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Primary 3 Science Semestral Assessment 2 (End of Year) Paper 5

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Questions

Primary 3 Science SA2 Examination 2026 (Version 5)

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. Bacteria are so small they can only be seen with a microscope. Even so, bacteria are considered living things because they:

(A) Are found everywhere
(B) Can grow, reproduce, and need food
(C) Are very tiny
(D) Can make people sick

( )

2. Look at this list: seaweed, coral, mushroom, grass

How many of these organisms can make their own food?

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

( )

3. A scientist found an unknown object. It grows very slowly, does not need food, and was formed from minerals. This object is MOST likely:

(A) A very old plant
(B) A crystal
(C) A sleeping animal
(D) A type of fungus

( )

4. A pencil is made of wood and graphite. Why is wood used for the pencil body?

(A) Wood is very heavy
(B) Wood is easy to sharpen and comfortable to hold
(C) Wood conducts electricity
(D) Wood is waterproof

( )

5. Which property is common to BOTH glass and plastic?

(A) Both are flexible
(B) Both can be transparent
(C) Both are very heavy
(D) Both conduct electricity

( )

6. An insect has these life stages: egg, nymph, adult. The nymph looks like a small adult without wings. This insect is MOST likely a:

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

( )

7. During which stage of the butterfly life cycle does the greatest change in body form occur?

(A) Egg stage
(B) Caterpillar stage
(C) Pupa stage
(D) Adult stage

( )

8. A housefly lays eggs on rotting food. What is the MAIN reason for this?

(A) The smell attracts the fly
(B) The rotting food provides food for the larvae
(C) The fly cannot find other places
(D) Rotting food is warm

( )

9. Which is the correct order of a plant's life cycle?

(A) Seed → Adult plant → Seedling → Flower → Fruit → Seed
(B) Seed → Seedling → Adult plant → Flower → Fruit → Seed
(C) Seedling → Seed → Adult plant → Fruit → Flower → Seed
(D) Seed → Flower → Seedling → Adult plant → Fruit → Seed

( )

10. A farmer notices that his tomato plants have produced flowers. What will happen next?

(A) The plant will die
(B) The roots will stop growing
(C) Fruits with seeds will develop
(D) The leaves will fall off

( )

11. Why do roots grow downward into the soil?

(A) To avoid sunlight
(B) To anchor the plant and find water
(C) To make food for the plant
(D) To produce seeds

( )

12. A plant has long, thin leaves with a waxy coating. This plant MOST likely lives in:

(A) A wet, shady forest
(B) A dry, hot environment
(C) Under water
(D) In very cold areas

( )

13. Which statement about photosynthesis is CORRECT?

(A) It happens only at night
(B) It produces carbon dioxide
(C) It requires chlorophyll in leaves
(D) It uses oxygen from the air

( )

14. Sarah is blindfolded and asked to identify objects by touch. Which sense organ is she using?

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

( )

15. Which body part would you use to detect that music is playing in another room?

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

( )

16. A balanced diet should include food from different groups. Which group should we eat the MOST of?

(A) Meat and fish
(B) Sweets and desserts
(C) Rice, bread, and grains
(D) Butter and oil

( )

17. The ribcage protects which organs?

(A) Brain and eyes
(B) Heart and lungs
(C) Stomach and intestines
(D) Kidneys and liver

( )

18. After eating a big meal, which body system starts working harder?

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

( )

19. A student tested several objects with a magnet. Which set of results is CORRECT?

(A) Iron attracted, copper attracted, wood not attracted
(B) Steel attracted, aluminium attracted, plastic not attracted
(C) Iron attracted, steel attracted, copper not attracted
(D) Nickel attracted, brass attracted, glass not attracted

( )

20. The strength of a magnet is greatest at:

(A) The middle of the magnet
(B) The edges of the magnet
(C) The North and South poles
(D) All parts equally

( )

21. Which diagram shows magnets that will ATTRACT each other?

(A) N → ← N
(B) S → ← S
(C) N → ← S
(D) Both A and B

( )

22. A bar magnet is suspended freely by a string. What happens when it stops moving?

(A) It points east-west
(B) It points to the nearest metal object
(C) It points north-south
(D) It spins continuously

( )

