Biology A
Credit By Exam Review Sheet
This Credit by Exam Review Sheet can help you prepare for the exam by giving you an idea of
what you need to study, review, and learn. To succeed, you should be thoroughly familiar with
the subject matter before you attempt to take the exam.
Every question that appears on the Credit by Exam/Examination for Acceleration is grounded in
the knowledge and skills statements and student expectations within the state-mandated
standards, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). It should be noted that an exam
will not test every student expectation. However, it is important that students study and know
the entire scope of the TEKS so that they can develop a complete understanding of the content.
The CBE/EAs are a global exam grounded in the TEKS and are not designed to be a final exam
for the University of Texas high school courses. You can view the TEKS for this exam online at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/. Since questions are not taken from any one source, you can
prepare by reviewing any of the state-adopted textbooks.
About the exam
The Credit by Exam consists of 70 multiple-choice that are worth 1 point each. You will be
allowed 3 hours to take the exam.
Concepts and Objectives
The bulleted list and sample questions below may not refer to all the material that will be in the
exam. This list only provides additional information for some of the student expectations tested
in the Biology First Semester Credit by Exam. Ultimately, you should use the TEKS to guide
your exam preparation.
The first semester Credit by Exam focuses on the molecular basis of life processes for plants and
animals and the ecological interactions of organisms.
• Biomolecules in living systems.
• Cell structure and function in plants and animals
• DNA structure and function
• DNA mutations and their effect
• Photosynthesis and Cellular respiration
• Organisms and their environment
In addition, students should also be familiar with the following:
• Know the characteristics of living organisms
• Understand the scientific method and its applications
• Know the safety symbols and what each stands for
• Know the steps in scientific experimentation
• Know the basic structure and function of the biomolecules: Nucleic acid, Carbohydrates,
Lipids, and Proteins
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BIO A
CBE/EA
Review Sheet
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Understand how enzymes work
Describe the structure of DNA and understand its role in living organisms including the
function of RNA and effects of DNA mutation
Identify plant, animal, and bacterial cells. Identify cell organelles and their function
within those cells
Describe cellular transport including selective permeability, diffusion and osmosis
Differentiate between aerobic respiration, glycolysis, and fermentation to include the
reactants, products, energy produced, and the organelles involved
Describe the process of photosynthesis including the reactants, products, and organelles
involved
Describe the cell cycle including cell replication
Understand and describe the process of protein synthesis
Describe the interaction of ecosystems including symbiosis, trophic levels, energy
production, food chains, food webs, and food pyramids
Understand population dynamics including the reproductive strategies of r and k
organisms
Understand ecological succession
Understand the various biological cycles including the water and nitrogen cycles.
Sample Questions
These sample questions will give you a better idea of the types of questions you can expect on
the Credit by Exam. These questions are provided to illustrate the format of the exam; they are
not a duplicate of the actual exam. In order to be successful on the exam, you must study and
review all of the concepts listed above.
Multiple-Choice
1. Each organism in a food chain represents a feeding step in the transfer of materials and
energy. This step is called _____.
A
B
C
D
a niche
a trophic level
a pathway
an organizational level
2. Members of the same population compete for the same resources. This is called what?
A
B
C
D
Interspecific competition
Intraspecific competition
Commensal competition
Predatory competition
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BIO A
CBE/EA
Review Sheet
3. The rate of diffusion can be affected by three factors. Which of the following does not
affect the rate of diffusion?
A
B
C
D
Concentration
Pressure
Temperature
Mass
4. Nucleic acids are one of four biomolecules. They are made of smaller units called
nucleotides that are made up of all of the following except _____.
A
B
C
D
a sugar molecule
a phosphate group
an enzyme
a nitrogenous base
5. There are two basic cell types, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Which of the following
identifies a cell as being a prokaryote?
A
B
C
D
Contains no membrane bound organelles.
Contains no DNA
Contains no cell wall
Contains no plasma membrane
6. Whey synthesizing carbohydrates, which structure captures the sun’s energy during
photosynthesis?
A
B
C
D
Nucleus
Endoplasmic reticulum
Chloroplast
Mitochondria
7. After the four stages of mitosis are complete, the cell must then undergo what?
A
B
C
D
Interphase
Cytokinesis
Synthesis
Lysis
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BIO A
CBE/EA
Review Sheet
8. The sides of a DNA molecule are composed of _____.
A
B
C
D
adenine and thymine
cytosine and quinine
phosphate and sugar
hydrogen bonds.
9. Mutations in DNA where a single base is added to or deleted from the DNA sequence is
called _____.
A
B
C
D
a frameshift mutation
a point mutation
a deletion mutation
an insertion mutation.
10. Chloroplasts contain pigments that absorb specific wavelengths of sunlight. Which
statement is true?
A
B
C
D
Chlorophyll absorbs only green wavelengths of light
Chlorophyll absorbs only yellow and orange wavelengths of light.
Chlorophyll absorbs most wavelengths of light except red and blue.
Chlorophyll absorbs most wavelengths of light except green.
Answer Key
Item Number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Correct Answer
B
A
D
C
A
C
B
C
A
D
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