How many items are in a Life Science: Biology question cluster?

Released Life Science: Biology clusters run 4 to 6 items, most often 5. About 61% of items are multiple choice.

How does a Life Science: Biology cluster refer to its figures?

Life Science: Biology does not number its figures. Clusters introduce artwork positionally, for example "The model below shows..." — writing "Figure 1" in this course is a tell that a cluster is not authentic.

How long is the stimulus in a Life Science: Biology cluster?

Measured across released Life Science: Biology exams, the stimulus runs 39 to 222 words, with a median of 94.

New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards

Life Science: Biology

The 25 performance expectations on the NYSED Life Science: Biology course map, including 1 unique to New York State. Each links to the official statement, its clarification statement and assessment boundary, and the three dimensions it assesses.

Cluster format on the Life Science: Biology exam

Measured from released Life Science: Biology examinations — these conventions differ by course, and three of them are not what a chemistry-trained eye would guess.

Items per cluster: 4–6 (typically 5)
Multiple choice: 61% of items
Stimulus length: 39–222 words (median 94)
Figure references: Positional — “the model below”

Framing line, verbatim

Base your answers to questions 1 through 5 on the information below and on your knowledge of Life Science: Biology.

Performance expectations by topic

Structure and Function

Inheritance and Variation of Traits

Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

Natural Selection and Evolution

Earth's Systems

HS-ESS2-6Quantitative Carbon CycleDevelop a quantitative model to describe the cycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

Common questions

How many items are in a Life Science: Biology question cluster?: Released Life Science: Biology clusters run 4 to 6 items, most often 5. About 61% of items are multiple choice.
How does a Life Science: Biology cluster refer to its figures?: Life Science: Biology does not number its figures. Clusters introduce artwork positionally, for example "The model below shows..." — writing "Figure 1" in this course is a tell that a cluster is not authentic.
How long is the stimulus in a Life Science: Biology cluster?: Measured across released Life Science: Biology exams, the stimulus runs 39 to 222 words, with a median of 94.