23. Why can a magnet attract a steel paper clip through a sheet of paper?

(A) Paper is magnetic
(B) The paper has holes in it
(C) Magnetic force can pass through non-magnetic materials
(D) The paper becomes magnetic

( )

24. Which of these is NOT a use of magnets?

(A) Keeping a refrigerator door closed
(B) Making a compass work
(C) Boiling water faster
(D) Picking up metal scraps in a junkyard

( )

25. If you break a magnet into two pieces, what do you get?

(A) Two pieces that are no longer magnetic
(B) One piece with only a North pole, one with only a South pole
(C) Two smaller magnets, each with both North and South poles
(D) Two pieces that will stick back together permanently

( )

Section B: Short Answer Questions (45 marks)

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

26. (4 marks) Study the table showing characteristics of different objects:

Object	Has cells	Needs energy	Can grow	Can reproduce
Seed	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Virus	Uncertain	Yes	No	Only inside host
Crystal	No	No	Yes	No
Robot	No	Yes	No	No

(a) Which object(s) are definitely living things? Explain your answer. (2m)

(b) Why are viruses difficult to classify as living or non-living? (2m)

27. (4 marks) Match each material property to the correct use:

Property	Use
Transparent	For making raincoats
Waterproof	For making cooking pots
Conducts heat	For making windows
Flexible	For making rubber bands

(a) Rearrange the uses to match the correct properties. (2m)

(b) A new material is light, strong, and waterproof. Suggest TWO items that could be made from this material and explain why. (2m)

28. (5 marks) The diagrams show two different life cycles:

Cycle A: Egg → Caterpillar → Pupa → Adult Moth

Cycle B: Egg → Nymph (1st) → Nymph (2nd) → Nymph (3rd) → Adult Cockroach

(a) Complete the comparison table: (2m)

Feature	Moth	Cockroach
Type of metamorphosis
Does young look like adult?

(b) The moth caterpillar eats leaves constantly. Why is this important? (2m)

29. (4 marks) A student investigated seed germination with this experiment:

Cup	Seeds	Water	Light	Warmth	Result after 7 days
A	Bean	Yes	Yes	Yes	Seeds germinated
B	Bean	No	Yes	Yes	No germination
C	Bean	Yes	No	Yes	Seeds germinated
D	Bean	Yes	Yes	No (refrigerator)	No germination

(a) Based on Cups A and C, do seeds need light to germinate? Explain. (2m)

(b) What TWO factors are essential for germination based on this experiment? (2m)

30. (5 marks) Study the plant diagram:

                 ☀️ Sunlight
                    ↓
    CO₂ → [Leaf with chlorophyll] → O₂
           ↑                        
           |                        
        [Stem]  Food transported to
           |    rest of plant
           |
       [Roots] → Water + Minerals absorbed
           ↓
         Soil

(a) Name the process shown in the leaf and write what it produces. (2m)

(b) What would happen if the stem was cut? How would this affect the leaf and roots? (2m)

31. (4 marks) Complete the table about healthy habits:

Habit	Why it is important	What happens if you don't do it
Getting enough sleep
Eating breakfast
Exercising regularly
Washing hands

32. (5 marks) A chef uses all five senses when cooking. Read the description and answer the questions:

"The chef looked at the soup to check its color. She smelled it to see if the spices were right. She tasted a little to check the saltiness. She touched the bread to see if it was soft. She listened for the sound of boiling."

(a) Complete the table: (3m)

Action	Sense	Sense organ
Looking at soup
Smelling soup
Tasting soup
Touching bread
Listening to boiling

(b) Why is it dangerous to taste food that might be spoiled? What sense could the chef use instead? (2m)

33. (4 marks) Study the skeleton diagram concepts:

(a) Name THREE main functions of the skeletal system. (3m)

(b) Why is the skull much thicker and stronger than the finger bones? (1m)

34. (5 marks) Students investigated magnetic strength by counting how many paper clips a magnet could pick up:

Part of magnet	Paper clips picked up
North pole	12
Middle	3
South pole	11

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

(b) The students then tested if the magnet could attract clips through different materials. Predict and explain the results for: (2m)

Through plastic: ________________________________________________
Through steel: __________________________________________________

35. (5 marks) A toy store sells magnetic building blocks. Answer these questions about magnets:

(a) The blocks click together when certain sides meet but push apart when other sides meet. Explain why this happens. (2m)

(b) A customer complained that the magnets don't work on their aluminium fridge. Explain why. (1m)

Section C: Word Problems (30 marks)

Answer all questions with detailed explanations.

