Elementary Education K–6
For Testing until 12/31/2023
Subtest 3 – Science
Test Format and Sample Questions
The Science subtest contains approximately 45 multiple-choice items. You will have 70 minutes to complete the subtest.
Each of the questions will contain four response options. You will choose the best response out of the available options, and indicate A, B, C, or D.
The table below presents types of questions on the exam and directs you to examples of these formats among the sample items that follow.
Table of Question Formats
Type of Question | Sample Question |
---|---|
Scenario Examine a classroom situation or a student composition. Then select the response option that best answers a question, recommends a course of action, or gives the appropriate evaluation or teacher comment. |
Question 1 |
Direct Question Choose the response option that best answers the question. |
Question 2 |
Sentence Completion Select the response option that best completes the sentence. |
Question 43 |
Sample Questions
The following questions represent both the form and content of questions on the examination. These questions will acquaint you with the general format of the examination; however, these sample questions do not cover all of the competencies and skills that are tested and will only approximate the degree of examination difficulty.
Question 1
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
During the discovery and application process students are making discoveries. Which of the following should the teacher be doing?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 2
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which scientific device would be most appropriate to use to map the ocean floor?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 3
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following tools would be most appropriate to use for demonstrating to students that sound moves at different speeds through different media?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 4
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
When beginning a unit of study, a teacher has the children write or talk about what they already know or believe about that topic. For example, if the teacher is starting a unit on space, the teacher gives children a chance to write or talk about whether the terms solar system and universe are the same or different. This is an example of which of the following theories?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 5
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following instructional strategies would be the most useful for helping the science teacher to identify students' misconceptions?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 6
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
After a Life Science unit studying the life cycle of a butterfly and reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar, the kindergarten teacher has students illustrate and label the stages of the life cycle of a butterfly. Which of the following mathematical concepts does this activity most likely represent?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 7
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A kindergarten teacher has students with disabilities in his classroom daily during his science lesson and lab. Which of the following is the most appropriate inquiry approach to provide to ensure all students experience success?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 8
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
An elementary school teacher is planning a science unit that involves the study of normal animal functions. For several of the lessons, the teacher plans to use live animals in the classroom. Which of the following is the most appropriate first step for the teacher?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 9
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
What advantage can a computer drill program have over textbook practice activities?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 10
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following types of computer software would be most useful for helping students understand how hurricanes form?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 11
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 2—Knowledge of the nature of science
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
When examining the color and clarity of 20 milliliters of a liquid, which of the following would be the most appropriate substitute for a test tube?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 12
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A pendulum bob swings back and forth. When does the bob have its greatest potential energy?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 13
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Chemical reactions involve
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 14
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is an example of a change in the chemical properties of a substance?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 15
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is an example of a physical change of matter?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 16
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
A beaker containing 200 mL of water is placed under constant heat. The temperature rises steadily at the rate of 10 degrees per minute until reaching 100 degrees Celsius and stays at this temperature for five minutes. Why did the temperature of the water stay constant?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 17
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The smallest unit of an element that displays the characteristic properties of that element is the
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 18
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is an example of kinetic energy?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 19
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following examples best illustrates the change from kinetic to potential energy?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 20
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The change of frequency of a vibrating string results in a change of
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 21
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
An apparent change in wave frequency due to relative motion of the source or the observer is called
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 22
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following types of energy is stored in fossil fuels?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 23
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is invisible to the human eye and has the longest wavelength?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 24
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The measurement used for determining the warmth or coolness of a body is called
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 25
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Several bulbs are lit in an electric circuit. One bulb is removed and all the bulbs go out. What type of circuit is this?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 26
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
How many different kinds of electrical charges are there in static electricity?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 27
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The origin of all magnetic fields is in
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 28
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is the most important rationale for the scientific study of Mars?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 29
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The discovery of giant boulders that are different from the bedrock on which they rest has been used to demonstrate the presence of which type of geological action?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 30
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The upwelling of molten rock from within Earth is most directly associated with the
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 31
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following is a type of igneous rock?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 32
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Without the atmosphere, the surface of the Earth would be
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 33
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which method of heat travel only takes place in gases and liquids?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 34
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following most clearly illustrates the transfer of energy through radiation?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 35
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The underground region in which all the pores are filled with water is called the
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 36
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
High, feathery clouds made of ice crystals are called
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 37
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Thundershowers usually accompany the arrival of what kind of front?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 38
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Based on the following diagram of Earth, people in the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing which of the following seasons?
The diagram shows Earth with sunlight coming from the right. The left half of Earth is in shadow, and the right half is in sunlight. North and South America are visible. The equator is shown higher at the left and lower at the right. A meridian line is shown from north to south, with the north end toward the right and the south end toward the left.
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: B.
Question 39
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
How do inner and outer planets in our solar system differ?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 40
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The Russian space program has made significant contributions to space exploration including
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 41
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The Hubble telescope has exhibited great clarity. This is a result of the
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.
Question 42
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 5—Knowledge of life science
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which of the following structures is present in plant cells but not in animal cells?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 43
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 5—Knowledge of life science
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
The mechanism that Darwin saw as the means for evolution to occur was
- Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded
- Correct Response: D.
Question 44
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 5—Knowledge of life science
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Proteins are broken down by the body to provide
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: A.
Question 45
Subtest 3 - Science
Competency 5—Knowledge of life science
DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.
Which system has the primary responsibility for regulating body temperature?
- Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
- Correct Response: C.