A class tilts a stream table to four different slopes and weighs the sediment washed out at each one. Which is the independent variable?Wikipedia, "Dependent and independent variables". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0001
A student weighs one rock sample five times and reads 52.1 g every time, but the true mass is 48.0 g. How should the readings be described?Wikipedia, "Accuracy and precision". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0001
A topographic map has a contour interval of 20 feet. What does that tell the reader?Wikipedia, "Contour line". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0003
How many satellites must a GPS receiver have in view, at the least, to fix its position?Wikipedia, "Global Positioning System". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0003
In 1912 a German meteorologist proposed that the continents had once been joined in one landmass and had since drifted apart. Who was he?U.S. Geological Survey, This Dynamic Earth, "Historical perspective". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0002
Show all 48 questions (43 more)
Domain I: Nature of science, continued
In science, what is a theory?Wikipedia, "Scientific theory". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0002
The Sun is about 150 million kilometers from Earth. How is that distance written in scientific notation?NASA Science, "Sun: Facts". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0001
Which principle, often summed up as "the present is the key to the past", holds that the natural processes at work today also shaped Earth long ago?Wikipedia, "Uniformitarianism". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0002
Which technology stores, analyzes and displays layers of data that are tied to places on Earth's surface?Wikipedia, "Geographic information system". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0003
Domain II: Geology 12
A buried erosion surface separates tilted older strata from flat younger strata above them. What is such a surface called?Wikipedia, "Unconformity". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0004
About how fast is the sea floor spreading along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?U.S. Geological Survey, This Dynamic Earth, "Understanding plate motions". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0005
Coal forms mainly from the buried remains of what?Wikipedia, "Coal". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0006
Earth's earliest atmosphere held practically no oxygen. To what is the later rise in oxygen attributed?Wikipedia, "Great Oxidation Event". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0004
On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which mineral is given the value 9, just below diamond?Wikipedia, "Mohs scale". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0006
Rainwater takes up carbon dioxide, becomes a weak acid and slowly dissolves limestone. Which kind of weathering is this?Wikipedia, "Weathering". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0007
What is the Mohorovičić discontinuity, or Moho?Wikipedia, "Mohorovičić discontinuity". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0006
What shape does a valley carved by an alpine glacier usually have in cross-section?Wikipedia, "U-shaped valley". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0007
Which kind of volcano has a broad, low profile built up by runny lava flows?Wikipedia, "Shield volcano". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0005
Which rock forms when limestone is changed by heat and pressure?Wikipedia, "Marble". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0005
Which two traits make a fossil species most useful for matching the ages of rock layers in different places?Wikipedia, "Biostratigraphy". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0004
Why does a river drop its sediment and build a delta where it enters a lake or the sea?Wikipedia, "River delta". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0007
Domain III: Oceanography and freshwater systems 9
About how salty is seawater on average?Wikipedia, "Seawater". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0009
At about what temperature is liquid fresh water at its densest?Wikipedia, "Properties of water". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0008
Spring tides have the greatest range between high and low water. At which phases of the Moon do they occur?NOAA National Ocean Service, "What are spring and neap tides?". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0009
Water's specific heat capacity is very high. What does this mean for a large lake next to dry land on a sunny day?Wikipedia, "Properties of water". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0008
What does a stream's discharge measure?Wikipedia, "Discharge (hydrology)". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0010
What is a watershed?U.S. Geological Survey, Water Science School, "Watersheds and Drainage Basins". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0010
What is the thermocline?NOAA National Ocean Service, "What is a thermocline?". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0009
What is the water table?Wikipedia, "Water table". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0010
When water vapor condenses into cloud droplets, what happens to energy?Wikipedia, "Water cycle". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0008
Domain IV: The atmosphere, weather and climate 9
During La Niña, what happens off the west coast of the Americas?NOAA National Ocean Service, "What are El Niño and La Niña?". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0013
In the Northern Hemisphere, which way does the Coriolis effect deflect moving air?Wikipedia, "Coriolis force". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0011
