BIOLOGY STATE TEST REVIEW
TO: Biology I Students
FROM: Ms Burrell
RE: STATE TEST REVIEW
Review for the state test will begin Wednesday, April 13 and continue until May 10. The state test is
scheduled for May 11. Six competencies will be assessed on the state test. We will cover practice
questions for each of the competencies and the objectives that comprise that particular competency
during class and you will then be assigned homework.
Competency To Be Assessed
I. Inquiry (safety rules, symbols, use of microscope, use of lab
equipment, scientific method, analyzing graphs, and making
predictions)
2. Biochemical Basis of Life (ionic and covalent bonds, atomic
structure, properties of water, pH scale, acids, bases, four organic
macromolecules, enzymes, ATP, photosynthesis, cellular
respiration)
3. Living Organisms and Their Environment ( major biomes, food
chains, food webs, interrelationships between organisms)
4. Biological Organization (prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, major
organelles of the cell, cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis, asexual
reproduction, sexual reproduction, levels of organization, vascular
plants vs nonvascular plants)
5. Heredity (DNA, RNA, replication, transcription, translation, codon
chart, monhybrid, dihybrid, incomplete dominance, codominance,
sex-linked, multiple alleles, genotype, phenotype, pedigree,
karyotype, gel electrophoresis, mutations, genetic disorders)
6. Diversity and Biological Change (six kingdoms, levels of taxons,
evolutionary processes and patterns, scientists – Darwin, Malthus,
Wallace, Lamark, and Lyell- chemical evolution)
Number of Score
Multiple Choices
Items
7
7
11
14
14
7
TOTAL NUMBER OF CORE/ SCORABLE MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS
60*
TOTAL NUMBER OF FIELD –TEST MULTIPLE CHOICE ITEMS
10**
TOTAL NUMBER OF ITEMS ON THE TEST
70
* A STUDENT’S SCORE IS BASES ONLY ON 60 SCORES ITEMS
** THE FIELD TEST ITMES ARE EMBEDDED THROUGHOUT THE TEST. FIELD TEST ITEMS ARE NOT
INCLUDED IN A STUDENTS’ SCORE.
It is very important that you are here ready to begin each class period with the mindset that you are
preparing for a test that will determine if you receive your high school diploma. It is extremely important
that you are not absent from school unless absolutely necessary.
We will begin each class period reviewing and discussing practice questions for each particular
competency to be assessed on the state test. It is important that you make annotations and notes on your
copy of the questions as we complete these together. You will then complete a set of questions for
homework that will reinforce the competency discussed in class. You will follow the calendar and the
spreadsheet you have been given. The individual objectives (refer to the excel spreadsheet) will be
counted as individual formative homework grades that will then be averaged together as one individual
homework for that particular competency. The averaged individual homework grades for each
competency will then be averaged as a summative state test review grade.
For example –
Competency 1 has 7 individual objectives (1a – 1g). You will therefore receive 7 formative homework
grades (one for each objective) that will be averaged together and placed in the grade book as
Competency 1 Homework.
Competency 2 has 7 individual objectives (2a -2g). You will therefore receive 7 formative homework
grades (one for each objective) that will be averaged together and placed in the grade book as
Competency 2 Homework
Competency 3 has 3 individual objectives (3a – 3c). You will therefore receive 3 individual homework
grades that will be averaged together and placed in the grade book as Competency 3 Homework.
Competency 4 has 4 individual objectives (4a – 4d). You will therefore receive 4 individual homework
grades that will be averaged together and placed in the grade book as Competency 4 Homework.
Competency 5 has 4 individual objectives (5a – 5d). You will therefore receive 4 individual homework
grades that will be averaged together and placed in the grade book as Competency 5 Homework.
Competency 6 has 5 individual objectives (6a – 6e). You will therefore receive 5 individual homework
grades that will be averaged together and placed in the grade book as Competency 6 Homework.
One major summative grade will be placed in the grade book that will consist of the average of all 6
Competency Homework grades.
DUE DATES ARE LISTED ON THE SPREADSHEET THAT ACCOMPANIES THIS SET OF INSTRUCTIONS.
ALL OF THE ASSIGNMENTS WILL CLOSE ON MAY 13
If you are not clear about these instructions then you need to come see me during A1 or B4.