GRE_ BIOLOGY TEST
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Graduate Record Examinations®
This practice book
contains
one actual full-length
GRE Biology Test
test-taking strategies
BIOLOGY
Become familiar with
test structure and content
TEST
test instructions and
answering procedures
PRACTICE
BOOK
Compare your practice
test results with the
performance of those
who took the test at a
GRE administration.
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Note to Test Takers: Keep this practice book until you receive your score report.
The book contains important information about content specifications and scoring.
Copyright © 2001 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved.
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The GRE Board recommends that scores on the
Table of Contents Subject Tests be considered in conjunction with
other relevant information about applicants. Because
Purpose of the GRE Subject Tests ........................ 3 numerous factors influence success in graduate
Development of the Subject Tests ....................... 3 school, reliance on a single measure to predict
Content of the Biology Test ................................. 4 success is not advisable. Other indicators of compe-
tence typically include undergraduate transcripts
Preparing for a Subject Test ................................. 7 showing courses taken and grades earned, letters of
Test-Taking Strategies .......................................... 7 recommendation, the GRE Writing Assessment
score, and GRE General Test scores. For information
What Your Scores Mean ...................................... 8
about the appropriate use of GRE scores, write to
Practice Biology Test .......................................... 11 GRE Program, Educational Testing Service, Mail
Scoring Your Subject Test .................................. 65 Stop 57-L, Princeton, NJ 08541, or visit our Web site
at www.gre.org/codelst.html.
Evaluating Your Performance ............................. 68
Answer Sheet ..................................................... 69
Development of the
Subject Tests
Purpose of the GRE Each new edition of a Subject Test is developed by
Subject Tests a committee of examiners composed of professors in
the subject who are on undergraduate and graduate
The GRE Subject Tests are designed to help gradu- faculties in different types of institutions and in
ate school admission committees and fellowship different regions of the United States and Canada.
sponsors assess the qualifications of applicants in In selecting members for each committee, the GRE
specific fields of study. The tests also provide you Program seeks the advice of the appropriate profes-
with an assessment of your own qualifications. sional associations in the subject.
Scores on the tests are intended to indicate The content and scope of each test are specified
knowledge of the subject matter emphasized in and reviewed periodically by the committee of
many undergraduate programs as preparation for examiners. Test questions are written by the com-
graduate study. Because past achievement is usually mittee and by other faculty who are also subject-
a good indicator of future performance, the scores matter specialists and by subject-matter specialists
are helpful in predicting success in graduate study. at ETS. All questions proposed for the test are
Because the tests are standardized, the test scores reviewed by the committee and revised as necessary.
permit comparison of students from different The accepted questions are assembled into a test in
institutions with different undergraduate programs. accordance with the content specifications devel-
For some Subject Tests, subscores are provided in oped by the committee to ensure adequate coverage
addition to the total score; these subscores indicate of the various aspects of the field and, at the same
the strengths and weaknesses of your preparation, time, to prevent overemphasis on any single topic.
and they may help you plan future studies. The entire test is then reviewed and approved by
the committee.
BIOLOGY TEST 3
PRACTICE BOOK
Subject-matter and measurement specialists Scores on the Subject Tests are reported as three-
on the ETS staff assist the committee, providing digit scaled scores with the third digit always zero.
information and advice about methods of test con- The maximum possible range for all Subject Test
struction and helping to prepare the questions and total scores is from 200 to 990. The actual range of
assemble the test. In addition, each test question is scores for a particular Subject Test, however, may be
reviewed to eliminate language, symbols, or content smaller. The maximum possible range of Subject
considered potentially offensive, inappropriate for Test subscores is 20 to 99; however, the actual range
major subgroups of the test-taking population, or of subscores for any test or test edition may be
likely to perpetuate any negative attitude that may be smaller than 20 to 99. Subject Test score interpre-
conveyed to these subgroups. The test as a whole is tive information is provided in Interpreting Your
also reviewed to ensure that the test questions, where GRE Scores, which you will receive with your
applicable, include an appropriate balance of people GRE score report, and on the GRE Web site at
in different groups and different roles. www.gre.org/codelst.html.
