SCIENCE EOG – 8TH GRADE

WHAT DOES MY STUDENT NEED TO KNOW FOR THE SCIENCE EOG The student will be tested on all seven

goals of the 8th Grade Science Standard Course of Study.

The most heavily weighed goals are 3, 4, and 5: hydrosphere, chemistry, and geologic evolution, respectively.

Goals 1 & 2, which are scientific inquiry and technology, will be incorporated with the questions from goals 3-7.

SOME FAQS FROM NCDPI Are items weighted differently? Do

items contribute more or less to a student’s score based on their difficulty?

No. All scored items on the EOG science tests are weighted equally and therefore, contribute equally to a student’s score.

Are there items on the tests that do not count toward a student’s score?

Yes. The EOG science tests utilize embedding for field testing new items. On the EOG science test at grade 5 and at grade 8 there is one section of experimental items. The embedded items do not count toward a student’s score.

* I would like to point out that students do NOT know which items are field test, so it’s important they do their best on ALL questions!

WHAT IS A I, II, III, OR IV?Subject Grade Level I Level II Level III Level IV

Science 5 145 or less

146-152 153-160 161 or greater

8 142 or less

143-149 150-157 158 or greater

HOW MANY QUESTIONS? HOW MUCH TIME? There are 80 questions on both the 5th

and 8th grade Science EOGs. There is a maximum time of 240

minutes allowed to complete the test. Students will receive two three-minute

stretch breaks.

RESOURCES FOR EOG On the 8th grade Science EOG, the

student will receive blank paper to complete any problems, a calculator (for solving DENSITY PROBLEMS), and a PERIODIC CHART!

The periodic chart is NOT color-coded. It’s important students are able to determine information just by where the element is located.

SAMPLE PROBLEM Which condition in the ocean is most

responsible for an increase in the fish population near the surface?

A. buoyancyB. densityC. salinityD. upwelling

More sample test items can be found at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/testing/eog/science/20071204gr8sci.pdf

More sample test items can be found at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/testing/eog/science/20071204gr8sci.pdf

RELEASED QUESTIONS FROM 2008-09 What characteristic of aluminum allows

it to be made into aluminum foil?A It is dense.B It is soluble.C It is magnetic.D It is malleable.

Which pure substance is composed of more than one element?

A carbonB goldC waterD sodium

Which is best used to track the global movement of volcanic ash after an eruption?

A ground truthingB satellite photographsC topographic mapsD weather balloons

More released items can be found at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/testing/releasedforms/grade8sciencereleased.pdf.

STUDY ISLAND Students can log on to

www.studyisland.com for extra EOG practice.

Benchmarks have been assigned to each class. I have created these benchmarks based on questions that are most like the questions on the EOG.

VOCABULARY Both 5th and 8th Grade Science EOGs are

heavily weighted on knowledge of vocabulary terms.

On my teacher website, a link for all PowerPoints used in class is available to all students. These presentations contain most of the vocabulary students will need to know to be successful on the EOG.