36. (8 marks) Living Things Research Project

A class studied organisms from different environments:

Organism	Environment	Makes own food?	Moves around?	How it reproduces
Seaweed	Ocean	Yes	No	Spores
Jellyfish	Ocean	No	Yes	Eggs
Moss	Forest floor	Yes	No	Spores
Earthworm	Soil	No	Yes	Eggs
Mushroom	Rotting wood	No	No	Spores

(a) Group the organisms into two categories: those that make their own food and those that don't. What determines if an organism can make its own food? (3m)

(b) The mushroom doesn't make food or move. How is it still classified as living? Give THREE reasons. (3m)

37. (8 marks) Life Cycle Comparison Study

Students observed and recorded these observations:

Animal X (Silkworm):

Week 1: Small worms hatching from eggs
Week 2-3: Worms eating mulberry leaves constantly
Week 4: Worms spinning cocoons
Week 5: Moths emerging from cocoons

Animal Y (Praying Mantis):

Week 1: Tiny mantises hatching from egg case
Week 2-3: Mantises growing, molting their skin
Week 4: Mantises continuing to grow
Week 5: Adult mantises with wings

(a) Which animal goes through complete metamorphosis? How did the students know? (2m)

(b) During which week did Animal X change form the most? What was happening? (2m)

(d) Silkworms are valuable for making silk. At which stage do people collect the silk? Why at this stage? (2m)

38. (7 marks) School Garden Problem

The school garden has problems with some plants:

Problem	Observation	Possible Cause
Plant A	Yellow leaves at bottom	?
Plant B	Wilting despite being watered	?
Plant C	Tall but leaning towards window	?
Plant D	Not growing, leaves have holes	Insects eating them

(a) Suggest possible causes for Plants A, B, and C's problems. (3m)

Plant A: ____________________________________________________________

Plant B: ____________________________________________________________

Plant C: ____________________________________________________________

(b) For Plant C, explain the scientific reason why it leans towards the window. (2m)

(c) A student suggested moving all plants to a dark corner so insects won't find them. Explain why this is not a good solution. (2m)

39. (7 marks) Magnet Investigation Challenge

The Science Club investigated magnets and recorded these findings:

Finding 1: A magnet picked up 15 paper clips when they touched the pole, but only 5 clips when they were 1 cm away.

Finding 2: A magnet could attract clips through paper, plastic, glass, and water, but not through a steel sheet.

Finding 3: When the North pole of one magnet was brought near the North pole of another, they pushed apart.

Finding 4: A broken magnet became two smaller magnets.

(a) Using Finding 1, explain what happens to magnetic force as distance increases. (2m)

(b) Using Finding 2, explain why steel blocks magnetic force while other materials don't. (2m)

(c) A student wants to demagnetize a magnet (make it non-magnetic). Based on Finding 4, would breaking it work? What else could they try? (2m)

(d) Using Finding 3, explain how you could tell which end of an unmarked magnet is North. (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 (Version 5) - 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)	Bacteria can grow, reproduce, and need food - these are characteristics of living things. Size doesn't determine if something is living.
2	(B)	Seaweed and grass can make their own food through photosynthesis. Coral and mushroom cannot.
3	(B)	A crystal grows slowly from minerals without needing food and is non-living. Plants and fungi need food.
4	(B)	Wood is easy to sharpen (to expose graphite) and comfortable to grip.
5	(B)	Both glass and plastic can be made transparent. Only plastic is flexible; neither conducts electricity well.
6	(C)	Dragonfly has incomplete metamorphosis with nymphs that look like wingless adults.
7	(C)	The pupa stage is when complete transformation occurs - caterpillar body reorganizes into butterfly.
8	(B)	Rotting food provides food for larvae (maggots) when they hatch.
9	(B)	Correct order: Seed → Seedling → Adult plant → Flower → Fruit → Seed
10	(C)	After flowering, fruits with seeds develop (if pollinated).
11	(B)	Roots grow downward to anchor the plant and reach water in the soil.
12	(B)	Long thin leaves with waxy coating help reduce water loss - adaptations for hot, dry environments.
13	(C)	Photosynthesis requires chlorophyll (green pigment) in leaves to capture light energy.
14	(C)	The skin is the sense organ for touch, detecting texture, shape, temperature.
15	(C)	Ears detect sound/vibrations, allowing you to hear music from another room.
16	(C)	Rice, bread, and grains (carbohydrates) form the base of the food pyramid - eat most.
17	(B)	The ribcage protects the heart and lungs.
18	(C)	The digestive system works harder after eating to break down food.
19	(C)	Iron and steel are magnetic; copper is not magnetic. This is the only correct combination.
20	(C)	Magnetic strength is greatest at the North and South poles.
21	(C)	N → ← S shows opposite poles facing each other, which attract.
22	(C)	A freely suspended magnet aligns with Earth's magnetic field, pointing north-south.
23	(C)	Magnetic force can pass through non-magnetic materials like paper.
24	(C)	Magnets cannot boil water - heat is needed for that, not magnetic force.
25	(C)	Each piece becomes a complete smaller magnet with both N and S poles.