Because of the diversity of undergraduate cur-
ricula, it is not possible for a single test to cover all
the material you may have studied. The examiners, Content of the Biology Test
therefore, select questions that test the basic knowl-
edge and skills most important for successful graduate The test contains about 200 five-choice questions, a
study in the particular field. The committee keeps the number of which are grouped in sets toward the end
test up-to-date by regularly developing new editions of the test and are based on descriptions of laboratory
and revising existing editions. In this way, the test and field situations, diagrams, or experimental results.
content changes steadily but gradually, much like To cover the broad field of the biological sciences,
most curricula. In addition, curriculum surveys are the subject matter on which the students are tested is
conducted periodically to ensure that the content of organized into three major areas: cellular and molecu-
a test reflects what is currently being taught in the lar biology; organismal biology; and ecology and
undergraduate curriculum. evolution. Approximately equal weight is given to
After a new edition of a Subject Test is first each of these three areas. However, subject area
administered, examinees’ responses to each test subdivisions indicated by Arabic numerals may not
question are analyzed in a variety of ways to deter- contain equal numbers of questions.
mine whether each question functioned as expected. The approximate distribution of questions by
These analyses may reveal that a question is ambigu- content category is shown below.
ous, requires knowledge beyond the scope of the test, I. Cellular and Molecular Biology 33-34%
or is inappropriate for the total group or a particular Fundamentals of cellular biology, genetics, and
subgroup of examinees taking the test. Answers to
molecular biology are addressed. Major topics in
such questions are not used in computing scores. cellular structure and function include metabolic
Following this analysis, the new test edition is
pathways and their regulation, membrane dynamics,
equated to an existing test edition. In the equating cell surfaces, organelles, cytoskeleton, and cell cycle.
process, statistical methods are used to assess the
Major areas in genetics and molecular biology include
difficulty of the new test. Then scores are adjusted so chromatin and chromosomal structure, genomic
that examinees who took a difficult edition of the test
organization and maintenance, and the regulation of
are not penalized, and examinees who took an easier gene expression. The cellular basis of immunity, the
edition of the test do not have an advantage. Varia-
mechanisms of antigen-antibody interactions, and
tions in the number of questions in the different cell-pathogen interactions are included. Distinctions
editions of the test are also taken into account in
between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are consid-
this process. ered where appropriate. Attention is also given to
experimental methodology.
4 BIOLOGY TEST
PRACTICE BOOK
A. Cellular Structure and Function 16-17% 6. Gene expression and regulation: effects
Control of normal development; Cancer
1. Biological compounds
and oncogenes
Macromolecular structure and bonding
Signaling mechanisms in cells
Abiotic origin of biological molecules
7. Immunobiology
2. Enzyme activity, receptor binding, and regulation
Cellular basis of immunity; Antibody
3. Major metabolic pathways and regulation
diversity and synthesis
Respiration, fermentation, and photosynthesis
Antigen-antibody interactions
Synthesis and degradation of macromolecules
8. Bacteriophages, animal viruses, and plant viruses
Hormonal control and intracellular messengers
Viral genomes, replication, and assembly
4. Membrane dynamics and cell surfaces
Virus-host cell interactions
Transport, endocytosis, and exocytosis
9. Recombinant DNA methodology
Electrical potentials and neurotransmitters
Restriction endonucleases; Blotting and
Mechanisms of cell recognition, cell junctions,
hybridization
and plasmodesmata
Restriction fragment length polymorphisms;
Cell wall and extracellular matrix
DNA cloning, sequencing, and analysis;
5. Organelles: structure, function, and targeting
Polymerase chain reaction
6. Cytoskeleton, motility, and shape
Actin-based systems II. Organismal Biology 33-34%
Microtubule-based systems
Intermediate filaments The structure, physiology, behavior, and develop-
Bacterial flagella and movement ment of plants and animals are addressed. Topics
7. Cell cycle, growth, division, and regulation covered include nutrient procurement and processing,
gas exchange, internal transport, regulation of fluids,
B. Genetics and Molecular Biology 16-17% control mechanisms and effectors, and reproduction in
1. Genetic foundations autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. Examples of
Mendelian inheritance; Pedigree analysis developmental phemonena range from fertilization
Prokaryotic genetics (transformation, through differentiation and morphogenesis. Percep-
transduction, and conjugation) tions and responses to environmental stimuli are
Genetic mapping examined as they pertain to both plants and animals.
2. Chromatin and chromosomes Major distinguishing characteristics and phylogenetic
Nucleosomes relationships of selected groups from the various
Karyotypes kingdoms are also covered.
