Now its up to you!

Show me what you got! Put all the skills your science teacher and this review blog have taught you to work! You can ACE it! I know you can. You've been working hard all year long. Now it is time to show me what you got! Good Luck!

Below I will provide links to all the previous NYS Intermediate Science Exams and Living Environment Regents.

NYS Intermediate Science Exams Years 2001-2012:

In this link you will see each of the exams from the past years. Each year will contain links to the actual test, answer key, and scoring guide. Hope this helps with your practice.

NYS Living Environment Regents Years 2003-2013

In this link you will see each of the exams from the past years. Each year will be broken into the January, June, and August exams. Each exam tab will contain the actual test, answer key, and scoring guide. Hope this helps with your practice.

Reviewing for the Grade 8 NYS Intermediate Science Exam 

I came across a great resources provided by Edwards-Knox Central School. Essentially it is an old Prentice Hall textbook broken down into notes by chapter. Worksheets and lab sheets accompany each of the chapter notes to help supplement learning. This website also indicates which standards are being covered and when you are ready to test what you have learned, it provides practice quizzes.

All of these resources can be reach at the following link. Click HERE to access the website provided by  Edwards-Knox Central School.

If you want to have a little more fun while trying to quiz yourself, you could always play a science game. These types of games could add competition to learning for those that thrive on this type of stimulation. Games are broken down to links by unit or topic:
Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Geology, Living Environment, Meteorology  Nature of Science, and Physics.

Click HERE to play some science games and quiz yourself!

Good Luck! You got this!

Reviewing for the Living Environment Regents Part 2

Aside from using those funny and quirky videos on YouTube, I came across this site by Oswego City School District. It happens to be a great tool that separates the curriculum into major unit topics. When you click on each topic it brings you to subtopics and then to a list of resources. Hope this helps for all your studying sessions!

Website:

Cells Unit:

Genetics Unit:

Evolution Unit:

Human Body Unit:

Ecology Unit: 

Laboratory Skills:

Thanks for Checking in and As ALWAYS... GOOD LUCK!

A little info on each of the tests!

NYS Intermediate Science Exam:

• The Grade 8 NYS Intermediate Science Test is administered in June.  There are two parts to the exam, the lab practical and written. 

• Lab practical: Students  rotate through stations and preform various tasks.

• Written: Completion of a multiple choice (45 questions) and short answer (~35 questions) exam.

• The test covers materials from 6th through 8th grade: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science.

• Students will complete a practice lab practical and complete 1 or 2 entire written exams in school in preparation for the test. Students will also complete various other review assignments both in school and for homework in order to prepare for the test.
  
  Adapted from: http://www.pittsfordschools.org/webpages/kodea/nys.cfm

NYS Living Environment Regents:

Format:

• The Living Environment Regents Examination is a standardized assessment given to students enrolled in New York State schools in June, August, and January.

• The examination is based on the Living Environment Core Curriculum which is based on Standard 4 of the New York State Learning Standards for Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

• The total test raw score will be converted to a scaled score using a conversion chart accompanying the scoring key for each examination.
  
  
  Exam Detail:

  Exam Section	Question Type	Raw Score
  A	multiple-choice	30
  B-1	multiple choice	12
  B-2	multiple-choice & free-response	13
  C	free-response	17
  D	multiple-choice & free-response	13
  	Total	85

  
  
  Adapted from: http://regentsprep.org/regents/biology/2011%20Web%20Pages/exam%20overview%20main%20page.htm

Reviewing Biology Topics in a FLASH!

Now I know Biology isn't everyone's favorite subject. But, unfortunately.... It is MY favorite subject. So if you're not too enthusiastic about it... Hopefully I can be excited enough for the both of us!

If you're sitting in class and have no idea what your Biology teacher is talking about... I have a quick fix that should help.

There is this great group of guys, John and Hank Green, that run Crash Course videos on YouTube. Their channel covers topics in Biology, Chemistry, US History, World History, Literature, and Ecology. Hank mostly covers the sciences and has a bit of quirkiness to him. That doesn't take away from his amazing structured short 10-15 minute review videos. Sometimes he tends to speak fast but the great thing about YouTube videos.... You have the luxury of pausing, rewinding, and stopping or restarting the videos at any point.

