How many questions are on this free CDA practice test?

This UniPrep2Go practice test has 60 multiple-choice questions timed against a 75-minute target. The free first attempt is a 25-question / 31-minute diagnostic with the same topic weights; the full session runs on Mock Pass. Independent diagnostic on CDA Competency Standards themes. Official CDA Exam (Council for Professional Recognition, Pearson VUE): 65 multiple-choice questions (60 standard + 5 photo scenarios), 1 hour 45 minutes, pass/fail with no published cut score. This UniPrep2Go mock is 60 questions / 75 minutes / 70% readiness target. Not Council exam material.

Why is the free CDA practice test 25 questions?

It is a diagnostic: 25 questions drawn by the same topic weights as the full 60-question mock — enough to rank your weakest topics, short enough to finish in 31 minutes in one sitting. With 1–6 questions per topic it is a quick read, not a verdict; for a full-length timed score, run the 60-question / 75-minute mock.

What do I get for $5?

The UniPrep2Go Mock Pass: 5 full timed attempts on any UniPrep2Go mock, including the 60-question CDA Childcare session, in Exam or Learn mode. It is a one-time Gumroad license key that works on any device — no subscription. Every attempt ends with the full topic report and answer review.

What score do you need on this CDA practice test?

The pass target on this practice test is 70%. Your report also breaks down performance by topic so you can see weak areas before the real exam.

Where can I take a CDA practice test online?

UniPrep2Go hosts the Free Child Development Associate (CDA) Practice Test at https://uniprep2go.study/mock-exams/cda-childcare-readiness-check with a timed runner and full readiness report.

Is this official exam material?

No. This is an independent readiness diagnostic from UniPrep2Go. It is not official exam-board material and does not award certification or guarantee a passing score.

What does the report show after the mock?

Your report shows a pass/no-pass verdict with explanation, topic diagnosis, pacing notes, full question review with explanations, and a repair plan that links to the Anki deck waitlist for spaced-repetition practice when the .apkg ships.

Where do the questions come from?

Original UniPrep2Go local bank (Wave 2).

Early childhood education · timed practice test · free 25-question / 31-minute diagnostic · Council for Professional Recognition

Free Child Development Associate (CDA) Practice Test

Free 25-question diagnostic, then $5 for 5 full attempts · no signup

Start free 25-question diagnostic Mock Pass · $5 for 5 attempts

UniPrep2Go's free CDA practice test is a 25-question, 31-minute timed diagnostic with a free topic report and answer review — no email, no account. The full mock is 60 questions / 75 minutes on the $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (5 attempts on any mock).

Official-source aligned. Topic weights, timing, and pass rules follow published Council for Professional Recognition (CDA) outlines. Questions are original UniPrep2Go study aids — not leaked official items. Verify on the official site ↗

Loading timed practice test…

Questions: 25 free · 60 full
Time: 31 min free · 75 min full
UniPrep2Go readiness target: 70%
Domains: 4
Exam body: Council for Professional Recognition
Status: Live · free 25-question / 31-minute diagnostic

CDA Childcare practice test study cluster

Early childhood education · Council for Professional Recognition

CDA practice test

Free 25-question diagnostic · 31 min · full 60Q on Mock Pass

Sample CDA Childcare practice questions

These sample items mirror the domains in the timed CDA Childcare mock. Correct answers and explanations unlock inside the practice session.

