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

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Questions

Primary 3 Science SA2 Examination 2026 (Version 2)

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 NOT a characteristic of living things?

(A) They need air
(B) They can reproduce
(C) They are always soft
(D) They can grow

( )

2. Look at the list of items below:

Item	Made of
Pencil	Wood and graphite
Goldfish	Living cells
Plastic bottle	Plastic
Fern	Living cells

How many items in the list are living things?

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

( )

3. A coconut fell from a tree. After some time, it started to grow into a new coconut tree. The coconut is considered:

(A) Non-living because it fell from the tree
(B) Living because it can grow into a new plant
(C) Non-living because it has a hard shell
(D) Living because it is round

( )

4. Which property of glass makes it suitable for making spectacle lenses?

(A) It is heavy
(B) It is transparent
(C) It is waterproof
(D) It is flexible

( )

5. Jane tested different materials to find out which one floats on water. Her results are shown below:

Material	Float or Sink?
Cork	Float
Iron nail	Sink
Plastic bottle cap	Float
Stone	Sink

Which materials can be used to make a toy boat that floats?

(A) Cork and iron nail
(B) Stone and iron nail
(C) Cork and plastic bottle cap
(D) Stone and plastic bottle cap

( )

6. Which stage in a mosquito's life cycle lives in water?

(A) Egg and adult only
(B) Larva and adult only
(C) Egg, larva, and pupa
(D) Adult only

( )

7. The young of which animal looks like a smaller version of the adult?

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

( )

8. Study the diagram below showing stages in an animal's life cycle:

Stage 1: Lives in water, has a tail, no legs
Stage 2: Has tail, grows legs  
Stage 3: Tail disappears, has 4 legs
Stage 4: Adult with 4 legs, lives on land

This animal is most likely a:

(A) Fish
(B) Frog
(C) Butterfly
(D) Grasshopper

( )

9. Which part of a plant holds it firmly in the ground?

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

( )

10. Plants release a gas during photosynthesis. This gas is:

(A) Carbon dioxide
(B) Oxygen
(C) Nitrogen
(D) Water vapour

( )

11. Why are most leaves green in colour?

(A) They contain a green pigment called chlorophyll
(B) They are painted green
(C) They absorb green light from the sun
(D) They are covered with green wax

( )

12. What are the THREE things plants need to make food?

(A) Water, oxygen, and minerals
(B) Water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide
(C) Sunlight, oxygen, and minerals
(D) Carbon dioxide, minerals, and oxygen

( )

13. Which statement about stems is TRUE?

(A) Stems make food for the plant
(B) Stems absorb water from the soil
(C) Stems transport water and minerals to other parts of the plant
(D) Stems produce seeds

( )

14. Which of the following can our skin detect?

(A) Sound
(B) Light
(C) Smell
(D) Pressure

( )

15. Ahmad closed his eyes and could still tell that durian was nearby. Which sense organ did he use?

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

( )

16. Which activity is NOT good for our health?

(A) Eating a balanced diet
(B) Drinking 8 glasses of water a day
(C) Playing computer games for 6 hours straight
(D) Getting enough sleep

( )

17. The muscular system works together with which system to allow us to move?

(A) Digestive system
(B) Respiratory system
(C) Skeletal system
(D) Nervous system

( )

18. A doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to your heartbeat. Which sense organ is the doctor using?

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

( )

19. Which of the following objects will NOT be attracted to a magnet?

(A) Steel spoon
(B) Iron gate
(C) Copper wire
(D) Steel scissors

( )

20. Where is a magnet's strength the greatest?

(A) In the middle
(B) At the poles
(C) On the sides
(D) Everywhere is the same

( )

21. Look at the diagram showing two magnets:

[N ====== S]  ←→  [S ====== N]
   Magnet P          Magnet Q

What will happen when the two magnets are brought close together?

