Biology EOC Test Structure

Description / Number of Items / Score Points / Administration Time
Session 1 / Multiple-Choice / 23 / 23 / 40 minutes
Session 2 / Short-Answer / 2 / 4 / 20 minutes
Session 3 / Multiple-Choice / 23 / 23 / 40 minutes
TOTAL / 48 / 50 / 100 minutes
Strand or Component / Approximate
Percentage
LIFE SCIENCE / The Cell (GLEs 1 – 6) / 11%
The Molecular Basis of Heredity (GLEs 7 – 13) / 11%
Biological Evolution (GLEs 14 – 22) / 11%
Inter-dependence of Organisms (GLEs 23 – 27) / 8%
Matter, Energy, & Organization of Living Systems (GLEs 28 – 31) / 8%
Systems and the Behavior of Organisms (GLEs 32 – 36) / 11%
Personal and Community Health (GLEs 37 – 42) / 10%
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE / 12%
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY / 18%
Total / 100%
Use of Calculator, Scratch Paper, Online Tools, and Typing Help
·  Calculators—No calculators will be allowed. Items that require calculations will use simple numbers.
·  Scratch paper—Students will be allowed to use scratch paper provided by the test administrator.
·  Online tools—No online tools will be provided.
·  Typing help—Keystrokes for special symbols are described in the Assessment Guide on Page 17, Table 8.
Science as Inquiry GLEs Excluded from the EOC Biology Assessment
SI 2 / Describe how investigations can be observation, description, literature survey, classification, or experimentation.
SI 6 / Use technology when appropriate to enhance laboratory investigations and presentations of findings.
SI 12 / Cite evidence that scientific investigations are conducted for many different reasons.
GLEs NOT assessed on Short-Answer
Earth and Space Science and Science as Inquiry will NOT be assessed on Short-Answer
LS 1 / Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
LS 6 / Analyze a diagram of a developing zygote to determine when cell differentiation occurs
LS 12 / Describe the processes used in modern biotechnology related to genetic engineering
LS 13 / Identify possible positive and negative effects of advances in biotechnology
LS 15 / Compare the embryological development of animals in different phyla
LS 17 / Explain how factors affect gene frequency in a population over time
LS 18 / Classify organisms from different kingdoms at several taxonomic levels, using a dichotomous key
LS 21 / Compare the structures, functions, and cycles of viruses to those of cells
LS 22 / Describe the role of viruses in causing diseases and conditions (e.g., AIDS, common colds, smallpox, influenza, warts)
LS 28 / Explain why ecosystems require a continuous input of energy from the Sun
LS 37 / Explain how fitness and health maintenance can result in a longer human life span
LS 40 / Determine the relationship between vaccination and immunity

General Scoring Rubric – Short Answer Items

Score Level / Description of Score Level
2 / ·  The student’s response provides a complete and correct answer.
1 / ·  The student’s response is partially correct.
·  The student’s response demonstrates limited awareness or contains errors.
0 / ·  The student’s response is totally incorrect, irrelevant, too minimal to evaluate, or blank.