Grade 6 Science diagnostic

15 questions on matter & forces, earth & space, biology & genetics and inquiry, plus 3 from Grade 5. Answer what you can, then check your answers to see which topics are secure and what to practise next.

15 questions4 topicsAbout 15 minutesSet 2 of 5

Skip a question if you do not know the answer. It is better than guessing, because it shows what to practise.

1Matter & forcesA model vehicle travels 470 m in 47 s at constant speed. What is its speed in m/s?

Your answerm/s

2Matter & forcesA sealed container holds liquid water and water vapour. When vapour condenses, what happens to total water mass?

A. It becomes zero.B. It must decrease.C. It stays the same if nothing enters or leaves.D. It doubles automatically.

3Matter & forcesWhich force pulls a dropped ball towards Earth?

A. Friction onlyB. GravityC. SoundD. Magnetism

4Earth & spaceSpace and the solar system: which term fits this description? Earth's natural satellite.

A. MoonB. Lunar eclipseC. VenusD. Mercury

5Earth & spaceThe main cause of Earth's seasons is

A. Earth switching off sunlightB. Earth stopping its rotationC. the Moon changing temperatureD. axial tilt during Earth's orbit

6Earth & spaceEarth systems: which term fits this description? Water falling from clouds as rain, snow or other forms.

A. Igneous rockB. PrecipitationC. Inner coreD. Sedimentary rock

7Biology & geneticsEcosystems and interactions: which term fits this description? An interaction in which organisms seek the same limited resource.

A. Natural selectionB. CommunityC. CompetitionD. Parasitism

8Biology & geneticsCells and cell structures: which term fits this description? An organism whose cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus.

A. OsmosisB. EukaryoteC. ChromosomeD. Organ system

9Biology & geneticsIn grass → rabbit → fox, what does the first arrow represent?

A. the direction of windB. food or energy transfer from grass to rabbitC. rabbit turning into grassD. grass hunting the rabbit

10InquiryWhich question is directly measurable?

A. Which color is morally best?B. Which shape is the happiest?C. Which paper shape travels farther under the same release conditions?

11InquiryWhich unit is appropriate for the mass of a small apple?

A. litres per secondB. minutesC. kilometresD. grams

12InquiryA plant grows 2 cm in week one and 3 cm in week two. What is its total growth?

A. 5 cmB. 6 cmC. 1 cmD. 3 cm

From Grade 5

These questions check skills from the grade below, so gaps can be spotted early.

13Inquiry (Grade 5)Why use several plants in each condition?

A. to guarantee the preferred resultB. to change every variableC. to reduce the influence of an unusual individualD. to remove the need to measure

14Matter & forces (Grade 5)Does bending a wire necessarily create a new chemical substance?

A. Yes, every shape change does.B. No.C. Only if it is long.

15Inquiry (Grade 5)Which statement is an observation?

A. These are the best seeds.B. Four of six seeds produced shoots.C. Plants prefer my pot.D. All seeds will grow.