(A) They will attract each other
(B) They will repel each other
(C) Nothing will happen
(D) They will spin around

( )

22. A magnet is broken into two pieces. What happens to the pieces?

(A) They lose their magnetism
(B) Each piece becomes a complete magnet with a North and South pole
(C) One piece has only North pole, the other has only South pole
(D) The pieces become non-magnetic

( )

23. Which of the following uses magnets?

(A) Light bulb
(B) Pencil sharpener
(C) Magnetic pencil case
(D) Glass cup

( )

24. Rina wants to make a temporary magnet using a steel paperclip. What should she do?

(A) Put the paperclip in water
(B) Heat the paperclip
(C) Stroke the paperclip with a magnet in one direction repeatedly
(D) Bend the paperclip

( )

25. Which material can be magnetized?

(A) Copper
(B) Aluminium
(C) Steel
(D) Rubber

( )

Section B: Short Answer Questions (45 marks)

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

26. (4 marks) Study the table below:

Organism	Can move from place to place	Needs water	Can reproduce
Coral	No	Yes	Yes
Robot	Yes	No	No
Venus flytrap	No (but can move leaves)	Yes	Yes
Car	Yes	No	No

(a) Which organisms in the table are living things? Explain your answer. (2m)

(b) A robot can move and do many things. Why is it NOT considered a living thing? (2m)

27. (4 marks) Look at the materials and their uses:

Material	Item made from it
Rubber	Tyres
Glass	Light bulb
Metal	Cooking pot
Cotton	T-shirt

(a) Why is rubber a good material for making tyres? Give TWO reasons. (2m)

(b) Why is metal used for cooking pots instead of plastic? (2m)

28. (5 marks) Compare the life cycles of a mosquito and a cockroach:

Mosquito	Cockroach
Egg	Egg
Larva (wriggler)	Nymph
Pupa (tumbler)	Adult
Adult

(a) Which animal goes through complete metamorphosis? How do you know? (2m)

(b) How is the nymph stage of a cockroach different from the larva stage of a mosquito? (2m)

29. (4 marks) A farmer noticed that a mango tree produced flowers, then fruits with seeds inside.

(a) Arrange these stages of the plant life cycle in the correct order: (2m)

Seed → _______ → _______ → _______ → Seed (in fruit)

Choose from: Adult plant with flowers, Germination, Seedling

(b) Why is it important for plants to produce seeds? (2m)

30. (5 marks) Study the diagram below showing how plants make food:

        Sunlight
           ↓
    [Carbon dioxide] → [LEAF] → [Oxygen]
           ↑                        ↓
       (from air)              (released to air)
           
    [Water] ↑
    (from roots through stem)

(a) What is the name of this process? (1m)

(b) Where does the plant get carbon dioxide from? (1m)

(d) Why do plants need to carry out this process? (2m)

31. (4 marks) Mrs Tan's class did an experiment with two plants:

Plant	Treatment	Result after 2 weeks
Plant A	Watered with water	Healthy, green leaves
Plant B	Watered with salt water	Wilted, brown leaves

(a) What can you conclude from this experiment? (2m)

(b) Explain why Plant B had wilted leaves. (2m)

32. (5 marks) Read the passage and answer the questions:

Ah Meng is a chef. Every day, he uses his senses to prepare delicious food. He looks at the vegetables to check if they are fresh. He smells the soup to see if it is ready. He tastes the food to check if it has enough salt. He feels the bread to see if it is soft. He listens for the sound of boiling water.

Match each action to the correct sense organ and explain how each sense helps Ah Meng:

Action	Sense Organ	How it helps
Looking at vegetables
Smelling soup
Tasting food
Feeling bread
Listening to water

33. (4 marks) A health survey found that children who play sports regularly are healthier than children who spend most of their time playing video games.

(a) Why is regular exercise important for children? Give TWO reasons. (2m)

(b) Besides exercise, name TWO other healthy habits children should have. (2m)

34. (5 marks) Study the experiment below:

Setup: A bar magnet is placed under a piece of paper. Iron filings are sprinkled on top of the paper.

Result: The iron filings formed a pattern around the magnet.

        . . . . . . .
      .   .     .   .
    .   .         .   .
   .  [N ======= S]  .
    .   .         .   .
      .   .     .   .
        . . . . . . .

(a) Why did the iron filings form this pattern? (2m)

(b) Where are the iron filings most concentrated? Why? (2m)

35. (5 marks) Kamal has a collection of objects and wants to sort them using a magnet.

