Biology I · Scientific and Engineering Practices
Virginia SOL BIO.1
Virginia SOL BIO.1 is part of the Scientific and Engineering Practices strand in Biology I (Science). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students demonstrate understanding of scientific and engineering practices through inquiry, investigation, and communication. Below is what BIO.1 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice BIO.1 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL BIO.1 means
Demonstrate understanding of scientific and engineering practices through inquiry, investigation, and communication.
Practice Biology I SOL questions
Free Biology I questions from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests — good practice while you work on BIO.1 and the rest of the course. Pick an answer to check it instantly, or open “Show answer” to review.
1. A graph titled “Mass of Fungi Grown in Forest Leaf Litter” shows fungal mass (in grams) on the vertical axis and time (in days) on the horizontal axis. The horizontal axis is labeled Days and ranges from 0 to 16 days in increments of 2 days. The vertical axis is labeled Mass (grams) and ranges from 0 to 500 grams in increments of 100 grams. Data points show a steady increase in fungal mass from day 0 through day 14, rising from approximately 50 grams to approximately 450 grams. One data point at day 16 shows a mass of approximately 50 grams, which sharply contradicts the overall upward trend. Which data point on the graph is probably invalid?
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Answer: B — The data point at day 16 with a mass of approximately 50 grams
2. Which method of fly control would be most harmful to other organisms in the environment?
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Answer: A — Spraying broad-range insecticides
3. In conditions of stress or fear, the human adrenal gland may produce adrenaline. Which of the following is an effect adrenaline can have on the body?
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Answer: A — Increased blood pressure
4. After a culture of cells is allowed to multiply and is viewed through a microscope, the cells are exposed to high-energy radiation for less than 1/100th of a second. After the radiation, many newly reproduced cells appear different. What has probably occurred?
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Answer: B — Mutation
Skills you’ll practice for BIO.1
- Ask questions arising from observation of phenomena, models, theories, or to seek additional information.
- Determine which questions can be investigated within the scope of a school laboratory or field study to identify relationships between independent and dependent variables.
- Generate hypotheses based on research and scientific principles.
- Specify what happens to a dependent variable when an independent variable is manipulated in a hypothesis.
- Individually and collaboratively plan and conduct observational and experimental investigations.
- Plan and conduct investigations or test design solutions in a safe and ethical manner, considering environmental, social, and personal effects.
- Determine appropriate sample size and techniques for investigations.
- Select and use appropriate tools and technology to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate data.
- Construct and interpret data tables showing independent and dependent variables, repeated trials, and means.
- Construct, analyze, and interpret graphical displays of data.
- Use data to build and revise models, support explanations for phenomena, or test solutions to problems.
- Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.
- Make quantitative and/or qualitative claims regarding the relationship between dependent and independent variables.
- Construct and revise explanations based on valid and reliable evidence from investigations, models, theories, simulations, and peer review.
- Apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence to provide explanations of phenomena and design solutions.
- Compare and evaluate competing arguments or design solutions in light of currently accepted explanations and new scientific evidence.
- Construct arguments or counterarguments based on data and evidence.
- Differentiate between a scientific hypothesis and theory.
- Evaluate the merits and limitations of models.
- Develop, revise, and/or use models based on evidence to illustrate or predict relationships.
- Develop and/or use models to generate data to support explanations, predict phenomena, analyze systems, and/or solve problems.
- Compare, integrate, and evaluate sources of information presented in different media or formats to address a scientific question or solve a problem.
- Gather, read, and evaluate scientific and/or technical information from multiple authoritative sources, assessing the evidence and credibility of each source.
- Communicate scientific and/or technical information about phenomena in multiple formats.
Key concepts covered by BIO.1
- question formulation
- observation
- phenomena
- models
- theories
- investigable questions
- independent variable
- dependent variable
- laboratory investigation
- field study
- hypothesis generation
- scientific principles
- research-based hypotheses
- hypothesis formulation
- independent variable manipulation
- dependent variable prediction
- investigation planning
- observational study
- experimental design
- collaboration
- safe investigation
- ethical considerations
- environmental impact
- social impact
- sample size determination
- sampling techniques
- data collection
- data collection tools
- technology use
- data recording
- data analysis
- data tables
- repeated trials
- means
- graphical data representation
- data interpretation
- data modeling
- model revision
- phenomena explanation
- problem-solving
- scientific claims
- design optimization
- reliability
- quantitative claims
- qualitative claims
- variable relationships
- explanation construction
- evidence-based reasoning
- peer review
- model validation
- scientific application
- design solutions
- argument comparison
- design evaluation
- scientific evidence
- argument construction
- data-driven reasoning
- evidence-based arguments
- hypothesis vs theory
- scientific terminology
- theory validation
- model evaluation
- model limitations
- scientific models
- model development
- evidence-based modeling
- relationship prediction
- model application
- data generation
- phenomena prediction
- system analysis
- source evaluation
- information integration
- media literacy
- scientific problem-solving
- source credibility
- scientific literature review
- evidence assessment
- scientific communication
- technical writing
- data presentation
- multimedia formats
How to study and practice SOL BIO.1
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether BIO.1 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.
Frequently asked questions about SOL BIO.1
What is Virginia SOL BIO.1?
SOL BIO.1 is a Biology I Standard of Learning in the Scientific and Engineering Practices strand. It expects students to demonstrate understanding of scientific and engineering practices through inquiry, investigation, and communication.
What skills does SOL BIO.1 cover?
SOL BIO.1 is assessed on 24 skills: ask questions arising from observation of phenomena, models, theories, or to seek additional information; determine which questions can be investigated within the scope of a school laboratory or field study to identify relationships between independent and dependent variables; generate hypotheses based on research and scientific principles; specify what happens to a dependent variable when an independent variable is manipulated in a hypothesis; individually and collaboratively plan and conduct observational and experimental investigations; plan and conduct investigations or test design solutions in a safe and ethical manner, considering environmental, social, and personal effects; determine appropriate sample size and techniques for investigations; select and use appropriate tools and technology to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate data; construct and interpret data tables showing independent and dependent variables, repeated trials, and means; construct, analyze, and interpret graphical displays of data; use data to build and revise models, support explanations for phenomena, or test solutions to problems; analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution; make quantitative and/or qualitative claims regarding the relationship between dependent and independent variables; construct and revise explanations based on valid and reliable evidence from investigations, models, theories, simulations, and peer review; apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence to provide explanations of phenomena and design solutions; compare and evaluate competing arguments or design solutions in light of currently accepted explanations and new scientific evidence; construct arguments or counterarguments based on data and evidence; differentiate between a scientific hypothesis and theory; evaluate the merits and limitations of models; develop, revise, and/or use models based on evidence to illustrate or predict relationships; develop and/or use models to generate data to support explanations, predict phenomena, analyze systems, and/or solve problems; compare, integrate, and evaluate sources of information presented in different media or formats to address a scientific question or solve a problem; gather, read, and evaluate scientific and/or technical information from multiple authoritative sources, assessing the evidence and credibility of each source; communicate scientific and/or technical information about phenomena in multiple formats.
What strand of Biology I is SOL BIO.1 in?
SOL BIO.1 belongs to the Scientific and Engineering Practices reporting strand of the Biology I Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL BIO.1?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether BIO.1 is already solid, then work the 24 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.