Year 9

practice test

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Instructions to help you be the most successful in this science assessment

Each question has information to remind you of the topic it comes from in
your science curriculum.

If the question gains one mark then you should spend 1 minute or less in
answering it, if gains 2 marks again 2 minutes to complete it and so on .

An extended question worth 6 marks or higher will take more time.

You will only get one per paper.

In the practice test I have added a couple of exemplar 6 mark questions

which are highlighted in green.

There is some advice/help in how to approach these questions at this point

in the practice assessment.

Below is a table of command words and definitions which may also help
with understanding the questions in your assessments.

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 Students should use numbers given in the question to work out the
Calculate
answer.

Select from a range of alternatives.

Choose

This requires the student to describe the similarities and/or differences

Compare
between things, not just write about one.
Answers should be written in the space provided, for example on a
Complete
diagram, in spaces in a sentence, or in a table.

Define Specify the meaning of something.

Students may be asked to recall some facts, events or process in an

Describe
accurate way.

Determine Use given data or information to obtain and answer.

Students should make something clear, or state the reasons for

Explain
something happening.

Give Only a short answer is required, not an explanation or a description.

Identify Name or otherwise characterise.

Justify Use evidence from the information supplied to support an answer.

Label Provide appropriate names on a diagram.

Measure Find an item of data for a given quantity.

Only a short answer is required, not an explanation or a description.
Name
Often it can be answered with a single word, phrase or sentence.

Plan Write a method.

Plot Mark on a graph using data given.

Predict Give a plausible outcome.

Show Provide structured evidence to reach a conclusion.

Sketch Draw approximately.
This term is used in questions where students need to apply their
Suggest
knowledge and understanding to a new situation.
The answer must be based on the information given in the question.
Unless the information given in the question is used, no marks can be
Use
given. In some cases students might be asked to use their own
knowledge and understanding.

Write Only a short answer is required, not an explanation or a description.

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 Q1.
(a) Green beans contain vitamin C.

Which other food is a good source of vitamin C?

Tick the correct box.

cheese chicken eggs oranges

1 mark

(b) The amount of vitamin C changes in the beans and in the water as the beans are
cooked. The shading shows how it changes.

Use the diagram. How does the amount of vitamin C in the beans and in the water
change as the beans are cooked? Tick one box in each row.

amount of
increases decreases stays the same
vitamin C

in the beans

in the water
1 mark

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(c) Cheese is a source of calcium.

Why do we need calcium?

........................................................................................................................
1 mark

(d) Draw a line from each nutrient to a good source of that nutrient in our diet.

2 marks

(e) The diagram shows part of the human digestive system.

(i) Write the letter which labels the small intestine.

...............
1 mark

(ii) Write the letter which labels the stomach.

...............
1 mark
maximum 7 marks

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Q1(f). In the lab you can test foods for starch, sugar(glucose), protein and fat.

Describe how to test for sugar(glucose) and fat. Give the positive results in each case.

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________(6)

Guidance for Q1f

The question gains 6 marks and should probably take you 10 mins to complete it.

Question has 3 parts.

Describe how to test for sugar(glucose)- First part test for fat- 2nd part

Give the positive results in each case( for sugar and glucose)- 3rd part

I would approach this question by stating the chemical needed to test for sugar (glucose), name the
conditions then give the positive result for sugar(glucose)

Example

To test a food for sugar I would add benedict’s solution to the food and place in a warm water
bath(60◦C). If the food contained sugar) glucose the blue solution would change to brick red which is
the positive result. (3marks)

Now you do the same for fat. This will gain you 3 marks

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Q2(a) Draw a line from each circuit symbol below to the correct name.
Draw only four lines.

circuit symbol name

3 marks

(b) Fred made circuit 1 as shown below.

Give the name of the part that is the energy source for the circuit.

.........................................................
1 mark

(c) Fred then made circuit 2 as shown below.

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 In the table below, tick a box to show whether circuit 1 and circuit 2 are series or
parallel circuits.
Tick only two boxes.

series parallel

circuit 1

circuit 2
1 mark

(d) What metal is usually used for wires in electric circuits?

...........................................................
1 mark
maximum 6 marks

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Q3. Respiration can happen aerobically or anaerobically.
Respiration transfers energy from glucose.

