The PRAXIS® Study Companion
Biology
(5236)
www.ets.org/praxis
,The Praxis Study Companion
Table of Contents
Biology (5236).......................................................................................................................................... 3
Test at a Glance .....................................................................................................................................................3
About The Test ......................................................................................................................................................4
Content Topics ......................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion Questions .............................................................................................................................................5
Science and Engineering Practices ......................................................................................................................17
Tasks of Teaching Science ...................................................................................................................................21
Biology (5236) Sample Test Questions .............................................................................................. 23
Biology (5236) Answers .......................................................................................................................................35
Understanding Question Types.......................................................................................................... 49
Understanding Selected-Response and Numeric-Entry Questions .....................................................................49
Understanding Constructed-Response Questions ..............................................................................................50
General Assistance For The Test ........................................................................................................ 52
Praxis® Interactive Practice Test ..........................................................................................................................52
Doing Your Best ...................................................................................................................................................52
Helpful Links ........................................................................................................................................................52
2
,The Praxis Study Companion
Biology (5236)
Test at a Glance
The Praxis® Biology test is designed to measure knowledge and competencies important for
safe and effective beginning practice as a teacher of biology. Test takers have typically
completed a bachelor’s degree program with appropriate coursework in biology and education.
Test Name Biology
Test Code 5236
Time 2.5 hours
Number of Questions 150 selected-response questions
The test consists of a variety of selected-response questions,
where you select one or more answer choices, and other types
Format
of questions. You can review the possible question types in
“Understanding Question Types.”
Test Delivery Computer Delivered
Approximate
Approximate
Percentage
Content Categories Number of
of
Questions
Examination
I.
V.
I. Nature and Impact of 19 13%
II. Science and Engineering
IV. II. Cell Biology: Cell Structure 33 22%
and Function
III.
III. Genetics and Evolution 39 26%
IV. Diversity of Life and 30 20%
Organismal Biology
V. Ecology: Organisms and 29 19%
Environments
All questions assess content from the above Biology domains.
More than 40 percent of questions integrate a Science and
Engineering Practice, and approximately 25 percent of questions
assess content applied to a Task of Teaching Science.
3
, The Praxis Study Companion
About The Test
On the Biology test, content topics span the biology curriculum, including content related to
(I) Nature and Impact of Science and Engineering, (II) Cell Biology: Cell Structure and Function,
(III) Genetics and Evolution, (IV) Diversity of Life and Organismal Biology, (V) Ecology: Organisms
and Environments.
The assessment is designed and developed through work with practicing biology teachers,
teacher educators, and higher education biology specialists to reflect the science knowledge
teachers need to teach the biology curriculum and to reflect state and national standards,
including the National Science Teaching Association Preparation Standards for biology. Content
and practices measured reflect the Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) and Science and Engineering
Practices (SEPs) established by the National Research Council in A Framework for K-12 Science
Education and included in the Next Generation Science Standards.
The 150 selected-response questions measure concepts, terms, phenomena, methods,
applications, data analysis, and problem solving in science. A full list of the topics covered is
provided in Content Topics.
Test takers can expect 40 percent or more of the questions on the test to integrate biology
content knowledge with one or more of the SEPs, listed under Science and Engineering
Practices.
Test takers will also find that approximately 25 percent of questions call for application of
biology content and processes within a teaching scenario or an instructional task. Such
questions—designed to measure applications of biology knowledge to the kinds of decisions
and evaluations a teacher must make during work with students, curriculum, and instruction—
situate biology content questions in tasks critical for teaching. Below, in Tasks of Teaching
Science, is a list of tasks that are a routine part of biology instruction. These tasks, identified
based on research on science instruction, have been confirmed by a national committee of
teachers and teacher educators as important for effective teaching of secondary science.
This test may contain some questions that will not count toward your score.
4
Biology
(5236)
www.ets.org/praxis
,The Praxis Study Companion
Table of Contents
Biology (5236).......................................................................................................................................... 3
Test at a Glance .....................................................................................................................................................3
About The Test ......................................................................................................................................................4
Content Topics ......................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion Questions .............................................................................................................................................5
Science and Engineering Practices ......................................................................................................................17
Tasks of Teaching Science ...................................................................................................................................21
Biology (5236) Sample Test Questions .............................................................................................. 23
Biology (5236) Answers .......................................................................................................................................35
Understanding Question Types.......................................................................................................... 49
Understanding Selected-Response and Numeric-Entry Questions .....................................................................49
Understanding Constructed-Response Questions ..............................................................................................50
General Assistance For The Test ........................................................................................................ 52
Praxis® Interactive Practice Test ..........................................................................................................................52
Doing Your Best ...................................................................................................................................................52
Helpful Links ........................................................................................................................................................52
2
,The Praxis Study Companion
Biology (5236)
Test at a Glance
The Praxis® Biology test is designed to measure knowledge and competencies important for
safe and effective beginning practice as a teacher of biology. Test takers have typically
completed a bachelor’s degree program with appropriate coursework in biology and education.
Test Name Biology
Test Code 5236
Time 2.5 hours
Number of Questions 150 selected-response questions
The test consists of a variety of selected-response questions,
where you select one or more answer choices, and other types
Format
of questions. You can review the possible question types in
“Understanding Question Types.”
Test Delivery Computer Delivered
Approximate
Approximate
Percentage
Content Categories Number of
of
Questions
Examination
I.
V.
I. Nature and Impact of 19 13%
II. Science and Engineering
IV. II. Cell Biology: Cell Structure 33 22%
and Function
III.
III. Genetics and Evolution 39 26%
IV. Diversity of Life and 30 20%
Organismal Biology
V. Ecology: Organisms and 29 19%
Environments
All questions assess content from the above Biology domains.
More than 40 percent of questions integrate a Science and
Engineering Practice, and approximately 25 percent of questions
assess content applied to a Task of Teaching Science.
3
, The Praxis Study Companion
About The Test
On the Biology test, content topics span the biology curriculum, including content related to
(I) Nature and Impact of Science and Engineering, (II) Cell Biology: Cell Structure and Function,
(III) Genetics and Evolution, (IV) Diversity of Life and Organismal Biology, (V) Ecology: Organisms
and Environments.
The assessment is designed and developed through work with practicing biology teachers,
teacher educators, and higher education biology specialists to reflect the science knowledge
teachers need to teach the biology curriculum and to reflect state and national standards,
including the National Science Teaching Association Preparation Standards for biology. Content
and practices measured reflect the Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) and Science and Engineering
Practices (SEPs) established by the National Research Council in A Framework for K-12 Science
Education and included in the Next Generation Science Standards.
The 150 selected-response questions measure concepts, terms, phenomena, methods,
applications, data analysis, and problem solving in science. A full list of the topics covered is
provided in Content Topics.
Test takers can expect 40 percent or more of the questions on the test to integrate biology
content knowledge with one or more of the SEPs, listed under Science and Engineering
Practices.
Test takers will also find that approximately 25 percent of questions call for application of
biology content and processes within a teaching scenario or an instructional task. Such
questions—designed to measure applications of biology knowledge to the kinds of decisions
and evaluations a teacher must make during work with students, curriculum, and instruction—
situate biology content questions in tasks critical for teaching. Below, in Tasks of Teaching
Science, is a list of tasks that are a routine part of biology instruction. These tasks, identified
based on research on science instruction, have been confirmed by a national committee of
teachers and teacher educators as important for effective teaching of secondary science.
This test may contain some questions that will not count toward your score.
4