Chromosomal aberrations A. Animal Structure, Function, and
Polytene chromosomes Organization 9-10%
3. Genome sequence organization
Introns and exons; Single-copy and 1. Exchange with environment
repetitive DNA Nutrient, salt, and water exchange
Transposable elements Gas exchange; Energy
4. Genome maintenance 2. Internal transport and exchange
DNA replication; DNA mutation and repair Circulatory, gastrovascular, and
5. Gene expression and regulation in prokaryotes digestive systems
and eukaryotes: mechanisms 3. Support and movement
The operon; Promoters and enhancers; Support systems (external, internal,
Transcription factors; RNA and protein and hydrostatic)
synthesis; Processing and modifications Movement systems (flagellar, ciliary,
of both RNA and protein and muscular)
4. Integration and control mechanisms
Nervous and endocrine systems
BIOLOGY TEST 5
PRACTICE BOOK
5. Behavior (communication, orientation, 4. Fungi
learning, and instinct) Distinctive features of major phyla
6. Metabolic rates (temperature, body size, and (vegetative, asexual, and sexual
activity) reproduction)
B. Animal Reproduction and Development 5-6% Generalized life cycles
Importance (e.g., decomposition,
1. Reproductive structures biodegradation, antibiotics, and
2. Meiosis, gametogenesis, and fertilization pathogenicity)
3. Early development (e.g., polarity, cleavage, Lichens
and gastrulation) 5. Animalia with emphasis on major phyla
4. Developmental processes (e.g., induction, Major distinguishing characteristics
determination, differentiation, morphogenesis, Phylogenetic relationships
and metamorphosis) 6. Plantae with emphasis on major phyla
5. External control mechanisms (e.g., photoperiod) Alternation of generations
C. Plant Structure, Function, and Organization, Major distinguishing characteristics
with Emphasis on Flowering Plants 6-7% Phylogenetic relationships
1. Tissues, tissue systems, and organs III. Ecology and Evolution 33-34%
2. Water transport, including absorption and
transpiration This section deals with the interactions of organ-
3. Phloem transport and storage isms and their environment, emphasizing biological
4. Mineral nutrition principles at levels above the individual. Ecological
5. Plant energetics (e.g., respiration and and evolutionary topics are given equal weight.
photosynthesis) Ecological questions range from physiological adapta-
tions to the functioning of ecosystems. Although
D. Plant Reproduction, Growth, and Development, principles are emphasized, some questions may
with Emphasis on Flowering Plants 4-5% consider applications to current environmental
1. Reproductive structures problems. Questions in evolution range from its
2. Meiosis and sporogenesis genetic foundations through evolutionary processes
3. Gametogenesis and fertilization to their consequences. Evolution is considered at the
4. Embryogeny and seed development molecular, individual, population, and higher levels.
5. Meristems, growth, morphogenesis, and Principles of ecology, genetics, and evolution are
differentiation interrelated in many questions. Some questions may
6. Control mechanisms (e.g., hormones, photo- require quantitative skills, including the interpreta-
period, and tropisms) tion of simple mathematical models.
E. Diversity of Life 6-7% A. Ecology 16-17%
1. Archaebacteria 1. Environment/organism interaction
Morphology, physiology, and identification Biogeographic patterns; Adaptations to
2. Eubacteria (including cyanobacteria) environment; Temporal patterns
Morphology, physiology, pathology, and 2. Behavioral ecology
identification Habitat selection; Mating systems;
3. Protista Social systems; Resource acquisition
Protozoa, other heterotrophic Protista 3. Population structure and function
(slime molds and Oomycota), and Population dynamics/regulation;
autotrophic Protista Demography and life history strategies
Major distinguishing characteristics 4. Communities
Phylogenetic relationships Interspecific relationships;
Importance (e.g., eutrophication, disease) Community structure and diversity;
Change and succession
6 BIOLOGY TEST
PRACTICE BOOK
5. Ecosystems
Productivity and energy flow; Chemical
Test-Taking Strategies
cycling The questions in the practice test in this book
B. Evolution 16-17% illustrate the types of multiple-choice questions in
the test. When you take the test, you will mark your
1. Genetic variability answers on a separate machine-scorable answer sheet.
Origins (mutations, linkage, recombination, Total testing time is two hours and fifty minutes;
and chromosomal alterations) there are no separately timed sections. Following are
Levels (e.g., polymorphism and heritability) some general test-taking strategies you may want
Spatial patterns (e.g., clines and ecotypes) to consider.
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
2. Evolutionary processes Read the test directions carefully, and work as
Gene flow and genetic drift; Natural rapidly as you can without being careless. For
selection; Levels of selection (e.g., each question, choose the best answer from the
individual and group) available options.
3. Evolutionary consequences All questions are of equal value; do not waste
Fitness and adaptation; Speciation; time pondering individual questions you find
Systematics and phylogeny; Convergence, extremely difficult or unfamiliar.
divergence, and extinction
You may want to work through the test quite
4. History of life
rapidly, first answering only the questions about
Origin of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
which you feel confident, then going back and
Fossil record
answering questions that require more thought,
Paleontology and paleoecology
and concluding with the most difficult ques-
tions if there is time.