(a) Draw one line from each type of respiration in human cells to the correct
information.

Type of respiration
Information
in human cells

Produces ethanol

Aerobic respiration Uses oxygen

Anaerobic
Uses carbon dioxide
respiration

Produces lactic acid

(2)

(b) The table below shows the amount of energy released by aerobic and anaerobic
respiration.

Energy in kJ transferred
from 1 g of glucose

Aerobic respiration 16.1

Anaerobic
1.2
respiration

Suggest why human cells might respire anaerobically, even though only a small
amount of energy is transferred.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

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 One type of training exercise involves alternating periods of walking and running.

The graph shows how an athlete’s heart rate changed during one 30-minute training
session.

(c) (i) The athlete ran 6 times during the 30-minute training session.

Describe the evidence for this in the graph.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Immediately after the final run, the athlete rested for a short time before he
started to walk again.

For how many minutes did this rest last?

____________________ minutes
(1)

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 (d) The heart rate increases during exercise.

This increase in heart rate increases blood flow to the muscles.

Explain, as fully as you can, why this increase in heart rate is necessary.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)

(Total 9 marks)
Guidance on Q3d
This question is worth 4 marks and will probably take you 8 minutes. To get your thoughts together

The heart rate increases during exercise.- Why?

This increase in heart rate increases blood flow to the muscles. Many students
will only put this in the answer and it gains no marks

Explain, as fully as you can, why this increase in heart rate is necessary.- Why?

Thoughts

What process has to take place to produce energy needed for exercise?- aerobic
respiration. Does this happen faster or slower when we exercise? Faster

What substances are carried in the blood to the muscle cells? Oxygen and glucose

Do we need more oxygen and glucose when we exercise? Yes

What substance is produced in respiration that has to be removed? Carbon dioxide.

How are all these substances carried to the muscle cells? Blood stream

Now these thoughts need to be placed in some sentences.

E.G

When we exercise we need to increase the rate of aerobic respiration. This means
we need more oxygen and glucose in the cells.( 2 marks)
To get all other marks you need to turn the other thoughts from above into sentences.

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Q4(a) Max built circuit 1 as shown below.

circuit 1

He closed the switch, S, and all the bulbs came on.

One of the bulbs then broke and all the bulbs went off.

Which bulb must have broken?

Give the letter.

...............
1 mark

(b) Max built circuit 2 as shown below.

He connected a plastic comb and a metal key in different parts of the circuit.

circuit 2

Look carefully at circuit 2.

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 Complete the table below to show which bulbs in circuit 2 will be on or off when
different switches are open or closed.
Write on or off in the boxes below.

switch 1 switch 2 bulb P bulb Q bulb R

open open off off off

open closed

closed open
2 marks

(c) Max built circuit 3 using a battery, two bulbs and three ammeters.

circuit 3

The current reading on ammeter A1 was 0.8 amps.

What would be the reading on ammeters A2 and A3?
Place one tick in the table by the correct pair of readings.

readingon reading on correct pair

ammeter A2 (amps) ammeter A3 (amps) of readings
0.8 0.8

0.8 0.4

0.4 0.8

0.4 0.4
1 mark
maximum 4 marks

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Q5. This question is about drinking water.
(a) The flow diagram below shows how water is made suitable for drinking.

(i) What is removed when the water is filtered?

Tick ( ) one box.

Gases

Liquids

Solids

(1)

(ii) What is used to sterilise the water?

Tick ( ) one box.

Carbon

Chlorine

Sodium
chloride
(1)

(iii) Why is the water sterilised?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

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 (b) Water can be purified by distillation.

Drinking water is not usually purified by distillation because distillation is expensive.

Complete the sentence.

Distillation is expensive because it requires a lot of

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) Why do some water companies add fluoride to drinking water?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 5 marks)
Q6
In a power station, coal can be used to generate electricity.

(a) Use words from the box to answer the questions below.

chemical electrical gravitational potential

kinetic light sound thermal

1 mark

(i) What is the useful energy transfer when coal is burnt?

............................... energy is transferred to ............................. energy

1 mark

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 (ii) Some of the energy stored in coal is wasted when it is burnt.
Give the name of one type of energy released that is not useful.

