OAE Practice Test

What the OAE is and how it works

According to Ohio Department of Education and Workforce / Pearson, “Computer-based test (CBT) and online-proctored test; 150 multiple-choice questions”^[1]

The OAE Early Childhood Education exam was part of the Ohio Assessments for Educators, which are run for the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce by Pearson. It was designed to check whether a candidate had the knowledge needed to teach young children. The official test page now states: "This assessment has retired." That means it is no longer offered, so you cannot register for it.

When it was available, the exam was computer-based and could be taken at a test center or with an online proctor. It contained 150 multiple-choice questions with 3 hours of testing time, and the fee was $109. All of those details describe the retired test only.

We do not have a verified passing score, retake rule or eligibility requirement to report, so we are not going to guess at them. Licensure requirements can also change and may differ depending on your situation. If you are working toward an Ohio early childhood license today, check the official Ohio Assessments for Educators site and the Department of Education and Workforce for the current exam and rules that apply to you.

The practice sets below are still useful as a review of early childhood content: development, literacy, curriculum, assessment, family partnership and professional practice. They are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions.

OAE Exam at a Glance

What changed for OAE in 2026

• Oct 28, 2026: Testing window changed to Retired; appointments were available through June 30, 2024 (previously Retired; last administration June 30, 2024).

OAE content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official OAE content outline published by Ohio Department of Education and Workforce / Pearson, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through OAE questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: When designing classroom rules with preschoolers, the MOST effective approach is to:

1. Post rules written entirely by the teacher
2. State rules in the negative (e.g., 'No hitting')
3. Involve children in creating positively stated rules and display them with pictures
4. Limit rules to one per week to avoid confusion

Answer: C. Involve children in creating positively stated rules and display them with pictures

Explanation:

The correct answer is to involve children in creating positively stated rules and display them with pictures. When children help shape the rules, they understand them better and feel responsible for them, and pictures let children who cannot yet read follow along.

Rules written entirely by the teacher give children no ownership. Rules stated in the negative, such as 'No hitting', tell children what to avoid but not what to do instead. Limiting rules to a slow rollout is not a recognised strategy and leaves children without clear expectations.

General rule to remember: for young children, choose expectations that are shared, positive, simple and visible.

Example 2

Question: A kindergarten teacher collects samples of each child's work over the school year, including drawings, writing attempts, photos of constructions, and transcribed conversations. These items are compiled to show growth and development over time. This form of assessment is best described as a:

1. Standardized test
2. Running record
3. Summative checklist
4. Portfolio

Answer: D. Portfolio

Explanation:

The correct answer is a portfolio. A portfolio is a purposeful collection of a child's work gathered over time, such as drawings, writing attempts, photos and transcribed conversations, so it shows growth rather than a single moment.

A standardized test measures performance on a fixed task under set conditions and does not gather everyday work. A running record documents a specific reading behavior as it happens. A summative checklist sums up skills at an end point and does not collect samples of actual work.

General rule to remember: when a question describes work samples gathered across the school year to show progress, think portfolio.

Example 3

Question: A lead teacher observes that a child consistently avoids the snack table, eats very little, and appears lethargic. What is the MOST appropriate first step?

1. Force the child to eat to ensure adequate nutrition
2. Document observations and communicate concerns to the family and health consultant
3. Give the child extra snacks to compensate for missed meals
4. Assume the child is a picky eater and take no action

Answer: B. Document observations and communicate concerns to the family and health consultant

Explanation:

The correct answer is to document observations and communicate concerns to the family and health consultant. Avoiding food and appearing lethargic may point to a health or developmental issue, so the teacher should record what is seen and share it with the people who can follow up.

Forcing a child to eat can harm the child's relationship with food and does not address the cause. Giving extra snacks treats the symptom without understanding it. Assuming the child is a picky eater and doing nothing ignores a pattern that deserves attention.

General rule to remember: observe, record, and involve the family and the right professionals before acting on a guess.

How to use these practice tests

Because the official test has retired, treat this as content review rather than preparation for a specific sitting. Start by reading the four official content areas listed above and rating how comfortable you feel with each. Spend your first sessions on the area you rated lowest.

Work through the matching practice set for that area, and read every explanation, including for questions you answered correctly. When you miss a question, write down the principle behind the right answer in your own words, not just the correct letter. Then move to the topic sets for observation and assessment, learning environments and play, family and community collaboration, and health, safety and nutrition.

Once you have covered each area, mix the sets together so that you practise switching between topics, as a real exam would require. Review your written notes before each mixed session and look for patterns in what you keep missing.

Alongside the practice, read the current official material from the Ohio Assessments for Educators site and the Department of Education and Workforce, so that you know which exam your licensure path asks for today.

Sources & last verified

1. Ohio Department of Education and Workforce / Pearson — number of questions, time limit, exam fee, delivery (official source). “Computer-based test (CBT) and online-proctored test; 150 multiple-choice questions” Verified Oct 28, 2026.
2. Ohio Department of Education and Workforce / Pearson — other (official source). “child development and learning 0001&ndash 0003 21%” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.