Scientific Enquiry
Each subtopic includes About section, revision page link, 10 preview questions, and practice CTAs.
Planning and Lab Safety
SubtopicPlanning and Lab Safety under Scientific Enquiry for Grade 7 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
Before starting an experiment, why should you read the entire method through?
A.To finish the work faster
B.To understand the risks and the steps involved
C.To memorize the names of all the equipment
D.To see how many pages it is
- 2.
Which piece of equipment is used to support a test tube vertically during an experiment?
A.A test tube rack
B.A tripod
C.A beaker
D.A Bunsen burner
- 3.
A student concludes that 'salt dissolves faster in hot water than in cold water'. What part of the scientific method is this?
A.Hypothesis
B.Conclusion
C.Method
D.Observation
- 4.
Which hazard symbol features a flame and indicates the substance catches fire easily?
A.Toxic
B.Corrosive
C.Flammable
D.Oxidising
- 5.
Which of these is the most appropriate way to dispose of a match after lighting a Bunsen burner?
A.Throw it immediately into the plastic bin
B.Leave it on the heat-proof mat
C.Drop it into a sink or a beaker of water to ensure it is out
D.Blow on it and put it back in the matchbox
- 6.
A student finds that their results are very different from the rest of the class. What is the most scientific way to respond?
A.Change their results to match the class average
B.Ignore their results and write down what they expected to see
C.Check their equipment and method, then repeat the experiment
D.Assume the rest of the class is wrong
- 7.
When using a pipette to transfer of a liquid, why is it important to use a pipette filler?
A.To make the liquid flow faster
B.To prevent the liquid from entering your mouth or touching your hands
C.To change the color of the liquid
D.To filter out any bubbles in the liquid
- 8.
A student finds an unlabeled bottle of liquid in the lab. What is the safest and most scientific way to handle this situation?
A.Smell the liquid carefully to identify it
B.Mix a small amount with water to see if it reacts
C.Inform the teacher immediately and do not touch the bottle
D.Pour it down the sink with plenty of water to get rid of it
- 9.
A student plans to measure the temperature change when different metals are added to acid. Which piece of equipment is most important for reducing 'heat loss to the surroundings' during the measurement?
A.A glass beaker
B.A copper calorimeter
C.A polystyrene (Styrofoam) cup
D.A large conical flask
- 10.
In an experiment to see how the weight of a paper plane affects the distance it flies, the student uses paper clips to increase the weight. Why is it important to use the same person to throw the plane every time?
A.To ensure the person throwing the plane gets better with practice
B.To control the force and angle of the throw as much as possible
C.To make the experiment more fun for the students involved
D.To ensure the weight of the person doesn't affect the plane
Download the worksheet for Scientific Enquiry - Planning and Lab Safety to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Observation and Measurement
SubtopicObservation and Measurement under Scientific Enquiry for Grade 7 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
Why is it important to record results immediately during an experiment?
A.To finish the work faster
B.So the data is not forgotten or recorded incorrectly
C.Because the teacher says so
D.To keep the notebook clean
- 2.
What is the safest way to check the smell of a chemical in a test tube?
A.Place your nose directly over the tube and inhale deeply
B.Waft the vapors toward your nose with your hand
C.Ask a friend to smell it for you
D.Boil the liquid first to increase the smell
- 3.
Which of the following units is exactly the same volume as ()?
A.B.C.D. - 4.
After finishing an experiment, a scientist looks at the data to decide if their hypothesis was correct. This step is called:
A.Making an observation
B.Drawing a conclusion
C.Doing a fair test
D.Measuring a variable
- 5.
To find the density of a material, which two measurements must be taken?
A.Mass and Weight
B.Volume and Length
C.Mass and Volume
D.Weight and Area
- 6.
What should a student do if they spill a small amount of a chemical on their hand during an experiment?
A.Wait until the end of the lesson to wash it off
B.Wipe it off with a paper towel and continue
C.Wash it immediately with plenty of water and tell the teacher
D.Cover it with a bandage from the first aid kit
- 7.
Which of these is a reason why a scientist might choose a digital thermometer over a liquid-in-glass thermometer?
A.Digital thermometers are always made of glass
B.Digital thermometers can often show smaller changes in temperature (higher resolution)
C.Liquid-in-glass thermometers are easier to break
D.Digital thermometers do not require batteries
- 8.
A block of wood has dimensions and a mass of . What is its density and will it float in water (density )?
A.; It will float
B.; It will sink
C.; It will sink
D.; It will float
- 9.
A student measures the time it takes for a cupcake case to fall from various heights. Which of the following would be the most significant source of 'random error' in this experiment?
A.The ruler used to measure height is missing the first .
B.The student’s reaction time when clicking the stopwatch.
C.The cupcake case being slightly heavier than .
D.The floor not being perfectly level.
- 10.
Which of the following describes the 'resolution' of a measuring instrument?
A.The closeness of the measurement to the true value.
B.The smallest change in the quantity being measured that produces a detectable change in the reading.
C.The difference between the maximum and minimum values that can be measured.
D.The ability of the instrument to give the same reading for the same quantity.
Download the worksheet for Scientific Enquiry - Observation and Measurement to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Data Analysis and Graphs
SubtopicData Analysis and Graphs under Scientific Enquiry for Grade 7 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
What does a horizontal flat line on a distance-time graph indicate?
A.The object is moving at constant speed
B.The object is accelerating
C.The object is stationary
D.The object is returning to the start
- 2.
Identify the part of the graph that shows the title.
