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Primary 3 Science Semestral Assessment 2 (End of Year) Paper 1

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Questions

Primary 3 Science SA2 Examination 2026

TuitionGoWhere Assessment Paper

Duration: 75 minutes
Total Marks: 100
Name: _________________________ Class: _______ Date: _______

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (25 marks)

Choose the correct answer and write the letter (A, B, C, or D) in the brackets provided. Each question is worth 1 mark.

1. Which of the following is a characteristic that ALL living things share?

(A) They can move from place to place
(B) They need food for energy
(C) They live in water
(D) They have eyes to see

( )

2. Look at the list below:

Stone
Fish
Water
Mango tree

How many of the items are living things?

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4

( )

3. A wooden table was once part of a living thing but is now non-living. Which statement BEST explains why?

(A) The table does not move
(B) The table does not need air, food, or water anymore
(C) The table is hard and brown
(D) The table was painted

( )

4. Which material would be the BEST choice for making an umbrella cover?

(A) Cotton cloth
(B) Paper
(C) Plastic
(D) Cardboard

( )

5. Sarah tested four materials by bending them. The table below shows her results:

Material	Can it bend?
Rubber band	Yes
Glass rod	No
Metal wire	Yes
Wooden stick	No

Which TWO materials are flexible?

(A) Rubber band and glass rod
(B) Glass rod and wooden stick
(C) Rubber band and metal wire
(D) Metal wire and wooden stick

( )

6. A butterfly goes through complete metamorphosis. Which shows the CORRECT order of its life cycle?

(A) Egg → Caterpillar → Butterfly → Pupa
(B) Egg → Pupa → Caterpillar → Butterfly
(C) Egg → Caterpillar → Pupa → Butterfly
(D) Caterpillar → Egg → Pupa → Butterfly

( )

7. Which animal does NOT go through complete metamorphosis?

(A) Mosquito
(B) Butterfly
(C) Grasshopper
(D) Beetle

( )

8. Look at the life cycle stages below:

Stage X: Has wings but cannot fly far
Stage Y: Lives only in water
Stage Z: Can fly and lay eggs

These stages belong to which animal?

(A) Butterfly
(B) Grasshopper
(C) Mosquito
(D) Cockroach

( )

9. A bean seed is planted and begins to grow. Which part of the plant develops FIRST?

(A) The flower
(B) The fruit
(C) The root
(D) The leaf

( )

10. The diagram below shows a flowering plant:

Image pending generation for this question.

    [Flower]
       |
    [Leaf]----[Stem]----[Leaf]
       |
    [Root]

Which part is responsible for making food for the plant?

(A) Flower
(B) Stem
(C) Root
(D) Leaf

( )

11. Plants need sunlight to make their own food. This process is called:

(A) Breathing
(B) Photosynthesis
(C) Digestion
(D) Germination

( )

12. Which of the following is NOT a function of roots?

(A) Absorbing water from the soil
(B) Holding the plant firmly in the ground
(C) Making food for the plant
(D) Absorbing minerals from the soil

( )

13. Tom notices that a plant near the window grows towards the light. This happens because:

(A) The plant is trying to escape
(B) The plant needs light to make food
(C) The plant wants to look pretty
(D) The plant is thirsty

( )

14. Which body part helps you to detect different tastes of food?

(A) Nose
(B) Skin
(C) Tongue
(D) Eyes

( )

15. Mary touched an ice cube and felt that it was cold. Which sense organ did she use?

(A) Tongue
(B) Nose
(C) Eyes
(D) Skin

( )

16. Which of the following is a HEALTHY habit?

(A) Sleeping for only 4 hours every night
(B) Eating sweets before every meal
(C) Exercising regularly
(D) Watching television for 8 hours

( )

17. The skeletal system has many functions. Which is NOT a function of the skeletal system?

(A) Supporting the body
(B) Protecting internal organs
(C) Pumping blood around the body
(D) Allowing movement with muscles

( )

18. John can smell durian from across the room. Which sense organ helped him detect the durian?

(A) Tongue
(B) Eyes
(C) Nose
(D) Ears

( )

19. Which of the following objects will be attracted to a magnet?

(A) Plastic ruler
(B) Wooden pencil
(C) Iron nail
(D) Rubber eraser

( )

20. Peter placed a bar magnet in a pile of objects. The magnet attracted some objects but not others. Which statement is TRUE?

