Concept
Overview of a
student
performing at
the given level
Systems
Inquiry: Plan
and Analyze an
Investigation
Inquiry:
Evidence to
Support
Explanations
Application:
Choosing a
Solution
Application:
Trade-Offs and
Constraints
LS1A/LS1B
Photosynthesis
and Respiration
LS1C
Organelles
Basic
A biology student performing at the Basic Level
describes a simplified biological system in terms
of boundaries, subsystems, flows, and the larger
encompassing system; plans scientific
investigations in the context of biology with
appropriate independent and dependent
variables and uses some supporting evidence to
describe a relationship between variables;
describes potential solutions to a technological
design problem and the consequences of solutions
in the context of biology and society;
demonstrates emerging understanding of
processes within cells, maintenance and stability
of populations in ecosystems, and mechanisms of
evolution.
Describe subsystems, boundaries, inputs/outputs
and the encompassing system of a simplified
biological system.
Plan a scientific investigation of a biological
system including appropriate independent and
dependent variables with some guidance.
Describe a relationship between variables with
some supporting evidence using data from a
scientific investigation of a biological system.
Describe research that could lead to solutions;
and identify potential solutions to technological
design problems in the context of biology.
Identify trade‐offs and unintended
consequences of given solutions to technological
design problems in the context of biology.
Identify the role of photosynthesis in the lives of
plants and in the lives of animals.
Identify the essential functions of some cell
structures.
Proficient
A biology student performing at the Proficient
Level describes limitations in a model of a
biological system and uses a model to make
predictions; plans an appropriate and valid
scientific investigation in the context of biology
and includes evidence from a scientific
investigation to explain a relationship between
variables; describes a method for testing
alternative solutions to a technological design
problem in the context of biology with respect to a
criterion for success; demonstrates
understanding of processes within cells,
maintenance and stability of populations in
ecosystems, and mechanisms of evolution.
Advanced
A biology student performing at the Advanced
Level describes feedback processes that regulate a
complex biological system; evaluates a scientific
investigation in terms of validity and reliability
and describes explanations for the results of a
scientific investigation in the context of biology
that are consistent with scientific knowledge;
proposes a method for evaluating solutions to
technological design problems in the context of
biology with respect to multiple criteria for
success; demonstrates strong understanding of
processes within cells, maintenance and stability
of populations in ecosystems, and mechanisms of
evolution.
Describe the limitations of a model for a biological
system and use the model to make predictions
about the biological system.
Plan a valid scientific investigation for a testable
question about a biological system choosing an
appropriate method.
Explain a relationship between variables
including supporting evidence and using data
from a scientific investigation of a biological
system.
Describe a method for testing a given solution to a
technological design problem in the context of
biology.
Evaluate alternative solutions suggested by a
technological design process in terms of a
criterion for success in the context of biology.
Describe the inputs and outputs of matter and
energy in photosynthesis, cellular respiration and
combustion.
Describe the essential functions of cell structures.
Describe the regulatory effect of positive or
negative feedback processes in a complex
biological system.
Evaluate the validity and reliability of a given
scientific investigation of a biological system.
Explain how a relationship between variables in a
scientific investigation of a biological system is
consistent with established scientific knowledge.
Apply multiple criteria to evaluate alternative
solutions suggested by a technological design
process in the context of biology and describe
constraints of those solutions.
Describe cellular respiration as the process that
transfers the energy of glucose into energy in the
form of special molecules (e.g., ATP).
Explain how cell structures interact to maintain
the internal environment of a cell.
LS1E
DNA, Genes, and
Protein
Synthesis
LS2A
Transfers and
Cycles of Matter
and Energy in
Ecosystems
LS2B/C
Population
Density and
Limiting Factors
LS2D
Population
Graphs
LS3B
Mutations
LS3E
Relatedness of
Organisms
Identify typical animal cells as containing two sets
of chromosomes, one from each biological parent;
and identify egg or sperm cells as containing one
set of chromosomes from a single biological
parent.
Identify the subunits and base pairs in DNA; and
identify that DNA determines the traits of an
organism.
Identify examples of matter cycling and energy
flowing through an ecosystem.
Identify the product of mitosis as two new cells
with identical copies and the same number of
chromosomes as the original cell; and identify the
product of meiosis as cells with a unique
combination of genetic information and half the
chromosomes of the original cell.
Describe how the structure of DNA allows the
nucleus to regulate cell activity.
Describe the processes and outputs of mitosis,
meiosis and fertilization.
Describe how the processes of recombination and
fertilization allow for variation.
Describe some transfers and transformation of
matter and energy in ecosystems.
Describe the processes of DNA replication and
protein synthesis; and describe how mutations
can occur during these processes.
Describe carbon and nitrogen cycles in
ecosystems.
Identify living and nonliving factors that promote
or limit population growth.
Analyze the impact of changes in the environment
on the biodiversity and stability of ecosystems.
Identify an environmental change that could affect Predict changes in populations due to natural
the survival of a population in an ecosystem.
selection caused by differences in genetic
variability or environmental pressures.
Identify mutations as random changes or
Identify that mutations can be neutral, harmful or
mistakes in genetic material; and identify that
helpful to the survival of offspring.
some can be inherited.
Identify evidence that can show the development Infer relationships among organisms given
of species over time.
physical characteristics, functional characteristics
and/or genetic information.
Predict changes in population size given
quantitative information about an ecosystem (e.g.,
graphs).
Describe the processes that create mutations; and
describe how those mutations provide genetic
variation for natural selection.
Describe how biological evolution can account for
similarities and differences of features in given
organisms.
Identify living and nonliving factors that affect
populations in an ecosystem with some
guidance.
Explain how biological evolution is the result of
interactions among populations, inherited
variability, resources available and/or natural
selection.