A.The labels on the x-axis
B.The numbers on the y-axis
C.The text at the top explaining the graph
D.The legend in the corner
- 3.
Which of the following is the best way to present discrete data (categories)?
A.Line graph
B.Bar chart
C.Scatter plot
D.Area graph
- 4.
What is the name of the value that is much higher or lower than the rest of the data in a set?
A.Average
B.Median
C.Outlier
D.Range
- 5.
A student measures the extension of a spring with different weights. What is the dependent variable?
A.The weight applied
B.The length of the spring
C.The extension of the spring
D.The type of spring used
- 6.
What is the range of the data set shown in the graph?
A.10 to 40
B.30
C.25
D.50
- 7.
Observe the cooling curve. What is happening during the period from 2 to 4 minutes?
A.The substance is boiling
B.The substance is freezing
C.The substance is warming up
D.The substance is a gas
- 8.
A student measures the volume of gas produced in a reaction over time. The graph shows a curve that flattens out. What is the most scientifically accurate reason for the slope of the curve becoming zero at seconds?
A.The reaction has reached its maximum speed.
B.The temperature of the reaction decreased to zero.
C.One or more of the reactants have been completely consumed.
D.The gas escaped from the measuring cylinder.
- 9.
Two groups of seeds were grown: Group 1 in sunlight and Group 2 in the dark. The graph shows their average height over 10 days. How does the growth of the seeds in the dark (Line D) compare to those in the light (Line L) after Day 6?
A.The dark-grown seeds stopped growing entirely.
B.The dark-grown seeds grew taller but are likely weaker and yellow (etiolation).
C.The light-grown seeds are taller because they have more energy.
D.Both groups grew at the exact same rate.
- 10.
A marine biologist measures the light intensity at different depths in the ocean. The data is plotted on the graph below. Based on the trend, what would be the most likely light intensity at a depth of 50 meters?
A.Approximately 15 units
B.Approximately 40 units
C.Exactly 0 units
D.Approximately 80 units
Download the worksheet for Scientific Enquiry - Data Analysis and Graphs to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Evaluation and Conclusions
SubtopicEvaluation and Conclusions under Scientific Enquiry for Grade 7 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
A student concludes: 'The more water given to the plant, the taller it grows, up to a certain point.' What does 'up to a certain point' suggest?
A.The plant died after getting too much water
B.The results were always the same
C.The relationship changed after a specific amount of water
D.The student stopped measuring the plant
- 2.
Why should scientists share their evaluations and conclusions with others?
A.To allow others to check the work and build on the findings
B.To prevent other scientists from doing experiments
C.Because it is a legal requirement in every country
D.To keep the results a secret from the public
- 3.
What does a horizontal line on a distance-time graph conclude about the object's motion?
A.The object is moving at a constant speed
B.The object is accelerating
C.The object is stationary (not moving)
D.The object is moving backward
- 4.
Which piece of information is least likely to be found in a conclusion?
A.A summary of findings
B.A statement about the hypothesis
C.The brand name of the laboratory stools
D.Identification of patterns in the data
- 5.
A student evaluates the experimental plan shown in the flowchart. They are trying to determine the exact boiling point of a liquid. Which modification to Step 2 would provide more detailed data to help the student conclude exactly when the boiling point was reached?
A.Using a much larger volume of liquid to slow down the heating process
B.Recording the temperature at 30-second intervals instead of every 2 minutes
C.Stirring the liquid only once at the start of the experiment
D.Repeating the experiment using a completely different unknown liquid
- 6.
A student is evaluating their experiment on how the size of a parachute affects air resistance. They suggest that using a data logger with a motion sensor would be better than using a stopwatch. Why?
A.Data loggers are cheaper than stopwatches
B.A motion sensor can record the speed continuously and remove human reaction time
C.A data logger makes the parachute fall more slowly
D.Using a stopwatch is not a scientific way to measure time
- 7.
If a graph of 'Force vs Extension' for a spring is a straight line through the origin, what is the conclusion about the relationship?
A.Extension is inversely proportional to force
B.Extension is directly proportional to force
C.Force does not affect extension
D.The spring is too stiff to measure
- 8.
A student concludes that 'Caffeine increases reaction speed' after testing 10 people. However, they tested the people's reaction time at 9:00 AM (no caffeine) and 10:00 AM (after caffeine). What is a possible 'alternative explanation' for the improvement?
A.The participants' reaction times improved due to 'practice' from the first test.
B.Caffeine takes more than an hour to enter the bloodstream.
C.The participants were more tired at 10:00 AM than at 9:00 AM.
D.Reaction time cannot be measured accurately without a computer.
- 9.
An evaluation of a graph showing 'Mass of salt vs. Time to dissolve' shows that the points are scattered randomly with no clear line of best fit. What is the most appropriate 'Conclusion'?
A.There is no observable relationship between mass and time in this experiment.
B.Mass always increases the time to dissolve, but the student measured it poorly.
C.The experiment should be ignored because science always has a pattern.
D.The student should draw a straight line through the middle anyway.
- 10.
When testing the effect of different fuels on the temperature rise of water, a student realizes they didn't measure the starting temperature of the water for each trial. Why does this 'procedural error' invalidate their conclusion?
A.They cannot calculate the 'change in temperature' () accurately.
B.The water will reach the boiling point at different times anyway.
C.The mass of the fuel cannot be determined without the starting temperature.
D.The energy of the fuel is independent of the water temperature.
Download the worksheet for Scientific Enquiry - Evaluation and Conclusions to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.