(A) Magnets attract all metals
(B) Magnets attract only magnetic materials like iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt
(C) Magnets attract all objects
(D) Magnets attract only shiny objects

( )

21. Look at the diagram showing two bar magnets:

[S ====== N]     [N ====== S]
   Magnet A         Magnet B

What will happen when the magnets are pushed together?

(A) They will attract each other
(B) They will repel each other
(C) Nothing will happen
(D) They will stick to the table

( )

22. A bar magnet is hung from a string and allowed to swing freely. When it stops moving, the North pole points:

(A) Towards the East
(B) Towards the West
(C) Towards the geographic North
(D) Towards the ground

( )

23. Which of the following is a correct use of magnets in daily life?

(A) Keeping a refrigerator door closed
(B) Making water flow faster
(C) Keeping food fresh
(D) Charging mobile phones

( )

24. Amy has a magnet and wants to test if an object is magnetic. What should she do?

(A) Put the object in water
(B) Bring the magnet close to the object and see if it is attracted
(C) Heat the object
(D) Bend the object

( )

25. A compass needle always points North-South because:

(A) It is painted with special colors
(B) The needle is a magnet and Earth is also a giant magnet
(C) The needle is made of plastic
(D) Compasses are broken if they point other directions

( )

Section B: Short Answer Questions (45 marks)

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

26. (4 marks) Look at the table below showing different organisms:

Organism	Characteristic A	Characteristic B
Mushroom	Does not move	Needs food
Bird	Moves	Needs air
Rock	Does not move	Does not need food
Tree	Does not move	Needs water

(a) Which organisms in the table are living things? (2m)

(b) Give ONE reason why a rock is considered non-living. (2m)

27. (4 marks) Study the materials and their properties below:

Material	Waterproof	Transparent	Flexible
Glass	Yes	Yes	No
Rubber	Yes	No	Yes
Paper	No	No	Yes
Plastic	Yes	Yes	Yes

(a) Which material would be BEST for making a raincoat? Give a reason for your answer. (2m)

(b) Why is glass used for making windows even though it is not flexible? (2m)

28. (5 marks) The diagram below shows the life cycle of a butterfly:

Image pending generation for this question.

    [A] Egg
      ↓
    [B] ?
      ↓
    [C] Pupa
      ↓
    [D] Adult butterfly

(a) What is stage B called? (1m)

(b) Describe TWO differences between stage B and stage D. (2m)

29. (4 marks) Compare the life cycles of a grasshopper and a butterfly:

(a) How many stages are there in a grasshopper's life cycle? Name them. (2m)

(b) Why is the grasshopper's life cycle called "incomplete metamorphosis"? (2m)

30. (5 marks) Study the diagram of a plant below:

        🌸 [Part W]
         |
    🌿---|---🌿 [Part X]
         |
         | [Part Y]
         |
    ~~~~ | ~~~~ (soil line)
      \  |  /
       \ | /  [Part Z]

(a) Label Parts W, X, Y, and Z. (2m)

Part W: _________________ Part X: _________________

Part Y: _________________ Part Z: _________________

(b) Explain how Part X and Part Z work together to help the plant survive. (3m)

31. (4 marks) A student placed two identical plants in different conditions:

Plant	Condition
Plant A	Near a sunny window
Plant B	Inside a dark cupboard

After two weeks, Plant A grew well with green leaves, but Plant B had yellow leaves and was weak.

(a) Why did Plant B become weak and have yellow leaves? (2m)

(b) What does this experiment tell us about what plants need to grow? (2m)

32. (5 marks) Match each sense organ to its function and give an example of when you use it:

Sense Organ	Function	Example
Eyes
Ears
Nose
Tongue
Skin

33. (4 marks) Read the scenario below:

Mei Ling walks home from school every day. She does not exercise, skips breakfast, sleeps only 5 hours each night, and snacks on chips and sweets throughout the day.

(a) List TWO unhealthy habits that Mei Ling has. (2m)

(b) Suggest TWO ways Mei Ling can improve her health. (2m)

34. (5 marks) Study the diagram showing how magnets interact:

Experiment 1:

[N===S]  ←→  [N===S]
   A           B
They move apart

Experiment 2:

[N===S]  ←→  [S===N]
   A           C
They move together

(a) In Experiment 1, why did magnets A and B move apart? (2m)

(b) In Experiment 2, why did magnets A and C move together? (1m)

35. (5 marks) Ahmad wants to separate a mixture of iron filings, sand, and small stones.

