NYSTCE Biology CST case studies
NYSTCE Biology CST · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The NYSTCE Biology Content Specialty Test is one of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations, the Content Specialty Tests (CSTs) used in New York's educator certification pathway. It is intended for candidates seeking certification to teach biology in New York schools; testing requirements depend on the certification type sought, so candidates should confirm which tests their own certification pathway requires before registering. The NYSTCE Biology CST case studies are 5 cases and about 3,352 words.
1Catalase Kinetics: Is 60 °C Really Optimal?
During a unit on enzymes, a student team uses potato catalase and 3% hydrogen peroxide. They soak 1 cm filter-paper disks in blended potato extract, drop each disk into 20 mL of substrate, and record the time for the disk to float as a proxy for oxygen production.
686 words, about 3 min2Pedigree Puzzle: X-Linked or Autosomal Recessive?
A student analyzes a family in which a rare metabolic disorder appears in three males across two generations. Generation I includes unaffected parents with an affected son and an unaffected daughter.
678 words, about 3 min3Turtle Mark-Recapture: How Much Confidence Does 300 Support?
Students estimate the size of a turtle population in a 2-hectare pond. On day 1 they capture 40 turtles, mark them, and release them.
657 words, about 3 min4Potato Osmosis: Where Is the Isotonic Point?
Students determine the water potential of potato tissue using sucrose solutions. They cut 12 cores, record initial masses, soak four cores in each of three concentrations (0.0, 0.3, and 0.6 M) for 30 minutes, and calculate percent change in mass.
656 words, about 3 min5Elodea and Light: When More Light Stops Helping
Students investigate photosynthesis in Elodea using a CO2 indicator solution that shifts from red to yellow as CO2 is consumed. They place tubes at 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm from a 100 W lamp and record the time to color change: 40 minutes at 40 cm, 22 minutes at 30 cm, 12 minutes at 20 cm, and 11 minutes at 10 cm.
675 words, about 3 min