Career upgrade: Learn practical AI skills for better jobs and higher pay.
Level up
PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

100+ Free NYSTCE Earth Science (162) Practice Questions

Pass your NYSTCE Earth Science Content Specialty Test (CST) Field 162 exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
100+ Questions
100% Free
1 / 100
Question 1
Score: 0/0

In the carbon cycle, which process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores carbon in plant tissue?

A
B
C
D
to track
Same family resources

Explore More NYSTCE New York Educator Exams

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

NYSTCE Agriculture CST (068)

Practice Questions

NYSTCE American Sign Language CST (130)

Practice Questions

NYSTCE Biology CST (160)

Practice Questions

NYSTCE Blind and Visually Impaired CST (117)

Practice Questions

NYSTCE Business and Marketing CST (168)

Practice Questions

NYSTCE Cantonese CST — LOTE (120)

Practice Questions
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NYSTCE Earth Science (162) Exam

90 + 1

Selected-Response + Constructed Response

NYSTCE Field 162 test page

195 min

Total Testing Time

NYSTCE Field 162 test design

520

Scaled Passing Score

NYSTCE Field 162 test page

$122

Current Exam Fee

NYSTCE Field 162 test page

6

Competencies on the Framework

NYSTCE Field 162 framework

16%

Weight of Each Content Competency

NYSTCE Field 162 test design

20%

Constructed-Response Weight

NYSTCE Field 162 test design

Aug 6, 2026

Last Day to Register

NYSTCE Field 162 retirement notice

The official NYSTCE Earth Science (162) test page lists 90 selected-response items and 1 constructed-response item, a total testing time of 195 minutes, a 520 scaled passing score, and a $122 fee. The framework distributes the selected-response items evenly across five content competencies, each worth about 16%, while the constructed-response item on Pedagogical Content Knowledge counts for 20% of the total score. Important: Field 162 is being retired and replaced by the National Evaluation Series Earth and Space Science (825) test, with the last day to register for Field 162 being August 6, 2026.

Sample NYSTCE Earth Science (162) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NYSTCE Earth Science (162) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1According to current scientific evidence, the redshift observed in the light spectra of distant galaxies most directly supports which conclusion about the universe?
A.The universe is expanding
B.The universe is contracting toward a single point
C.Galaxies are stationary relative to Earth
D.The universe is unchanging in size
Explanation: Redshift indicates that distant galaxies are moving away from us, and more distant galaxies recede faster (Hubble's law), which is direct evidence that the universe is expanding. This expansion is a foundational piece of evidence for the Big Bang theory.
2A planet's orbital period and its average distance from the Sun are related by Kepler's third law. If a planet orbits at 4 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun, approximately what is its orbital period?
A.8 years
B.4 years
C.16 years
D.2 years
Explanation: Kepler's third law states P-squared equals a-cubed (with P in years and a in AU). For a = 4 AU, a-cubed = 64, so P = the square root of 64 = 8 years. This relationship lets astronomers determine orbital periods from distances.
3On a Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram, where are most stars, including the Sun, located?
A.Along the main sequence
B.In the white dwarf region
C.In the supergiant region
D.Below the main sequence on the left
Explanation: Most stars, including the Sun, lie along the main sequence, a diagonal band where stars fuse hydrogen into helium in their cores. A star's position on the main sequence reflects its mass, temperature, and luminosity during this stable stage.
4Which process powers the Sun and most main-sequence stars, releasing energy in their cores?
A.Nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium
B.Nuclear fission of heavy elements
C.Chemical combustion of gases
D.Gravitational compression alone
Explanation: Stars generate energy through nuclear fusion, joining hydrogen nuclei to form helium and releasing enormous energy according to E=mc-squared. This proton-proton chain powers the Sun and is the dominant energy source for main-sequence stars.
5What is the primary cause of Earth's seasons?
A.The tilt of Earth's axis relative to its orbital plane
B.Earth's changing distance from the Sun during its orbit
C.Variations in the Sun's energy output
D.The speed of Earth's rotation changing through the year
Explanation: Seasons result from the roughly 23.5-degree tilt of Earth's rotational axis, which changes the angle and duration of sunlight reaching each hemisphere as Earth orbits the Sun. The hemisphere tilted toward the Sun experiences summer.
6A spring tide, which produces the largest difference between high and low tides, occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned. During which Moon phases does this happen?
A.New moon and full moon
B.First quarter and third quarter
C.Waxing crescent and waning crescent
D.Only at full moon
Explanation: Spring tides occur at new and full moon, when the Sun and Moon are aligned and their gravitational pulls combine, producing the greatest tidal range. Neap tides, with the smallest range, occur at the quarter phases when the Sun and Moon pull at right angles.
7A total solar eclipse can occur only during which Moon phase?
A.New moon
B.Full moon
C.First quarter
D.Waning gibbous
Explanation: A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting its shadow on Earth. This alignment is only possible at new moon, though eclipses do not happen every month because the Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 degrees.
8The apparent daily east-to-west motion of stars across the night sky is best explained by which phenomenon?
A.Earth's rotation on its axis from west to east
B.The stars physically orbiting Earth once per day
C.Earth's revolution around the Sun
D.The precession of Earth's axis
Explanation: Earth rotates on its axis from west to east once per day, which makes celestial objects appear to move from east to west across the sky. This apparent motion is the basis for the celestial sphere model used to describe sky positions.
9Astronomers use the parallax of nearby stars to determine which property?
A.Distance to the star
B.Surface temperature of the star
C.Chemical composition of the star
D.Rotational speed of the star
Explanation: Stellar parallax is the apparent shift in a nearby star's position as Earth orbits the Sun. Measuring this tiny angular shift allows astronomers to calculate the star's distance using trigonometry; smaller parallax means greater distance.
10Newton's law of universal gravitation states that the gravitational force between two objects is inversely proportional to which quantity?
A.The square of the distance between their centers
B.The distance between their centers
C.The sum of their masses
D.The cube of the distance between their centers
Explanation: Gravitational force is proportional to the product of the two masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers (an inverse-square law). Doubling the distance reduces the force to one-fourth of its original value.

About the NYSTCE Earth Science (162) Exam

The NYSTCE Earth Science Content Specialty Test (CST) Field 162 is the subject-knowledge exam New York requires for Earth Science (Grades 7-12) teacher certification. It measures content knowledge across space systems, Earth materials and history, geologic systems, water, weather, and climate, and human impacts and sustainability, plus one constructed-response item on pedagogical content knowledge. The test emphasizes a three-dimensional approach that connects disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices.

Questions

91 scored questions

Time Limit

195 minutes total testing time

Passing Score

520 (scaled)

Exam Fee

$122 (New York State Education Department / Pearson Evaluation Systems)

NYSTCE Earth Science (162) Exam Content Outline

16% of total score

Space Systems

Origin and evolution of the universe and solar system, gravity and Kepler's laws, stars and the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, Sun-Earth-Moon motions, eclipses, tides, seasons, and the celestial sphere.

16% of total score

Earth Materials and the History of Earth

Minerals and mineral groups, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, the rock cycle, Earth's layered interior, seismic evidence, the geologic time scale, fossils, and relative and radiometric dating.

16% of total score

Geologic Systems

Plate tectonics theory and its evidence, earthquakes and seismology, volcanism, weathering and soil formation, erosion and deposition, and the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and water.

16% of total score

Water, Weather, and Climate

The hydrologic cycle, freshwater and groundwater systems, ocean circulation and chemistry, atmospheric structure, air masses and fronts, severe weather, forecasting, and the factors that shape climate regions.

16% of total score

Human Impacts and Sustainability

Renewable and nonrenewable resources, natural hazards and mitigation, air and water pollution, deforestation and desertification, climate change evidence and causes, and sustainable management of Earth systems.

20% of total score

Pedagogical Content Knowledge

One scenario-based constructed response on designing three-dimensional, culturally relevant Earth science instruction, assessing student readiness, and guiding all students, including diverse learners, toward a learning goal.

How to Pass the NYSTCE Earth Science (162) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 520 (scaled)
  • Exam length: 91 questions
  • Time limit: 195 minutes total testing time
  • Exam fee: $122

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NYSTCE Earth Science (162) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Spread your study evenly across the five content competencies, since each contributes about 16% of the total score
2Practice interpreting graphics such as topographic maps, weather maps, H-R diagrams, and geologic cross sections, which appear throughout the exam
3Master the three-dimensional approach (disciplinary core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices) for the constructed response
4Drill relative and radiometric dating, including superposition, cross-cutting relationships, and half-life calculations
5Connect plate tectonics to its consequences, linking boundary types to earthquakes, volcanoes, and the landforms they produce
6Register before the August 6, 2026 deadline if you must take Field 162 rather than the replacement Earth and Space Science (825) test

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the NYSTCE Earth Science (162) test?

The current Field 162 test page lists 90 selected-response items and 1 constructed-response item. The selected-response items count for 80% of the total score and the constructed response counts for 20%.

What passing score do I need for the NYSTCE Earth Science CST?

You need a scaled score of 520 to pass the NYSTCE Earth Science (162) test. Aim for consistent performance across all five content competencies rather than estimating a raw-score cutoff.

How much does the NYSTCE Earth Science (162) test cost?

The official current fee for Field 162 is $122. Always verify the fee in your NYSTCE account at registration in case the testing program updates pricing.

How is the NYSTCE Earth Science test weighted?

Each of the five content competencies (Space Systems, Earth Materials and History, Geologic Systems, Water, Weather, and Climate, and Human Impacts and Sustainability) is worth about 16% of the score, and the constructed-response Pedagogical Content Knowledge competency is worth 20%.

Is the NYSTCE Earth Science (162) test being retired?

Yes. Field 162 is being replaced by the National Evaluation Series Earth and Space Science (825) test. The last day to register for the Earth Science (162) test is August 6, 2026.

How long is the NYSTCE Earth Science (162) test?

The total testing time is 195 minutes. The selected-response items are designed for up to 135 minutes and the constructed-response item for up to 60 minutes, but candidates may pace themselves.