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Primary 6 PSLE Science Semestral Assessment 2 (End of Year) Paper 5
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TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper - Science Primary 6 PSLE
School: TuitionGoWhere Secondary School (AI) Subject: Science Level: Primary 6 PSLE Paper: SA2 (End-of-Year Examination) — Version 5 of 5 Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes) Total Marks: 80
Name: ___________________________ Class: _______ Date: _______________
Instructions to Candidates
- Write your name, class, and date in the spaces provided above.
- Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided.
- Do not use correction fluid or tape.
- The number of marks for each question or part-question is shown in brackets [ ].
- You are advised to spend about 1 hour 35 minutes on the paper, leaving 10 minutes for review.
- A Periodic Table is NOT required for this paper.
Section A — Multiple Choice Questions (20 marks)
Questions 1–10: Choose the most accurate answer (A, B, C, or D). Each question carries 2 marks. Shade your answer clearly on the answer sheet provided.
1. Which of the following is a characteristic used to classify living things into groups?
A) Colour of the organism B) Number of body parts and type of skeleton C) Size of the organism D) Speed of movement
[2]
2. The table below shows four organisms and some of their features.
| Organism | Has feathers | Has lungs | Lays eggs |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Q | No | Yes | No |
| R | No | Yes | Yes |
| S | Yes | Yes | No |
Which organism is most likely a bird?
A) P B) Q C) R D) S
[2]
3. Which of the following groups of living things can make their own food?
A) Animals B) Fungi C) Green plants D) Bacteria only
[2]
4. A student grouped four materials as shown below.
Group 1: Copper, iron, aluminium Group 2: Wood, plastic, rubber
What was the student most likely grouping the materials by?
A) Ability to float in water B) Ability to conduct electricity C) Ability to be stretched D) Ability to be attracted to a magnet
[2]
5. Which of the following is a characteristic of ALL living things?
A) They can fly. B) They have backbones. C) They reproduce. D) They live on land.
[2]
6. The diagram below shows a classification key.
┌── Has feathers ──────────── Organism P
┌─ Has wings ┤
│ └── No feathers ──────────── Organism Q
Has legs ─┤
│ ├── No wings, has fins ───── Organism R
└─ No legs ─┤
└── No wings, has no fins ── Organism S
Which organism is most likely a fish?
A) Organism P B) Organism Q C) Organism R D) Organism S
[2]
7. Which of the following is NOT a way to classify animals?
A) Whether they have a backbone B) Whether they are warm-blooded or cold-blooded C) The colour of their skin D) How they reproduce (lay eggs or give birth to young alive)
[2]
8. The table below shows the properties of four substances, W, X, Y and Z.
| Substance | Boiling point (°C) | Solubility in water | Conducts electricity |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | 100 | Soluble | Yes |
| X | 78 | Soluble | No |
| Y | 357 | Insoluble | Yes |
| Z | -114 | Insoluble | No |
Which substance is most likely mercury?
A) W B) X C) Y D) Z
[2]
9. A fern, a moss and a flowering plant are grouped together because they all
A) have flowers. B) produce seeds. C) are green and can make food. D) have true roots, stems and leaves.
[2]
10. Which of the following correctly classifies the organisms?
| With backbone | Without backbone | |
|---|---|---|
| A | Fish, frog, bird | Insect, crab, earthworm |
| B | Insect, fish, bird | Frog, crab, earthworm |
| C | Crab, fish, frog | Bird, insect, earthworm |
| D | Earthworm, insect | Fish, frog, bird, crab |
A) A B) B C) C D) D
[2]
Section B — Short-Answer Questions (35 marks)
Questions 11–18: Write your answers in the spaces provided. Each question carries between 2 and 5 marks.
