The article is devoted to the analysis of the results of all-Russian testing works on biology in the 5th grade, in particular, the analysis of the participation of students in the Novosibirsk region. Decrease in the level of performance when passing from the fourth grade (the World around) to the fifth (Biology) both in Russia and in the region, confirms this fact, obtained in other studies. The article considers the factors that influence the results. It highlights the tasks that proved to be difficult for students in the Novosibirsk region, compared with students in Russia.