valid?

Five years. Recertification is by application (continuing education and professional activity points) at $395 or by examination at $350. Late submission triggers a $75 fee.

Is the COMS exam required for employment?

Yes. The COMS credential is the required-for-employment standard for O&M specialists in schools, the VA Blind Rehabilitation Service, state vocational rehabilitation programs, and most blindness-services agencies.

Does the COMS exam test specific cane techniques?

Yes. Constant-contact, two-point touch, three-point touch, diagonal, shoreline, and touch-and-slide are all assessed alongside human guide technique, protective techniques, and trailing - including selection criteria by consumer, environment, and surface.