Examination Practice Questions And

Illinois Instructional Coach Certification Examination Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

• Which of the following best describes the primary role of an

instructional coach?

• Designing district-wide curriculum
• Evaluating teacher performance
• Supporting teachers in improving instructional practices
• Supervising classroom management

Rationale: The instructional coach’s main role is to support teachers in

refining instructional strategies to improve student outcomes, rather than performing administrative evaluations or curriculum design. 1 / 4

• What is the most effective approach for an instructional coach to help

a teacher implement new instructional strategies?

• Observing once and providing feedback via email
• Modeling the strategy, co-teaching, and reflecting with the

teacher

• Giving the teacher a list of strategies to choose from
• Requiring the teacher to attend professional development

workshops

Rationale: Research shows that modeling and collaborative reflection help

teachers integrate new strategies into practice more effectively than passive approaches.

• When analyzing student assessment data, which action is most aligned

with instructional coaching?

• Reporting the scores to administration
• Using data to identify instructional gaps and plan targeted support
• Ranking students based on performance
• Sharing data publicly without context

Rationale: Instructional coaches use data to guide instructional planning

and improve student learning, rather than for ranking or public reporting.

• An instructional coach observes a teacher struggling with classroom

engagement. Which strategy should the coach implement first?

• Suggest using more technology
• Collaboratively identify specific engagement strategies and model 2 / 4

them

• Refer the teacher to the principal
• Provide the teacher with a research article

Rationale: Collaborative problem-solving and modeling engagement

strategies is more effective than passive suggestions or referrals.

• Which of the following best represents formative assessment?
• State standardized test
• Exit tickets at the end of a lesson
• End-of-year benchmark test
• College entrance exam

Rationale: Formative assessments are designed to provide immediate

feedback during instruction to inform teaching and learning.

6. In a coaching cycle, the first step typically is:

• Observing the teacher
• Modeling instruction
• Identifying goals and needs collaboratively with the teacher
• Collecting student data

Rationale: Establishing goals and identifying needs sets the foundation for

an effective coaching cycle.

• Which of the following coaching strategies encourages reflective

practice?

• Providing scripted lessons 3 / 4

• Asking open-ended questions about instructional decisions
• Giving multiple-choice quizzes to teachers
• Assigning professional readings

Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage teachers to analyze their own

practice and reflect critically.

• When supporting teachers with differentiated instruction, an

instructional coach should:

• Recommend one standardized lesson plan
• Help teachers modify instruction to meet diverse learners’ needs
• Focus only on high-achieving students
• Limit the use of formative assessment

Rationale: Differentiated instruction requires tailoring teaching to the

diverse needs of learners, supported by the coach.

• Which is an effective way to build trust with teachers as a coach?
• Making all instructional decisions
• Critiquing teachers publicly
• Listening actively and providing nonjudgmental support
• Replacing teacher practices with coach strategies

Rationale: Trust is built when coaches listen and provide support without

judgment, fostering collaboration.

• Professional learning communities (PLCs) are most effective

when they:

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