...............................
1 mark

(b) Wind turbines are also used to generate electricity.

The wind turns the turbine blades and the turbine
blades turn a generator.

Use words from the box at start of question. Complete the sentence to show the
useful energy transfer in a wind turbine and generator.

............................... energy is transferred to ............................. energy

1 mark

(c) Suggest one disadvantage of using wind to generate electricity.

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................
1 mark

(d) Sugar cane is a plant.

The sugar from the cane is used to make alcohol.
Alcohol is a fuel.

(i) Which energy source do plants use to produce sugar?

.............................................................................................................
1 mark

(ii) Is sugar cane a renewable or non-renewable source of energy?

Tick one box.

renewable source non-renewable source

Give a reason for your answer.

.............................................................................................................
1 mark
maximum 7 marks

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Q7.
(a) A torch battery is an energy resource. How is the energy stored in a torch battery?
Tick the correct box.

as chemical energy

as kinetic energy

as potential energy

as thermal energy

1 mark

(b) When a torch is switched on, energy is transferred from the battery to the bulb.
How is energy transferred from the battery to the bulb?
Tick the correct box.

by electricity

by light

by sound

by thermal energy

1 mark

(c) Energy is transferred from the torch bulb to the surroundings.

Choose from the following terms to complete the sentences.

electricity light sound thermal transfer

(i) Energy is transferred from the torch bulb to the surroundings in a

useful way by ...............................................

1 mark

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 (ii) Some energy is wasted. The wasted energy is transferred from the

bulb to the surroundings by ...............................................

1 mark

(d) The torch is lifted up and put on a high shelf.

Energy is transferred to the torch as it is lifted up. The energy is stored in the torch
while it stays on the shelf.
What energy has the torch gained?

....................................................................................................................
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks

Q8.
(a) The diagram shows the energy transformations produced by a TV.

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 (i) Calculate the efficiency of the TV, using the information in the diagram..

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Efficiency = ..............................
(2)

(ii) What eventually happens to the useful energy transferred by the TV?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Electrical appliances left on standby use energy.

The bar chart shows the power for the appliances that one family leaves on
standby when they go on holiday.

The family is on holiday for a total of 175 hours.

(i) Use the information in the bar chart and the equation in the box to calculate
the energy wasted by leaving the compact stereo on standby while the family
is on holiday.

energy transferred = power × time

(kilowatt-hour, kWh) (kilowatt, kW) (hour, h)

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Energy wasted = .............................. kilowatt-hours

(2)

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 (ii) Electricity costs 12 p per kilowatt-hour.

Use the equation in the box to calculate the cost of leaving the compact stereo
on standby while the family is on holiday.

total cost = number of kilowatt-hours × cost per kilowatt-hour

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

______________________________________________________________

Cost = .............................. p
(1)

(c) A headline from a recent newspaper article is shown below.

Explain why leaving appliances on standby damages the environment.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

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Q9 This question is about the Earth’s atmosphere.

(a) Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.

What is another greenhouse gas?

Tick one box.

Argon

Methane

Nitrogen

Oxygen

(1)

(b) Greenhouse gases cause global climate change.

Give two effects of global climate change.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) 4.1 kg of a plastic, used to make plastic bottles, has a carbon footprint of 6.0 kg of
carbon dioxide.

Calculate the carbon footprint of one plastic bottle of mass 23.5 g

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Carbon footprint = _______________________ kg of carbon dioxide

(2)

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Guidance on 9c
In science assessments your maths skills are assessed too.
The information in the question helps you answer this but a lot of students would either miss
this question out or use the figures incorrectly
Let’s break it down
4.1 kg of a plastic, used to make plastic bottles, has a carbon footprint of 6.0 kg of carbon dioxide.

6kg of CO2 is produced when 4.1kg of plastic made

So to get the value for one plastic bottle we do the following 6.0/4.1

Calculate the carbon footprint of one plastic bottle of mass 23.5 g

We have been told that one plastic bottle has a mass of 23.5g.
Many students would write 6.0/4.1 x23.5= give the answer on the calculator. This is incorrect
but you would get (1 mark) as they state in the question they want this answer in kg of carbon
dioxide

So the student must convert 23.5g into kg and then multiple by 6.0/4.1.

