1. PAPER
I
ctice s
Pra stion
Que
Inter national DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET UNTIL INSTRUCTED.
Competitions STUDENT’S NAME:
and Assessments
for Schools
Read the instructions on the ANSWER SHEET and fill in your
NAME, SCHOOL and OTHER INFORMATION.
Use a 2B or B pencil.
Do NOT use a pen.
Rub out any mistakes completely.
You MUST record your answers on the ANSWER SHEET.
Mark only ONE answer for each question.
SCIENCE Your score will be the number of correct answers.
Marks are NOT deducted for incorrect answers.
Use the information provided to choose the BEST answer from
the four possible options.
On your ANSWER SHEET fill in the oval that matches your answer.
You may use a calculator and a ruler.

2. For questions 1 and 2 use the information below.
The graph shows the relationship between muscle fibre length and tension. The shaded band represents the
range of muscle lengths that can occur in the body without the muscles detaching from the bones.
Percentage of maximum tension
100
80
60
40
20
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Percentage of optimal muscle length
1. Over what percentage of optimal length can a muscle vary without detaching from the bones?
(A) 40–60% (B) 60–170% (C) 70–130% (D) 80–140%
2. Which option best summarises the information in the graph?
The tension developed by a muscle fibre when it is stimulated
(A) increases as the length of the fibre increases from shorter-than-optimal to optimal length, then
decreases as the length exceeds optimal.
(B) increases as the length of the fibre increases from shorter-than-optimal length, then continues to
increase as the length exceeds optimal.
(C) decreases as the length of the fibre increases from shorter-than-optimal to optimal length, then
decreases again as the length exceeds optimal.
(D) decreases as the length of the fibre increases from shorter-than-optimal to optimal length, then
increases again as the length exceeds optimal.
3. The two graphs below show what scientists believe were the concentrations of nitrogen
and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere between 4 500 million and 2 000 million years ago.
80 80
Carbon dioxide in Earth’s
Nitrogen in Earth’s
atmosphere (%)
atmosphere (%)
60 60
40 40
20 20
0 0
4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500
Time (millions of years ago) Time (millions of years ago)
There was a time in history when carbon dioxide and nitrogen were present in equal percentages in the
atmosphere.
At what time did this occur?
(A) 2 000 million years ago (B) 3 500 million years ago
(C) 4 300 million years ago (D) 4 500 million years ago
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper I © EAA 2

3. 4. Some molecules are mirror images of each other. They cannot be rotated or moved so that one molecule can
be superimposed on the other.
The models of molecules shown are mirror images of each other.
Here is a model of a molecule of 1-iodoethanol.
(B) (C) (D)
Which model of a molecule below is a mirror image of the one above?
(A) (B)
(A) (C)
(B) (D)
(C) (D)
3 ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper I © EAA

4. For questions 5 and 6 use the information below.
In forensic science, blood alcohol content is tested at the time of sampling and, if challenged in court, from
a stored sample.
A student wanted to know how the tightness of the lid of a screw-topped container affected the loss of alcohol
over time. He assumed alcohol behaved the same way in blood and water.
He partially filled three containers with equal quantities of 0.1 g L–1 alcohol solution. He then tightened the lids
as follows.
• loose lid - tighten until resistance is experienced then turn lid back 1 mm.
• firm lid - tighten until resistance is just experienced.
• tight lid - tighten until resistance is just experienced then turn a further 1 mm forward.
The solutions were then stored in a storage cabinet at 30 °C for a number of weeks.
His results are shown in the graph.
0.12
Alcohol concentration (g L–1)
KEY
0.10 loose
firm
0.08 tight
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
Week 0 Week 1 Week 3 Week 5 Week 7
Standing time
5. By how many grams per litre has the concentration dropped after three weeks in the container with
the tight lid?
(A) 0.005
(B) 0.01
(C) 0.09
(D) 0.095
6. Which hypothesis best applies to this experiment?
(A) Blood reacts with alcohol over time.
(B) Blood kept in sealed containers should not be used in court.
(C) Changes in blood alcohol concentration are due to lid tightness.
(D) Changes in temperature affect blood alcohol concentration.
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper I © EAA 4

