1. PAPER
G
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 flow chart distinguishes between some classes of stars.
All stars
yes Are strong metallic lines no
present in the spectrum?
Are titanium oxide lines Are strong hydrogen
present? lines present?
yes no yes no
M Class Is the surface temperature A Class
Is the surface temperature
greater than 6 000 C? greater than 30 000 C?
yes no yes no
F Class O Class B Class
Is the spectral colour yellow?
yes no
G Class K Class
1. The Sun is a G Class star. What are some characteristics of the Sun?
(A) titanium oxide and strong hydrogen emission lines present, surface temperature greater than
6 000 °C
(B) strong metallic lines present, surface temperature greater than 6 000 °C
(C) strong metallic lines present, spectral colour yellow
(D) strong titanium oxide lines present, spectral colour yellow
2. Sirius is a white star which has a surface temperature of 10 000 °C. Its spectrum has hydrogen but no
strong metallic lines.
What class of star is Sirius?
(A) A Class
(B) B Class
(C) F Class
(D) O Class
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper G © EAA 2

3. 3. The table compares the tensile strength of some common materials.
Material Tensile strength
(MN/m2)
muscle 0.1
cartilage 3
house brick 7
tendon 82
bone (elderly) 85
bone (young adult) 110
glass 175
nylon thread 1 050
Approximately how many times stronger is nylon thread than tendon?
(A) 0.08
(B) 13
(C) 82
(D) 1 050
4. In order to X-ray the digestive system, it is necessary to swallow a dense and very insoluble
substance which will not react with the chemicals (mainly water and hydrochloric acid) in the stomach.
Information about some substances is given in the table.
Substance Density Solubility in water Reaction to hydrochloric acid
(g/cm3) (g/100 mL)
caesium carbonate 4.0 2.6 × 1017 reacts to form carbon dioxide
iron(III) hydroxide 3.9 9.9 × 10 –18
reacts to form iron (III) chloride
barium sulfate 4.5 2.5 × 10 –4
does not react
magnesium sulfate 2.7 3.6 ×10 1
does not react
Which substance shown would be most suitable for use when X–raying the digestive system?
(A) caesium carbonate
(B) iron(III) hydroxide
(C) barium sulfate
(D) magnesium sulfate
3 ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper G © EAA

4. 5. A scientist wanted to investigate the effects of two types of antibiotics, X and Y, on the growth of a bacterium,
E. coli. He grew five cultures of the bacterium in a growth medium placed on separate Petri dishes like the
one shown.
Information about the preparation of the five dishes is shown in the table.
Petri Dish
Experimental Condition I II III IV V
Amount of growth
10 15 10 20 15
medium in dish (mL)
Type of antibiotic
X X Y X Y
added to dish
Amount of antibiotic
3 2 2 2 2
added to dish (mL)
Temperature at which
30 25 30 30 25
dish is kept (°C)
Which two dishes should he use to compare the effects of X and Y on the growth of the bacteria?
(A) I and III (B) II and V
(C) III and IV (D) IV and V
For questions 6 and 7 use the information below.
Serial dilution is a procedure used to make a very dilute solution.
The procedure for diluting a solution of copper sulfate is shown.
1 ml 1 ml 1 ml
(10 mL)
6. How many times more concentrated is the initial solution than the solution in tube 4?
(A) 101000 times
(B) 11000 times
(C) 100 times
(D) 10 times
7. A student estimated that there were 110001000 particles of the dissolved substance in the initial solution.
How many dilutions would she have to perform to obtain a solution with approximately 100 particles of
the dissolved substance?
(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper G © EAA 4

5. For questions 8 and 9 use the information below.
Reports about science experiments often include:
• a title
• an introduction
• an aim
• a method of how the experiment was to be carried out
• results (what was observed)
• a discussion of the results
• a conclusion
A student wrote a report containing a number of points.
8. Which points are the student’s results?
(A) 4 and 5
(B) 5 and 6
(C) 6 and 7
(D) 7 and 8
9. Was the student’s conclusion correct? Why?
Conclusion correct? Reason
(A) no The marble went through the water the slowest.
(B) yes The marble went through the water the slowest.
(C) yes The marble went through the honey the slowest.
(D) no The marble went through the honey the slowest.
5 ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper G © EAA