(d) Give one way that carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced when a plastic bottle is
manufactured.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(e) Explain how the percentages of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Earth’s
atmosphere today have changed from the Earth’s early atmosphere.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(6)
(Total 12 marks)

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Guidance on 9e

The question would probably take 10 mins to complete. You need to gather thoughts from memory on
Early atmosphere and todays atmosphere.

In the question you must give answers linked to all three gases-nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide to
get 6 marks. Some students would write three points on 2 of the gases but this would only get 4 marks.

Most students forget nitrogen and only write about oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Thoughts

Gas Early atmosphere Todays atmosphere Why changes today

Nitrogen High content unknown High content 79% Volanoes produced,
ammonia was chaged
into nitrogen
Oxygen Zero 21% Plants produced in
photosynthesis
Carbon dioxide High amount Very low amount(0.04%) Plants used in
photosynthesis,
dissolved in oceans
then formed rocks,
formation of fossil
fuels.

Examplar

Nitrogen increased as volcanoes in the early atmosphere produced it and ammonia was converterted
into nitrogen by bacteria. (2 marks)
Now you write similar points for oxygen and carbon dioxide to get other 4 marks.

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Mark schemes
Q1.
(a) oranges
if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1

(b)
amount of vitamin increases decreases stays the
C same

in the beans

in the water

both ticks are required for the mark

1

(c) for strong or hard teeth or bones

accept ‘to keep the skeleton strong’
accept ‘for (healthy) bones or teeth’
‘for toe or finger nails’ is insufficient
1

(d)

all four lines are required for two marks

any two or three lines are required for one mark
if more than one line is drawn from any nutrient,
do not give credit for that nutrient
2

(e) (i) R
1

(ii) Q
1
(f) Sugar(gucose)Add benedict’s solution 1
Warm in a water bath 1
Result- blue to brick red 1

Fat- Add ethanol then add water 1

Shake 1
Result- cloudy indicate fat 1

[7]

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Q2.
(a)

all four lines are required for three marks

any three lines are required for two marks
any two lines are required for one mark
if more than one line is drawn from a symbol,
do not give credit for that symbol
3

(b) battery
accept ‘cell’ or ‘cells’
accept ‘power supply’ or ‘power pack’
1

(c)
series parallel

circuit 1

circuit 2

both ticks are required for one mark

if more than one box is ticked in any row, award no mark
1

(d) copper
accept ‘aluminium’
accept ‘gold’
do not accept any other metal
1
[6]

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Q3. (a)

an extra line from a LH box negates that mark

2

(b) any one from:

• not enough oxygen present (for aerobic respiration)

• more energy required for exercise (than can be transferred by aerobic
respiration)
1
allow named example for exercise
c) (i) 6 peaks in heart rate
accept 6 increases / spikes or goes very high 6 times
allow heart rate increases each time he runs
1

(ii) 2.5 / 2½
allow 2 minutes 30 seconds
do not accept 2.3 / 2:3 / 2.30
1

(d) more / faster / a lot must be stated at least once for full marks

(more) oxygen supplied / needed

allow less anaerobic (respiration)

or (more) aerobic respiration

or prevents oxygen debt
1

(more) glucose / sugar / food supplied / needed

ignore feeding
1

(more) energy needed / released

allow energy produced / made
1

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 (more) carbon dioxide / heat / lactic acid removed (from muscles) or more cooling

or less lactic acid formed

1

Q4 (a) • E
1

(b)
P Q R

off off off

• on off on

• off off off

award one mark for each correct row

(c) • * 0.8 0.8

if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1
[4]
Q5. (a) (i) Solids
1

(ii) Chlorine
1

(iii) kill microbes / bacteria

allow to make the water safe to drink
ignore disinfect
ignore remove / get rid of microbes
1

(b) energy
allow heat
1

(c) improve dental health

allow reduce tooth decay
allow (local) government requirement
allow help teeth
1
[5]

Q6
(a) (i) • chemical
answers must be in the correct order
1 (L6)

• thermal

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 accept ‘kinetic’
‘heat’ is insufficient
‘movement’ is insufficient
1 (L6)