5. For questions 7 and 8 use the information below.
A frog’s body temperature varies with its surroundings.
These two graphs compare the body temperatures of some frogs with the temperature of their surroundings.
40 – 40 –
35 – 35 –
Body temperature (°C)
Body temperature (°C)
30 – 30 –
25 – 25 –
20 – 20 –
15 – 15 –
10 – 10 –
5– 5–
0– 0–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Ground temperature (°C) Air temperature (°C)
7. Each dot represents the measured values taken for each individual frog.
The straight line on each graph is called the isothermal line.
What does it represent?
(A) the dividing line separating the frogs into two equal groups
(B) the line joining points where body temperature equals surrounding temperature
(C) the ratio of average body temperature to surrounding temperature
(D) the average body temperature of frogs at various surrounding temperatures
8. A student drew the following inferences:
I More than 50% of frogs have a body temperature higher than the air temperature.
II A frog’s body temperature increases as the temperature of its surroundings increases.
III The air temperature is lower than ground temperature.
Which inference(s) is/are supported by the graphs?
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) I, II, and III
5 ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper I © EAA

6. mass
9. The density of any substance is given by the equation
density = volume
mass
density = volume
The graph shows the volume of one gram of
1.0005 water in the temperature range from 0 °C to
10 °C.
1.0005 1.0004
Volume (cm3)
When a pond cools, water from the surface
1.0004 1.0003
Volume (cm3)
sinks to the bottom because of its greater
density.
1.0003 1.0002
As the temperature of the air above the water
1.0002 1.0001
drops below 0 °C, the surface of the water
KEY freezes. The temperature of the ice formed
1.0001 1.0000
0 2 4 6 8 10 B = bottom stays at 0 °C as more water freezes.
1.0000 Temperature (°C) KEY = surface
S
0 2 4 6 8 10 B = bottom
Temperature (°C) S = surface
Which of the graphs below shows the temperature at different depths in a pond of water as the surface freezes
over?
(A) (B) (C) (D)
10. When a liquid in a mixture evaporates, any dissolved solids are left behind.
The Soxhlet extractor works very well to extract chlorophyll from leaves using a flammable solvent.
There are seven steps in the process.
water out condenser
1. The leaves are placed in a sieve.
2. The solvent evaporates and passes up through water in
the bypass sidearm.
3. The solvent vapour enters the condenser.
4. The condenser liquefies the solvent which pure solvent
is now pure.
5. The liquid drops into the sieve and dissolves reflux sidearm
chlorophyll from the leaves. bypass sidearm
sieve
6. When the liquid fills up to the top of the
reflux sidearm, it is all siphoned back into the flask.
7. Solvent and chlorophyll collect in the flask.
The process repeats until the apparatus is flask
switched off. solvent + chlorophyll
Which of the following statements explains why heat source
the Soxhlet extractor works so well?
(A) Poisonous or flammable solvents can be used safely.
(B) The extracting solvent is always near boiling point.
(C) The solvent is constantly purified before re-use.
(D) The extracted solute collects in the flask.
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper I © EAA 6

