3-LS4-2 | Advantages from Characteristics · NYS standard · Grade 5 test questions

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Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.

Clarification statement: Examples of cause and effect relationships could include plants that have larger thorns than other plants may be less likely to be eaten by predators; and, animals that have better camouflage coloration than other animals may be more likely to survive and therefore more likely to produce offspring.

Grade 5 Science Test Questions

Released New York State Grade 5 science test questions that assess 3-LS4-2 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 11
Spring 2024 Grade 5 Test	Meerkats	Question 26

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

• advantage
• camouflage
• cause and effect relationship
• coloration
• evidence
• explanation
• finding mates
• offspring
• predator
• reproduction
• species
• survival
• thorn
• variation

From released test questions

• disease – Spring 2026
• environment – Spring 2026
• graph – Spring 2024
• growth – Spring 2026
• inherited – Spring 2026
• internal structure – Spring 2026
• litter size – Spring 2026
• mass – Spring 2024
• pack – Spring 2026
• physical characteristic – Spring 2024
• population – Spring 2024
• prey – Spring 2024
• survival rate – Spring 2026
• trait – Spring 2026
• weight – Spring 2024

Performance Level Descriptions

Every Grade 5 Science Test question on 3-LS4-2 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.

Level 1: Using evidence from an explanation, identify one characteristic among individuals of the same species that may provide an advantage in surviving, or finding mates, or reproducing.

Level 2: Identify the evidence from a given explanation that supports how variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, or reproducing. Spring 2026 · Q11 Spring 2024 · Q26

Level 3: Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.

Level 4: Use evidence from multiple sources to construct a scientific explanation, using cause and effect relationships, for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species and may provide advantages.

Notice: PLD levels!

Resources

Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of 3-LS4-2.

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Page contributors: Conrad Richman

Grades 3–5 science standards | 3. Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits