Difference between revisions of "Questions by performance level"

Latest revision as of 07:19, 20 October 2026

Released NYS science exam questions, sorted by performance level under each learning standard. Click a course or grade to open its PLD page:

What are PLDs?

Performance Level Descriptions (PLDs) are NYSED's descriptions of what a student at each score level (1–5 on Regents exams, 1–4 on the Grade 5 and Grade 8 tests) can typically do for each learning standard. These pages put real exam questions next to each description, so you can see what a Level 3 question looks like versus a Level 5 on the same standard.

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-{{DISPLAYTITLE:NYS Science Questions by Performance Level}}
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:NYS Science Questions by Performance Level}}__NOTOC__<div style="max-width:1300px;margin:0 auto 18px auto;font-size:1.08em;line-height:1.55;">
-__NOTOC__
+Released NYS science exam questions, sorted by performance level under each learning standard. Click a course or grade to open its PLD page:
-<div style="max-width:1300px;margin:0 auto 18px auto;font-size:1.08em;line-height:1.55;">
-Every released New York State science exam question, sorted by the '''performance level''' it best matches. Each page lists the learning standards for that exam; under each standard, the state's Performance Level Descriptions (PLDs) are shown level by level with the actual exam questions that fit each level. Click any question to see it in full.
-Pick your course or grade:
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 <h2 class="fp-card-title">[[Biology questions by performance level|{{#far:chart-bar}} HS Biology]]</h2>
-<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">30 standards · 257 questions sorted into 5 levels</div>
+<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">257 questions</div>
-<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;gap:12px;line-height:1.6;">[[Biology|Biology standards]]<span>•</span> [[Biology Questions|Biology Regents questions]]</div>
+<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px;"><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 1</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">81</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">32%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 2</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">98</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">38%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 3</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">57</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">22%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 4</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">21</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">8%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 5</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">0</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">0%</div></div></div>
+<div style="margin-top:12px;"><span class="plainlinks" style="display:inline-block;background:#d6ecd3;border:1px solid #9ccf97;border-radius:4px;padding:7px 16px;font-weight:700;">[{{fullurl:Biology questions by performance level}} <span style="color:#1f5e26;">View the HS Biology PLD page {{#fas:arrow-right}}</span>]</span></div>
 </div>
 <div class="fp-card fp-card-chem">
 <h2 class="fp-card-title">[[Chemistry questions by performance level|{{#far:chart-bar}} HS Chemistry]]</h2>
-<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">21 standards · 113 questions sorted into 5 levels</div>
+<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">113 questions</div>
-<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;gap:12px;line-height:1.6;">[[Chemistry|Chemistry standards]]<span>•</span> [[Chemistry question clusters|Chemistry Regents questions]]</div>
+<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px;"><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 1</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">31</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">27%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 2</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">43</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">38%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 3</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">32</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">28%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 4</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">7</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">6%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 5</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">0</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">0%</div></div></div>
+<div style="margin-top:12px;"><span class="plainlinks" style="display:inline-block;background:#f8e0e6;border:1px solid #e8b3c1;border-radius:4px;padding:7px 16px;font-weight:700;">[{{fullurl:Chemistry questions by performance level}} <span style="color:#8a2a45;">View the HS Chemistry PLD page {{#fas:arrow-right}}</span>]</span></div>
 </div>
 <div class="fp-card fp-card-phys">
 <h2 class="fp-card-title">[[Physics questions by performance level|{{#far:chart-bar}} HS Physics]]</h2>
-<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">22 standards · 65 questions sorted into 5 levels</div>
+<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">65 questions</div>
-<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;gap:12px;line-height:1.6;">[[Physics|Physics standards]]<span>•</span> [[Physics question clusters|Physics Regents questions]]</div>
+<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px;"><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 1</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">21</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">32%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 2</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">17</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">26%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 3</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">19</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">29%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 4</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">8</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">12%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 5</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">0</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">0%</div></div></div>
