Test Design and 
Test Framework

Field 239: Science: Biology

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The test design below describes general test information. The framework that follows is a detailed outline that explains the knowledge and skills that this test measures.

Test Design

Format Computer-based test (CBT)
Number of Questions 100 multiple-choice questions
Time* 3 hours, 15 minutes
Passing Score 240

*Does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial

Test Framework

Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.



Test Subarea Number of Test Objectives Number of Scorable Items Number of Non-Scorable Items subarea weight as percent of total test score
Subarea 1—Science Process Skills 3 18 5 23 percent
Subarea 2—Disciplinary Core Ideas 5 30 7 37 percent
Subarea 3—Biochemistry, Cells, and Energetics 2 9 2 11 percent
Subarea 4—Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Evolution 3 14 4 18 percent
Subarea 5—Ecology and the Unity and Diversity of Life 2 9 2 11 percent
Totals 15 80 20 100 percent

Subarea 1—Science Process Skills

0001—Understand practices of science and engineering.

For example:

0002—Understand crosscutting concepts and their applications across science and engineering disciplines.

For example:

0003—Understand the process of reading, and apply knowledge of strategies for promoting students' reading development in the science classroom.

For example:

Subarea 2—Disciplinary Core Ideas

0004—Understand the disciplinary core ideas of chemistry.

For example:

0005—Understand the disciplinary core ideas of physics.

For example:

0006—Understand the disciplinary core ideas of biology.

For example:

0007—Understand the disciplinary core ideas of Earth and space science.

For example:

0008—Understand the disciplinary core ideas of environmental science.

For example:

Subarea 3—Biochemistry, Cells, and Energetics

0009—Understand biochemistry and energetics.

For example:

0010—Understand cells and cell biology.

For example:

Subarea 4—Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Evolution

0011—Understand molecular biology.

For example:

0012—Understand genetics and patterns of inheritance.

For example:

0013—Understand biological evolution.

For example:

Subarea 5—Ecology and the Unity and Diversity of Life

0014—Understand ecology.

For example:

0015—Understand the unity and diversity of life.

For example: