Science: Full Practice Paper 13
Full Practice Paper 13 is a further complete practice paper in the 13+ Common Entrance Science style, mixing Biology, Chemistry and Physics questions in one timed sitting to keep pupils used to moving quickly between subjects.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Before answering, work out how many marks the question is worth and make sure your answer includes at least that many separate scientific points, since a one-line answer to a four-mark question is unlikely to gain full credit.
- For force questions, remember Newton's first law: an object stays at rest or moves at a constant speed in a straight line unless acted on by a resultant (unbalanced) force.
- For reaction-type questions, decide first whether a reaction is exothermic (releases energy, surroundings warm up) or endothermic (takes in energy, surroundings cool down) before answering the rest of the question.
- When classifying living things, work systematically through the main groups (for example animal or plant, vertebrate or invertebrate) rather than guessing the final classification directly, since a wrong guess with no working usually gets no marks.
- For any question with a temperature change, give the change itself (in degrees C), not just the two raw temperature values, unless the question specifically asks for both.
- Where a question gives real data in a table, check the units at the top of each column before making a calculation, since numbers that look identical with different units are not directly comparable.
- Reread each answer once written and check it actually answers the question set, for example that an 'explain' answer gives a reason and not only a description.
Worked example
A trolley of mass 2 kg is pushed with a force of 8 N to the right, while a frictional force of 3 N acts on it to the left. (a) Calculate the resultant force acting on the trolley. (b) Use force = mass x acceleration to calculate the trolley's acceleration.
- Find the resultant force by subtracting the smaller force from the larger, since the two forces act in opposite directions: 8 - 3 = 5 N, acting to the right.
- Rearrange force = mass x acceleration to make acceleration the subject: acceleration = force / mass.
- Substitute the resultant force and the mass: acceleration = 5 / 2.
- Final answer: (a) resultant force = 5 N to the right; (b) acceleration = 2.5 m/s^2.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1A book rests on a table and does not move. Name the force from the table that balances the book's weight.Show answer
Answer: The normal (contact) force.
Q2A hand warmer gets hot when a chemical reaction inside it takes place. State whether this reaction is exothermic or endothermic.Show answer
Answer: Exothermic.
Q3State whether a frog is classified as a vertebrate or an invertebrate, and give a reason.Show answer
Answer: A vertebrate, because it has a backbone (an internal skeleton with a spine).
Q4Two forces of 10 N and 10 N act on an object in exactly opposite directions. Calculate the resultant force.Show answer
Answer: 0 N (the forces are balanced).
Q5Some endothermic reactions cause the temperature of their surroundings to fall. Explain, in terms of energy, why this happens.Show answer
Answer: The reaction takes in (absorbs) energy from the surroundings to proceed, so the temperature of the surroundings decreases.
Q6Name the five main kingdoms into which living things can be classified.Show answer
Answer: Animals, plants, fungi, protists (protoctista) and bacteria (monera).
Q7A car accelerates from rest to 20 m/s in 4 s. Calculate its acceleration, using acceleration = change in velocity / time.Show answer
Answer: 5 m/s^2 (20 / 4 = 5).
Q8Name the reaction type in which a fuel reacts with oxygen, releasing energy as heat and light.Show answer
Answer: Combustion.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 13+ Common Entrance exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A parachutist jumps from a plane. Just after jumping, before the parachute opens, her weight is 700 N and the air resistance acting on her is 200 N. (a) Calculate the resultant force acting on her at this point, stating its direction. (b) Explain, using Newton's laws, what happens to her speed as a result of this resultant force. (c) As she falls faster, air resistance increases. Explain what eventually happens to her acceleration once air resistance becomes equal to her weight.
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A student mixes two chemicals in a test tube and measures the temperature before and after mixing. Temperature before mixing: 21 degrees C. Temperature after mixing: 14 degrees C. (a) Calculate the temperature change. (b) State whether this reaction is exothermic or endothermic, giving a reason based on your answer to (a).
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the science: full practice paper 13 worksheet pack - 17 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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