Object	Material	Prediction: Magnetic?
Paper clip	Steel
Eraser	Rubber
Nail	Iron
Ring	Gold
Pin	Steel

(a) Complete the table by predicting which objects are magnetic. (2m)

(b) Explain why some metals are not attracted to magnets. (2m)

Section C: Word Problems (30 marks)

Answer all questions with detailed explanations.

36. (8 marks) Material Selection Challenge

A school wants to build a new playground. The table shows properties of different materials:

Material	Strong?	Waterproof?	Smooth?	Cost
Wood	Medium	No	Yes	Low
Metal	Very strong	Yes	Yes	High
Plastic	Medium	Yes	Yes	Medium
Concrete	Very strong	Yes	Rough	Low

(a) The school wants to build a slide. Which material would be BEST? Give THREE reasons for your choice. (4m)

(b) The school wants to build benches for the outdoor area. They want strong, waterproof benches but have a limited budget. Suggest a combination of materials and explain your choice. (2m)

37. (8 marks) Life Cycle Research Project

Students observed three different animals and recorded their life cycles:

Animal A: Egg → Tadpole (lives in water) → Tadpole with legs → Froglet → Adult frog

Animal B: Egg → Caterpillar → Chrysalis → Butterfly

Animal C: Egg → Nymph (looks like small adult) → Larger nymph → Adult dragonfly

(a) Which animals go through complete metamorphosis? Explain how you know. (3m)

(b) Which animal goes through incomplete metamorphosis? What is the key evidence? (2m)

(c) Animal A's tadpole lives in water but the adult lives on land. How does the tadpole's body change to allow this? Describe TWO changes. (3m)

38. (7 marks) School Garden Investigation

Students planted beans in three different conditions and measured their growth:

Condition	Light	Water	Fertilizer	Height after 3 weeks
Plot A	Full sun	Daily	Yes	35 cm
Plot B	Full sun	Daily	No	25 cm
Plot C	Full sun	Every 3 days	Yes	20 cm

(a) Compare Plot A and Plot B. What can you conclude about the effect of fertilizer? (2m)

(b) Compare Plot A and Plot C. Why did Plot C grow less even though it had fertilizer? (2m)

(c) If the students added a Plot D with no sunlight but with water and fertilizer, predict what would happen. Explain your prediction. (3m)

39. (7 marks) Magnet Investigation

Students tested how many paper clips a magnet could pick up through different materials:

Material placed between magnet and clips	Thickness	Number of paper clips picked up
Nothing (direct contact)	0 cm	15
Paper	0.1 cm	12
Cardboard	0.3 cm	8
Plastic folder	0.5 cm	5
Wooden block	1 cm	2
Steel sheet	0.1 cm	0

(a) What happens to the number of paper clips picked up as the thickness of the material increases? (2m)

(b) Look at the steel sheet result. Even though it was thin (0.1 cm), no paper clips were picked up. Explain why. (2m)

END OF PAPER

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

Answers

Primary 3 Science SA2 Examination 2026 (Version 2) - 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	(C)	Living things are not always soft (e.g., shells, bones). All living things need air, can reproduce, and can grow.
2	(B)	Goldfish and Fern are living things (made of living cells). Pencil and plastic bottle are non-living.
3	(B)	A coconut (seed) is living because it can grow into a new plant - a characteristic of living things.
4	(B)	Glass is transparent, allowing light to pass through, making it suitable for spectacle lenses.
5	(C)	Cork and plastic bottle cap both float, making them suitable for a floating toy boat.
6	(C)	Mosquito egg, larva (wriggler), and pupa (tumbler) all live in water. Only the adult flies.
7	(C)	Cockroach nymphs look like smaller versions of adults (incomplete metamorphosis).
8	(B)	Frog: tadpole has tail in water → grows legs → tail disappears → adult lives on land.
9	(D)	Roots hold the plant firmly in the ground (anchoring function).
10	(B)	Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis.
11	(A)	Leaves are green because they contain chlorophyll, a green pigment needed for photosynthesis.
12	(B)	Plants need water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide to make food through photosynthesis.
13	(C)	Stems transport water and minerals from roots to other parts of the plant.
14	(D)	Skin can detect pressure, temperature, pain, and texture (touch sense).
15	(C)	The nose detects smells, including the strong smell of durian.
16	(C)	Playing computer games for 6 hours straight is unhealthy - too much screen time and no physical activity.
17	(C)	Muscles work with the skeletal system (bones) to allow movement.
18	(B)	The doctor uses ears to listen through the stethoscope.
19	(C)	Copper wire is NOT magnetic - only iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt are magnetic.
20	(B)	A magnet's strength is greatest at its poles (North and South ends).
21	(A)	S pole of P faces N pole of Q - opposite poles attract each other.
22	(B)	When a magnet breaks, each piece becomes a complete magnet with both N and S poles.
23	(C)	Magnetic pencil cases use magnets to keep the lid closed.
24	(C)	Stroking a steel object with a magnet in one direction repeatedly magnetizes it.
25	(C)	Steel can be magnetized because it contains iron. Copper, aluminium, and rubber cannot.