Sample 1
A family child care provider is setting fine motor goals for the 5-year-olds in her group. Which skill are most children this age learning to do?
- A. Pick up small cereal pieces with a thumb and finger
- B. Write full sentences in neat cursive handwriting
- C. Cut on a line and print some letters of their name
- D. Scribble on big paper while gripping with a fist
Sample 2
A preschool teacher is planning next month's curriculum for a group of 4- and 5-year-olds. Which approach best reflects developmentally appropriate program planning?
- A. Follow a set worksheet sequence so each child covers the same letters weekly
- B. Plan around a kindergarten readiness checklist and drill the skills children lack
- C. Build on children's observed interests with hands-on activities across domains
- D. Let children choose freely through the day without teacher-planned goals
Sample 3
A teacher sits beside a 2-year-old who is stacking blocks and says, "You put the red block on top. Now it's so tall!" Which language strategy is she using?
- A. Self-talk, describing her own actions as she works
- B. Open-ended questioning to stretch the child's thinking
- C. Expansion, adding grammar to what the child just said
- D. Parallel talk, describing what the child is doing
Sample 4
A family child care provider is serving lunch to a mixed-age group that includes an 18-month-old. Which way of serving food is safest for the toddler?
- A. Slice the hot dogs into thin, round coins
- B. Serve whole grapes, since they are soft
- C. Offer popcorn instead of raw carrot sticks
- D. Cut the grapes lengthwise into quarters
Sample 5
A director suggests that 4-year-olds complete tracing worksheets each morning to get their hands ready for writing. Which plan gives children more effective fine motor practice?
- A. Longer worksheet sessions with dotted lines that fade out
- B. Play dough, tongs, puzzles, and stringing beads
- C. A daily video that models the correct pencil grip to copy
- D. Copying letters from the board while seated at tables

What is the Child Development Associate (CDA) exam?

The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential™ from the Council for Professional Recognition is the most widely recognized entry credential in early childhood education. Candidates complete 120 hours of training, a Professional Portfolio, the computer-based CDA Exam at Pearson VUE, and — unless a qualifying exam result waives it — a Verification Visit with a CDA Professional Development Specialist. Settings include Preschool, Infant-Toddler, Family Child Care, Home Visitor, and center-based Birth to Five. This is the childcare CDA, not the dental assistant (DANB) CDA.

Administered by: Council for Professional Recognition (CDA Exam delivered by Pearson VUE) (official site ↗)

Official format: Official CDA Exam: 65 multiple-choice questions (60 standard + 5 scenario questions with a short narrative and photo), up to 1 hour 45 minutes inside a 2-hour appointment, English or Spanish. Unanswered questions count as wrong. Results are pass/fail; the Council does not publish a numeric cut score. This UniPrep2Go check is a 60-question / 75-minute diagnostic (free 25-question version) with a 70% readiness target and topic scoring — not a Council exam form.

Who this exam is for

Early childhood teachers, assistant teachers, family child care providers, and home visitors working toward a first CDA or a new setting — especially candidates who received a Ready to Schedule notice and want a timed check of the CDA Functional Areas before booking Pearson VUE.

How to prepare

1) Re-read the CDA Competency Standards book for your setting — the exam tests the 13 Functional Areas through practical classroom choices. 2) Work through the Council's free sample exam questions for your setting. 3) Take this 60-question timed check (free 25-question version) and note your weakest of the four topic groups. 4) Review those areas with real examples from your own classroom and portfolio. 5) Answer every question on exam day — blanks are scored as wrong.

Confirm current fees, eligibility, and scheduling with Council for Professional Recognition (CDA) before you book the real exam.

Topic outline

Core domains candidates usually study for CDA Childcare: Safe & healthy learning, Physical & cognitive development, Social, emotional & communication, Families & professional practice.

Safe & healthy learning
Competency Standard I: safe sleep, hand hygiene, medication and allergy plans, supervision, nutrition, and room arrangement.
Physical & cognitive development
Functional Areas 4, 5 and 7: motor milestones, problem solving, early math and science, process art, and inclusion.
Social, emotional & communication
Functional Areas 6, 8, 9 and 10: language and literacy, dual language learners, self-concept, feelings, and positive guidance.
Families & professional practice
Competency Standards IV–VI: family partnerships, observation records, program management, confidentiality, and mandated reporting.

About this free CDA practice test

A 60-question / 75-minute CDA practice test (free 25-question version) built from classroom scenarios — safe sleep, positive guidance, family conferences, observation records — with a score for each of four CDA competency groups. The official Council for Professional Recognition CDA Exam is 65 questions (60 + 5 photo scenarios) in 1 hour 45 minutes at Pearson VUE, scored pass/fail.

Built for: Early childhood teachers, family child care providers, and home visitors preparing for the CDA Exam who want a timed check of the CDA Functional Areas before booking Pearson VUE.

Topics on this practice test: Safe & healthy learning, Physical & cognitive development, Social, emotional & communication, Families & professional practice.