11. The diagram below shows four organisms: a grasshopper, a crab, a spider and an earthworm.
(a) State one visible feature that can be used to classify these organisms into two groups. [1]
(b) Using the feature you stated in (a), place the organisms into two groups. [2]
Group 1: _______________________________________________________
Group 2: _______________________________________________________
(c) State one other feature that could also be used to classify these organisms differently. [1]
[4]
12. The table below shows some features of five vertebrates, A, B, C, D and E.
| Vertebrate | Body covering | Reproduces by | Breathes through | Blood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Scales | Laying eggs | Gills | Cold-blooded |
| B | Feathers | Laying eggs | Lungs | Warm-blooded |
| C | Fur | Giving birth | Lungs | Warm-blooded |
| D | Moist skin | Laying eggs | Gills and lungs | Cold-blooded |
| E | Scales | Laying eggs | Lungs | Cold-blooded |
(a) Which vertebrate is most likely a fish? Explain your answer. [2]
(b) Which vertebrate is a mammal? Give two reasons for your answer. [2]
[4]
13. A student wanted to sort a collection of materials into two groups. The materials were: cotton, nylon, silk, polyester, wool and rayon.
(a) Suggest one way to sort these materials into two groups. Name the groups and list the materials in each group. [3]
(b) Explain why this classification is useful in everyday life. [1]
[4]
14. The diagram below shows a simple classification key for five organisms: jellyfish, starfish, snail, prawn and earthworm.
┌── Jellyfish
┌─ No skeleton ─┤
│ ├── Starfish
│ │
│ ├── Snail
│ │
│ ├── Prawn
│ │
│ └── Earthworm
│
Has body parts ┤
│
└── (not shown)
(a) State two features that could be used at the first branching point (after "No skeleton") to separate jellyfish from the other organisms. [2]
(b) The prawn and the snail are both invertebrates. State one feature that distinguishes a prawn from a snail. [1]
[3]
15. The table below shows the properties of four types of organisms.
| Feature | Organism W | Organism X | Organism Y | Organism Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Has chlorophyll | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Has true roots | Yes | No | No | No |
| Has flowers | Yes | No | No | No |
| Has spores | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Has seeds | Yes | No | No | No |
(a) Identify each organism. Write the most likely group each belongs to. [4]
W: _______________________________________________________________
X: _______________________________________________________________
Y: _______________________________________________________________
Z: _______________________________________________________________
(b) Which organism is a fern? Explain your answer. [2]
[6]
16. A class of students collected leaves from six different plants and recorded the features in the table below.
| Leaf | Type of leaf | Leaf margin | Venation pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | Simple | Smooth | Parallel |
| Q | Simple | Toothed | Net-like |
| R | Compound | Smooth | Net-like |
| S | Simple | Toothed | Parallel |
| T | Compound | Toothed | Net-like |
| U | Simple | Smooth | Net-like |
(a) Using the information in the table, construct a dichotomous key to identify the six leaves. Your key should have at least 3 levels. [4]
1a. ___________________________________________ go to 2
1b. ___________________________________________ go to 3
2a. ___________________________________________ Leaf ___
2b. ___________________________________________ Leaf ___
3a. ___________________________________________ go to 4
3b. ___________________________________________ Leaf ___
4a. ___________________________________________ Leaf ___
4b. ___________________________________________ Leaf ___
(b) Which two leaves are most similar? Give a reason for your answer. [2]
[6]
17. The bar chart below shows the number of different types of organisms found in two habitats, X and Y.
(Imagine a bar chart with the following data:)
| Organism type | Habitat X | Habitat Y |
|---|---|---|
| Insects | 45 | 12 |
| Birds | 8 | 20 |
| Fish | 0 | 35 |
| Crabs | 3 | 28 |
| Plants | 22 | 40 |
(a) Which habitat is most likely a pond? Explain your answer. [2]
(b) State two abiotic factors that could explain the difference in the number of insects between the two habitats. [2]
(c) A student claims that Habitat Y has greater biodiversity than Habitat X. Do you agree? Use data from the table to support your answer. [2]
[6]
18. The diagram below shows four objects: a wooden ruler, a glass rod, a steel nail and a rubber band.
(a) Classify these objects into two groups based on whether they are electrical conductors or insulators. [2]
Conductors: ____________________________________________________
Insulators: ____________________________________________________
(b) State one other physical property that could be used to classify these four objects into two different groups. Name the groups. [2]
Property: ________________________________________________________
Group 1: _______________________________________________________
Group 2: _______________________________________________________
[4]
Section C — Structured / Longer-Answer Questions (25 marks)
Questions 19–20: Answer all questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided. Use complete sentences where appropriate.
19. A scientist discovered a new organism in a rainforest. The organism has the following characteristics:
- It has a backbone.
- It has moist, smooth skin.
- It lays eggs in water.
- The young breathe through gills; the adult breathes through lungs and skin.
- It is cold-blooded.
(a) To which group of vertebrates does this organism belong? [1]
(b) Explain two reasons for your answer in (a). [2]
(c) The scientist also found a second organism nearby. This organism has a backbone, dry scaly skin, lays eggs on land and is cold-blooded. To which group does this second organism belong? [1]
(d) The scientist wants to classify the following organisms found in the same rainforest into a key: a butterfly, a beetle, a centipede and a millipede.
(i) State two features the scientist could use to distinguish between these four organisms. [2]
(ii) Using the features in (d)(i), construct a simple dichotomous key to identify the four organisms. [4]
1a. ___________________________________________ go to 2
1b. ___________________________________________ go to 3
2a. ___________________________________________ Butterfly
2b. ___________________________________________ Beetle
3a. ___________________________________________ Centipede
3b. ___________________________________________ Millipede
[10]
20. The table below shows the properties of six materials: A, B, C, D, E and F.
| Material | Flexibility | Transparency | Electrical conductivity | Thermal conductivity | Density (g/cm³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Rigid | Opaque | Good | Good | 7.9 |
| B | Flexible | Transparent | Poor | Poor | 1.0 |
| C | Rigid | Opaque | Poor | Poor | 0.5 |
| D | Flexible | Opaque | Poor | Poor | 0.9 |
| E | Rigid | Transparent | Poor | Poor | 2.5 |
| F | Rigid | Opaque | Good | Good | 2.7 |
(a) Which material is most likely a metal? Give two reasons for your answer. [3]
(b) Material B and Material D are both flexible. State one property that can be used to tell them apart. [1]
(c) A student wants to choose a material for the handle of a cooking pot. Which material, C or D, would be more suitable? Explain your answer. [2]
(d) Material E is most likely glass. State two properties from the table that support this identification. [2]
(e) Explain why materials A and F have similar properties. What can you conclude about what they might be made of? [2]
[10]
— END OF PAPER —
Answers
TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper — Science Primary 6 PSLE
SA2 (Version 5 of 5) — Answer Key and Marking Scheme
Total Marks: 80
Section A — Multiple Choice Questions (2 marks each × 10 = 20 marks)
1. B — Number of body parts and type of skeleton
- Marking note: Classification is based on structural/observable biological features, not superficial traits like colour or speed. Size varies within groups and is not a reliable classifier.
2. A — Organism P
- Marking note: Birds are characterised by having feathers, lungs, and laying eggs. Only Organism P has all three. S has feathers but does not lay eggs (unlikely for a bird in this context).
3. C — Green plants
- Marking note: Green plants contain chlorophyll and can make their own food by photosynthesis. Fungi and animals cannot make their own food. Most bacteria cannot photosynthesise (some exceptions exist but are not the focus at P6).
4. B — Ability to conduct electricity
- Marking note: Group 1 contains metals (copper, iron, aluminium) which are good electrical conductors. Group 2 contains non-metals/insulators (wood, plastic, rubber) which do not conduct electricity well.
5. C — They reproduce.
- Marking note: All living things carry out life processes including reproduction. Not all living things can fly (A), have backbones (B), or live on land (D).
6. C — Organism R
- Marking note: Fish have no legs, no wings, and have fins. Organism R fits this description. P is a bird (has feathers and wings). Q has no feathers but has wings — could be a bat. S has no legs, no wings, and no fins — could be a snake or worm.
7. C — The colour of their skin
- Marking note: Skin colour varies widely within species and is not a scientifically valid basis for classification. The other options are standard classification criteria.
