Reposted with permission from the American Federation of Teachers
http://www.aft.org
                    Can You Meet World-Class Standards?
In countries in Europe and Asia where student achievement is very high,
students must pass three or more rigorous tests -- in subjects such as
math, science, history, native language, and literature -- in order to
enter college. Between 1/4 and 1/3 of students in France, Germany, England
and Wales, and Japan take and pass such exams. Excerpts of those exams -
plus information on how these educational systems work -- can be found by
pressing the appropriate buttons below. You can also read about the US
system and see excerpts from the Advanced Placement exam -- the closest
equivalent the United States has to these foreign exams.
Test yourself with these sample questions from biology tests taken by
college-bound students.
         Sample Biology Questions Taken By College-Bound Students
                        % of Age Cohort1 Taking   % of Age Cohort Passing
                        an Advanced               an Advanced
                        Subject-Specific Exam     Subject-Specific Exam
  England-Wales2
                                 31%                        25%
  (A-levels)
  France3
                                 43%                        32%
  (Baccalaureat)
  Germany4 (Abitur)              26%                        25%
  Japan5 (University
                                43-58%                      36%
  Entrance Exams)
  U.S.6 (Advanced
                                  8%                        5%
  Placement Exams)
1The age cohort for England and Wales, France and the United States is
approximately 18-years-old, the age most students in these countries
complete secondary school. For Japan, the age cohort is approximately 18-
to 21-year-olds (see Note 5 below). For Germany, the age cohort is 18- to
21-year olds; the range is due to more frequent grade retention and the
fact that the Abitur is taken at the end of what would be a 13th grade in
the other countries.
2 A-level candidates generally take three subject-specific exams.
Approximately 15 percent of the age cohort earned three or more passes, 6
percent earned two passes, and 4 percent earned one pass. (Source:
Associated Examining Board)
3 Baccalaureat candidates generally take subject-specific exams in six or^
more subjects, depending on the track chosen. Percentages shown represent
the proportion of the age cohort who tried for and received one of the
general (academic) baccalaureats. Overall, 51 percent of the age cohort
earned either an academic or vocational baccalaureat. (Source: Embassy of
France)
4 Though most college-bound students in Germany take the Abitur (26
percent), some (10 percent) take a less demanding set of exams, called the
Fachabitur, which allows for entrance into technical universities. Abitur
candidates take four subject-specific academic exams, and the Fachabitur
requires three academic subject exams and one vocational subject exam.
(Source: Federal Ministry of Education and Science)
5 Since Japanese students must take subject-specific exams in order to
apply to universities, and pass these exams in order to gain admission, the
figures in this chart represent the number of Japanese students applying to
and enrolling in universities in 1990. It is common for university
applicants who fail the entrance exams to retake them in subsequent years.
It is also common for some university applicants to delay applying to
universities for the first time for one or more years. For these reasons,
the age cohort used for Japan includes individuals over the age of 18. The
reason for the range shown here is that approximately one-quarter of
applicants in 1990 had graduated from high school in earlier years, but it
is not clear how many of them had previously applied to college, and thus
and taken the exams already. The 43 percent figure assumes that all
applicants who had graduated in years prior to 1990 had previously applied
to universities. The 58 percent figure assumes that no applicants who had
graduated in years prior to 1990 had previously applied to universities. We
estimate the actual percentage of first time applicants in 1990 to be
between 45 and 50 percent of the age cohort. (Source: "The University Tests
in Japan" by Tae Ryu)
6 (Sources: Advanced Placement Program and U.S. Department of Commerce
publications)
These are only sample questions and it is important to see the full test to^
                  make accurate comparisons and judgments.
1992 Advanced Level Examination in Biology (England and Wales)
+ Describe, with practical details, how you would compare the reducing
sugar and non-reducing sugar content of a sample of beans
1992 Baccalaureat Exam in Biology (France)
+ Show that the hypothalamus is the integration center in fighting cold. In^
doing this, explain the process of integration of afferent messages at the
level of a neuron of this center, and using the example of an effector
controlled by hormones, show that the hypothalamus in participates in
maintaining body temperature in response to cold by adapting the response
of the effector selected.
1992 Abitur Exam in Biology (Germany)
+ For about 20 years it has been possible, through amniocentesis
(aspiration of amniotic fluid), to determine certain inherited ailments in
the embryo. To do this, it is necessary to construct a karyogram.
a. What does a karyogram represent and what information can it give?
b. Why can't the deafness be diagnosed even with a karyogram?
c. What inherited human ailments can be recognized with the help of a
karyogram? Give three examples and state the corresponding changes in the
karyogram.
1991 Tokyo University Entrance in Examination in Biology (Japan)
A certain species of parasitic trypanosome causes African trypanodomiasis,
which has a high mortality rate. This disease is contracted when a human is
stung by a tsetse fly, which is the trypanosomes' intermediate host. The
trypanosomes multiply in the human blood but do not invade tissue.
The mitochondria of the trypanosomes are large in number and have a well
developed form when the tsetse fly is acting as a host. On the other hand,
they are small in number and have immature forms when the host is a human.
The partial pressure of oxygen in the body of a tsetse fly is higher than
in human blood, and human blood contains large amounts of glucose compared
to that of the body of a tsetse fly.
Answer regarding the underlined sentence in the above passage:
a. What is the major function of the mitochondria as a cell constituent?
Select an appropriate answer from the choices below:
(a) protein synthesis
(b) sugar synthesis
(c) energy production
(d) decomposition of protein
(e) maintaining cell integrity
(f) controlling cytokinesis
b. [Short essay] Explain why the differences in the developmental levels of
the trypanosomes' mitochondria are very suitable for adapting to
differences in the hosts' environments. (Within 70 words)
1990 Advanced Placement Examination in Biology (United States)
+ Describe the steps of protein synthesis, beginning with the attachment,
of a messenger RNA molecule to the small subunit of a ribosome and ending
with the release of the polypeptide from the ribosome. Include in your
answer a discussion of how the different types of RNA function in this
process.
Chuck Beams
Fidonet - 1:2608/70
cbeams@future.dreamscape.com
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* UniQWK #5290* "Apple" (c) Copyright 1767, Sir Isaac Newton.
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