Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Special Education Practice Exam

In which specific areas do students with learning disabilities most often show difficulties?

1. Physical education and art

2. Reading, writing, or mathematics

3. Social skills and emotional regulation

4. Science and history

The correct answer is: Reading, writing, or mathematics

Students with learning disabilities typically demonstrate difficulties primarily in academic areas that involve processing and application of language and numbers. This is particularly evident in reading, writing, and mathematics, which require strong cognitive skills such as decoding, comprehension, and numerical operations. Reading challenges may include difficulties with phonemic awareness, fluency, and comprehension, making it hard for students to fully understand texts. Writing issues often involve problems with organizing thoughts, grammar, and spelling, which can impact the ability to convey ideas effectively. In mathematics, students may struggle with number sense, problem-solving, and understanding mathematical concepts. These difficulties are intrinsic to learning disabilities, where specific cognitive processing deficits hinder the acquisition of skills in these core academic areas. This is why the correct answer highlights reading, writing, and mathematics as the primary domains affected for students with learning disabilities.