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Exam Review

Key Facts: WEST-E Biology (NES 305) Exam

305

Current Washington Biology Code

WEST tests list

150

Multiple-Choice Questions

Washington NES Biology test page

3h

Testing Time

Washington NES Biology test page

220

Passing Score

Washington NES Biology test page

$119

Test Fee

Washington NES Biology test page

20/13/27/20/20

Official Domain Weights

Washington NES Biology profile

Washington currently lists Biology under the National Evaluation Series as Biology code 305. The Biology test has 150 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours of testing time within a 3-hour-15-minute appointment, a passing score of 220, and a posted fee of $119. The official profile weights the domains at 20% Nature of Science, 13% Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 27% Genetics and Evolution, 20% Biological Unity and Diversity, and 20% Ecology and Environment.

Sample WEST-E Biology (NES 305) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the WEST-E Biology (NES 305) exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A teacher asks whether adding compost changes the height of bean plants over four weeks. Which variable should students deliberately manipulate?
A.The amount of compost added to each pot
B.The height of each plant after four weeks
C.The species of bean planted in each pot
D.The volume of water given to every pot
Explanation: The independent variable is the factor deliberately changed to test its effect. In this investigation, the amount of compost is manipulated so students can measure its effect on plant height. Water volume and plant species should be controlled, while height is the response variable.
2Why should an experiment testing a new algal growth medium include flasks with the standard medium?
A.To ensure all flasks receive the new treatment
B.To provide a baseline for comparison
C.To replace the need for repeated trials
D.To guarantee that the hypothesis is correct
Explanation: A control group provides a reference point for interpreting the effect of the treatment. If algae in the new medium grow differently from algae in the standard medium, the comparison helps evaluate whether the new medium is associated with the change. Replication is still needed because biological systems vary.
3A class tests the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis using 20 leaf disks at each light level instead of only 2. What is the best reason for using the larger sample size?
A.It changes the dependent variable into an independent variable.
B.It eliminates the need to keep temperature constant.
C.It reduces the influence of individual variation among leaf disks.
D.It proves that light intensity is the only factor affecting photosynthesis.
Explanation: Larger sample sizes help reduce the effect of random variation among individual organisms or samples. They make the estimated treatment effect more reliable than a result from only a few leaf disks. Control of other variables is still necessary.
4A student knocks over a tube containing an unknown bacterial culture. What should the student do first?
A.Wipe the spill with a dry paper towel.
B.Smell the culture to help identify it.
C.Rinse the culture into the sink with tap water.
D.Notify the teacher and follow the biological spill procedure.
Explanation: Unknown biological spills should be reported immediately so approved decontamination and disposal procedures can be followed. The teacher can ensure that students use proper disinfectant, contact time, protective equipment, and waste handling. Casual cleanup can spread contamination.
5A red blood cell is about 0.000008 meters in diameter. Which expression gives this diameter in scientific notation?
A.8 x 10^-6 m
B.8 x 10^-5 m
C.0.8 x 10^-6 m
D.8 x 10^6 m
Explanation: Moving the decimal in 0.000008 six places to the right gives 8, so the exponent is -6. Scientific notation uses a coefficient from 1 up to, but not including, 10. Therefore 0.000008 m is 8 x 10^-6 m.
6Which statement is the best example of an evidence-based scientific claim?
A.The pond behind the school is the most interesting ecosystem.
B.In three replicated tanks, higher nitrate concentration was associated with faster algal growth.
C.Students should prefer native plants to nonnative plants.
D.Forest organisms are more important than grassland organisms.
Explanation: Scientific claims are testable and grounded in evidence. The nitrate statement identifies measurable variables and refers to replicated observations. The other statements express preferences or values rather than evidence-based explanations.
7A graph shows bacterial population size increasing from 2.0 x 10^5 cells to 8.0 x 10^5 cells over 6 hours. What is the average growth rate over this interval?
A.1.3 x 10^5 cells per hour
B.6.0 x 10^5 cells per hour
C.1.0 x 10^5 cells per hour
D.8.0 x 10^5 cells per hour
Explanation: Average rate of change is change in population divided by elapsed time. The population increased by 6.0 x 10^5 cells over 6 hours, giving 1.0 x 10^5 cells per hour. This calculation supports quantitative interpretation of biological data.
8A student estimates plant diversity in a meadow by recording only the plants growing along a paved path. Which problem most directly weakens the conclusion?
A.The study cannot be scientific because it occurs outdoors.
B.The number of plant species is a controlled variable.
C.A field study must always include a microscope.
D.The sample may be biased because path-edge plants may not represent the whole meadow.
Explanation: Sampling only along a path can overrepresent disturbed edge conditions and underrepresent other parts of the meadow. A randomized or systematic sampling design would better support conclusions about the entire meadow. Sampling design is especially important in ecological studies.
9Students compare plant growth under red, blue, and white light. Which design change would best help them determine whether differences are due to wavelength rather than total light energy?
A.Use the same light intensity for all treatments.
B.Use different plant species for each color.
C.Measure plant height only once before the treatments begin.
D.Place the red-light plants at a warmer temperature.
Explanation: To isolate wavelength, students should keep light intensity constant across treatments. Otherwise, differences in growth might reflect total energy received rather than the color of light. Good experimental design changes one major variable at a time while controlling plausible confounders.
10In an enzyme assay, a tube with enzyme but no substrate is included. What is the most useful purpose of this tube?
A.It proves the enzyme has the highest possible activity.
B.It checks whether the measured product forms without substrate.
C.It makes the experiment double-blind.
D.It changes the substrate into a dependent variable.
Explanation: A no-substrate control helps identify background signal or contamination that might produce a reading even when the reaction cannot proceed normally. This makes the interpretation of enzyme activity more valid. It does not replace other controls or replication.

