HS-ETS1-1

HS-ETS1-2 →

Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.

Note: this is a performance expectation for four classes: Earth and Space Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Regents Exam Questions

Released New York State Regents exam questions that assess HS-ETS1-1 are listed here by exam and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.

Chemistry

Exam	Cluster	Question
August 2026 Chemistry Regents	Parade of Balloons	Question 40
Chemistry sample clusters (Spring 2025)	Smartphone Chemistry	Question 4

Physics

Exam	Cluster	Question
June 2026 Physics Regents	Flashlight Physics	Question 35

Biology

Exam	Cluster	Question
August 2026 Biology Regents	Parrots and Biodiversity	Question 44
	The Permafrost Problem	Question 48
June 2026 Biology Regents	Fossil Fuels: Out of Sight, but Not Out of Mind	Question 27
January 2026 Biology Regents	Diabetes	Question 27
Biology sample clusters (Fall 2024)	Old Forest	Question 5
Biology sample clusters (Spring 2024)	Prostaglandins	Question 6

Earth & Space Science

Exam	Cluster	Question
August 2025 Earth and Space Sciences Regents	Dams and Flood Mitigation	Question 40
June 2025 Earth and Space Sciences Regents	Mining and Use of Lithium	Question 32

Vocabulary

Terms that come from this standard or from the released exam questions that assess it, listed by subject. Chemistry terms are from the Chemistry Glossary; Physics terms are from the Physics Glossary; Biology terms are from the Biology Glossary; Earth & Space Science terms are from the Earth & Space Science Glossary.

Chemistry

From this standard

• constraint
• criteria
• energy
• qualitative
• quantitative

Physics

From this standard

• complex real-world problem
• constraints
• cost
• costs and benefits
• criteria
• energy
• engineering
• global challenge
• new technologies
• pollution
• qualitative
• quantitative
• risk mitigation
• societal needs and wants
• solution
• water

Biology

From this standard

• constraint
• criteria
• pollution
• societal needs and wants

From released exam questions

• animal model – Sample 2024
• atmosphere – June 2026, Sample 2024
• biodiversity – Sample 2024
• blood – Jan 2026
• blood sugar – Jan 2026
• cancer – Sample 2024
• carbon – Aug 2026, June 2026, Sample 2024
• carbon cycle – June 2026
• carbon sequestration – Sample 2024
• consumer – June 2026
• diabetes – Jan 2026
• DNA – Sample 2024
• ecosystem – Sample 2024
• extinction – Sample 2024
• frequency – Jan 2026
• habitat – Sample 2024
• human activity – Sample 2024
• infection – Jan 2026
• nitrogen – Aug 2026
• permafrost – Aug 2026
• reforestation – Aug 2026
• soil – Aug 2026, Sample 2024
• species – Aug 2026, Sample 2024

Earth & Space Science

From this standard

• complex real-world problem
• constraints
• costs and benefits
• criteria
• Earth
• global challenge
• new technologies
• pollution
• risk mitigation
• societal needs and wants

From released exam questions

• air pollution – June 2025
• pollutants – June 2025

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Regents exam question on HS-ETS1-1 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Given a major global challenge, identify the criteria or constraint for the given solution that best accounts for societal needs or wants. August 2026 Chemistry Question 40, Chemistry sample Smartphone Chemistry Question 4, August 2026 Biology Question 44, June 2026 Biology Question 27

Level 2: Given a major global challenge, describe the qualitative or quantitative criteria or constraint for the given solution that best accounts for societal needs or wants. August 2026 Biology Question 48, January 2026 Biology Question 5, January 2026 Biology Question 6, June 2026 Physics Question 35, August 2025 Earth and Space Science Question 40, June 2025 Earth and Space Science Question 32

Level 3: Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative or quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants. January 2026 Biology Question 27

Level 4: Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative or quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.

Level 5: Evaluate two or more major global challenges to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions, which could include new technologies that account for societal needs and wants.

Notice: PLD levels!

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-ETS1-1.

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

NGSS Dimensions

Performance expectation HS-ETS1-1 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:

Science and Engineering Practices

• Asking Questions and Defining Problems
  • Analyze complex real-world problems by specifying criteria and constraints for successful solutions.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• ETS1.A: Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems
  • Criteria and constraints also include satisfying any requirements set by society, such as taking issues of risk mitigation into account, and they should be quantified to the extent possible and stated in such a way that one can tell if a given design meets them.
  • Humanity faces major global challenges today, such as the need for supplies of clean water and food or for energy sources that minimize pollution, which can be addressed through engineering. These global challenges also may have manifestations in local communities.

Crosscutting Concepts

• Connections to Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science: Influence of Science, Engineering, and Technology on Society and the Natural World
  • New technologies can have deep impacts on society and the environment, including some that were not anticipated. Analysis of costs and benefits is a critical aspect of decisions about technology.

Page contributors: Conrad Richman, Caroline Leonard

Earth and Space Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics | HS. Engineering Design