Section B: Short Answer Questions (45 marks)

26. (4 marks)

(a) Living things in the table: Coral and Venus flytrap (2m)

They both need water and can reproduce, which are characteristics of living things
(Award 1m for each correct organism identified)

(b) A robot is NOT a living thing because: (2m)

It does not need air, food, or water to survive
It cannot reproduce/make baby robots on its own
It cannot grow
It is not made of living cells (Accept any 2 valid reasons)

27. (4 marks)

(a) Rubber is good for making tyres because: (2m)

It is flexible - can change shape and return to original form (1m)
It has good grip - prevents slipping (1m)
It is waterproof - works in rain
It is durable/strong

(b) Metal is used for cooking pots instead of plastic because: (2m)

Metal can withstand high temperatures without melting (1m)
Plastic would melt when heated on a stove (1m)
Metal conducts heat well for cooking

28. (5 marks)

(a) Mosquito goes through complete metamorphosis: (2m)

It has 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult (1m)
There is a pupa stage where complete transformation occurs (1m)

(b) The nymph stage of a cockroach is different from the larva stage of a mosquito because: (2m)

The cockroach nymph looks like a smaller version of the adult (1m)
The mosquito larva (wriggler) looks completely different from the adult (1m)
Cockroach nymph lives on land, mosquito larva lives in water

The larva and pupa stages live in water
The larvae need water to survive and develop

29. (4 marks)

(a) Correct order: (2m) Seed → Germination → Seedling → Adult plant with flowers → Seed (in fruit) (0.5m for each correct placement)

(b) It is important for plants to produce seeds because: (2m)

Seeds allow plants to reproduce (1m)
Seeds can grow into new plants, continuing the species (1m)
Seeds can be dispersed to new places for plant survival

30. (5 marks)

(a) Name of the process: Photosynthesis (1m)

(b) The plant gets carbon dioxide from: The air (1m)

Is released into the air
Animals and humans use it for breathing

(d) Plants need to carry out this process because: (2m)

To make food (glucose) for energy and growth (1m)
Without photosynthesis, plants cannot make their own food and will die (1m)

31. (4 marks)

(a) Conclusion from the experiment: (2m)

Plants need fresh water (not salt water) to stay healthy (1m)
Salt water is harmful to plants (1m)

(b) Plant B had wilted leaves because: (2m)

Salt water prevents the plant from absorbing water properly (1m)
The salt draws water OUT of the plant cells, causing them to lose water and wilt (1m)
The plant could not get the water it needed to survive

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

Action	Sense Organ	How it helps
Looking at vegetables	Eyes	See if vegetables look fresh (not wilted or brown)
Smelling soup	Nose	Detect if the soup smells good/ready
Tasting food	Tongue	Check if food has enough salt/seasoning
Feeling bread	Skin	Feel the texture (soft or hard)
Listening to water	Ears	Hear the sound of boiling (bubbling sound)

33. (4 marks)

(a) Regular exercise is important for children because: (2m)

It keeps the body healthy and strong (1m)
It helps maintain a healthy weight (1m)
It strengthens bones and muscles
It improves mood and energy (Any 2 for 2m)

(b) Two other healthy habits children should have: (2m)

