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Key Facts: North Carolina EOC Biology Exam

NCDPI

State Agency

NC Department of Public Instruction

Biology (High School)

Course

NCSCOS for Biology (2023)

100 Practice Questions

Question Count

OpenExamPrep Bank

NCSCOS for Biology (Bio.1-Bio.10)

Standards

NCDPI EOC Biology Test Specifications (April 2026)

Prepare for the North Carolina EOC Biology test with 100 practice questions spanning cells and energy, ecosystems and populations, DNA and heredity, and evolution and common ancestry.

Sample North Carolina EOC Biology Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the North Carolina EOC Biology exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which cellular structure is primarily responsible for controlling what enters and exits the cell?

A.Cell wall

B.Plasma membrane

C.Nuclear envelope

D.Endoplasmic reticulum

Explanation: The plasma (cell) membrane is selectively permeable, regulating the passage of substances into and out of the cell through phospholipids, proteins, and transport channels.

2A student observes a cell under a microscope and notes it has a cell wall and chloroplasts but no centrioles. The cell is most likely from which organism?

A.An animal

B.A plant

C.A fungus

D.A bacterium

Explanation: Plant cells have cell walls and chloroplasts for photosynthesis and typically lack centrioles, distinguishing them from animal cells.

3Which organelle is the site of aerobic cellular respiration and is known as the "powerhouse" of the cell?

A.Chloroplast

B.Mitochondrion

C.Ribosome

D.Golgi apparatus

Explanation: Mitochondria carry out aerobic respiration, producing ATP through the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain, earning the nickname "powerhouse of the cell."

4During diffusion, molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. What is the primary driving force for this movement?

A.Active transport by carrier proteins

B.Random molecular motion

C.Energy from ATP

D.Osmotic pressure from water

Explanation: Diffusion results from the random thermal motion of molecules, which causes net movement down the concentration gradient until equilibrium is reached.

5A red blood cell is placed in a hypertonic solution. What will happen to the cell?

A.It will swell and burst

B.It will shrink (crenate)

C.It will stay the same size

D.It will undergo active transport to balance solutes

Explanation: In a hypertonic solution, the external solute concentration is higher than inside the cell, so water leaves the red blood cell by osmosis, causing it to shrink (crenate).

6Which best describes the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

A.Both produce oxygen

B.Both produce carbon dioxide

C.The products of one are the reactants of the other

D.They both occur only in plant cells

Explanation: Photosynthesis uses CO2 and H2O to produce glucose and O2, while cellular respiration uses glucose and O2 to produce CO2 and H2O; the products of one process are the reactants of the other, forming a cycle.

7In which part of the chloroplast does the Calvin cycle (light-independent reactions) take place?

A.Thylakoid membrane

B.Stroma

C.Granum

D.Outer membrane

Explanation: The Calvin cycle occurs in the stroma, the fluid-filled space surrounding the thylakoids, where CO2 is fixed and sugars are synthesized using ATP and NADPH from the light reactions.

8What is the net ATP production (per glucose molecule) from glycolysis alone, before the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain?

A.2 ATP

B.4 ATP

C.36 ATP

D.0 ATP

Explanation: Glycolysis produces 4 ATP total but consumes 2 ATP in the investment phase, for a net gain of 2 ATP per glucose molecule, along with 2 NADH and 2 pyruvate.

9Which molecule serves as the template for the order of amino acids in a protein during translation?

A.DNA

B.mRNA

C.tRNA

D.rRNA

Explanation: During translation, messenger RNA (mRNA) carries the codon sequence that determines the order of amino acids assembled into a polypeptide at the ribosome.

10If a DNA strand has the base sequence 3'-ATGCATGC-5', what is the sequence of the complementary strand?

A.3'-TACGTACG-5'

B.5'-TACGTACG-3'

C.5'-UACGUACG-3'

D.5'-ATGCATGC-3'

Explanation: DNA base pairing follows A-T and G-C rules, and complementary strands are antiparallel. The template 3'-ATGCATGC-5' pairs with 5'-TACGTACG-3'.

About the North Carolina EOC Biology Exam

The North Carolina End-of-Course Biology Test measures proficiency on the NCSCOS for Biology (adopted July 2023) across From Molecules to Organisms, Ecosystems, Heredity, and Biological Evolution, integrating Science and Engineering Practices. It is administered online through NCTest at course completion. This 100-question practice bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation.

Exam sponsor: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Online Biology assessment delivered through NCTest with four-response-option multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items in standalone and item-set formats. This local bank contains 100 English four-option practice MCQs across 4 life-science strands.

Time Limit

Estimated 120 minutes; maximum 180 minutes

Passing Score

Four achievement levels: Not Proficient, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5. Level 3 and above denotes proficiency. EOC results count as at least 20% of the final course grade.

Exam / Certification Fees

No fee to students

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not applicable (achievement levels are reported). Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

NCDPI EOC NC Biology Test Specifications
NCSCOS for Biology (2023)
NCTest released forms

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

26-34%

From Molecules to Organisms — Structures and Processes

Cell structure and function, cellular transport, photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and the flow of matter and energy.

14-22%

Ecosystems — Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Biotic and abiotic factors, cycling of matter and energy, population dynamics, and carrying capacity.

24-32%

Heredity — Inheritance and Variation of Traits

DNA as the genetic material, gene expression, mitosis and meiosis, inheritance patterns, and mutation and variation.

20-28%

Biological Evolution — Unity and Diversity

Natural selection, evidence for evolution, common ancestry and descent with modification, and the unity and diversity of life.

Preparing for the North Carolina EOC Biology Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Four achievement levels: Not Proficient, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5. Level 3 and above denotes proficiency. EOC results count as at least 20% of the final course grade.
Assessment: Online Biology assessment delivered through NCTest with four-response-option multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items in standalone and item-set formats. This local bank contains 100 English four-option practice MCQs across 4 life-science strands.
Time limit: Estimated 120 minutes; maximum 180 minutes
Exam / certification fees: No fee to students Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

North Carolina EOC Biology: Suggested Study Strategy

1Connect structure to function for each organelle and biological system.

2Track matter and energy through processes like photosynthesis, respiration, and food webs.

3Distinguish mitosis (identical daughter cells) from meiosis (genetically varied gametes).

4Frame evolution as change in allele frequencies driven by natural selection on variation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NC EOC Biology test?

It measures proficiency on the NCSCOS for Biology (adopted July 2023) via an online assessment delivered through NCTest, with four-response-option multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items in standalone and item-set formats. Results count as at least 20% of the final course grade.

What achievement levels are reported?

Four levels: Not Proficient, Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5. Level 3 and above denotes proficiency.

Is this practice bank affiliated with NCDPI?

No. It is an independent study resource covering topics from the public NCSCOS for Biology; it is not an official NCTest product.