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Keystone
BIOLOGY
Exam
Study
Guide
,
INTRODUCTION
This study guide is designed to help students prepare to take the Biology Keystone Exam
(BKE). This study guide provides information about the BKE, tips on how to prepare for
it, and some suggested strategies students can use to perform their best.
What are the Keystone Exams? The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments
designed to assess proficiency in various subjects. During the 2012-2013 school year the
following Keystone Exams will be available: Algebra I, Literature and Biology. In future
years, pending funding, additional Keystone Exams will be administered.
The Keystone Exams are one component of Pennsylvania’s proposed system of high school
graduation requirements. Keystone Exams will help school districts guide students toward
meeting state standards.
Since the introduction of the Keystone Exams, the Pennsylvania Department of Education
(PDE) has been working to create a set of tools designed to help educators improve
instructional practices and better understand the Keystone Exams. The Assessment Anchors,
as defined by the Eligible Content, are one of the many tools the Department believes will
better align curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices throughout the
Commonwealth. Without this alignment, it will not be possible to significantly improve
student achievement across the Commonwealth.
Getting started: The HOW TO USE THE STUDY GUIDE section on page 2 outlines the
contents in each section, lists the materials you should have available as you study for
the BKE, and suggests some steps for preparing for the Biology Keystone.
Some
pages
were
modified
from
the
Georgia
State
Dept.
of
Education
Biology
Study
Guide
with
permission
,
HOW TO U SE THE STUDY
HOW TO USE THE S TUDY GUIDE
This study guide is designed to help you
prepare to take the Biology Keystone. It
will give you valuable information about
the BKE, explain how to prepare to take GET IT TOGETHER
the BKE, and provide some opportunities In order to make the most of this
to practice for the BKE. The study guide study guide, you should have the
is organized into three sections. Each following:
section focuses on a different aspect of the
BKE.
Materials:
The OVERVIEW OF THE BKE section on * This study guide
page 4 gives information about the test: * Pen or pencil
dates, time, question format, and number of * Paper
questions that will be on the Biology * Highlighter
Keystone. Resources:
This information can help you better
understand the testing situation and what you
* Dictionary
will be asked to do. * Biology textbook
* A teacher or other adult
The PREPARING FOR THE BKE section that Study Space:
begins on page 5 provides helpful
information on study skills and general test- * Comfortable (but not too
comfortable)
taking skills and strategies. It explains how to
prepare before taking the test and what to do
* Good lighting
during the test to ensure the best test-taking * Minimal distractions
situation possible. * Enough work space
Time Commitment:
The TEST CONTENT section that begins on * When are you going to study?
page 11 explains more specifically what the * How long are you going to
Biology Keystone measures. When you study?
know the test content and how you will be
asked to demonstrate your knowledge, you Determination:
will be better prepared for the BKE. This * Willingness to improve
section also contains some test-taking * Plan for meeting goals
strategies for successfully answering
questions on the BKE.
With some time, determination, and guided
preparation, you will be better prepared to
take the Biology Keystone.
3
,
HOW TO U SE THE STUDY
SUGGESTED STEPS FOR USING THIS STUDY GUIDE
1. Familiarize yourself with the structure and purpose
of the study guide. (You should have already read the
I NTRODUCTION and HOW TO USE THE STUDY GUIDE. Take a
few minutes to look through the rest of the study guide
to become familiar with how it is arranged.)
2. Learn about the test and the
expectations for performance. (Read O
VERVIEW OF THE BKE.)
3. Improve your study skills and test-
taking strategies. (Read PREPARING FOR
THE BKE.)
4. Learn what the test will assess by studying the standards
in each module. Also, study the strategies for answering
questions that assess the standards in the module.
(Read TEST CONTENT.)
5. Answer the sample questions at the end of each
module section. Check your answers against the
annotated answers to see how well you did. (See TEST
CONTENT.)
4
Keystone
BIOLOGY
Exam
Study
Guide
,
INTRODUCTION
This study guide is designed to help students prepare to take the Biology Keystone Exam
(BKE). This study guide provides information about the BKE, tips on how to prepare for
it, and some suggested strategies students can use to perform their best.
What are the Keystone Exams? The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments
designed to assess proficiency in various subjects. During the 2012-2013 school year the
following Keystone Exams will be available: Algebra I, Literature and Biology. In future
years, pending funding, additional Keystone Exams will be administered.
The Keystone Exams are one component of Pennsylvania’s proposed system of high school
graduation requirements. Keystone Exams will help school districts guide students toward
meeting state standards.
Since the introduction of the Keystone Exams, the Pennsylvania Department of Education
(PDE) has been working to create a set of tools designed to help educators improve
instructional practices and better understand the Keystone Exams. The Assessment Anchors,
as defined by the Eligible Content, are one of the many tools the Department believes will
better align curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices throughout the
Commonwealth. Without this alignment, it will not be possible to significantly improve
student achievement across the Commonwealth.
Getting started: The HOW TO USE THE STUDY GUIDE section on page 2 outlines the
contents in each section, lists the materials you should have available as you study for
the BKE, and suggests some steps for preparing for the Biology Keystone.
Some
pages
were
modified
from
the
Georgia
State
Dept.
of
Education
Biology
Study
Guide
with
permission
,
HOW TO U SE THE STUDY
HOW TO USE THE S TUDY GUIDE
This study guide is designed to help you
prepare to take the Biology Keystone. It
will give you valuable information about
the BKE, explain how to prepare to take GET IT TOGETHER
the BKE, and provide some opportunities In order to make the most of this
to practice for the BKE. The study guide study guide, you should have the
is organized into three sections. Each following:
section focuses on a different aspect of the
BKE.
Materials:
The OVERVIEW OF THE BKE section on * This study guide
page 4 gives information about the test: * Pen or pencil
dates, time, question format, and number of * Paper
questions that will be on the Biology * Highlighter
Keystone. Resources:
This information can help you better
understand the testing situation and what you
* Dictionary
will be asked to do. * Biology textbook
* A teacher or other adult
The PREPARING FOR THE BKE section that Study Space:
begins on page 5 provides helpful
information on study skills and general test- * Comfortable (but not too
comfortable)
taking skills and strategies. It explains how to
prepare before taking the test and what to do
* Good lighting
during the test to ensure the best test-taking * Minimal distractions
situation possible. * Enough work space
Time Commitment:
The TEST CONTENT section that begins on * When are you going to study?
page 11 explains more specifically what the * How long are you going to
Biology Keystone measures. When you study?
know the test content and how you will be
asked to demonstrate your knowledge, you Determination:
will be better prepared for the BKE. This * Willingness to improve
section also contains some test-taking * Plan for meeting goals
strategies for successfully answering
questions on the BKE.
With some time, determination, and guided
preparation, you will be better prepared to
take the Biology Keystone.
3
,
HOW TO U SE THE STUDY
SUGGESTED STEPS FOR USING THIS STUDY GUIDE
1. Familiarize yourself with the structure and purpose
of the study guide. (You should have already read the
I NTRODUCTION and HOW TO USE THE STUDY GUIDE. Take a
few minutes to look through the rest of the study guide
to become familiar with how it is arranged.)
2. Learn about the test and the
expectations for performance. (Read O
VERVIEW OF THE BKE.)
3. Improve your study skills and test-
taking strategies. (Read PREPARING FOR
THE BKE.)
4. Learn what the test will assess by studying the standards
in each module. Also, study the strategies for answering
questions that assess the standards in the module.
(Read TEST CONTENT.)
5. Answer the sample questions at the end of each
module section. Check your answers against the
annotated answers to see how well you did. (See TEST
CONTENT.)
4