8. C — Substance Y
- Marking note: Mercury is a metal with a relatively high boiling point (357°C), is insoluble in water, and conducts electricity. These match the properties of Substance Y.
9. C — Are green and can make food.
- Marking note: Ferns, mosses and flowering plants all contain chlorophyll and can carry out photosynthesis. Only flowering plants have flowers (A) and produce seeds (D). Mosses do not have true roots, stems and leaves (D).
10. A
- Marking note: Fish, frogs, birds, and insects are correctly placed. Insects and crabs are invertebrates (no backbone); earthworms are also invertebrates. Option A is the only one that correctly places all organisms.
Section B — Short-Answer Questions (35 marks)
11. Classification of invertebrates [4]
(a) [1 mark] Number of legs / presence of exoskeleton / body segments / presence of antennae / type of skeleton (any one valid visible feature)
- Acceptable answers: "Number of legs," "body covering," "presence of antennae," "number of body segments"
(b) [2 marks]
- Example answer using "number of legs":
- Group 1 (6 legs): Grasshopper
- Group 2 (more than 6 legs or no legs): Crab (10 legs), Spider (8 legs), Earthworm (no legs)
- Marking note: Award 1 mark for each correctly filled group. Groups must correspond to the feature stated in (a). Accept any logical grouping based on a valid feature.
(c) [1 mark] Any other valid feature not used in (a), e.g., "presence of wings," "body shape," "habitat," "type of skeleton"
- Marking note: Must be different from the feature in (a).
12. Vertebrate classification [4]
(a) [2 marks] Vertebrate A is most likely a fish.
- Reason: It has scales, lays eggs, breathes through gills, and is cold-blooded — all characteristics of fish.
- Marking note: Award 1 mark for identifying A, 1 mark for a valid explanation referencing at least two features from the table.
(b) [2 marks] Vertebrate C is a mammal.
- Reasons (any two):
- It has fur (body covering of fur/hair).
- It gives birth to young alive (does not lay eggs).
- It breathes through lungs.
- It is warm-blooded.
- Marking note: Award 1 mark for identifying C, 1 mark for giving two valid reasons (½ mark each if only partial).
13. Material classification [4]
(a) [3 marks]
- Example answer:
- Natural fibres: Cotton, silk, wool
- Synthetic (man-made) fibres: Nylon, polyester, rayon
- Marking note: Award 1 mark for stating the classification criterion (natural vs. synthetic), 1 mark for correctly listing Group 1, 1 mark for correctly listing Group 2. Accept other valid classifications (e.g., animal-derived vs. plant-derived vs. fully synthetic) if correctly executed.
(b) [1 mark] This classification is useful because it helps us choose the right material for different purposes / understand the properties of materials / know how to care for fabrics (e.g., washing instructions differ).
- Marking note: Accept any reasonable practical explanation.
14. Classification key for invertebrates [3]
(a) [2 marks] Two features to separate jellyfish from others (any two of the following):
- Body shape (jellyfish has a bell/umbrella shape; others do not)
- Presence of tentacles (jellyfish has tentacles; others do not)
- Body symmetry (jellyfish has radial symmetry; others have bilateral symmetry)
- Skeleton type (jellyfish has no hard parts; starfish has a hard endoskeleton)
- Marking note: 1 mark per valid feature.
(b) [1 mark] Prawn has an exoskeleton / jointed legs / antennae, while snail has a shell / muscular foot / no jointed legs.
- Acceptable answers: "Prawn has an exoskeleton but snail has a shell," "Prawn has jointed legs but snail does not," "Prawn has antennae but snail has tentacles"
15. Plant and fungi classification [6]
(a) [4 marks — 1 mark each]
- W: Flowering plant (angiosperm) — Has chlorophyll, true roots, flowers, and seeds.
- X: Fern — Has chlorophyll, no true roots, no flowers, has spores (not seeds).
- Y: Fungus (e.g., mushroom) — No chlorophyll, no true roots, no flowers, has spores.
