NYSTCE Earth Science (162) case studies
NYSTCE Earth Science (162) · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Earth Science Content Specialty Test (code 162) is a New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) assessment used in the certification pathway for teachers of Earth Science. It is a computer-based test built from 90 selected-response items and 1 constructed-response item, with 3 hours and 15 minutes of testing time inside a 3 hours and 30 minutes total appointment (the first 15 minutes cover the CBT tutorial and nondisclosure agreement). The passing score is 520 and the test fee is $122. A standard 4-function calculator appears on screen, the test uses a headset, and at least one assignment allows you to insert special characters. The NYSTCE Earth Science (162) case studies are 5 cases and about 2,665 words.
1Stream Monitoring Below a Treatment Plant
A student team samples a stream at three sites on five July days at 07:00 and 14:00. Site S1 is 200 m upstream of a wastewater treatment plant outfall.
594 words, about 3 min2Deciding Between Two Models of Retrograde Motion
Students track a planet against background stars from January to July. They record that it moves eastward against the stars, slows in April, reverses direction for about 10 weeks, then resumes eastward.
512 words, about 3 min3Saltwater Intrusion in a Coastal Well Field
A coastal farming region pumps groundwater from 14 wells completed in a sand aquifer. Pumping averages 2.5 million m³ per year.
569 words, about 3 min4Correlating Outcrops with an Ash Layer and a Fault
Three outcrops are exposed along a road cut. Outcrop A, from bottom to top: sandstone with shell fossils, shale with graptolites, a 1.2 m volcanic ash layer, and limestone with trilobites.
500 words, about 3 min5Testing a Radon–Earthquake Claim
A citizen group claims that radon in well water predicts earthquakes. They present three years of weekly radon measurements from one well and a regional earthquake catalog.
490 words, about 2 min