In which layer of the atmosphere are the gases first thick enough to slow incoming meteors, so that they burn up?NOAA JetStream, "Layers of the Atmosphere". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0011
Milankovitch cycles link long-term climate swings such as ice ages to what?Wikipedia, "Milankovitch cycles". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0013
What is a cold front?Wikipedia, "Cold front". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0012
What mainly drives the seasonal wind reversal of a monsoon?Wikipedia, "Monsoon". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0013
Where is the troposphere deepest?NOAA JetStream, "Layers of the Atmosphere". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0011
Which instrument measures air pressure?Wikipedia, "Barometer". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0012
Which kind of air mass is warm and moist because it forms over tropical oceans?NOAA JetStream, "Air Masses". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0012
Domain V: Astronomy 9
By the leading hypothesis, how did the Moon form?Wikipedia, "Giant-impact hypothesis". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0016
Earth is closest to the Sun in early January, when it is winter in Ohio. What explains the cold season?Wikipedia, "Season". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0016
Kepler's third law ties the square of a planet's orbital period to which other quantity?Wikipedia, "Kepler's laws of planetary motion". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0015
The main asteroid belt lies between the orbits of which two planets?Wikipedia, "Asteroid belt". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0015
The measured rotation of spiral galaxies does not match the rotation expected from their normal matter. What is the difference taken as evidence for?Wikipedia, "Galaxy rotation curve". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0014
What is a comet mostly made of?NASA Science, "Comets". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0015
What process in the Sun's core produces its energy?NASA Science, "Sun: Facts". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0014
What will a star like the Sun become after its red giant stage?Wikipedia, "White dwarf". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0014
Why does one side of the Moon always face Earth?Wikipedia, "Tidal locking". Written to OAE Earth and Space Science (014) framework, competency 0016
How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the assessment framework for Ohio Assessments for Educators field 014, Earth and Space Science, read 2026-10-12 on the program's site (https://www.oh.nesinc.com/CONTENT/STUDYGUIDE/OH_SG_OBJ_014.htm; test page https://www.oh.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/OH014_TestPage.html): 150 multiple-choice questions in 180 minutes, passing score 220; Nature of Science (competencies 0001 to 0003, 18%), Geology (0004 to 0007, 25%), Oceanography and Freshwater Systems (0008 to 0010, 19%), The Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate (0011 to 0013, 19%) and Astronomy (0014 to 0016, 19%). The bank holds 3 questions for each of the 16 competencies. The test page says assessment 014 is scheduled to be retired December 20, 2026, with a revised assessment expected December 21, 2026. Every fact was read on 2026-10-12 in the public page the question names: the U.S. Geological Survey (This Dynamic Earth, Water Science School), NOAA (National Ocean Service, JetStream), NASA Science, or the named Wikipedia article. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.
How it works
This free OAE Earth and Space Science practice test has 48 questions of our own, three for each of the 16 competencies of assessment 014. Unofficial and not affiliated with the Ohio State Board of Education or Evaluation Systems, Pearson, it is for study only.
Read the full guide
What the OAE Earth and Space Science test covers
Read October 12, 2026 at oh.nesinc.com, the framework weighs Nature of Science 18%, Geology 25%, Oceanography and Freshwater Systems 19%, The Atmosphere, Weather, and Climate 19%, and Astronomy 19%. Geology is the largest share: 12 of the 48 questions here.
The clock on test 014
On test 014 the clock gives 180 minutes to 150 multiple-choice questions, with 15 minutes more for the tutorial. Choose exam mode to answer these 48 in 58 minutes at that speed.
Test 014 ends in December 2026
The test page says Earth and Space Science (014) will be retired on December 20, 2026. The revised test, code 114, is expected from December 21, with 125 questions in 150 minutes, so check which code your registration carries.
The test page lists no reference materials, so work the scientific notation question by hand.
Questions and answers
Is this practice Earth and Space OAE test free?
Yes, with nothing to pay and no account to make. Our 48 questions follow the published framework, and each explanation cites a U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA or NASA page or a Wikipedia article. They are not questions from the real assessment.
How many questions does the OAE Earth and Space Science test ask?
There are 150 multiple-choice questions on test 014. A few may be there only to be tried out for future use, the test page says, and those are not scored.
What is the OAE Earth and Space Science passing score?
For test 014 it is 220, on the program's scale of 100 to 300, as set by the State Board of Education. The framework of the revised test 114 still lists its passing score as to be determined.
Which Ohio license needs the OAE Earth and Space Science test?
The program's table lists Earth and Space Science (014) for the Adolescence to Young Adult (7–12) Earth Sciences license, with the Assessment of Professional Knowledge, test 003. Dual science fields pair it with Biology, Chemistry or Physics.