(a) Describe how Ahmad can use a magnet to help separate this mixture. (2m)

(b) Which material will the magnet attract? Why? (2m)

Section C: Word Problems (30 marks)

Answer all questions with detailed explanations.

36. (8 marks) Investigation: Testing Materials

A group of students wanted to find the best material for a lunchbox. They tested four materials:

Material	Waterproof?	Strong?	Light?	Keeps food warm?
Paper	No	No	Yes	No
Metal	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Plastic	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Cloth	No	No	Yes	No

(a) Based on the results, which material would be BEST for making a lunchbox? Explain your choice using THREE reasons from the table. (4m)

(b) The students want to keep their food warm during lunch. Which material should they choose? Explain why. (2m)

37. (8 marks) Life Cycle Investigation

A scientist observed the following animals in a pond area:

Animal	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4
Animal X	Egg	Larva (in water)	Pupa (in water)	Adult (flying)
Animal Y	Egg	Nymph (small, looks like adult)	Bigger nymph	Adult (with wings)

(a) Which animal (X or Y) goes through complete metamorphosis? Explain how you know. (3m)

(b) What type of metamorphosis does the other animal go through? What is the key difference? (3m)

Animal X: _______________________

Animal Y: _______________________

38. (7 marks) Plant Growth Experiment

Students set up four pots with the same type of plant:

Pot	Light	Water	Soil
Pot 1	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pot 2	No	Yes	Yes
Pot 3	Yes	No	Yes
Pot 4	Yes	Yes	No (plant in cotton)

After 3 weeks, they recorded their observations:

Pot	Height	Leaf Color	Health
Pot 1	Tall	Green	Healthy
Pot 2	Short	Yellow	Weak
Pot 3	Very short	Brown	Dying
Pot 4	Medium	Pale green	Not very healthy

(a) Why was Pot 1 the healthiest? Explain using what you know about plant needs. (2m)

(b) Pot 2 had yellow leaves. What does this tell us about what the plant was missing? Explain why this happens. (2m)

(d) What does the soil provide that cotton does not? (1m)

39. (7 marks) Magnet Challenge

Wei Ming found a box of objects and wanted to test which ones were magnetic. He used a bar magnet and recorded his results:

Object	Material	Attracted to magnet?
Paper clip	Steel	Yes
Coin	Copper	No
Nail	Iron	Yes
Key	Brass	No
Safety pin	Steel	Yes
Aluminium can	Aluminium	No

(a) Look at the results. What pattern do you notice about which materials are magnetic? (2m)

(b) Wei Ming thought all metals are magnetic. Is he correct? Use evidence from the table to support your answer. (2m)

(c) Wei Ming wants to pick up the paper clips from a mixture of all these objects without touching them. Describe how he can do this using the magnet. (2m)

(d) What will happen if Wei Ming brings the North pole of his magnet near the North pole of another magnet? (1m)

END OF PAPER

This paper covers all P3 Science topics: Diversity, Life Cycles, Plant Systems, Human Systems, and Magnets.

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Answers

Primary 3 Science SA2 Examination 2026 - Answer Key

TuitionGoWhere Assessment Paper

Duration: 75 minutes
Total Marks: 100

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (25 marks)

