Scientific Enquiry
Each subtopic includes About section, revision page link, 10 preview questions, and practice CTAs.
Planning fair tests and identifying variables
SubtopicPlanning fair tests and identifying variables under Scientific Enquiry for Grade 5 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
What is the term for a test where everything is kept the same except for the one variable being investigated?
A.A fast test
B.A hard test
C.A fair test
D.A repeat test
- 2.
If you are measuring how much liquid a sponge can hold, what is the best unit to use?
A.Millimeters
B.Milliliters
C.Grams
D.Degrees
- 3.
A student wants to see if the shape of a boat affects how much weight it can carry. What must stay the same?
A.The shape of the boat
B.The material the boat is made of
C.The amount of weight it carries
D.The result of the test
- 4.
Why is it useful to draw a graph of your results?
A.It makes the results look pretty
B.It helps to see patterns or trends in the data
C.It uses up all the colored pencils
D.It replaces the need for a conclusion
- 5.
In an experiment to see if sugar dissolves faster when the water is stirred, what is the independent variable?
A.The amount of sugar
B.The speed of stirring
C.The temperature of the water
D.Whether the water is stirred or not
- 6.
A scientist is testing how different fertilizers affect the number of tomatoes a plant produces. What is the dependent variable?
A.The type of fertilizer
B.The amount of fertilizer
C.The number of tomatoes produced
D.The type of tomato plant
- 7.
When planning an investigation to see if salt affects the freezing point of water, what should be the same for all test tubes?
A.The amount of salt added
B.The volume of water used
C.The final temperature
D.The time it takes to freeze
- 8.
In an experiment: 'Does the type of bulb affect the heat given off?' A student uses a LED bulb and a incandescent bulb. What is the mistake in this fair test?
A.The bulbs have different power ratings (wattage).
B.LED bulbs do not produce heat.
C.The student should have measured light instead of heat.
D.The bulbs are the same shape.
- 9.
A student wants to test if the weight of a paper plane affects how far it flies. They add paperclips to the same plane one by one. Why is it important to throw the plane with the same force every time?
A.Force is the dependent variable in this experiment.
B.Varying the throwing force would make it impossible to tell if the weight was causing the change in distance.
C.The paperclips will fall off if the plane is thrown too hard.
D.The mass of the plane depends on the force of the throw.
- 10.
When investigating how the 'angle of a slope' affects the time it takes for a marble to roll down, which of these is the dependent variable?
A.The mass of the marble
B.The angle of the slope
C.The time taken to reach the bottom
D.The length of the slope
Download the worksheet for Scientific Enquiry - Planning fair tests and identifying variables to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Taking accurate measurements using scientific equipment
SubtopicTaking accurate measurements using scientific equipment under Scientific Enquiry for Grade 5 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
Which tool is best for measuring out a small, precise amount of liquid (- )?
A.A pipette
B.A large beaker
C.A bucket
D.A trundle wheel
- 2.
A student measures a liquid as . What does this measurement represent?
A.The length of the liquid
B.The mass of the liquid
C.The volume of the liquid
D.The force of the liquid
- 3.
What is the purpose of 'zeroing' a scale before measuring an object?
A.To make the scale look new
B.To ensure the starting measurement is
C.To make the object lighter
D.To test if the battery is working
- 4.
When using a force meter, where do you attach the object you are measuring?
A.To the digital screen
B.To the hook at the bottom
C.To the handle at the top
D.Inside the spring
- 5.
You have a ruler where the first are broken off. If you start measuring an object from the mark and it ends at the mark, how long is the object?
A.B.C.D. - 6.
What is the correct procedure for reading a clinical thermometer?
A.Read it while it is still in the person's mouth or underarm
B.Wait 10 minutes after removing it to let it cool
C.Hold it by the bulb when reading the temperature
D.Shake it hard to increase the temperature before use
- 7.
A scientist is measuring the mass of five identical rocks together. The total mass is . What is the mass of one rock in grams?
A.B.C.D. - 8.
In a science report, a student writes: 'The liquid was '. Why is the '.0' important in scientific measurement?
A.It shows that the student used a calculator
B.It indicates the level of precision of the measuring tool used
C.It makes the number look more professional
D.It is a requirement for all numbers over 10
- 9.
A student wants to measure the internal diameter of a narrow glass tube. Which tool would be the most suitable?
A.A standard ruler
B.A pair of calipers
C.A measuring tape
D.A piece of string and a ruler
- 10.
Which of these is the most likely source of error when using a stopwatch to time a race?
A.The stopwatch's battery running low
B.The human reaction time of the person starting and stopping the watch
C.The wind blowing against the runner
D.The distance of the track being slightly too long
Download the worksheet for Scientific Enquiry - Taking accurate measurements using scientific equipment to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Recording data in tables, bar charts, and line graphs
SubtopicRecording data in tables, bar charts, and line graphs under Scientific Enquiry for Grade 5 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
Which tool would you use to collect data that would be recorded in a table about 'The volume of water'?
A.Metre ruler
B.Measuring cylinder
C.Stopwatch
D.Thermometer
- 2.
