Grade 5 is one of only two NC grades that test science — and 2024-25 was the FIRST year on North Carolina's new (2023) science standards and new adaptive test, with scores dropping to 62% grade-level proficient.
Real NC EOG format. Aligned to NC Standard Course of Study for Science. Detailed explanations on every answer.
Which process causes rocks to break down into smaller pieces due to wind, water, and ice?
Science is tested at only two grades in North Carolina — grade 5 and grade 8 — so fifth-grade science is one of just two science checkpoints before high school. And there's a big recent change: North Carolina adopted new science standards in July 2023, with a new multistage-adaptive EOG Science test first given in 2024-25. Because of that change, science proficiency dropped that year — grade-5 science went from 66% (2023-24) to 62% (2024-25). Spring 2026 is year two on the new standards, so don't compare old and new scores naively.
North Carolina reports on a 1-to-5 scale; "on grade level" is Grade Level Proficient (GLP), Level 3 or above. In 2024-25, 62.0% of NC fifth graders were grade-level proficient in science. Life Science is the largest reporting category (~44-52%), followed by Physical Science (~30-37%) and Earth & Space Science (~18-25%). The new standards integrate Science & Engineering Practices, so reasoning about science matters, not just recall.
The test is given online via NCTest.
Grade Level Proficient (GLP) = Level 3+ = on grade level. 2024-25 was the FIRST year on NC's new (2023) science standards and new adaptive test — scores dropped from 66% (2023-24), so don't compare old and new years directly. Science is tested only at grades 5 and 8.
Source: NC DPI 2024-25 EOG results (released Sept 2025), all-students GLP (62.0%)
Grade 5 science on the NC EOG is assessed against North Carolina's new (2023) Science Standard Course of Study, with Life Science the largest category. The new standards integrate Science & Engineering Practices, so many items ask students to reason about phenomena. The percentage ranges are from NCDPI's published test specifications.
| Reporting Category | What's Tested |
|---|---|
| Life Science (~44-52%) | The largest category: structures and processes of organisms, ecosystems and matter/energy flow, and heredity. |
| Physical Science (~30-37%) | Matter and its interactions, and motion and forces. |
| Earth & Space Science (~18-25%) | Earth's systems and how they change over time. |
Prepare for the newer, harder standards — 2024-25 was year one on NC's 2023 science standards and scores dropped. Practice with current-standard material, not old test-prep.
Focus on Life Science — it's the largest category (~half the test) at grade 5.
Practice reasoning about phenomena, not just facts — the new standards integrate Science & Engineering Practices.
Don't overlook science because it's not tested every year — grade 5 is one of only two NC science grades.
No. The NC EOG tests science at only two grades — grade 5 and grade 8. There's no science EOG in grades 3, 4, 6, or 7.
North Carolina adopted new science standards in 2023, and 2024-25 was the first year on those standards with a new multistage-adaptive science test. Grade-5 science proficiency dropped from about 66% (2023-24) to 62% (2024-25) as a result. Spring 2026 is year two — the standards are harder and more reasoning-focused, so don't compare old and new scores directly.
North Carolina's new (2023) science standards across Life Science (the largest — organisms, ecosystems, heredity), Physical Science (matter, forces), and Earth & Space Science, with items that integrate Science & Engineering Practices.
'On grade level' means Grade Level Proficient (Level 3+) on NC's 1-5 scale. Level 4+ is College-and-Career Ready.
EOGs are given in the final 10 instructional days of the school year; your district sets exact dates.
Same NC EOG test, different grades and subjects. Pick the page that matches your child's situation.
No credit card. Unlimited practice aligned to NC Standard Course of Study for Science.