1 mark each

Q	Answer	Explanation
1	(B)	All living things need food for energy. Not all living things can move from place to place (e.g., plants).
2	(B)	Fish (animal) and Mango tree (plant) are living things. Stone and water are non-living.
3	(B)	The wood was once living (part of a tree) but is now non-living because it no longer needs air, food, or water and cannot grow or reproduce.
4	(C)	Plastic is waterproof, making it the best choice for an umbrella cover.
5	(C)	Rubber band and metal wire can both bend and return to shape, making them flexible.
6	(C)	Correct order: Egg → Caterpillar (larva) → Pupa → Butterfly (adult)
7	(C)	Grasshopper goes through incomplete metamorphosis (egg → nymph → adult).
8	(C)	Mosquito: Stage Y (larva) lives in water, Stage X (pupa) has wings but doesn't fly far, Stage Z (adult) can fly and lay eggs.
9	(C)	The root develops first to anchor the plant and absorb water.
10	(D)	Leaves are responsible for photosynthesis (making food for the plant).
11	(B)	Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make food using sunlight.
12	(C)	Roots do NOT make food - that is the function of leaves. Roots absorb water and minerals and anchor the plant.
13	(B)	Plants grow towards light because they need light to make food through photosynthesis.
14	(C)	The tongue has taste buds that detect different tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter).
15	(D)	The skin is the sense organ for touch, including detecting temperature (hot/cold).
16	(C)	Exercising regularly is a healthy habit that keeps our body fit and strong.
17	(C)	Pumping blood is the function of the heart (circulatory system), not the skeletal system.
18	(C)	The nose is used to detect smells/odors like durian.
19	(C)	Iron nail is made of iron, which is a magnetic material.
20	(B)	Magnets only attract magnetic materials (iron, steel, nickel, cobalt), not all metals.
21	(B)	The S pole of A faces N pole of B - like poles (or facing poles here are N-N at contact) will repel. Actually, S-N should attract. Looking at the diagram: A's N faces B's N, so they repel (like poles repel).
22	(C)	A freely suspended magnet's North pole points towards geographic North (Earth is a giant magnet).
23	(A)	Magnets are used in refrigerator doors to keep them closed.
24	(B)	To test if an object is magnetic, bring a magnet close and see if it is attracted.
25	(B)	A compass needle is a magnet, and Earth is also a giant magnet, so the needle aligns with Earth's magnetic field.

Section B: Short Answer Questions (45 marks)

26. (4 marks)

(a) The living things are: Mushroom, Bird, and Tree (2m)

Award 1m for at least 2 correct, 2m for all 3 correct

(b) A rock is considered non-living because: (2m)

It does not need food, water, or air
It cannot grow
It cannot reproduce
It is not made of cells (Accept any 1 valid reason for 2m)

27. (4 marks)

(a) Plastic would be best for making a raincoat because: (2m)

It is waterproof (keeps rain out) - 1m for correct choice
It is also flexible (allows movement) - 1m for valid reason

(b) Glass is used for windows because: (2m)

It is transparent, allowing light to pass through - 1m
Even though it is not flexible, windows do not need to bend - 1m
It is also waterproof

28. (5 marks)

(a) Stage B is called a caterpillar (or larva). (1m)

(b) Two differences between caterpillar (B) and adult butterfly (D): (2m)

The caterpillar has no wings / The butterfly has wings
The caterpillar crawls / The butterfly can fly
The caterpillar eats leaves / The butterfly drinks nectar
The caterpillar has a long body / The butterfly has a different body shape (Award 1m for each valid difference, max 2m)

It has 4 distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult
The young (caterpillar) looks completely different from the adult (butterfly) (Award 2m for explaining 4 stages OR young looks different from adult)

29. (4 marks)

(a) 3 stages in a grasshopper's life cycle: (2m)

Egg, Nymph, Adult (1m for correct number, 1m for naming all stages)

(b) It is called "incomplete metamorphosis" because: (2m)

There is no pupa stage
The nymph looks like a smaller version of the adult
The young grasshopper (nymph) gradually changes into the adult (Award 2m for explaining no pupa stage OR nymph resembles adult)

30. (5 marks)

(a) Labels: (2m)

Part W: Flower (0.5m)
Part X: Leaf/Leaves (0.5m)
Part Y: Stem (0.5m)
Part Z: Root/Roots (0.5m)

(b) How Part X (Leaves) and Part Z (Roots) work together: (3m)

The roots absorb water and minerals from the soil (1m)
The water is transported up to the leaves through the stem (1m)
The leaves use the water along with sunlight and carbon dioxide to make food through photosynthesis (1m)

31. (4 marks)

(a) Plant B became weak and had yellow leaves because: (2m)

It was in a dark cupboard with no sunlight
Without sunlight, it could not make food through photosynthesis
The plant could not produce chlorophyll (the green pigment) properly

(b) This experiment tells us that: (2m)

Plants need sunlight/light to grow and stay healthy
Sunlight is essential for photosynthesis/making food
Without sunlight, plants cannot produce the energy they need to survive

32. (5 marks - 1m for each correct row)

Sense Organ	Function	Example
Eyes	To see/detect light	Reading a book, watching TV
Ears	To hear/detect sound	Listening to music, hearing someone call
Nose	To smell/detect odors	Smelling flowers, detecting smoke
Tongue	To taste/detect flavors	Tasting food, distinguishing sweet from sour
Skin	To feel/detect touch, temperature, pain	Feeling hot or cold, sensing pressure

33. (4 marks)