Eating a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables (1m)
Getting enough sleep (8-10 hours) (1m)
Drinking enough water
Maintaining good personal hygiene (Any 2 for 2m)

34. (5 marks)

(a) The iron filings formed this pattern because: (2m)

They were attracted to the magnet's magnetic field (1m)
The iron filings aligned along the magnetic field lines (1m)

(b) The iron filings are most concentrated: (2m)

At the poles (North and South ends) of the magnet (1m)
Because the magnetic force is strongest at the poles (1m)

Plastic is not a magnetic material and would not be attracted to the magnet

35. (5 marks)

(a) Completed table: (2m)

Object	Material	Prediction: Magnetic?
Paper clip	Steel	Yes
Eraser	Rubber	No
Nail	Iron	Yes
Ring	Gold	No
Pin	Steel	Yes

(Award 0.5m for every 2 correct predictions)

(b) Some metals are not attracted to magnets because: (2m)

Only certain metals are magnetic: iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt (1m)
Other metals like gold, copper, aluminium, and brass are not magnetic (1m)

Move the magnet over the floor to attract and pick up all the pins and paper clips at once

Section C: Word Problems (30 marks)

36. (8 marks)

(a) Metal or Plastic would be best for making a slide: (4m)

For Metal:

It is very strong - can support many children (1m)
It is smooth - children can slide down easily (1m)
It is waterproof - will not be damaged by rain (1m)
(1m for clearly stating the choice)

For Plastic:

It is waterproof - will not be damaged by rain (1m)
It is smooth - children can slide down easily (1m)
It is medium cost - more affordable than metal (1m)
(1m for clearly stating the choice)

(b) For strong, waterproof benches with limited budget: (2m)

Use concrete for the base/structure (strong and low cost) (1m)
The rough surface is acceptable for bench seats, or add wooden/plastic seat tops (1m)
Alternative: Use wood treated with waterproof coating

It is NOT waterproof - will rot when exposed to rain (1m)
It may get splinters which can hurt children (1m)
It is only medium strength

37. (8 marks)

(a) Animals that go through complete metamorphosis: Animal A (Frog) and Animal B (Butterfly) (3m)

Animal B has 4 distinct stages: egg, caterpillar (larva), chrysalis (pupa), butterfly (adult) (1m)
There is a pupa/chrysalis stage where the animal transforms completely (1m)
The young (caterpillar/tadpole) looks completely different from the adult (1m)

Note: Frog metamorphosis is sometimes considered a special case but still "complete" as tadpole looks very different from adult.

(b) Animal C (Dragonfly) goes through incomplete metamorphosis: (2m)

The nymph looks like a small version of the adult (1m)
There is no pupa stage (1m)

Tail disappears (1m)
Grows four legs (1m)
Develops lungs to breathe air instead of gills (1m)
Skin changes to allow life on land

38. (7 marks)

(a) Comparing Plot A and Plot B - effect of fertilizer: (2m)

Plot A (with fertilizer) grew taller (35 cm) than Plot B (without fertilizer, 25 cm) (1m)
Conclusion: Fertilizer helps plants grow taller/better (1m)

(b) Plot C grew less even with fertilizer because: (2m)

Plot C was only watered every 3 days (not enough water) (1m)
Plants need regular water to absorb the nutrients from fertilizer and to carry out photosynthesis (1m)

The plant would NOT grow well / would be weak and yellow (1m)
This is because plants need sunlight for photosynthesis to make food (1m)
Without sunlight, the plant cannot make food even if it has water and fertilizer (1m)

39. (7 marks)

(a) As thickness increases, the number of paper clips picked up: (2m)

Decreases (1m)
The thicker the material, the fewer paper clips can be picked up (1m)

(b) The steel sheet result (0 paper clips) is explained by: (2m)

Steel is a magnetic material that absorbs/redirects the magnetic force (1m)
The steel sheet blocked the magnetic field from reaching the paper clips (1m)
The magnetic force was attracted to the steel sheet instead of passing through

Magnetic force can pass through non-magnetic materials like paper, cardboard, plastic, and wood (1m)
Magnetic force gets weaker as the distance (thickness) increases (1m)
Magnetic force cannot pass through magnetic materials like steel (1m)

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 Version 2