7. This page may be used For working.
7 ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper I © EAA

8. Acknowledgment
Copyright in this booklet is owned by Educational
Assessment Australia, UNSW Global Pty Limited, unless
otherwise indicated. Every effort has been made to trace and
acknowledge copyright. Educational Assessment Australia
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information to redress the situation.
The following year levels should sit THIS Paper:
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9. PaPer
I SC
Inter national
Competitions
and Assessments THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES
for Schools
HOW TO FILL OUT THIS SHEET:
EXAMPLE 1: Debbie Bach EXAMPLE 2: Chan Ai Beng EXAMPLE 3: Jamal bin Abas
FIRST NAME LAST NAME FIRST NAME LAST NAME FIRST NAME LAST NAME
• Rub out all mistakes completely.
• Print your details clearly A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
in the boxes provided. B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C
• Make sure you fill in only D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
one oval in each column.
FIRST NAME to appear on certificate LAST NAME to appear on certificate
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
S
C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C
N
D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E
IO
F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F
T
G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G
H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H
S
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
E
J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J
K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K K
U
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
Q
M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M
N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
E
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P
C
TI
Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S S
C
T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T
A
U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U
V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
R
W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W
P
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z
’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
DATE OF BIRTH CLASS
Day Month Year (optional)
Are you male or female?
Male Female *045611* 0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
A
B
K
L
Does anyone in your home usually speak a language other than English? 2 2 2 2 2 C M
Yes No 3 3 3 3 3 D N
4 4 4 4 E O
School name: 5 5 5 5 F P
6 6 6 6 G Q
Town / suburb: 7 7 7 7 H R
8 8 8 8 I S
Today’s date: Postcode: 9 9 9 9 J T

10. TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
Example: Ari added cordial to water to make a jug of drink.
What will be the volume of the drink in the jug?
(A) 50 mL
(B) 150 mL
(C) 200 mL
(D) 250 mL
The answer is 250 mL, so you would fill in the oval ,
D
as shown.
A B C D
START
1 A B C D
2 A B C D
3 A B C D
4 A B C D
5 A B C D
6 A B C D
7 A B C D
8 A B C D
9 A B C D
10 A B C D
PaPer
I SC
Inter national
Competitions
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with appropriate Australian privacy legislation. for Schools
Visit www.eaa.unsw.edu.au for more details.

11. LEVEL OF
QUESTION KEY KEY rEaSONINg
DIFFICULTY
1 C The shaded area extends from 70% to 130%. Easy
The graph shows that tension increases to 100% of optimal length and once
2 A Easy
this length is exceeded (>100%) tension starts to decrease.
If the graphs are plotted on the same set of axes, they will cross at
3 C Easy
approximately 4 300 million years ago
A is identical to the original, so A is wrong. B is the same as A but it is has
been flipped and rotated, so B is wrong. C is the same as B but has been
4 D further rotated, so C is wrong. Models A, B and C are all (1R)-1-iodoethanol. Easy
Compare D and the original; the blue atom is in a different position. D is a
different chemical, and is called (1S)-1-iodoethanol. These are optical isomers.
The tight column in the graph shows that after three weeks the concentration
in the tight lidded container dropped from 0.10 gL -1 to approximately 0.095
5 A Medium/Hard
gL -1 which is a difference of 0.005 gL -1. Please note that the question asks for
the difference after three weeks and not seven weeks.
In the experiment the tightness of the lid has been altered (loose, firm, and
6 C Easy
tight) and change in alcohol concentration was measured.
From the graphs, the lines join points where body temperature equals the
7 B Medium/Hard
surrounding temperature.
Inference I can be drawn from the air-body temperature graph. Inference II
can be drawn from both graphs. Inference III is not supported by these graphs
8 C Medium
as there is nothing to relate air temperature to ground temperature. Therefore
option C is correct.
From the volume versus temperature graph, it can be seen that at 0 °C water is
less dense than at 4 °C, which is the temperature where water has its maximum
9 B Hard
density. This means that the surface of the freezing pond is at 0 °C and the
bottom is at 4 °C.
Because pure solvent is always entering the sieve dissolving any chlorophyll
10 C remaining in the leaves, the maximum amount of chlorophyll will be extracted Hard
from the leaves.
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper I © EAA

12. LEgEND
Level of difficulty refers to the expected level of difficulty for the question.
Easy more than 70% of candidates will choose the correct option.
Medium about 50–70% of candidates will choose the correct option.
Medium/Hard about 30–50% of candidates will choose the correct option.
Hard less than 30% of candidates will choose the correct option.
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper I © EAA