BIOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION REVIEW TOPICS &
QUESTIONS Spring 2024
Saturday, March 30, 9 AM - 12 PM
The exam will be administered in person in Biology (EE Just Hall) Auditorium. You may be
asked to verify your identify, so please bring your student ID card. Please also bring #2 pencils
for filling out the scantron, and you may also bring a pen for the essays. You will not be allowed
to have notes or electronics during your exam, and cell phones must be on silent (non-vibrate)
and stored out of sight. Please arrive by 8:45am. Extra time will not be given for late arrivals.
The passage of the Comprehensive Examination is a requirement (one of the General
Education Requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences) for graduation. The
Comprehensive Examination will only be offered once per semester (there will not be any
make up examinations for students who fail), therefore, you should take the preparation
and passing of this examination very seriously. If you fail, you will not graduate until you
pass a subsequently offered Comprehensive Examination in a future semester.
CONTENTS:
Title Page and Contents
Guidelines
Review Strategy: Biology 101 and 102*
Review Topics in Genetics
Sample essay questions for Animal Physiology
Sample essay questions for Comparative Anatomy
Sample essay questions for Cell Biology
Sample essay questions for Ecology
Sample essay questions for Evolution*
Sample essay questions for Microbiology
Sample essay questions for Molecular Biology
Sample essay questions for Plant Diversity
Sample essay questions for Plant Physiology
*Slight revisions have been made to these areas for the Spring 2024 booklet
, Department of Biology Guidelines: Comprehensive Examination
1. The Spring 2023 Comprehensive Examination will contain the following sections:
A. Core Requirements (60%): Sixty (60) multiple choice questions from the Biology Core
Courses: (From specific pool of questions which will be randomly assigned to each student)
i) Twenty (20) multiple choice questions from Biology 101
ii) Twenty (20) multiple choice questions from Biology 102, and
iii) Twenty (20) multiple choice questions from Genetics (Biology 200).
These sixty (60) multiple choice questions from the Biology Core Courses will constitute
60% of your examination score.
B. Elective Essays in 200 & 300 Level Courses (40%): You are to write four essays (10% each
which may be up to two pages long).
Note: Only two (2) of the five (5) possible essay questions listed in this Study Guide for the
various elective courses will appear on the Comprehensive Examination. You may answer up to
two essay questions in any particular elective area.
2. The maximum score on the examination is 100%. The minimum passing score is 60%.
3. The time allotted for the examination is 3 hours. The examination will begin promptly at 9:00
AM and end at 12 PM (noon). You should begin the exam between 8:45 and 9AM, and you must
be finished by noon.
4. Students are not permitted to use cell phones, papers, books, or other resources (electronic or
physical) during the exam. Individuals found to break this rule shall be given a grade of zero
percent (0%) for the examination. You should also turn off your cell phone and disable chatting
applications on your computer and/or other devices.
5. We strongly encourage everyone to take care of biological needs before the exam
6. Test results will be emailed to students after they are submitted to the Office of the Dean.
7. Students who wish to review their scored examinations should make arrangement to do so by
emailing Dr. Ullah , within three days following receipt of the score.
QUESTIONS Spring 2024
Saturday, March 30, 9 AM - 12 PM
The exam will be administered in person in Biology (EE Just Hall) Auditorium. You may be
asked to verify your identify, so please bring your student ID card. Please also bring #2 pencils
for filling out the scantron, and you may also bring a pen for the essays. You will not be allowed
to have notes or electronics during your exam, and cell phones must be on silent (non-vibrate)
and stored out of sight. Please arrive by 8:45am. Extra time will not be given for late arrivals.
The passage of the Comprehensive Examination is a requirement (one of the General
Education Requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences) for graduation. The
Comprehensive Examination will only be offered once per semester (there will not be any
make up examinations for students who fail), therefore, you should take the preparation
and passing of this examination very seriously. If you fail, you will not graduate until you
pass a subsequently offered Comprehensive Examination in a future semester.
CONTENTS:
Title Page and Contents
Guidelines
Review Strategy: Biology 101 and 102*
Review Topics in Genetics
Sample essay questions for Animal Physiology
Sample essay questions for Comparative Anatomy
Sample essay questions for Cell Biology
Sample essay questions for Ecology
Sample essay questions for Evolution*
Sample essay questions for Microbiology
Sample essay questions for Molecular Biology
Sample essay questions for Plant Diversity
Sample essay questions for Plant Physiology
*Slight revisions have been made to these areas for the Spring 2024 booklet
, Department of Biology Guidelines: Comprehensive Examination
1. The Spring 2023 Comprehensive Examination will contain the following sections:
A. Core Requirements (60%): Sixty (60) multiple choice questions from the Biology Core
Courses: (From specific pool of questions which will be randomly assigned to each student)
i) Twenty (20) multiple choice questions from Biology 101
ii) Twenty (20) multiple choice questions from Biology 102, and
iii) Twenty (20) multiple choice questions from Genetics (Biology 200).
These sixty (60) multiple choice questions from the Biology Core Courses will constitute
60% of your examination score.
B. Elective Essays in 200 & 300 Level Courses (40%): You are to write four essays (10% each
which may be up to two pages long).
Note: Only two (2) of the five (5) possible essay questions listed in this Study Guide for the
various elective courses will appear on the Comprehensive Examination. You may answer up to
two essay questions in any particular elective area.
2. The maximum score on the examination is 100%. The minimum passing score is 60%.
3. The time allotted for the examination is 3 hours. The examination will begin promptly at 9:00
AM and end at 12 PM (noon). You should begin the exam between 8:45 and 9AM, and you must
be finished by noon.
4. Students are not permitted to use cell phones, papers, books, or other resources (electronic or
physical) during the exam. Individuals found to break this rule shall be given a grade of zero
percent (0%) for the examination. You should also turn off your cell phone and disable chatting
applications on your computer and/or other devices.
5. We strongly encourage everyone to take care of biological needs before the exam
6. Test results will be emailed to students after they are submitted to the Office of the Dean.
7. Students who wish to review their scored examinations should make arrangement to do so by
emailing Dr. Ullah , within three days following receipt of the score.