Preparing for a If you decide to change an answer, make sure
you completely erase it and fill in the oval
Subject Test corresponding to your desired answer.
GRE Subject Test questions are designed to measure Questions for which you mark no answer
skills and knowledge gained over a long period of or more than one answer are not counted
time. Although you might increase your scores to in scoring.
some extent through preparation a few weeks or
months before you take the test, last minute cram- As a correction for haphazard guessing, one-
fourth of the number of questions you answer
ming is unlikely to be of further help. The following
information may be helpful. incorrectly is subtracted from the number of
questions you answer correctly. It is improbable
A general review of your college courses is that mere guessing will improve your score
probably the best preparation for the test. significantly; it may even lower your score.
However, the test covers a broad range of If, however, you are not certain of the correct
subject matter, and no one is expected to be answer but have some knowledge of the ques-
familiar with the content of every question. tion and are able to eliminate one or more of
Use this practice book to become familiar with the answer choices, your chance of getting the
the types of questions in the GRE Biology Test, right answer is improved, and it may be to your
paying special attention to the directions. If you advantage to answer the question.
thoroughly understand the directions before you
take the test, you will have more time during
the test to focus on the questions themselves.
BIOLOGY TEST 7
PRACTICE BOOK
Record all answers on your answer sheet. Range of Raw Scores* Needed
Answers recorded in your test book will not to Earn Selected Scaled Scores
be counted. on Three Biology Test Editions
Do not wait until the last five minutes of a That Differ in Difficulty
testing session to record answers on your Raw Scores
answer sheet. Scaled Score Form A Form B Form C
800 143-145 124-126 118-120
What Your Scores Mean 700 113-115 98-99 91-93
600 84-86 71-72 64-66
Your raw score, that is—the number of questions you 500 54-56 44-46 37-39
answered correctly minus one-fourth of the number
Number of Questions Used to Compute Raw Score
you answered incorrectly—is converted to the scaled
score that is reported. This conversion ensures that 200 198 198
a scaled score reported for any edition of a Subject *Raw Score = Number of correct answers minus one-fourth the
Test is comparable to the same scaled score earned on number of incorrect answers, rounded to the nearest integer.
any other edition of the same test. Thus, equal scaled
scores on a particular Subject Test indicate essentially For a particular test edition, there are many ways to
equal levels of performance regardless of the test earn the same raw score. For example, on the edition
edition taken. Test scores should be compared only listed above as “Form A,” a raw score of 84 through 86
with other scores on the same Subject Test. (For would earn a scaled score of 600. Below are a few of the
example, a 680 on the Computer Science Test is not possible ways in which a scaled score of 600 could be
equivalent to a 680 on the Mathematics Test.) earned on that edition.
Before taking the test, you may find it useful to
know approximately what raw scores would be
required to obtain a certain scaled score. Several Examples of Ways to Earn
factors influence the conversion of your raw score to a Scaled Score of 600 on the
your scaled score, such as the difficulty of the test Edition Labeled as “Form A”
edition and the number of test questions included in
the computation of your raw score. Based on recent Number of
Questions
editions of the Biology Test, the following table gives
Questions Questions Questions Used to
the range of raw scores associated with selected scaled Raw Answered Answered Not Compute
scores for three different test editions. (Note that Score Correctly Incorrectly Answered Raw Score
when the number of scored questions for a given test
84 84 0 116 200
is greater than the range of possible scaled scores, it is
84 96 47 57 200
likely that two or more raw scores will convert to the
same scaled score.) The three test editions in the 84 107 93 0 200
table that follows were selected to reflect varying 86 86 0 114 200
degrees of difficulty. Examinees should note that future 86 97 45 58 200
test editions may be somewhat more or less difficult 86 108 90 2 200
than those test editions illustrated in the table.
8 BIOLOGY TEST
PRACTICE BOOK
Practice Test
To become familiar with how the administration will be conducted at the test center, first
remove the answer sheet (pages 69 and 70). Then go to the back cover of the test book
(page 64) and follow the instructions for completing the identification areas of the answer
sheet. When you are ready to begin the test, note the time and begin marking your answers
on the answer sheet.
BIOLOGY TEST 9
PRACTICE BOOK
FORM GR9924
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any part of this test is illegal.
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Unauthorized copying or reuse of
any part of this test is illegal.
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Unauthorized copying or reuse of
any part of this test is illegal.
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Unauthorized copying or reuse of
any part of this test is illegal.
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Unauthorized copying or reuse of
any part of this test is illegal.
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Unauthorized copying or reuse of
any part of this test is illegal.
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any part of this test is illegal.
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