6. 10. Hare’s apparatus is used to compare the densities of two liquids.
Step 1 Step 2
clip open
vacuum clip closed
pump after air is
switched on
height 2
drawn out
height 1
liquid 1 liquid 2 liquid 1 liquid 2
The height that the liquids rise can be calculated from:
density (liquid 1) height (liquid 2)
=
density (liquid 2) height (liquid 1)
A student performed an experiment with Hare’s apparatus using dichloromethane (density 1.32 g/cm3)
Height of dichloromethane (mm) Height of trichloromethane (mm)
and trichloromethane (density 1.98 g/cm3).
(A) 40 60
Which of the following could be the height each liquid rose in the tube?
(B) 60
Step 1 40 Step 2
(C) 90 clip open
Height of dichloromethane (mm) 110
Height of trichloromethane (mm)
(A)
(D) 110 40 90 60
(B) 60 40
(C) 90 110
vacuum clip closed
(D) pump
110 90 after air is
switched on
height 2
drawn out
height 1
liquid 1 liquid 2 liquid 1 liquid 2
Height of dichloromethane (mm) Height of trichloromethane (mm)
(A) 40 60
(B) 60 40
(C) 90 110
(D) 110 90
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper G © EAA 6

7. THIS PAgE MAy bE uSED FoR woRkINg.
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper G © EAA 7

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
apologises for any accidental infringement and welcomes
information to redress the situation.
The following year levels should sit THIS Paper:
Australia Year 9
Brunei Form 4
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New Zealand Year 10
Pacific Year 9 PAPER
Singapore Secondary 2 G
South Africa Grade 9
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9. PaPer
G 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 *045609* 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
G SC
Inter national
Competitions
Your privacy is assured as EAA fully complies and Assessments
with appropriate Australian privacy legislation. for Schools
Visit www.eaa.unsw.edu.au for more details.

11. LEVEL OF
QUESTION KEY KEY rEaSONINg
DIFFICULTY
Working backwards from G Class: the Sun is spectral colour yellow, has
a surface temperature < 6000 °C (so A and B are wrong), does not have
1 C Easy
titanium oxide lines (so A and D are wrong) but it does have strong metallic
lines present in the spectrum.
Sirius does not have strong metallic lines but has strong hydrogen lines. The
2 A Easy
temperature is irrelevant to this question.
1050
3 B = 12.8 ≈ 13 Easy
82
In order to X-ray the digestive system, it is necessary to swallow a dense
and very insoluble substance. From the table, barium sulfate has the highest
density and lowest solubility; it also does not react with hydrochloric acid.
4 C 1 mL  Medium
1 mL in 10 mL or two chemicals do not react with hydrochloric acid, so answers
Only the last 
10 mL 
 A and B are wrong. Magnesium sulfate is less dense and more soluble than
barium sulfate, so D is wrong.
1050
To compare h effect of the two types of antibiotics= 12.8 ≈ 13
the 60 mm
ρ1 1.98 82 on the growth of
= bacterium, E. 2 = the scientist needs to make sure that all other possible
= 1.5 = coli,
5 B
ρ 2 1.32 h 40 mm Medium
variables were1kept the same except for the antibiotic used. This only
happens in petri dishes II and V.
 1 mL 
Each test tube changes by a factor of 10 1 mL in 10 mL or .
 10 mL 
6 B Medium/Hard
Tube 3 is 10 times more concentrated than tube 4. Tube 2 is 100 times more
concentrated that tube 4 while tube 1 is 1000 times more concentrated than
tube 4. ρ1 1.98 h 60 mm
= = 1.5 = 2 =
ρ 2 factor
Each dilution reduces the concentration by a1.32 of 10.h 1 40 mm
Therefore to
7 B Medium/Hard
reduce 1 000 000 to 100 we have to divide 1 000 000 four times by 10.
Results are ‘observations’ made using our five senses, particularly sight. We
1050
can see the marbles ≈ 13 the jars at time = 1050 we can see the jars with
= 12.8 above 0 s, and
the marbles in them at t = 1 s, at different positions within≈ 13 liquids. So
82 = 12.8 the
8 C 82
point 6 and point 7 of the report are observations. Note that which liquid is
Medium/Hard
the most or least viscous is an inference which is based on observations. It
itself is not an observation.
The mL in 10 mL or 1 liquid, the slower the marble will pass though it. After
 more viscous the mL 
1  1 mL 

9 D s 10 mL 
1  the slowest marble will have moved the mL in 10 distance. This occurs in
1 smallest mL or  Medium

honey; therefore, it is the most viscous of these liquids. 10 mL 
10 B ρ1 1.98 h 60 mm Hard
= = 1.5 = 2 = ρ 1.98 hh 2 60 mm
ρ 2 1.32 h 1 40 mm where 1is=density and= is height
= 1.5 =
ρ 2 1.32 h 1 40 mm
ICAS Science Practice Questions Paper G © 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 G © EAA