Section B: Short Answer Questions (45 marks)

26. (4 marks)

(a) Definitely living: Seed (2m)

The seed has cells, needs energy, can grow, and can reproduce
It has all the characteristics of living things (1m for identifying seed, 1m for explanation)

(b) Why viruses are difficult to classify: (2m)

Viruses can only reproduce inside a host cell, not on their own (1m)
Scientists are uncertain if they have true cells (1m)
They show some characteristics of living things but not all

27. (4 marks)

(a) Correct matching: (2m)

Transparent → For making windows
Waterproof → For making raincoats
Conducts heat → For making cooking pots
Flexible → For making rubber bands

(b) Two items from light, strong, waterproof material: (2m)

Umbrella - needs to be light to carry, waterproof to block rain, strong to withstand wind (1m)
Outdoor tent / backpack / water bottle - similar reasons (1m)

28. (5 marks)

(a) Comparison table: (2m)

Feature	Moth	Cockroach
Type of metamorphosis	Complete	Incomplete
Does young look like adult?	No	Yes

(b) Why caterpillar eats constantly: (2m)

To store energy for the pupa stage when it cannot eat (1m)
The caterpillar needs to grow big and strong before transformation (1m)

Complete body transformation/reorganization - the caterpillar body breaks down and reforms into moth body

29. (4 marks)

(a) Do seeds need light to germinate? (2m)

No, seeds do not need light to germinate (1m)
Both Cup A (with light) and Cup C (without light) germinated successfully (1m)

(b) Two essential factors for germination: (2m)

Water (1m)
Warmth/suitable temperature (1m)

30. (5 marks)

(a) Process in leaf and what it produces: (2m)

The process is photosynthesis (1m)
It produces food (glucose/sugar) and oxygen (1m)

(b) What would happen if stem was cut: (2m)

Water and minerals could not reach the leaves from roots (1m)
Food made in leaves could not reach roots; both parts would eventually die (1m)

No, plants also need sunlight, carbon dioxide, and minerals to survive and make food

31. (4 marks - 1m for each correct row)

Habit	Why it is important	What happens if you don't do it
Getting enough sleep	Body rests and repairs; brain functions properly	Tired, cannot concentrate, weak immune system
Eating breakfast	Provides energy for the day; helps brain work	Tired, hungry, difficulty concentrating at school
Exercising regularly	Keeps heart, muscles, and bones strong	Weak muscles, unhealthy weight, poor fitness
Washing hands	Removes germs that cause illness	Can get sick from germs entering body

32. (5 marks)

(a) Table completion: (3m)

Action	Sense	Sense organ
Looking at soup	Sight	Eyes
Smelling soup	Smell	Nose
Tasting soup	Taste	Tongue
Touching bread	Touch	Skin
Listening to boiling	Hearing	Ears

(b) Why tasting spoiled food is dangerous and alternative sense: (2m)

Spoiled food may contain harmful bacteria that can make you sick (1m)
The chef could use the sense of smell - spoiled food often has a bad odour (1m)

33. (4 marks)

(a) Three main functions of the skeletal system: (3m)

Supports the body and gives it shape (1m)
Protects vital organs (skull protects brain, ribs protect heart and lungs) (1m)
Works with muscles to allow movement (1m)

Also: Makes blood cells in bone marrow

(b) Why skull is thicker than finger bones: (1m)

