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Study Guide

Test Design and Test Objectives
Field 45: Earth Science

Test Overview

Format Computer-based test (CBT)
Number of Questions 100 selected-response questions
Time 2 hours and 30 minutes (does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial)
Passing Score 240

Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.

Test Objectives

Table outlining test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective
Subareas Range of Objectives Approximate Test Proportions
I Characteristics of Science 01–05 22%
II Origin and Evolution of the Earth System 06–09 17%
III Geologic Materials, Processes, and Cycles 10–14 22%
IV The Hydrosphere and the Atmosphere 15–19 22%
V Astronomy 20–23 17%
Total Proportion 100%

 

Subarea I–Characteristics of Science

Objective 0001: Understand the historical and contemporary contexts of the study of Earth and space science.
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Objective 0002: Understand the nature of science and scientific inquiry.
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Objective 0003: Understand the principles and procedures of scientific investigations.
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Objective 0004: Understand the processes of gathering, organizing, reporting, and analyzing scientific data in the context of Earth and space science investigations.
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Objective 0005: Understand how Earth and space science interrelates with society, technology, and the other sciences and applies to everyday life.
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Subarea II–Origin and Evolution of the Earth System

Objective 0006: Understand the formation and structure of the Earth and the role of internal and external energy in the Earth's formation.
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Objective 0007: Understand plate tectonics and the internal dynamics that drive plate movements.
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Objective 0008: Understand the Earth's history, the geologic time scale, and the theory and application of relative and absolute dating techniques.
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Objective 0009: Understand the processes that create and change landforms.
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Subarea III–Geologic Materials, Processes, and Cycles

Objective 0010: Understand the physical and chemical properties of Earth materials.
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Objective 0011: Understand minerals and rocks, their formation, and their identification.
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Objective 0012: Understand volcanoes and other types of igneous activity.
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Objective 0013: Understand earthquakes.
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Objective 0014: Understand geochemical cycles.
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Subarea IV–The Hydrosphere and the Atmosphere

Objective 0015: Understand freshwater systems.
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Objective 0016: Understand the structure and composition of different layers in the atmosphere and atmospheric processes.
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Objective 0017: Understand the Earth's climate system.
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Objective 0018: Understand weather and weather prediction.
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Objective 0019: Understand the characteristics of ocean water, currents, and waves.
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Subarea V–Astronomy

Objective 0020: Understand the characteristics and interactions of the Earth-Moon-Sun system.
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Objective 0021: Understand the characteristics and formation of the solar system.
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Objective 0022: Understand characteristics of stars and galaxies.
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Objective 0023: Understand theories of the origin and evolution of the universe.
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