The Physical Science content topics span the physical science curriculum, including content related to (I) Nature and Impact of Science and Engineering, (II) Principles and Models of Matter and Energy, (III) Chemistry, and (IV) Physics.

The assessment is designed and developed through work with practicing physical science teachers, teacher educators, and higher education content specialists to reflect the science knowledge teachers need to teach the physical science curriculum and to reflect state and national standards, including the National Science Teaching Association Preparation Standards for the physical sciences (chemistry and physics). Content and practices measured reflect the Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) and Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs) established by the National Research Council in A Framework for K-12 Science Education and included in the Next Generation Science Standards.

The 125 selected-response questions measure concepts, terms, phenomena, methods, applications, data analysis, and problem solving in science. Test takers will not need to use calculators in taking this test.

The periodic table of the elements is available as a Help screen, along with a table of information that presents various physical constants and a few conversion factors among SI units. Whenever necessary, additional values of physical constants are included with the text of a question.

Test takers can expect half or more of the questions on the test to integrate science content knowledge with one or more of the SEPs, listed under Science and Engineering Practices. Test takers will also find that approximately one-quarter to one-third of the questions call for application of physical science content and processes within a teaching scenario or an instructional task. Such questions—designed to measure applications of science knowledge to the kinds of decisions and evaluations a teacher must make during work with students, curriculum, and instruction—situate science content questions in tasks critical for teaching.

This test may contain some questions that will not count toward your score.