Year 8 Science - Half Yearly Exam Practice
Time Allowed: 1 Hour Total Marks: 40
Instructions:
● Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided.
● Show all working for calculations.
● Draw diagrams clearly and label them appropriately where required.
● Use scientific language in your answers.
Section A: Multiple Choice (5 Marks) Circle the letter corresponding to the best answer.
1. Which of the following is an example of a chemical change? a) Melting ice b) Dissolving
sugar in water c) Burning wood d) Tearing paper
2. The Earth's atmosphere is primarily composed of: a) Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide b)
Nitrogen and Oxygen c) Argon and Neon d) Hydrogen and Helium
3. If an object has a mass of 10 kg and a volume of 2 m$^3$, what is its density? a) 20
kg/m$^3$ b) 5 kg/m$^3$ c) 0.2 kg/m$^3$ d) 12 kg/m$^3$
4. Which planet is known as the "Red Planet"? a) Venus b) Jupiter c) Mars d) Saturn
5. When a force is applied to an object, causing it to accelerate, this is best described by:
a) Newton's First Law b) Newton's Second Law c) Newton's Third Law d) Law of
Conservation of Energy
Section B: Short Answer and Application (35 Marks)
Question 1: The Chemical World (8 Marks)
a) List three observations that would indicate a chemical reaction has occurred. (3 Marks)
CHAnge in appearance
Change in smell
Change in colour
b) Describe, using a simple diagram, the arrangement and movement of particles in a solid. (3
Marks)
c) A student mixes two clear, colourless liquids and observes bubbles forming and the test tube
feeling warm. What does this suggest about the reaction? (2 Marks)The chemical reaction made
the liquid turn hot thus forming bubbles and making the test tube feel warm.
Question 2: Earth and Space (9 Marks)
a) Explain the difference between rotation and revolution of the Earth. What effect does each
have? (4 Marks)
A rotation is when the earth rotates exposing one side to the sun and the other to outer space.
but revolution is when the earth completely circles the sun
b) Draw a simple diagram illustrating the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during a
new moon phase. (3 Marks)
c) Briefly describe one significant environmental issue related to Earth's atmosphere that is a
concern to scientists. (2 Marks)
Global warming is a huge problem because dangerous greenhouse gasses are destroying our
ozone layer in the atmosphere that blocks most sun rays from hitting earth but now because the
ozone layer has a huge tear more heat from the sun is being exposed on earth causing
temperatures tp rise.
Question 3: The Physical World (9 Marks)
a) Define 'energy' and give two examples of different forms of energy. (3 Marks)
Energy is the ability to do work two different types on energy are thermal energy and sound
energy.
b) A car travels 100 km in 2 hours. Calculate its average speed. Show your working. (3 Marks)
50km/hr because if it takes 2 hours to go 100km that to calculate the speed in p/km we have to
divide it by 2 so that we can calculate it for one hous and because of this 200km divide it by 2 is
100km.
c) Explain how a simple lever can make it easier to lift a heavy object. You may use a labelled
diagram to support your answer. (3 Marks)
Question 4: Scientific Skills and Investigations (9 Marks)
A student is investigating how the temperature of water affects the time it takes for a sugar cube
to dissolve. They set up three beakers:
● Beaker A: 200 mL of water at 10°C
● Beaker B: 200 mL of water at 30°C
● Beaker C: 200 mL of water at 50°C
They add one sugar cube to each beaker and record the time taken for it to completely dissolve.
a) Identify the independent variable in this investigation. (1 Mark)
The heat of the water
b) Identify two controlled variables in this investigation. (2 Marks)
The amount of the water and the size of the sugar cube.
c) If the student found that the sugar cube dissolved fastest in Beaker C and slowest in Beaker
A, what conclusion could they draw from their results? (2 Marks)
The hotter the water, the quicker the sugar cubes melt.
d) Design a simple table to record the results of this experiment. Include appropriate headings
and units. (2 Marks)
e) Why is it important to repeat an experiment multiple times and average the results? (2 Marks)
To increase reliability and make the procedure easy to follow and in a logical coherent order.
End of Practice Exam