+<div style="margin-top:12px;"><span class="plainlinks" style="display:inline-block;background:#e3dbf5;border:1px solid #c0afe6;border-radius:4px;padding:7px 16px;font-weight:700;">[{{fullurl:Physics questions by performance level}} <span style="color:#4a2c8a;">View the HS Physics PLD page {{#fas:arrow-right}}</span>]</span></div>
 </div>
 <div class="fp-card fp-card-ess">
 <h2 class="fp-card-title">[[Earth and Space Science questions by performance level|{{#far:chart-bar}} HS Earth & Space Sciences]]</h2>
-<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">25 standards · 280 questions sorted into 5 levels</div>
+<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">280 questions</div>
-<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;gap:12px;line-height:1.6;">[[Earth and Space Science|ESS standards]]<span>•</span> [[Earth and Space Science Questions|ESS Regents questions]]</div>
+<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px;"><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 1</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">93</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">33%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 2</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">111</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">40%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 3</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">59</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">21%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 4</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">17</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">6%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 5</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">0</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">0%</div></div></div>
+<div style="margin-top:12px;"><span class="plainlinks" style="display:inline-block;background:#cfeaec;border:1px solid #8ecdd2;border-radius:4px;padding:7px 16px;font-weight:700;">[{{fullurl:Earth and Space Science questions by performance level}} <span style="color:#0c5a62;">View the HS Earth & Space Sciences PLD page {{#fas:arrow-right}}</span>]</span></div>
 </div>
 <div class="fp-card fp-card-ms">
 <h2 class="fp-card-title">[[MS questions by performance level|{{#far:chart-bar}} Grade 8 Science]]</h2>
-<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">62 standards · 161 questions sorted into 4 levels</div>
+<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">161 questions</div>
-<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;gap:12px;line-height:1.6;">[[MS|Middle school standards]]<span>•</span> [[MS questions|Grade 8 test questions]]</div>
+<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px;"><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 1</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">66</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">41%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 2</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">74</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">46%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 3</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">21</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">13%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 4</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">0</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">0%</div></div></div>
+<div style="margin-top:12px;"><span class="plainlinks" style="display:inline-block;background:#fdefc9;border:1px solid #e8c78f;border-radius:4px;padding:7px 16px;font-weight:700;">[{{fullurl:MS questions by performance level}} <span style="color:#7a4a05;">View the Grade 8 Science PLD page {{#fas:arrow-right}}</span>]</span></div>
 </div>
 <div class="fp-card fp-card-g5">
 <h2 class="fp-card-title">[[Grade 5 questions by performance level|{{#far:chart-bar}} Grade 5 Science]]</h2>
-<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">46 standards · 95 questions sorted into 4 levels</div>
+<div style="font-size:0.95em;color:#555;margin-bottom:8px;">95 questions</div>
-<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;gap:12px;line-height:1.6;">[[3-5|Grades 3-5 standards]]<span>•</span> [[Grade 5 Questions|Grade 5 test questions]]</div>
+<div style="display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px;"><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 1</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">41</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">43%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 2</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">41</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">43%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 3</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">11</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">12%</div></div><div style="flex:1 1 0;min-width:70px;padding:6px 4px;background:rgba(255,255,255,0.6);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.08);border-radius:4px;text-align:center;line-height:1.3;"><div style="font-size:0.8em;font-weight:700;color:#555;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.04em;">Level 4</div><div style="font-size:1.15em;font-weight:700;">2</div><div style="font-size:0.85em;color:#555;">2%</div></div></div>
+<div style="margin-top:12px;"><span class="plainlinks" style="display:inline-block;background:#dbe4f0;border:1px solid #b3c4da;border-radius:4px;padding:7px 16px;font-weight:700;">[{{fullurl:Grade 5 questions by performance level}} <span style="color:#2e4a6b;">View the Grade 5 Science PLD page {{#fas:arrow-right}}</span>]</span></div>
 </div>
@@ Line 47: / Line 49: @@
 <div style="max-width:1300px;margin:24px auto 0 auto;font-size:1.02em;line-height:1.55;">
-== What are performance levels? ==
+== What are PLDs? ==
-NYSED scores each science exam on a scale of performance levels (1–5 for Regents exams, 1–4 for the Grade 5 and Grade 8 tests). For every learning standard, the state publishes a Performance Level Description of what a student at each level can typically do. These pages pair those descriptions with real exam questions so you can see what a Level 3 question actually looks like, compare it with a Level 5 question on the same standard, and build practice that targets the level your students are working toward. See [[PerformanceLevel]] for the state's level definitions.
+Performance Level Descriptions (PLDs) are NYSED's descriptions of what a student at each score level (1–5 on Regents exams, 1–4 on the Grade 5 and Grade 8 tests) can typically do for each learning standard. These pages put real exam questions next to each description, so you can see what a Level 3 question looks like versus a Level 5 on the same standard.
-{{PLDnotice}}
 </div>