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100+ Free ORELA Biology (NT316) Practice Questions

Pass your Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments Biology (NT316) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Which organisms return nutrients to ecosystems by breaking down dead organic matter?

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Key Facts: ORELA Biology (NT316) Exam

NT316

Current ORELA Biology test code

ORELA Tests List

100

Multiple-choice questions

ORELA Biology NT316 Profile

2h

Testing time

ORELA Biology NT316 Test Page

$119

Posted test fee

ORELA Biology NT316 Test Page

220

Passing score

ORELA Biology NT316 Test Page

40%

Largest domain: cells and organisms

ORELA/NES Biology NT316 Profile

ORELA currently lists Biology as test code NT316. The test has 100 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours of testing time within a 2-hour-15-minute appointment, a passing score of 220, a posted fee of $119, and three official content domains weighted 40%, 30%, and 30%. ORELA's 2025 NES update notice says the older Biology test was offered only through August 31, 2025 and replaced by the updated Biology test first administered June 30, 2025.

Sample ORELA Biology (NT316) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ORELA Biology (NT316) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Water molecules form hydrogen bonds with one another. Which property of water most directly results from this polarity and hydrogen bonding?
A.Water dissolves many ionic and polar substances.
B.Water stores genetic information in cells.
C.Water breaks peptide bonds without enzymes at body temperature.
D.Water prevents all temperature changes in organisms.
Explanation: Water is polar, so partial positive and negative charges allow it to surround ions and interact with other polar molecules. This makes water an effective solvent for many substances involved in transport, metabolism, and cellular reactions.
2Which monomer is linked by peptide bonds to build proteins?
A.Nucleotide
B.Amino acid
C.Monosaccharide
D.Fatty acid
Explanation: Proteins are polymers made of amino acids. Ribosomes join amino acids through peptide bonds in the order specified by messenger RNA, and the resulting polypeptide folds into a functional protein.
3An enzyme lowers the activation energy of a reaction. What is the most direct result?
A.The reaction reaches equilibrium more slowly.
B.The reaction can proceed faster under cellular conditions.
C.The enzyme becomes a permanent part of the product.
D.The reaction changes from endergonic to exergonic.
Explanation: Enzymes speed reactions by lowering activation energy, which makes it easier for reactants to reach the transition state. They do not change the overall free-energy difference or become consumed by the reaction.
4Which feature is characteristic of RNA but not DNA?
A.RNA contains phosphate groups.
B.RNA contains ribose sugar.
C.RNA contains nitrogenous bases.
D.RNA can carry genetic information in cells.
Explanation: RNA nucleotides contain ribose, whereas DNA nucleotides contain deoxyribose. Both nucleic acids have phosphate groups, nitrogenous bases, and roles in genetic information flow.
5Which organelle is most directly responsible for producing most ATP during aerobic respiration in eukaryotic cells?
A.Golgi apparatus
B.Mitochondrion
C.Ribosome
D.Lysosome
Explanation: Mitochondria carry out the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, which produce most ATP during aerobic respiration. Their inner membranes contain electron transport chains and ATP synthase.
6Oxygen molecules move from a high concentration outside a cell to a lower concentration inside the cell through the lipid bilayer. Which process is this?
A.Simple diffusion
B.Active transport
C.Endocytosis
D.Osmosis
Explanation: Small nonpolar molecules such as oxygen can pass directly through the phospholipid bilayer by simple diffusion. The movement follows the concentration gradient and does not require ATP or a transport vesicle.
7Which structure is present in eukaryotic cells but absent from prokaryotic cells?
A.Plasma membrane
B.Ribosome
C.Nucleus
D.Cytoplasm
Explanation: Eukaryotic cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus that houses most of the cell's DNA. Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus, although they still have DNA, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and a plasma membrane.
8A red blood cell is placed in a hypertonic solution. What will most likely happen to the cell?
A.Water will enter the cell, causing it to swell.
B.Water will leave the cell, causing it to shrink.
C.Solute will leave the cell until the cell bursts.
D.The cell will divide by mitosis.
Explanation: In a hypertonic solution, the solute concentration outside the cell is higher than inside the cell. Water moves out of the cell by osmosis, so the cell loses volume and shrinks.
9During photosynthesis, plants convert light energy into chemical energy stored primarily in which product?
A.Glucose
B.Nitrogen gas
C.Lactic acid
D.DNA polymerase
Explanation: Photosynthesis uses light energy, carbon dioxide, and water to form sugars such as glucose. The chemical bonds in glucose store energy that can later be released through cellular respiration.
10In aerobic respiration, oxygen serves which role at the end of the electron transport chain?
A.It donates electrons to glucose.
B.It acts as the final electron acceptor.
C.It splits carbon dioxide into carbon and water.
D.It forms ATP directly in glycolysis.
Explanation: Oxygen accepts electrons and protons at the end of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, forming water. This electron flow helps maintain the proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis.

