Biology (BIO) Exam Blueprint

BIO

115Questions
90 minDuration
50Passing Score
$93Price
1Languages
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Exam Domains

Molecular and Cellular Biology Molecular and Cellular Biology 33%
  • 1.1Chemical composition of organisms
  • 1.2Simple chemical reactions and bonds
  • 1.3Properties of water
  • 1.4Chemical structure of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
  • 1.5Origin of life
  • 1.6Cells
    Structure and function of cell organelles; Properties of cell membranes; Comparison of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
  • 1.7Enzymes
    Enzyme-substrate complex; Roles of coenzymes; Inorganic cofactors; Inhibition and regulation
  • 1.8Energy transformations
    Glycolysis, cellular respiration, aerobic and anaerobic pathways; Photosynthesis
  • 1.9Cell division
    Structure of chromosomes; Mitosis, meiosis, and cytokinesis in plants and animals
  • 1.10Chemical nature of the gene
    Watson-Crick model of nucleic acids; DNA replication; Mutations; Control of protein synthesis: transcription, translation, and post-transcriptional processing; Structural and regulatory genes; Transformation; Viruses
Organismal Biology Organismal Biology 34%
  • 2.1Structure and function in plants with emphasis on angiosperms
    Root, stem, leaf, flower, seed, and fruit; Water and mineral absorption and transport; Food translocation and storage; Plant reproduction and development; Alternation of generations in ferns, conifers, and flowering plants; Gamete formation and fertilization; Growth and development: hormonal control; Tropisms and photoperiodicity
  • 2.2Structure and function in animals with emphasis on vertebrates
    Major systems (e.g., digestive, gas exchange, skeletal, nervous, circulatory, excretory, and immune); Homeostatic mechanisms; Hormonal control in homeostasis and reproduction; Animal reproduction and development; Gamete formation and fertilization; Cleavage, gastrulation, germ layer formation, and differentiation of organ systems; Experimental analysis of vertebrate development; Extraembryonic membranes of vertebrates; Formation and function of the mammalian placenta; Blood circulation in the human embryo
  • 2.3Principles of heredity
    Mendelian inheritance (dominance, segregation, independent assortment); Chromosomal basis of inheritance; Linkage, including sex-linked; Polygenic inheritance (height, skin color, etc.); Multiple alleles (human blood groups)
Population Biology Population Biology 33%
  • 3.1Principles of ecology
    Energy flow and productivity in ecosystems; Biogeochemical cycles; Population growth and regulation (natality, mortality, competition, migration, density, r- and K-selection); Community structure, growth, and regulation (major biomes and succession); Habitat (biotic and abiotic factors); Concept of niche; Island biogeography
  • 3.2Principles of evolution
    History of evolutionary concepts; Concepts of natural selection (differential reproduction, mutation, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, speciation, and punctuated equilibrium); Adaptive radiation; Major features of plant and animal evolution; Concepts of homology and analogy; Convergence, extinction, balanced polymorphism, and genetic drift
  • 3.3Classification of living organisms
  • 3.4Evolutionary history of humans
  • 3.5Principles of behavior
    Stereotyped and learned social behavior; Societies (insects, birds, and primates); Social biology
  • 3.6Human population growth
    Age composition, birth and fertility rates, and theory of demographic transition
  • 3.7Human intervention in the natural world
    Management of resources, and environmental pollution; Biomedical progress (control of human reproduction, and genetic engineering)

Exam Details

Question TypesMultiple Choice
FormatMultiple-choice (computer-based)
PrerequisitesCompletion of a one-year college general biology course
Retake PolicyEach institution reserves the right to set its own credit-granting policy, which may differ from the American Council on Education (ACE). Contact your college to find out the score required for credit and the number of credit hours granted.
LanguagesEnglish

Official Study Resources

official study guideCLEP Biology Examination Guide ($10)
articleStudy Resources: Biology
articleSample Questions: Biology
appCLEP Practice App
pdfWhat Your CLEP Score Means
pdfACE Credit Recommendations