Science: Full Practice Paper
The Full Practice Paper is a complete practice paper in the style of 13+ Common Entrance Science, mixing Biology, Chemistry and Physics questions together in the way ISEB (the Independent Schools Examinations Board) sets its actual papers, rather than testing one subject at a time.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Skim the whole paper first if time allows, noting which subject (biology, chemistry or physics) each question belongs to, so you can switch mindset quickly rather than being caught off guard by a sudden change of topic.
- Answer the short, one or two mark recall questions first and quickly, since these carry the same value as a much harder question later and should not eat into time needed for longer questions.
- For any data table or graph, read the axis labels and units carefully before answering, and always quote units in your answer if the question gives a table or axes with units shown.
- For a calculation, write down the equation you are using before substituting numbers, show every step of working, and check your final unit is correct, since method marks are usually available even if the final answer is wrong.
- For working-scientifically questions embedded inside a biology, chemistry or physics question (identifying variables, describing a fair test, explaining an anomalous result), answer using the general working-scientifically approach, not subject-specific content, since these marks test the skill, not the topic.
- If a question asks you to 'explain', give a reason linked to a mechanism (why something happens), not just a description of what happens, since 'explain' questions are marked for the linking reasoning.
- In the final few minutes, check that every question has an answer, including any you skipped, and confirm each numerical answer includes the correct unit.
Worked example
A pupil investigates how the length of a piece of resistance wire affects the current flowing through it, using the same 6 V battery each time. Length of wire (cm): 20, 40, 60, 80. Current (A): 1.2, 0.6, 0.4, 0.3. (a) Describe the pattern shown by these results. (b) State one variable the pupil must have kept the same for this to be a fair test, other than the voltage of the battery.
- Compare the length and current values in pairs: as the length increases, the current decreases.
- Check the relationship more precisely: doubling the length from 20 cm to 40 cm makes the current fall from 1.2 A to 0.6 A, which is also a halving, so current is inversely proportional to length.
- For part (b), think about what else affects current in a circuit like this, other than the length of wire and the battery voltage: the thickness (cross-sectional area) of the wire and the material it is made from would both need to stay the same.
- Final answer: (a) as the length of the wire increases, the current decreases; doubling the length halves the current, so current is inversely proportional to length. (b) the thickness of the wire and the material it is made from must both be kept constant.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1A pupil rubs a plastic rod with a cloth, giving the rod a negative electric charge. She then holds the rod near small pieces of paper on a table. State what she would observe, and explain why, in terms of electric charge.Show answer
Answer: The pieces of paper are attracted to the rod and jump up to stick to it, because the charged rod exerts an electric force of attraction on the paper.
Q2Define the terms 'solute' and 'solvent'.Show answer
Answer: The solute is the substance that dissolves; the solvent is the liquid it dissolves in.
Q3Name the organs whose main job is to filter waste products out of the blood and produce urine.Show answer
Answer: The kidneys.
Q4The Sun is much larger than the Earth. State what type of object the Sun is, and name the force that keeps the Earth in orbit around it.Show answer
Answer: The Sun is a star; gravity (gravitational force) keeps the Earth in orbit around it.
Q5A pupil measures a length as 250 mm. State this length in metres.Show answer
Answer: 0.25 m (divide by 1000: 250 / 1000 = 0.25).
Q6Write the number 0.048706 to 2 significant figures.Show answer
Answer: 0.049.
Q7Explain how a person is able to see a book resting on a table in a well-lit room, in terms of light rays.Show answer
Answer: Light from a light source (e.g. a lamp or the Sun) hits the book and reflects off its surface in all directions; some of these reflected rays enter the person's eyes, allowing them to see the book.
Q8A results table has columns for 'Time (s)' and 'Temperature (degrees C)'. State which of these two variables would normally be plotted on the x-axis of a line graph.Show answer
Answer: Time (the independent variable is conventionally plotted on the x-axis).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 13+ Common Entrance exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A removal worker pushes a wardrobe a distance of 3.5 m across a room, applying a constant horizontal force of 220 N. (a) Use work done = force x distance to calculate the work done in moving the wardrobe. (b) State the unit of work done. (c) The worker then pushes an identical wardrobe the same distance but has to apply a force of 260 N because the floor is rougher. Explain, in terms of friction, why a larger force is needed on the rougher floor.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
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A pupil is given four samples and asked to classify each one as an element, a compound, or a mixture. Sample W is pure oxygen gas (O2). Sample X is salt water. Sample Y is carbon dioxide gas (CO2). Sample Z is a bar of pure copper. (a) Classify each of the four samples as an element, a compound, or a mixture. (b) Explain, using its chemical formula, why carbon dioxide is classified as a compound rather than as an element.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 5 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the science: full practice paper worksheet pack - 18 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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