3-LS2-1 | Animal Groups · NYS standard · Grade 5 test questions

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3-LS4-1 →

Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.

Clarification statement: Examples of groups could include a herd of cattle, a swarm of bees, a flock of geese, a pod of whales, etc.

Grade 5 Science Test Questions

Released New York State Grade 5 science test questions that assess 3-LS2-1 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.

Exam	Cluster	Question
Spring 2026 Grade 5 Test	Wolves in Yellowstone National Park	Question 10
Spring 2025 Grade 5 Test	Traits and Survival of Dogs	Question 5
Spring 2024 Grade 5 Test	Meerkats	Question 27

Vocabulary

Terms from the Elementary Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released Grade 5 Science Test questions that assess it.

From this standard

• animal
• argument
• cause and effect relationship
• chance of survival
• claim
• data
• evidence
• flock
• herd
• model
• pod
• survival
• swarm

From released test questions

• data table – Spring 2025
• ecosystem – Spring 2026
• endangered species – Spring 2026
• food – Spring 2024
• graph – Spring 2024
• habitat – Spring 2026
• habitat loss – Spring 2026
• hunting – Spring 2026
• mass – Spring 2024
• mob – Spring 2024
• pack – Spring 2026, Spring 2025
• pack size – Spring 2025
• prey – Spring 2026
• pup – Spring 2026, Spring 2024
• reintroduction – Spring 2026
• social animal – Spring 2026
• solution – Spring 2026
• survival rate – Spring 2025
• weight – Spring 2024

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Grade 5 Science Test question on 3-LS2-1 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Identify the evidence for an argument, from those provided, that some animals that form groups help members survive. Spring 2026 · Q10

Level 2: Identify the argument, from those provided, that supports the claim that animals form groups that helps members survive. Spring 2025 · Q5

Level 3: Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.

Level 4: Construct an argument using evidence, data, and/or a model to describe the cause and effect relationship between animals forming groups and their chance of survival. Spring 2024 · Q27

Notice: PLD levels!

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of 3-LS2-1.

This section could be expanded upon. You can help out by adding to this section.

Page contributors: Conrad Richman

Grades 3–5 science standards | 3. Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems