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122+ Free NYSTCE 060 Practice Questions

Prepare for the NYSTCE Students with Disabilities Content Specialty Test (060) exam with instant access — no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NYSTCE 060 Exam

90 + 1

Selected-Response + Constructed Response

NYSTCE 060 test page

3h 15m

Testing Time

NYSTCE 060 test page

520

Scaled Passing Score

NYSTCE 060 test page

$122

Current Exam Fee

NYSTCE 060 test page

6

Selected-Response Competencies

NYSTCE Field 060 framework

~25%

Weight of Assessment and of Instructional Planning Each

NYSTCE Field 060 framework

80% / 20%

Selected-Response vs Constructed-Response Score Split

NYSTCE 060 scoring information

100

Free Practice Questions on This Page

OpenExamPrep NYSTCE 060 bank

The current NYSTCE Students with Disabilities (060) test page lists 90 selected-response items and 1 constructed-response item, with 3 hours 15 minutes of testing time inside a 3 hour 30 minute appointment, a 520 scaled passing score, and a $122 fee. The framework spans six selected-response competencies, with Assessment and Individual Program Planning and Instructional Planning and Delivery carrying the most weight (about 25% each). The constructed response asks candidates to analyze a case study and apply assessment data to recommend research-based instructional and behavioral strategies.

Sample NYSTCE 060 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NYSTCE 060 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 122+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which federal law guarantees a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment to eligible children with disabilities?
A.Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
B.A federal privacy law governing education records and parental access rights
C.The federal K-12 accountability law focused on state assessments and school improvement
D.A civil-rights law prohibiting disability discrimination in public programs and employment
Explanation: IDEA is the federal special education law that entitles eligible students aged 3-21 to FAPE in the least restrictive environment through an IEP. It establishes evaluation, eligibility, and procedural-safeguard requirements.
2The principle of 'least restrictive environment' (LRE) primarily requires that students with disabilities be educated in which setting?
A.With nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate
B.In a separate special education classroom for all core instruction
C.In a residential placement whenever any IEP services are provided
D.In whichever setting has the most available staffing at the time
Explanation: LRE means students with disabilities must be educated alongside nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate, with removal to more restrictive settings only when the nature or severity of the disability prevents satisfactory progress with supplementary aids and services.
3Under IDEA, which group is responsible for developing a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP)?
A.A multidisciplinary IEP team that includes parents
B.The school principal acting alone without parent input
C.The general education teacher without any team collaboration
D.The state education department writing each student's IEP
Explanation: IDEA requires that the IEP be developed by a team that includes the parents, at least one general education teacher, a special education teacher, an agency representative, someone who can interpret evaluation results, and, when appropriate, the student. Decisions are made collaboratively.
4A parent disagrees with the school's evaluation of their child. Under IDEA procedural safeguards, the parent may request which of the following at public expense?
A.An independent educational evaluation (IEE) at public expense
B.An immediate mandatory transfer to another school district
C.A permanent waiver of all future required assessments
D.A guaranteed special education placement without evaluation
Explanation: IDEA procedural safeguards give parents the right to request an independent educational evaluation at public expense when they disagree with the district's evaluation. The district must either fund the IEE or request a due-process hearing to defend its own evaluation.
5Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act differs from IDEA primarily in that Section 504
A.Broader eligibility with accommodations via a 504 plan, not an IEP
B.Requires an IEP with specially designed instruction for every eligible student
C.Applies only to preschool children under age five in public programs
D.Uses the same 60-day evaluation and annual IEP review timelines as IDEA
Explanation: Section 504 is a civil-rights statute that prohibits disability discrimination and provides accommodations through a 504 plan to any student with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. Its eligibility is broader than IDEA's 13 categories and it does not require specially designed instruction.
6The 1975 law (originally the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now IDEA) is historically significant because it
A.First guaranteed public education for children with disabilities
B.Ended all separate special education classrooms nationwide
C.Created standardized state achievement tests for all students
D.Eliminated parental consent requirements for evaluation
Explanation: Public Law 94-142 (1975) was the first federal law to guarantee a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities, who had previously often been excluded from public schools. It established the foundational principles later carried into IDEA.
7Which practice best reflects culturally responsive special education when evaluating a student from a culturally and linguistically diverse background?
A.Distinguish language difference from disability before eligibility
B.Use only English norm-referenced tests for all evaluations
C.Assume low performance indicates an intellectual disability
D.Exclude the family from the evaluation and IEP process
Explanation: Culturally responsive evaluation requires distinguishing a language difference or limited acculturation from a true disability, using nonbiased assessment, native-language testing when appropriate, and family input. This prevents disproportionate identification of diverse learners.
8A special education teacher wants to collaborate effectively with a general education co-teacher in an inclusive classroom. Which approach best supports this partnership?
A.Share planning, instruction, and assessment through co-teaching
B.Work only with IEP students in a separate area of the classroom
C.Act solely as a classroom aide for the general education teacher
D.Pull all students with disabilities out during core lessons
Explanation: Effective co-teaching involves both teachers sharing planning, instruction, and assessment using models such as team teaching, station teaching, or parallel teaching. This benefits all students and avoids isolating students with disabilities.
9Which characteristic is most commonly associated with a specific learning disability (SLD)?
A.Significant difficulty in one academic area despite adequate instruction
B.Intellectual functioning below 70 across all cognitive domains
C.Inability to hear classroom instruction in typical settings
D.Medical seizure disorder that primarily affects attendance
Explanation: A specific learning disability is a disorder in one or more basic psychological processes that affects a specific area such as reading, writing, or math, despite adequate instruction and intelligence. Dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia are examples.
10Which set of characteristics is most typical of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
A.Inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity affecting functioning
B.Social reciprocity deficits and restricted interests only
C.Below-average adaptive behavior in daily self-care routines
D.Progressive loss of motor function across multiple settings
Explanation: ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development across settings. In schools it is frequently served under other-health-impairment or Section 504.