About the ORELA Biology (NT316) Exam

ORELA Biology (NT316) is the current Oregon National Evaluation Series biology assessment for educator licensure. Pearson's official profile organizes the test into three weighted domains: Structures and Processes of Cells and Organisms, Ecosystem Interactions and Dynamics, and Heredity and Evolution.

Assessment

100 multiple-choice questions

Time Limit

2h testing time (2h 15m total appointment)

Passing Score

220 scaled score

Exam Fee

$119 (Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) / Pearson)

ORELA Biology (NT316) Exam Content Outline

40%

Structures and Processes of Cells and Organisms

Chemistry of life, water and carbon compounds, macromolecules, enzymes, DNA and RNA, replication, transcription, translation, organelles, membranes, transport, cell theory, cell communication, biological organization, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, homeostasis, plant and animal systems, mitosis, meiosis, and reproduction.

30%

Ecosystem Interactions and Dynamics

Ecological organization, biomes, niches, population growth, carrying capacity, limiting factors, symbiosis, individual and group behaviors, matter cycles, food webs, trophic levels, ecosystem equilibrium, resistance, resilience, feedback loops, climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, invasive species, overharvesting, and sustainability.

30%

Heredity and Evolution

Inheritance, reproduction and trait diversity, chromosomal behavior, Mendelian genetics, non-Mendelian patterns, probability, pedigrees, mutations, genetic disorders, gene expression, molecular biology tools, biotechnology ethics, common ancestry, taxonomy, phylogenetic trees, natural selection, adaptation, speciation, gene flow, genetic drift, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

How to Pass the ORELA Biology (NT316) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 220 scaled score
  • Assessment: 100 multiple-choice questions
  • Time limit: 2h testing time (2h 15m total appointment)
  • Exam fee: $119

Keys to Passing

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

ORELA Biology (NT316) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Use the official 40/30/30 profile to allocate study time; do not spend equal time on every topic if your gaps are uneven.
2Build cell-process fluency first because enzyme function, membranes, DNA, photosynthesis, respiration, and cell division support many harder questions.
3Practice interpreting graphs, tables, pedigrees, food webs, and population models because NT316 competencies repeatedly mention data analysis and mathematical reasoning.
4For ecology, connect mechanisms to consequences: limiting factors, trophic transfer, matter cycling, resilience, human impacts, and sustainability decisions are often tested in scenarios.
5For heredity and evolution, drill probability, chromosomal behavior, mutation effects, cladogram interpretation, selection patterns, drift, gene flow, and Hardy-Weinberg assumptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current ORELA Biology test code?

The current official ORELA Biology test code is NT316. ORELA's test list shows Biology as NT316, and the NES update page says the older Biology test was offered only through August 31, 2025 before the updated Biology test replaced it.

How many questions are on ORELA Biology NT316?

The official ORELA Biology NT316 test page and profile list 100 multiple-choice questions.

How long is the ORELA Biology exam?

ORELA lists 2 hours of testing time plus 15 minutes for the tutorial and nondisclosure agreement, for a 2-hour-and-15-minute total appointment.

What passing score do I need for ORELA Biology?

ORELA lists a passing score of 220 for Biology NT316.

How much does ORELA Biology cost?

The official ORELA Biology NT316 test page lists a test fee of $119. Candidates should still confirm the final checkout total when registering because fees can change.

What content is covered on ORELA Biology NT316?

The official profile weights the test as 40% Structures and Processes of Cells and Organisms, 30% Ecosystem Interactions and Dynamics, and 30% Heredity and Evolution.

Can ORELA Biology be taken online?

Yes. ORELA lists Biology as available by computer-based testing and by online proctoring. CBT appointments are available year round by appointment; online-proctored testing is offered during scheduled testing windows.