The Link Is Below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnQe0xW_JY4&list=EC3EED4C1D684D3ADF

Hope it helps! Good Luck!

 

During the Test

1.      Get to the test site early so you can select a seat, organize your materials, and get relaxed. Be prepared with pencils, paper, calculator, books (if appropriate), etc.

2.      Get the big picture. Survey the entire test before you answer any questions. This will help you to get an overview of what's expected and to strategize how you will take the test.

3.      Take a few deep breaths and to relax tense muscles. Repeat throughout the test. This process will help you to stay relaxed and to make more energy available for remembering, thinking, and writing.

4.      Read directions carefully. If you can, ask questions if you don't understand or need clarification.

5.      Do a quick "mind dump" of information you don't want to forget. Write it down on scrap paper or in the margin.

6.      Use good strategies for answering multiple choice and other objective questions.

7.      Underline key words while reading questions and answer choices.

8.      Try to supply your own answer before choosing an alternative listed on the test.

9.      Mark an answer for every question.

10.  When answering essay or short answer questions, remember that the objective is to demonstrate how well you can explain and support an idea, not just what you know. Keep the following in mind:
- Read over all the essay questions before you start to write. Underline key words like define, compare, explain, etc.
- Think before you write. Remember, a good answer:
- Starts with a direct response to the question.
- Mention the topics or areas described in the question.
- Provide specific as well as general information.
- Use technical vocabulary correctly that relates to the essay or short answer topic

11.  When problem solving, ask yourself:
- What am I being asked to find?
- What do I need to know in order to find the answer?
- What information has been provided that will help me to find the answer?
- How can I break the problem down into parts?
- What steps should I follow to solve the problem?
- Does the answer make sense? Does it cover the whole problem?

12.  DO NOT FORGET.... Keep an eye on the clock. Make sure you'll have time to complete the test sections with the highest value, if not the entire test. 

"During the Test" techniques were adapted from

< http://faculty.bucks.edu/specpop/tests.htm>

Have you ever heard your teacher drone on and on about studying every night?

Well sorry to break it to you.... they were RIGHT! (I'm not saying this because I'm a teacher either)

I'm simple saying it because it is the truth. To break it down for you, it is much easier to study a little at a time, rather than cramming 8 months of material into a week, night, or even a couple hours of studying.

 The goal of this blog is less of this:

More of this:

Below I have provided some basic techniques and suggestions for before an exam no matter how small or large it is.

1.      Stay up-to-date on assignments. Learn material and review as you go along.

2.      Make sure you understand the information as you are learning it. That way, you won't have to "re-learn" it OR have to "cram" a great deal of information at one time.

3.      Read and study information in meaningful chunks (by chapters or units) so that you'll be able to "file" and "retrieve" information easily. (Think of your brain as a large file cabinet... If it is organized properly retrieving files can be easy but the opposite is true if the file cabinet is messy).

4.      At the end of each chapter or unit, identify the information that was most important. Make "Flash Cards" on information that you can easily carry and use for study on a regular basis.

5.      Try to understand the "Big Picture." Ask the instructor about the test. Find out what information will be stressed and the kinds of questions that will be asked. Then go over your text and lecture notes to develop a study strategy. Map or outline the course contents if you haven't done so previously. (Side note: for state exams, instructors do not know specific topics that may show up on the test)

6.      Before a test or exam, divide study sessions into manageable time segments and meaningful units. You'll remember more if you study for short periods of time (45 minutes to 1 hour) and over a longer period of time (1-2 weeks) than if you cram all your study into a "binge" session the night before the test.

7.      Practice answering essay questions BEFORE the test. For example: How would you describe, compare/contrast, predict, classify, apply, evaluate, prioritize, etc? Have a parent of friend quiz you verbally using these types of questions.

8.      Use mnemonic techniques to memorize lists, definitions, and other specific kinds of information.

9.      Form a study group with other students in your class to discuss and quiz each other on important material. This will add other perspectives and help to "complete" your study if you tend to be either a "detailed" or "big-picture" learner.

10.  Maintain healthy living habits. Get a good night's sleep before the test and a good meal in the morning.

"Before the test" techniques were adapted from

< http://faculty.bucks.edu/specpop/tests.htm>