(ii) any one from

• sound

• light
1 (L6)

(b) • kinetic
electrical
answers must be in the correct order
both answers are required for the mark
‘movement’ is insufficient for kinetic
1 (L6)

(c) any one from

• the wind speed varies

accept ‘it depends on the weather’

• sometimes the wind does not blow

accept ‘the wind is unreliable’

• the wind cannot be controlled

accept ‘it varies’
accept ‘it could be too windy’
responses that do not refer to wind, such as ‘they spoil the
landscape’ or ‘they kill birds’ or ‘they are too noisy’ or
‘interfere with TV and radio signals’ are insufficient
1 (L5)

(d) (i) • Sun(light)

accept ‘light’
accept ‘solar (energy)’
do not accept ‘heat’
‘photosynthesis’ is insufficient
1 (L5)

(ii) • renewable source

both the correct answer and a correct explanation are
required for the mark

you can grow more plants

accept ‘you grow it (again)’
do not accept ‘you can use it again’
‘it is a biofuel’ is insufficient
1 (L6)
[7]

Q7.
(a) as chemical energy

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 if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1 (L6)

(b) by electricity
if more than one box is ticked, award no mark
1 (L6)

(c) (i) light

1 (L6)

(ii) thermal transfer

do not accept ‘heat’
1 (L6)

(d) potential energy

accept ‘gravitational potential energy’
or ‘gravitational energy’ or ‘the same
amount as the girl has given it’
1 (L6)
[5]

Q8.
(a) (i) 0.6
accept 60 %
allow 1 mark for useful energy = 480
answer 0.6 with any unit or 60 gains 1 mark only
2

(ii) transferred to surroundings

accept goes into the air
accept heats the surroundings up
accept gets spread out
accept transferred into heat (only)
do not accept wasted / lost unless qualified
destroyed negates mark
transferred into light / sound negates mark
1

(b) (i) 1.75

allow 1 mark for converting to kW
answers of 0.7, 0.525, 0.35, 0.875, 1.05, 5.25 gains 1 mark
answers of 1750 or 17.5 gains 1 mark
2

(ii) 21p or £0.21 or their (b)(i) × 12

1

(c) any two from:

• (more) electricity needs to be generated

(more) electricity is being used

• (more) power stations needed

• (more) fossil fuels burnt

accept named fossil fuel

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 • (more) pollutant gases emitted
accept named gas
accept harmful for pollutant
accept greenhouse gases
accept atmospheric pollution
accept answer in terms of any form of electricity generation
and an associated environmental problem
2
[8]

Q9.
(a) methane
1

(b) any two examples from:

allow effects from the same bullet point

• rising sea levels

• melting ice
• agricultural problems
• extremes of weather
• loss of habitats
ignore global warming
ignore acid rain
ignore global dimming
do not accept reference to ozone
2

(c)
1

= 0.0344(kg)
allow correct rounding
allow calculator reading
if no mark awarded:
allow 1 mark for 34.4 or 0.344
allow 2 marks for 34.4 g
1
an answer of 0.0344(kg) scores 2 marks

(d) use less plastic

or
use recycled plastic
allow carbon capture
ignore any reference to energy / fuels
1

(e) Level 3: Relevant points (reasons / causes) are identified, given in detail and
logically linked to give a clear account.
5−6

Level 2: Relevant points (reasons / causes) are identified, and there are
attempts at logically linking. The resulting account is not fully clear.
3−4

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Level 1: Points are identified and stated simply, but their relevance is not clear
and there is no attempt at logical linking.
1−2

No relevant content
0

Indicative content

nitrogen increased
• because volcanoes produced nitrogen
• because (denitrifying) bacteria produced nitrogen
• because ammonia was converted to nitrogen

oxygen increased
• because algae and plants produced oxygen
• by photosynthesis

carbon dioxide decreased

• because algae and plants used carbon dioxide
• by photosynthesis
• because oceans formed and carbon dioxide dissolved in the water
• because carbon dioxide formed carbonates, which precipitate as
sediments or formed sedimentary limestone rocks
• because algae / plants and animals formed fossil fuels / coal / crude oil /
natural gas
[12]

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