Y6 Sample Test 1: Chemistry Answer Key

1) Rocks have different properties. Look at the table below. It shows that rocks can
be scratched by different objects.

a. Which rock is the hardest? Marble (1 mark)

b. Which rock is the softest? Chalk (1 mark)

2) Use the images below to help you explain how fossils are formed. (2 marks)
Allow 2 marks for an answer which explains the following 1.The fish dies; 2.The softer flesh
is eaten/rots leaving the bones; 3.The bones are covered in silt/mud/sand;
4.The bones eventually decay and a cast/mould of the bones is formed.

3) Tick the things below that make up local or common garden soils. (1 mark)
Allow 1 mark for ticking the following boxes.

Small stones  Dead insects 

Tin cans Sand 

Paper Glass

Plant bits  Concrete

4) Solids, liquids and gases are made from tiny particles. Draw a line to match the solid,
liquid and gas with the definition that best describes their particles. (2 marks)
Allow 2 marks for matching the definitions correctly.

The particles are free to move

Solid and carry on spreading.

The particles are tightly packed

Liquid together and find it very difficult
to move.

The particles are loosely packed

Gas together and can move around
each other.

5) Which of the following materials will dissolve in water? Tick the boxes (1 mark)
Allow 1 mark for ticking the following boxes.

glass sand plastic

salt  sugar  soil

© Sigma Science Y6 Sample Test 1: Chemistry Answer Key p1 www.sigmascience.co.uk

 6) Heating causes some materials to change. Some of these changes are reversible and
some are irreversible. Look at the changes caused to these materials by heating and say
whether these changes are reversible or irreversible. (1 mark)
Allow 1 mark for identifying which of the following changes were reversible or irreversible.

Burning wood Melting ice lolly

This change is This change is
irreversible. reversible.

Cooking egg Melting chocolate

This change is This change is
irreversible. reversible.

7) Explain what will happen to this puddle on a warm sunny day. (2 marks)
Allow 2 marks for an explanation that fully explains that the heat from the sun evaporates
the water in the puddle OR that the water in the puddle evaporates and is turned into a
gas. Allow 1 mark for a one word answer that just states that the water evaporates.

8) a. The table below shows the amount of time it takes one sugar cube to dissolve in 400ml
of water, but at different temperatures. Plot these results into a block graph. (3 marks)
Allow 3 marks for correctly constructing an accurate bar graph. Allow 1 mark for
constructing a bar graph that contains one error only.

b. Identify three things the pupils carrying out this investigation would have to do to make
sure it is a fair test. (2 marks)
Allow 2 marks for identifying three things that the pupils would have to do to make the
test fair, these could include:
Using the same volume of water;
Using the same size sugar cube (amount of sugar);
Making sure the container that the sugar cube is dissolved in stays the same;
Making sure that if the sugar cubes are stirred, the stirring is kept constant and the
instrument stirring the mixture is also kept constant.
Allow 1 mark for identifying two things correctly.

9) Four teaspoons of salt dissolve in 500ml of cold water. The water looks clear but tastes
salty. Describe how this salt could be separated from the water. (2 marks)
Allow 2 marks for an answer that identifies that the mixture could be separated by
evaporating the water so the salt is left behind.

10) When designing certain products it is vital that the materials selected are transparent,
translucent or opaque. Look at the products below and say whether it is important for them
to be transparent, translucent or opaque. (1 mark)
Allow 1 mark for identifying that the sleeping mask should be opaque, the reading glasses
transparent and the sunglasses translucent.

© Sigma Science Y6 Sample Test 1: Chemistry Answer Key p2 www.sigmascience.co.uk

11) Write the words below in their correct place on the water cycle diagram. (3 marks)

precipitation condensation evaporation

Allow 3 marks for labelling the diagram correctly.

Condensation
Precipitation

Evaporation

Y6 Sample Test Chemistry

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