Natural Sciences Exam Info
The Natural Sciences exam covers a wide range of topics frequently taught in introductory courses surveying both biological and physical sciences at the freshman or sophomore level. Such courses generally satisfy distribution or general education requirements in science that usually are not required of nor taken by science majors. The Natural Sciences exam is not intended for those specializing in science; it is intended to test the understanding of scientific concepts that an adult with a liberal arts education should have. It does not stress the retention of factual details; rather, it emphasizes the knowledge and application of the basic principles and concepts of science, the comprehension of scientific information, and the understanding of issues of science in contemporary society.
Knowledge and Skills Required
Biological Science50%
- 10% Origin and evolution of life; classification of organisms
- 10% Cell organization, cell division, chemical nature of the gene, bioenergetics, and biosynthesis
- 20% Structure, function, and development in organisms; patterns of heredity
- 10% Concepts of population biology with emphasis on ecology
Physical Science50%
- 7% Atomic and nuclear structure and properties, elementary particles, and nuclear reactions
- 10% Chemical elements, compounds and reactions, molecular structure and bonding
- 12% Heat, thermodynamics, and states of matter; classical mechanics; relativity
- 4% Electricity and magnetism, waves, light, and sound
- 7% The universe: galaxies, stars, and the solar system
- 10% The Earth: atmosphere, hydrosphere, structure features, geologic processes, and history
The exam includes some questions that are interdisciplinary and cannot be classified in one of the listed categories. Some of the questions cover topics that overlap with those listed previously, drawing on areas such as history and philosophy of science, scientific methods, science applications and technology, and the relationship of science to contemporary problems of society, such as environmental pollution and depletion of natural resources. Some questions are laboratory oriented.