| Of the 80 questions on the Biology Regents, every | | | | poses a multiple-choice question that shows four |
| year approximately ten are based on accompanying | | | | different graphs and asks the student to choose the |
| charts or tables. Of all the questions on the Exam, | | | | one which correctly illustrates the data. Although the |
| none place greater stress on reasoning and less on | | | | format is different, the student who is accustomed |
| memorization than these. Most of these questions | | | | to plotting data in a graph will utilize that experience |
| ask you to predict the outcome of the data listed in | | | | to find the correct choice. |
| the chart by applying your understanding of one or | | | | Frequently, the Regents asks one or more questions |
| more scientific principles. | | | | which tests the student's knowledge of correct |
| Within this group, there is usually a sequence of as | | | | experimental procedure. Often, this question makes |
| many as four questions relating to a single table | | | | reference to an illustration or graph which may |
| containing data. | | | | appear complex or unfamiliar to the student. But, |
| All of these questions test your ability to draw an | | | | armed with prior practice and with a little patience in |
| appropriate graph and interpret it. But, the Regents | | | | analyzing the question, the student will conclude that |
| divides what might have been one or two questions | | | | the correct response involves a basic principal of |
| into four: one for labeling an axis of the graph and | | | | experimental procedure which appears frequently on |
| choosing the appropriate scale, one for linking the | | | | the Regents: i.e. data is only valid if the experimental |
| data points, one for choosing the correct | | | | design includes a control group or data is only valid if |
| interpretation of the data. No knowledge of any | | | | collected from the full range of organisms involved |
| scientific principles other than how to correctly plot | | | | and the full range of time during which the process |
| and interpret data is required. | | | | being measured occurs. |
| Together with the essay questions, these are among | | | | Often, there is a question, asking the student to |
| the few non-multiple choice questions on the exam. | | | | draw a conclusion regarding the data in a graph. |
| The key, as always, is practice. The student who has | | | | Often, the correct response is the most |
| reviewed prior exams and practiced plotting data in a | | | | conservative one of the choices, one that notes a |
| graph in response to such questions will be prepared | | | | relationship between the data, but avoids overstating |
| and confident. In addition, sometimes the Exam | | | | what the relationship is. |