- Z: Non-vascular plant (e.g., moss/liverwort) — No chlorophyll stated (Z has no chlorophyll, no spores, no seeds, no true roots, no flowers — this is unusual; accept "bacteria" or "fungus without spores" if reasoned. However, given the table, Z could be a non-photosynthetic organism without spores — most likely a bacterium or a non-spore-producing organism.)
- Revised marking note for Z: Accept "bacteria" or "non-photosynthetic organism" with reasoning. If the student identifies Z as an organism without chlorophyll, spores, or seeds, award the mark.
Clarification for examiners: Organism Z lacks chlorophyll, roots, flowers, spores, and seeds. The most appropriate answer at P6 level is bacteria or a non-photosynthetic organism without spores.
(b) [2 marks] Organism X is a fern.
- Explanation: It has chlorophyll (can make food), has spores but no seeds, and does not have true roots or flowers. These are characteristics of ferns.
- Marking note: 1 mark for identifying X, 1 mark for explanation referencing spores and absence of seeds/flowers.
16. Dichotomous key for leaves [6]
(a) [4 marks] Example key:
1a. Leaf is simple .............................. go to 2
1b. Leaf is compound ........................... go to 3
2a. Leaf margin is smooth ....................... go to 4
2b. Leaf margin is toothed ...................... Leaf Q
3a. Leaf margin is smooth ....................... Leaf R
3b. Leaf margin is toothed ...................... Leaf T
4a. Venation is parallel ........................ Leaf P
4b. Venation is net-like ........................ Leaf U
- Marking note: Award 1 mark per correctly written pair of statements (4 pairs = 4 marks). Accept alternative valid keys. The key must correctly separate all six leaves.
(b) [2 marks] Leaves Q and U are most similar (both are simple leaves with toothed/smooth margins and net-like venation — actually Q and U differ in margin).
- Better answer: Leaves P and U are most similar because they both have smooth margins and simple leaves (they differ only in venation). OR Leaves R and T are most similar because they are both compound leaves with net-like venation (they differ only in margin).
- Marking note: Accept any pair with a valid reason. 1 mark for identifying the pair, 1 mark for a valid reason.
17. Habitat diversity analysis [6]
(a) [2 marks] Habitat Y is most likely a pond.
- Explanation: Habitat Y has a large number of fish (35) and crabs (28), which are aquatic organisms. Habitat X has no fish, suggesting it is a land-based habitat.
- Marking note: 1 mark for identifying Y, 1 mark for explanation referencing fish and/or crabs.
(b) [2 marks] Two abiotic factors:
- Amount of water / moisture — Habitat X may be drier, reducing insect populations.
- Temperature — Different temperatures affect insect survival and reproduction.
- Also accept: Light intensity, humidity, wind, soil type, availability of food (if abiotic context is clear).
- Marking note: 1 mark per valid abiotic factor.
(c) [2 marks] Yes, I agree.
- Explanation: Habitat Y has five types of organisms present (insects, birds, fish, crabs, plants) with relatively high numbers across all groups, while Habitat X has no fish at all and fewer types of organisms represented. Habitat Y therefore has greater biodiversity (more variety of species).
- Marking note: Award 1 mark for stating agreement/disagreement with reasoning, 1 mark for using data from the table. Accept "disagree" if supported with valid data reasoning.
18. Material property classification [4]
(a) [2 marks]
- Conductors: Steel nail
- Insulators: Wooden ruler, glass rod, rubber band
- Marking note: 1 mark for each correctly completed group. Steel is a metal and conducts electricity; wood, glass, and rubber are insulators.
(b) [2 marks]
- Example:
- Property: Flexibility / hardness / transparency / density (any valid property)
- Group 1 (Flexible): Rubber band
- Group 2 (Rigid): Wooden ruler, glass rod, steel nail
- Marking note: 1 mark for stating a valid property, 1 mark for correctly grouping the objects. Accept any valid property and correct grouping.
Section C — Structured / Longer-Answer Questions (25 marks)
19. Classification of a newly discovered organism [10]
(a) [1 mark] Amphibian
(b) [2 marks] Two reasons:
- It has moist, smooth skin and is cold-blooded, which are characteristics of amphibians.