In this bar chart, how many more students chose blue than green?
A."2"
B."4"
C."5"
D."10"
- 3.
Which of these is the correct way to record 15 seconds in a science table?
A."15"
B."15s"
C."15 seconds"
D.Any of the above, as long as the unit is clear in the header
- 4.
A student counts the number of different insects in a garden. Which type of chart is best to compare the totals of each insect type?
A.Line graph
B.Bar chart
C.Scatter plot
D.Temperature curve
- 5.
Based on the trend in this line graph, what would you predict the temperature to be at 5 minutes?
A.""
B.""
C.""
D.""
- 6.
Why is it important to repeat measurements and record them in a table before calculating an average?
A.To make the science lesson longer
B.To make the table look more complicated
C.To improve the reliability of the results
D.To use more paper
- 7.
A group of students measured the shadow of a stick every hour. Which is the most appropriate way to label the Y-axis?
A."Time of day (hours)"
B."Length of shadow (cm)"
C."Stick height (cm)"
D."Sun position"
- 8.
An experiment measures the length of a shadow at different times of the day. The shadow was at , at , and at . Looking at the U-shaped line graph, what does the lowest point represent?
A.The time when the sun was lowest in the sky
B.The time when the sun was directly overhead (highest)
C.The time when it was darkest outside
D.The time when the shadow was the longest
- 9.
The table below shows the amount of rain collected in a rain gauge over five days. Day 1: , Day 2: , Day 3: , Day 4: , Day 5: . Which bar on the chart represents the day with the second highest rainfall?
A.Day 5
B.Day 2
C.Day 4
D.Day 1
- 10.
A scientist is measuring the pulse rate of a runner. The runner's pulse was at rest, after 5 minutes of running, and after 10 minutes. If the runner continues at the same intensity, what is the most likely pulse at 15 minutes based on the trend in the graph?
A.Exactly
B.Approximately
C.It will drop to
D.It will become
Download the worksheet for Scientific Enquiry - Recording data in tables, bar charts, and line graphs to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Drawing conclusions and evaluating experimental results
SubtopicDrawing conclusions and evaluating experimental results under Scientific Enquiry for Grade 5 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
Which of these is an evaluation of an experiment's method?
A.The plant grew .
B.The ruler was difficult to read because the markings were faded.
C.I think the car will go fast.
D.A table shows the results.
- 2.
A student tests three different paper airplanes to see which flies the furthest. Plane 1: , Plane 2: , Plane 3: . What is the order from furthest to shortest?
A.Plane 1, Plane 2, Plane 3
B.Plane 2, Plane 3, Plane 1
C.Plane 3, Plane 2, Plane 1
D.Plane 2, Plane 1, Plane 3
- 3.
If you find that your experiment was not a fair test, what should you do?
A.Write the conclusion anyway
B.Fix the variable and do the experiment again
C.Keep the unfair results
D.Ask the teacher to change the results
- 4.
A student concludes: 'The more water we gave the plant, the faster it grew.' Which data set supports this?
A.water = growth; water = growth
B.water = growth; water = growth
C.water = growth; water = growth
D.No growth for any plant
- 5.
If you measure the length of a shadow every hour and notice it gets shorter until noon and then longer again, what is the best conclusion?
A.The sun moves in a straight line across the sky.
B.The position of the sun affects the length of the shadow.
C.Shadows are only seen in the morning.
D.The object casting the shadow is growing.
- 6.
A student investigates how the size of a bell affects the pitch of the sound it makes. They conclude: 'The smaller the bell, the higher the pitch.' Which evidence would support this?
A.Small bell (), Large bell ()
B.Small bell (), Large bell ()
C.Both bells ()
D.Small bell (Quiet), Large bell (Loud)
- 7.
Why do scientists use tables to organize their data before drawing a conclusion?
A.It makes the data look more colorful.
B.It makes it easier to see patterns and trends in the results.
C.It is a rule that must be followed or the experiment is illegal.
D.Tables make the experiment happen more quickly.
- 8.
When evaluating an investigation into how much weight a bridge can hold, why is it important to state the exact point where the bridge began to bend, even if it didn't break?
A.Bending is the same as breaking.
B.To identify the 'Elastic Limit' or point of failure which is critical for a complete conclusion.
C.Because bending is more interesting than breaking.
D.So you can use the bridge again for another test.
- 9.
A student wants to conclude which liquid is thickest (most viscous). They drop a marble into honey, water, and oil. What is the dependent variable they should measure to reach a conclusion?
A.The weight of the marble.
B.The time it takes for the marble to reach the bottom.
C.The temperature of the liquids.
D.The volume of the liquids.
- 10.
Why is it important to record 'Qualitative' observations (like color changes or smells) along with 'Quantitative' data (like weights or times) in a complex experiment?
A.Qualitative data is more important than numbers.
B.It provides a more complete picture of the reaction, helping to explain why certain numbers occurred.
C.Quantitative data is often wrong, so you need words to fix it.
D.It is only for students who are not good at math.
Download the worksheet for Scientific Enquiry - Drawing conclusions and evaluating experimental results to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.