DLM Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield DLM facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What are "testlets" in the context of DLM assessments? → Short, focused sets of questions targeting specific skills
2. What role does the 'linkage level' system play in DLM technology-delivered testlets? → It determines which level of complexity a testlet targets based on student skill data
3. How should you manage time during a timed test? → Divide total time by questions and pace yourself, spending less on easy ones
4. What must an educator complete in the Kite Educator Portal BEFORE a student can begin taking DLM testlets? → The First Contact Survey and student roster enrollment
5. What is the expanded form of 4,052? → 4,000 + 0 + 50 + 2
6. Why is reading the question carefully important? → To avoid misinterpreting what is being asked
7. What is the difference between an element and a compound? → An element is a pure substance; a compound is two or more elements chemically combined
8. Which scenario best illustrates a student demonstrating the DLM skill of 'commenting' as a communication function? → A student points to a dog outside the window and activates a 'dog!' button on their device
9. Which study approach is most effective for Instructional Planning material? → Active recall with practice questions
10. What is the difference between mass and weight? → Mass is the amount of matter; weight is the gravitational force on that matter
11. According to DLM, what is a 'presupposition' skill in communication? → Adjusting the message based on what the listener already knows
12. A jar contains 12 cookies. If 4 children share them equally, how many cookies does each child get? → 3
13. A train travels 60 miles in 1 hour. How far does it travel in 3 hours at the same speed? → 180 miles
14. What is the primary purpose of professional certification in Instructional Planning? → To validate competency and knowledge in the field
15. Which DLM accessibility feature reduces the number of answer options presented to a student on a given item? → Reduced Answer Options
16. Which statement best describes the instructions provided in DLM assessments? → They use simplified language tailored to the student's needs.
17. In DLM, which accessibility feature enlarges all on-screen content, including text and images, system-wide? → Screen Magnification
18. In DLM, which content area would be addressed when a student uses an AAC device to participate in a class discussion about a story? → Speaking and Listening
19. What is the purpose of repeating an experiment multiple times? → To improve reliability and reduce the effect of random errors
20. In DLM, what does a 'Mastered' linkage level node indicate about a student's performance? → The student met the criterion score on the associated testlet
21. An IEP team reviews a student's DLM score report and notices low performance in the Reading content area. What is the most appropriate next step? → Use the data to inform instructional goals targeting reading comprehension skills
22. A DLM student demonstrates understanding of place value by grouping objects into tens and ones. This skill is part of which content area? → Number and Operations
23. Which unit of measurement is part of the International System of Units (SI) used in science? → Meters
24. Which of the following best demonstrates science literacy in everyday life? → Evaluating the evidence behind a news story about a new medical treatment
25. What is the most effective study technique according to research? → Active recall with spaced repetition
26. What should you do when encountering a difficult question? → Mark it, move on, and return to it later
27. Which DLM ELA content area would assess a student's ability to identify the main idea of an informational text? → Reading
28. At the Target linkage level in DLM ELA reading, what type of task might a student be expected to perform? → Answer questions about key details or main ideas of a grade-appropriate text
29. A student earns $4 per hour babysitting. How much does she earn in 7 hours? → $28
30. When should you change an answer on a test? → Only when you have a clear reason the new answer is better