60 timed multiple-choice questions
75-minute pacing target
UniPrep2Go readiness target: 70% with topic breakdown
Full answer review after you submit

Your first UniPrep2Go attempt is free: a 25-question timed diagnostic on any exam (Exam or Learn mode, no signup) with the full topic report. Full-length mocks and retakes run on a $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (Gumroad license key): 5 attempts on any mock. After your score, join the linked Anki deck waitlist for the .apkg when it ships.

Join the CDA Childcare Anki waitlist

CDA practice test — quick answers

What is the CDA credential?

CDA is a national early childhood credential from the Council for Professional Recognition verifying competency to work with young children in center-based, family child care, or home visitor settings.

How many questions are on the CDA Exam and how long is it?

The CDA Exam has 65 multiple-choice questions — 60 standard questions and 5 scenario questions with a short story and photo. You have up to 1 hour 45 minutes; the Pearson VUE appointment is 2 hours including instructions.

What score do you need to pass the CDA Exam?

The CDA Exam is reported as pass/fail and the Council does not publish a numeric passing score. A strong exam result can also waive the Verification Visit, so aim well above a bare pass.

Is this UniPrep2Go check the official CDA Exam?

No. It is an independent 60-question timed diagnostic mapped to CDA Competency Standards themes. The Council publishes free official sample questions for each setting — use both.

Is there a free CDA practice test?

Yes — your first UniPrep2Go attempt is free, and it can be this one: a 25-question / 31-minute timed diagnostic drawn by the same topic weights, a 70% readiness target, topic scoring, and a full answer review report. No signup, Exam or Learn mode. The full 60-question / 75-minute mock runs on the $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (5 attempts on any mock).

How many free attempts do I get on this CDA practice test?

One. Your first UniPrep2Go attempt is free: a 25-question timed diagnostic on any exam (Exam or Learn mode, no signup) with the full topic report. Full-length mocks and retakes run on a $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (Gumroad license key): 5 attempts on any mock. Every attempt ends with the full topic report and answer review — the report itself is never paywalled.

More FAQAdditional format, scoring, and disclaimer questions

How many questions are on this free CDA practice test?: This UniPrep2Go practice test has 60 multiple-choice questions timed against a 75-minute target. The free first attempt is a 25-question / 31-minute diagnostic with the same topic weights; the full session runs on Mock Pass. Independent diagnostic on CDA Competency Standards themes. Official CDA Exam (Council for Professional Recognition, Pearson VUE): 65 multiple-choice questions (60 standard + 5 photo scenarios), 1 hour 45 minutes, pass/fail with no published cut score. This UniPrep2Go mock is 60 questions / 75 minutes / 70% readiness target. Not Council exam material.
Why is the free CDA practice test 25 questions?: It is a diagnostic: 25 questions drawn by the same topic weights as the full 60-question mock — enough to rank your weakest topics, short enough to finish in 31 minutes in one sitting. With 1–6 questions per topic it is a quick read, not a verdict; for a full-length timed score, run the 60-question / 75-minute mock.
What do I get for $5?: The UniPrep2Go Mock Pass: 5 full timed attempts on any UniPrep2Go mock, including the 60-question CDA Childcare session, in Exam or Learn mode. It is a one-time Gumroad license key that works on any device — no subscription. Every attempt ends with the full topic report and answer review.
What score do you need on this CDA practice test?: The pass target on this practice test is 70%. Your report also breaks down performance by topic so you can see weak areas before the real exam.
Who should take this CDA practice test?: Early childhood teachers, family child care providers, and home visitors preparing for the CDA Exam who want a timed check of the CDA Functional Areas before booking Pearson VUE.
Where can I take a CDA practice test online?: UniPrep2Go hosts the Free Child Development Associate (CDA) Practice Test at https://uniprep2go.study/mock-exams/cda-childcare-readiness-check with a timed runner and full readiness report.
Is this official exam material?: No. This is an independent readiness diagnostic from UniPrep2Go. It is not official exam-board material and does not award certification or guarantee a passing score.
What does the report show after the mock?: Your report shows a pass/no-pass verdict with explanation, topic diagnosis, pacing notes, full question review with explanations, and a repair plan that links to the Anki deck waitlist for spaced-repetition practice when the .apkg ships.
Where do the questions come from?: Original UniPrep2Go local bank (Wave 2).