7th GRADE NC Final Exam Testing Specifications

Updated for the 2017-2018 School Year by NCDPI

Here is the link to the .PDF where this information originated.

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/common-exams/specifications/2017-18/67scispecs1718.pdf

Table 1: Weight Distributions for 7th Grade Science NCFE

7TH Grade
Domain % of NCFE
Standard
7.P.1 13-17%
Physical Science
7.P.2 18-24%
Earth Science 7.E.1 20-28%
7.L.1 16-22%
Life Science
7.L.2 8-14%
Total 100%
NOTE: Members of the Test Development section of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)
invited teachers to collaborate and develop recommendations for a prioritization of the standards indicating the
relative importance of each standard, the anticipated instructional time, and the appropriateness of the standard for
multiple-choice and constructed response item formats.

Table 2: Number of Items by Clarifying Objective – 7th Grade Science NCFE

7th Grade Objective Description Number of
7th Grade
UNIFYING CONCEPT: Items per
Objective
Objective*
Composition, properties, and structure of Earth’s
7.E.1.1 3
atmosphere.
7.E.1.2 Water cycle & weather 3
Earth Systems, Relationship of air masses, pressure systems, frontal
7.E.1.3 --
Structures, and boundaries to storms and weather conditions
Processes 7.E.1.4 Predict weather based on: data, maps, radar, clouds 1
Influence of convection, global wind, jet stream on weather
7.E.1.5 1
and climate
7.E.1.6 Maintaining air quality & stewardship 1
Compare structures & functions of single-celled organisms:
7.L.1.1 2
Structures and Euglena, Amoeba, Paramecium, Volvox
Functions of Living 7.L.1.2 Compare structures & functions of plants and animal cells 1
Organisms 7.L.1.3 Hierarchical organization from cells to tissues to organisms 1
7.L.1.4 Functions of body systems & their interaction 3
7.L.2.1 Variation differences due to sexual & asexual reproduction 1
Patterns of heredity using Punnett squares and pedigree
Evolution and 7.L.2.2 3
analysis
Genetics
Environment and lifestyle choice impact biological
7.L.2.3 1
inheritance
Description of motion of an object based on position,
7.P.1.1 2
direction of motion, and speed relative to another object
Effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on an object:
7.P.1.2 2
friction, gravity, magnets
Forces and Motion
Illustrate motion using graph to show change in position
7.P.1.3 1
over time
Interpret distance vs. time graphs for constant speed and
7.P.1.4 1
variable motion
 Kinetic & potential energy and their contribution to
7.P.2.1 3
mechanical energy
Energy: Conservation Energy transfer using a model or diagram: potential to
7.P.2.2 2
& Transfer kinetic
7.P.2.3 Work 2
7.P.2.4 Simple machines 1
* Some objectives not designated with tested items (i.e., “–”) may be a prerequisite standard, may be tested within
the context of another standard or may be included as an embedded field test item.