Test Information Guide

Field 69: Physics
Sample Open-Response Item

The following materials contain:

The following material will be available to you during the test.

Constants and Formulas Link opens a PDF file

Sample Test Directions for Open-Response Items

This section of the test consists of two open-response item assignments. You will be asked to prepare a written response of approximately 150to300 words, or 1to2 pages, for each assignment.

Read the assignments carefully before you begin your responses. Think about how you will organize your responses. You may use the erasable sheet(s) to make notes, write an outline, or otherwise prepare your responses. However, your final response to each assignment must be either:

  1. typed into the on-screen response box,
  2. written on a response sheet and scanned using the scanner provided at your workstation, or
  3. provided using both the on-screen response box (for typed text) and a response sheet (for calculations or drawings) that you will scan using the scanner provided at your workstation.

Instructions for scanning your response sheet(s) are available by clicking the "Scanning Help" button at the top of the screen.

As a whole, your response to each assignment must demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge of the field. In your response to each assignment, you are expected to demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the subject area by applying your knowledge rather than by merely reciting factual information.

Your response to each assignment will be evaluated based on the following criteria.

The open-response item assignments are intended to assess subject knowledge. Your responses must be communicated clearly enough to permit valid judgment of the evaluation criteria by scorers. Your responses should be written for an audience of educators in this field. The final version of each response should conform to the conventions of edited American English. Your responses should be your original work, written in your own words, and not copied or paraphrased from some other work.

Be sure to write about the assigned topics. Remember to review your work and make any changes you think will improve your responses.

Any time spent responding to an assignment, including scanning the response sheet(s), is part of your testing time. Monitor your time carefully. When your testing time expires, a pop-up message will appear on-screen indicating the conclusion of your test session. Only response sheets that are scanned before you end your test or before time has expired will be scored. Any response sheet that is not scanned before testing ends will NOT be scored.

Sample Open-Response Item

Objective 0015
Prepare an organized, developed analysis of a key topic in physics related to Matter and Its Interactions, Energy, or Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer.

Use the information below to complete the assignment that follows.

Standards-Based Objective

Develop a model to illustrate the energy released or absorbed during the process of fission.

System

A U element with superscript 235 sub 92 nucleus captures a neutron and undergoes nuclear fission in a commercial nuclear reactor. The reaction produces the elements B A superscript 141 sub 56 and K R superscript 92 sub 36.

Assignment

Use your knowledge of physical science to write an essay of approximately 150to300 words, or 1to2 pages, in which you use the standards-based objective to analyze the system. In your response:

Sample Strong Response to the Open-Response Item

The sample response below reflects a strong knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

The system shows a uranium atom undergoing fission which is a reaction in which a uranium nucleus splits into two or more different nuclei. The reaction releases a very large amount of energy and gamma radiation. This is an example of radioactive decay.

See formula below.

The mass difference between the mass you start with and the mass you end with, accounts for the amount of energy emitted. The neutrons released can cause more uranium atoms to undergo fission, resulting in a chain reaction. An enormous amount of energy is then released quickly. In a commercial nuclear reactor, the rate of fission must be controlled in order to sustain the safe release of energy.

I would use this model to help students visualize the fission process of nuclear reactors as well as nuclear bombs. The formula shows that the amount of neutrons bombarding the uranium needs to be regulated in order to control the reaction in a nuclear reactor. Control rods are necessary to absorb some neutrons in order to regulate the reaction. I would push the students to think about how the neutrons released on the product side of the formula could cause additional reactions unless they are absorbed and that is why we need control rods. When the control system fails, the reactor will overheat and explode as in the nuclear catastrophe that occurred at Chernobyl.

1 over 0 N + 235 over 92 U yields 141 over 56 B A + 92 over 36 K R plus 3 1 over 0 N + energy

Scoring Rubric

Performance Characteristics

The following characteristics guide the scoring of responses to the open-response item(s).

Performance Characteristics
Purpose The extent to which the response achieves the purpose of the assignment.
Subject Matter Knowledge Accuracy and appropriateness in the application of subject matter knowledge.
Support Quality and relevance of supporting details.
Rationale Soundness of argument and degree of understanding of the subject matter.

Scoring Scale

The scoring scale below, which is related to the performance characteristics for the tests, is used by scorers in assigning scores to responses to the open-response item(s).

Score Scale with description for each score point.
Score Point Score Point Description
4 The "4" response reflects a thorough knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is fully achieved.
  • There is substantial, accurate, and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is sound; there are high-quality, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an ably reasoned, comprehensive understanding of the topic.
3 The "3" response reflects an adequate knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is largely achieved.
  • There is a generally accurate and appropriate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is adequate; there are some acceptable, relevant examples.
  • The response reflects an adequately reasoned understanding of the topic.
2 The "2" response reflects a limited knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is partially achieved.
  • There is a limited, possibly inaccurate or inappropriate, application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence is limited; there are few relevant examples.
  • The response reflects a limited, poorly reasoned understanding of the topic.
1 The "1" response reflects a weak knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.
  • The purpose of the assignment is not achieved.
  • There is little or no appropriate or accurate application of subject matter knowledge.
  • The supporting evidence, if present, is weak; there are few or no relevant examples.
  • The response reflects little or no reasoning about or understanding of the topic.
U The response is unrelated to the assigned topic, illegible, primarily in a language other than English, not of sufficient length to score, or merely a repetition of the assignment.
B There is no response to the assignment.