About the NYSTCE 060 Exam

The NYSTCE Students with Disabilities Content Specialty Test (060) is the New York special education content exam for candidates seeking the Students with Disabilities certification. It measures knowledge of disability characteristics, special education law such as IDEA and Section 504, assessment and IEP development, the learning environment and behavioral interventions, instructional planning and delivery, and teaching communication, social, and functional living skills.

Questions

91 scored questions

Time Limit

3h 30m appointment (3h 15m testing)

Passing Score

520 (scaled)

Exam Fee

$122 (New York State Education Department / Pearson Evaluation Systems)

NYSTCE 060 Exam Content Outline

~12% of selected-response score

Foundations of Special Education

History and philosophy of special education, IDEA, Section 504, FAPE, LRE, child find, procedural safeguards, confidentiality, ethics, and collaboration with families and other professionals.

~12% of selected-response score

Knowledge of Students with Disabilities

Characteristics, causes, and educational impact of IDEA disability categories and how disabilities affect cognitive, academic, social, and emotional development.

~25% of selected-response score

Assessment and Individual Program Planning

Evaluation and eligibility, nonbiased and native-language assessment, present levels, measurable IEP goals, progress monitoring, MTSS/RtI, and transition planning.

~12% of selected-response score

Learning Environment and Behavioral Interventions

Proactive classroom management, PBIS, functional behavioral assessment, behavior intervention plans, de-escalation, and IDEA discipline procedures.

~25% of selected-response score

Instructional Planning and Delivery

Specially designed instruction, UDL, differentiation, scaffolding, accommodations versus modifications, assistive technology, and access to the NYS P-12 Learning Standards.

~12% of selected-response score

Communication, Social, and Functional Living Skills

Teaching communication and AAC, explicit social-skills instruction, functional and independent-living skills, task analysis, self-determination, and community-based instruction.

How to Pass the NYSTCE 060 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 520 (scaled)
  • Exam length: 91 questions
  • Time limit: 3h 30m appointment (3h 15m testing)
  • Exam fee: $122

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 122 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NYSTCE 060 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Distinguish IDEA's 13 disability categories by their defining characteristics, not just their names, because the exam uses scenario-based identification
2Know the IEP process cold: consent, evaluation, eligibility, present levels, measurable goals, services, and LRE placement in that order
3For behavior questions, match the intervention to the function identified by the FBA (attention, escape, tangible, or sensory) rather than to the topography of the behavior
4Separate accommodations (change how a student accesses content) from modifications (change what is learned) and from specially designed instruction
5Practice the constructed response by writing data-grounded recommendations that cite assessment evidence and name research-based strategies
6Review New York specifics such as the CSE process, NYS P-12 Learning Standards, and that placement decisions follow the IEP, not the reverse

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the NYSTCE Students with Disabilities (060) exam?

The current 060 test page lists 90 selected-response items and 1 constructed-response item. Your appointment lasts 3 hours 30 minutes, with 3 hours 15 minutes of actual testing time after the tutorial and nondisclosure agreement.

What passing score do I need for NYSTCE 060?

You need a scaled score of 520 to pass the NYSTCE Students with Disabilities (060) exam. Aim for consistent performance across all six competencies and a strong constructed response rather than estimating a raw-score cutoff.

How much does the NYSTCE 060 exam cost?

The current NYSTCE fee for the Students with Disabilities (060) CST is $122. Always verify the fee in your NYSTCE account at registration in case the testing program updates pricing.

Which NYSTCE 060 competencies are weighted most heavily?

Assessment and Individual Program Planning and Instructional Planning and Delivery carry the most weight, roughly 25% of the selected-response score each. The other four competencies are weighted at about 12% each.

What does the NYSTCE 060 constructed-response question require?

The constructed-response item presents a case study and asks you to analyze the provided data and recommend research-based assessment, instruction, and behavioral or programming strategies for a student with a disability.

How should I study for the NYSTCE 060 effectively?

Study with classroom scenarios, not isolated definitions. Prioritize IDEA and IEP requirements, evaluation and progress monitoring, UDL and differentiation, functional behavioral assessment and behavior plans, and transition planning.