- It lays eggs in water, and the young breathe through gills while the adult breathes through lungs and skin — this is typical of amphibians (metamorphosis from aquatic young to semi-terrestrial adult).
- Marking note: 1 mark per valid reason. Must reference specific features from the description.
(c) [1 mark] Reptile
(d)(i) [2 marks] Two features:
- Number of legs (insects have 6 legs; centipedes and millipedes have many legs)
- Number of body segments / wings present or absent / number of legs per segment
- Acceptable alternatives: Presence of wings, body shape, antennae type, habitat
- Marking note: 1 mark per valid feature that can distinguish the four organisms.
(d)(ii) [4 marks] Example key:
1a. Has 6 legs ................................. go to 2
1b. Has many legs .............................. go to 3
2a. Has wings ................................. Butterfly
2b. Has no wings / has hard wing covers ...... Beetle
3a. Has one pair of legs per segment .......... Centipede
3b. Has two pairs of legs per segment ......... Millipede
- Marking note: Award 1 mark per correctly written branching point (4 branch points = 4 marks). Accept alternative valid keys. Each organism must be correctly identified at the end of a branch.
20. Material properties and classification [10]
(a) [3 marks] Material A is most likely a metal.
- Reasons (any two for 2 marks, plus 1 mark for correct identification):
- It is a good electrical conductor (metals conduct electricity well).
- It is a good thermal conductor (metals conduct heat well).
- It has a high density (7.9 g/cm³, similar to iron/steel).
- It is rigid and opaque (typical metallic properties).
- Marking note: 1 mark for identifying A, 1 mark per valid reason (max 2 reasons).
(b) [1 mark] Transparency — Material B is transparent while Material D is opaque.
- Also accept: Density (B = 1.0 g/cm³, D = 0.9 g/cm³) or any other valid distinguishing property from the table.
(c) [2 marks] Material C would be more suitable.
- Explanation: Material C is rigid and has poor thermal conductivity, meaning it would not heat up easily and would protect the user's hand from the heat of the cooking pot. Material D is flexible and also has poor thermal conductivity, but a flexible handle would not be practical for gripping a hot pot.
- Marking note: 1 mark for choosing C, 1 mark for explanation referencing thermal conductivity and/or rigidity. Accept D with valid reasoning about thermal insulation, but note that rigidity is important for a handle.
(d) [2 marks] Two properties supporting glass identification:
- It is transparent (glass is transparent).
- It is rigid and has poor electrical and thermal conductivity (glass is an insulator for both electricity and heat).
- Marking note: 1 mark per valid property linked to glass.
(e) [2 marks] Materials A and F have similar properties because they are both metals.
- Explanation: Both materials are good electrical and thermal conductors, are rigid and opaque. These are characteristic properties of metals. Material A (density 7.9 g/cm³) is likely iron or steel, and Material F (density 2.7 g/cm³) is likely aluminium.
- Marking note: 1 mark for stating they are both metals, 1 mark for explanation referencing shared properties (conductivity, rigidity, opacity).
— END OF ANSWER KEY —
Mark Summary
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| A (MCQ) | 1–10 | 20 |
| B (Short Answer) | 11–18 | 35 |
| C (Structured) | 19–20 | 25 |
| Total | 20 questions | 80 |
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Q1: Students may choose "colour" — remind them classification uses consistent structural features.
- Q6: Students may confuse Organism S (no legs, no wings, no fins) with a fish. Emphasise that fish have fins.
- Q11–14: Students may give vague features (e.g., "looks different"). Insist on specific, observable features.
- Q15: Organism Z is unusual; accept reasoned answers. The key point is that it lacks chlorophyll, spores, and seeds.
- Q16: Students may struggle with dichotomous key construction. Remind them each level must have exactly two choices that are opposites.
- Q19: Students may confuse amphibians with reptiles. Key differentiator: amphibians have moist skin and lay eggs in water; reptiles have dry scaly skin and lay eggs on land.
- Q20: Students may not link material properties to real-world applications. Encourage reasoning about why certain properties matter for specific uses.