Development: drawing: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Pediatrics · Development: drawing

Sample item

A child copies a circle but cannot copy a square. Which age does this correspond to?

A2 yearsB3 yearsC5 yearsD4 years

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. 3 years

The sequence is a vertical line at 2 years, circle at 3, cross at 3.5 to 4, square at 4, and triangle at 5 years. The square is copied by about 4 years. A child who copies a circle but not a square is therefore around 3 years.

Option by option

A. 2 years
At 2 years a child copies only a vertical line.
B. 3 years (correct)
Correct. Circle is copied at 3 years.
C. 5 years
A 5-year-old copies a triangle.
D. 4 years
A 4-year-old copies a square.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, 3 years. The sequence is a vertical line at 2 years, circle at 3, cross at 3.

Why is "2 years" not the answer?

At 2 years a child copies only a vertical line.

Why is "5 years" not the answer?

A 5-year-old copies a triangle.

Why is "4 years" not the answer?

A 4-year-old copies a square.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Development: drawing in Pediatrics. 5 to 4, square at 4, and triangle at 5 years. The square is copied by about 4 years. A child who copies a circle but not a square is therefore around 3 years.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Development: drawing?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.