About the WEST-E Biology (NES 305) Exam

WEST-E Biology is currently administered for Washington as NES Biology (305), the official content knowledge test for candidates seeking a Biology endorsement to a Washington teaching certificate. The Pearson/NES profile organizes the exam into five weighted domains: Nature of Science, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Genetics and Evolution, Biological Unity and Diversity, and Ecology and Environment.

Exam sponsor: Washington Educator Skills Tests / Pearson NES. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

150 multiple-choice questions

Time Limit

3h testing time (3h 15m appointment)

Passing Score

220 scaled score

Exam / Certification Fees

$119

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not publicly reported. Exam sponsor website

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

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.

20%

Nature of Science

Scientific inquiry, experimental design, data collection and interpretation, evidence-based claims, scientific notation, safety, history and nature of science, and biology's connections with technology, mathematics, engineering, and society.

13%

Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Atoms, molecules, water, carbon, chemical bonds, thermodynamics, macromolecules, enzymes, membranes, organelles, homeostasis, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, cell specialization, binary fission, mitosis, and the cell cycle.

27%

Genetics and Evolution

Nucleic acids, gene expression, protein synthesis, mutations, genetic engineering, meiosis, inheritance patterns, chromosomal inheritance, extranuclear inheritance, Hardy-Weinberg reasoning, natural and artificial selection, speciation, evidence for evolution, classification, phylogenetic trees, and the history of life.

20%

Biological Unity and Diversity

Viruses, prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, animals, reproduction and life cycles, organism energy and matter use, plant and animal homeostasis, and the anatomy, physiology, disorders, and disease prevention of major human organ systems.

20%

Ecology and Environment

Biotic and abiotic population limits, density-dependent and density-independent factors, behavior and social systems, demographics and survivorship, community interactions, niches, succession, ecosystems, biomes, trophic roles, biogeochemical cycles, and effects of human activities on aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems.

Preparing for the WEST-E Biology (NES 305) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 220 scaled score
  • Assessment: 150 multiple-choice questions
  • Time limit: 3h testing time (3h 15m appointment)
  • Exam / certification fees: $119 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

WEST-E Biology (NES 305): Suggested Study Strategy

1Study by official weighting: give the most time to Genetics and Evolution, then keep Nature of Science, Biological Unity and Diversity, and Ecology on equal footing.
2Practice experimental design and data interpretation because Nature of Science items often test evidence, variables, controls, measurement, and safe lab procedures rather than memorized facts alone.
3For cellular topics, connect structure to function: membranes, organelles, enzymes, photosynthesis, respiration, mitosis, and homeostasis.
4For genetics, practice meiosis, pedigrees, probability, gene expression, mutations, Hardy-Weinberg reasoning, and evidence for evolution until the relationships are automatic.
5For diversity and ecology, focus on adaptations, life cycles, energy flow, matter cycling, population regulation, and human impacts across biological scales.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current WEST-E Biology test code?

The current official WEST tests list shows Biology under National Evaluation Series tests as code 305. Older references to WEST-E Biology 050 are stale; the current WEST-E 050 listing is Bilingual Education.

How many questions are on Washington NES Biology 305?

The official test page lists 150 multiple-choice questions. The official profile also describes the test as multiple-choice and lists approximately 150 questions.

How long is the WEST-E Biology exam?

Candidates receive 3 hours of testing time. The total appointment is 3 hours and 15 minutes because the tutorial and nondisclosure agreement take up to 15 minutes.

What score do I need to pass WEST-E Biology?

The official Washington NES Biology test page lists a passing score of 220. Scores are reported on the WEST/Pearson scaled-score system.

How much does WEST-E Biology cost?

The current official Washington NES Biology 305 test page lists a test fee of $119. Candidates should verify the final checkout amount before registering in case fees change.

Which Biology 305 domain should I study most?

Genetics and Evolution is the largest official domain at 27% of the test. Nature of Science, Biological Unity and Diversity, and Ecology and Environment are each 20%, while Biochemistry and Cell Biology is 13%.