(a) Two unhealthy habits Mei Ling has: (2m)

Sleeping only 5 hours (not enough sleep)
Skipping breakfast
Snacking on chips and sweets throughout the day (unhealthy diet)
Not exercising (Any 2 for 2m)

(b) Two ways Mei Ling can improve her health: (2m)

Sleep 8-10 hours every night
Eat breakfast every day
Exercise regularly
Eat healthy foods (fruits, vegetables) instead of chips and sweets
Reduce snacking on junk food (Any 2 appropriate suggestions for 2m)

34. (5 marks)

(a) In Experiment 1, magnets A and B moved apart because: (2m)

Like poles were facing each other (S of A facing S of B, or looking at the diagram, N of A faces N of B at the closest point)
Like poles repel each other

(b) In Experiment 2, magnets A and C moved together because: (1m)

Unlike poles were facing each other (opposite poles attract)
S of A was facing N of C (or N facing S)

Like poles repel each other
Unlike poles (opposite poles) attract each other (Award 1m for each rule)

35. (5 marks)

(a) How Ahmad can use a magnet to separate the mixture: (2m)

Move the magnet through or over the mixture
The magnet will attract the iron filings, pulling them out of the mixture
The sand and stones will be left behind

(b) The magnet will attract: iron filings (2m)

Because iron is a magnetic material
Sand (silicon) and stones are not magnetic materials

Refrigerator door seal
Compass for navigation
Magnetic pencil case
Speakers/headphones
Computer hard drives
Magnetic toys (Accept any valid use)

Section C: Word Problems (30 marks)

36. (8 marks)

(a) Plastic would be best for making a lunchbox: (4m)

It is waterproof - keeps liquids from leaking and protects from spills (1m)
It is strong - won't break easily when dropped or bumped (1m)
It is light - easy to carry to school (1m)
(1m for clearly stating plastic as the choice)

(b) Metal should be chosen to keep food warm: (2m)

Metal is the only material that keeps food warm according to the table (1m)
Metal conducts heat but also insulates when designed as a container (1m)

It is not waterproof - it will get wet and soggy (1m)
It is not strong - it will tear easily (1m)

37. (8 marks)

(a) Animal X goes through complete metamorphosis: (3m)

Animal X has 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult (1m)
There is a pupa stage where the animal transforms (1m)
The larva looks completely different from the adult (1m)

(b) Animal Y goes through incomplete metamorphosis: (3m)

It has only 3 stages: egg, nymph, and adult (1m)
There is no pupa stage (1m)
The nymph already looks like a smaller version of the adult (1m)

Animal X: Mosquito (1m) - has larvae in water, goes through complete metamorphosis
Animal Y: Grasshopper/Dragonfly (1m) - nymphs look like small adults

38. (7 marks)

(a) Pot 1 was healthiest because: (2m)

It had all three things plants need: light, water, and soil (1m)
With light, it could photosynthesize to make food; with water, it could transport nutrients; with soil, it had minerals (1m)

(b) Pot 2 had yellow leaves because: (2m)

The plant was missing sunlight/light (1m)
Without light, the plant could not make chlorophyll (the green pigment) and could not photosynthesize to make food (1m)

Water is needed for photosynthesis to make food (1m)
Water transports minerals and nutrients throughout the plant (1m)
Water keeps plant cells firm and turgid

(d) Soil provides: (1m)

Minerals/nutrients that the plant needs to grow
Better support/anchorage for roots

39. (7 marks)

(a) Pattern observed: (2m)

Only objects made of iron and steel are magnetic/attracted to the magnet (1m)
Other metals like copper, brass, and aluminium are NOT magnetic (1m)

(b) Wei Ming is NOT correct: (2m)

The table shows that copper (coin), brass (key), and aluminium (can) are metals but are NOT attracted to the magnet (1m)
Only certain metals (iron, steel, nickel, cobalt) are magnetic (1m)

Hold the magnet above or near the mixture of objects (1m)
The paper clips (made of steel) will be attracted to the magnet and stick to it, while the other objects will not be attracted (1m)

(d) What will happen when two North poles are brought near each other: (1m)

They will repel each other / push away from each other
(Because like poles repel)

Mark Summary

Section	Maximum Marks
Section A: MCQ	25
Section B: Short Answer	45
Section C: Word Problems	30
Total	100

Answer Key for TuitionGoWhere P3 Science SA2 2026