The skull protects the brain, which is a vital organ that controls the whole body; finger bones only need to allow movement

34. (5 marks)

(a) Conclusion from experiment: (2m)

Magnetic strength is greatest at the poles (North and South) (1m)
The middle of the magnet has much weaker magnetic force (1m)

(b) Predictions: (2m)

Through plastic: Yes - plastic is non-magnetic, magnetic force can pass through (1m)
Through steel: No - steel is magnetic and will block/absorb the magnetic force (1m)

The compass needle is attracted to the nearby magnet instead of Earth's magnetic field, giving wrong readings

35. (5 marks)

(a) Why blocks click together or push apart: (2m)

When opposite poles (N-S) meet, they attract and click together (1m)
When same poles (N-N or S-S) meet, they repel and push apart (1m)

(b) Why magnets don't work on aluminium fridge: (1m)

Aluminium is not a magnetic material; magnets only attract iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt

Keep away from: credit cards, electronic devices, compasses, and other magnets that shouldn't be affected (1m)
Display separately so they don't stick together and lose strength; keep away from metal shelves (1m)

Section C: Word Problems (30 marks)

36. (8 marks)

(a) Grouping organisms: (3m)

Make own food: Seaweed, Moss (plants/plant-like organisms) (1m)
Cannot make own food: Jellyfish, Earthworm, Mushroom (1m)
Organisms that make their own food have chlorophyll and can do photosynthesis; they are plant-like (1m)

(b) Why mushroom is classified as living (three reasons): (3m)

Mushroom is made of cells (1m)
Mushroom can grow (1m)
Mushroom can reproduce (through spores) (1m)
Mushroom responds to its environment and needs nutrients

Seaweed (plant) makes its own food through photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide (1m)
Earthworm (animal) eats dead plant material from soil because animals cannot make their own food (1m)

37. (8 marks)

(a) Which animal has complete metamorphosis and how students knew: (2m)

Animal X (Silkworm) has complete metamorphosis (1m)
It has 4 distinct stages including a cocoon/pupa stage, and the worm looks completely different from the adult moth (1m)

(b) Week of greatest change for Animal X: (2m)

Week 4-5 when moths emerged from cocoons (1m)
Inside the cocoon, the worm's body completely transformed into the adult moth form (1m)

Insects have hard outer skeletons (exoskeletons) that don't grow (1m)
To grow bigger, they must shed the old skin and grow a new larger one (1m)

(d) When silk is collected and why: (2m)

Silk is collected during Week 4 (cocoon stage) (1m)
The silkworm spins the cocoon from silk thread; if you wait until the moth emerges, it breaks the continuous thread (1m)

38. (7 marks)

(a) Possible causes for Plants A, B, and C: (3m)

Plant A: Not enough light or nutrients - older leaves turn yellow first when plant is stressed (1m)
Plant B: Root problems (root rot from overwatering, or roots damaged) - even with water, roots can't absorb it (1m)
Plant C: Not enough light - plant is growing towards window to get more sunlight for photosynthesis (1m)

(b) Scientific reason for Plant C leaning towards window: (2m)

Plants need light for photosynthesis to make food (1m)
Plants grow towards light sources (phototropism) to maximize the light they receive (1m)

Plants need light for photosynthesis to make food; without light, all plants would die (1m)
A better solution would be to remove insects or use pest control while keeping plants in light (1m)

39. (7 marks)

(a) What happens to magnetic force as distance increases (Finding 1): (2m)

Magnetic force decreases as distance increases (1m)
At 0 cm the magnet picked up 15 clips, but at 1 cm away only 5 clips - showing weaker force with distance (1m)

(b) Why steel blocks magnetic force while other materials don't (Finding 2): (2m)

Steel is a magnetic material that absorbs/redirects the magnetic force (1m)
Paper, plastic, glass, and water are non-magnetic, so magnetic force passes through them (1m)

No, breaking does not work - Finding 4 shows broken magnets become two smaller complete magnets (1m)
To demagnetize: heating the magnet strongly, or dropping/hitting it repeatedly to disturb the magnetic domains (1m)

(d) How to find North pole of unmarked magnet (Finding 3): (1m)

Bring a known magnet's North pole near the unmarked magnet; if they repel, you found the North pole; if they attract, it's the South pole

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 5