Science

Assessment Framework

INTRODUCTORY PAPER

REASONING & PROBLEM

SKILL AREA OBSERVING & MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING & CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• observe and identify an aspect • identify the message conveyed • predict the shadow of an object • investigate the hardness of • identify the moon shape missing
EARTH & BEYOND of a particular season by a simple sign based on the position of the light different types of rock from a series of photos
source

• compare the levels of liquids in • interpret a simple graph related • select a material from a list • investigate the results of mixing • match the properties of a
NATURAL & PROCESSED
different containers to resources based on data in a table different solids with water material with its intended
MATERIALS purpose

• identify a change that takes • identify a stage in the life-cycle • draw a conclusion based on a • investigate the growth of • use a simple key to identify
LIFE & LIVING place in a living thing over time diagram of an animal simple graph of growth of a child seedlings of different types of some animals
plant

• observe changes caused by • rank values in a table of • predict the movement of objects • investigate the formation of • determine the direction of
ENERGY & CHANGE heating or cooling temperature data in simple situations shadows movement of wheels or gears
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER A

REASONING & PROBLEM

SKILL AREA OBSERVING & MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING & CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• determine similarities and • interpret tables with data relating • make a prediction about • investigate seasons and the • determine how weather affects
EARTH & BEYOND differences between rocks to planetary data seasonal changes Sun’s movement across different regions on Earth
the sky

• observe the absorption of liquids • interpret tables containing • draw conclusions about the • understand the need to test and • examine the processes
NATURAL & PROCESSED
by paper towels information about differences between natural and investigate new designs involved in recycling materials
MATERIALS household products synthetic materials

• measure the length of • identify habitats for certain • draw conclusions about the • examine differences between • determine characteristics of
LIFE & LIVING living things living things functions of body parts living and non-living things living things from available data

• read a thermometer • interpret results of a test for • predict the effect of a magnet on • investigate the uses of sound • select the most efficient
ENERGY & CHANGE floating and sinking certain objects machinery to achieve
an outcome
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER B

REASONING & PROBLEM

SKILL AREA OBSERVING & MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING & CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• observe geographical features • identify equipment needed for • understand how sedimentary • investigate the effect of wind • deduce aspects of Earth’s
EARTH & BEYOND including mountains and rivers humans to go into space rocks form on objects motion from diagrams

• observe differences between • understand graphs relating to • draw conclusions about physical • investigate making and • evaluate the advantages and
NATURAL & PROCESSED
natural and synthetic materials recycling materials properties of materials using paper disadvantages of designs
MATERIALS

• make particular observations • use keys to distinguish • predict the effect of change on • investigate how plants • deduce how humans have
LIFE & LIVING about human senses between animals food webs attract bees affected living and
non-living cycles

• observe changes that occur • interpret simple changes • predict the effect of different • investigate how sounds are • deduce the direction and speed
ENERGY & CHANGE when ingredients are heated in energy forces applied to objects made and used of cogs from diagrams
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER C

REASONING & PROBLEM

SKILL AREA OBSERVING & MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING & CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• observe different cloud patterns • interpret information given on a • predict the position of stars at • investigate weather patterns • deduce the position of
EARTH & BEYOND geological timescale different times of the night shadows during the day

• identify crystal structures of • identify issues related to • examine differences between • analyse simple experiments • examine heat expansion
NATURAL & PROCESSED
simple salts pollution from graphical data solids, liquids and gases performed with household in metals
MATERIALS materials

• measure living things using • use dichotomous keys to classify • identify trends in simple • understand the function • examine differences in teeth
LIFE & LIVING printed scales living things food webs of controls in biological in animals
experiments

• examine simple electrical circuits • interpret diagrams relating to the • draw a conclusion about energy • investigate the properties of • use simple electric
ENERGY & CHANGE flow of electricity sources wind, water and air circuit diagrams
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER D

REASONING & PROBLEM

SKILL AREA OBSERVING & MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING & CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• observe the effects of • read weather maps • draw conclusions about natural • investigate variations in • deduce the youngest rock layer
EARTH & BEYOND weathering and erosion phenomena air and water temperatures from fossil dating

• observe differences between • examine tables relating • draw conclusions about the • distinguish between physical • deduce rates of expansion when
NATURAL & PROCESSED
fresh and processed foods to foodstuffs chemical composition of coins and chemical changes metal bars are heated
MATERIALS

• observe differences between • use habitat maps to identify local • use food webs to work out • investigate resources needed for • determine how habitats are
LIFE & LIVING human body parts plants and animals the relationships between survival of living things polluted by human activities
living things

• examine light globes of different • interpret graphs of sounds of • predict current flow in • investigate hotspots in a • examine the ranges of
ENERGY & CHANGE voltages different loudness an electrical circuit microwave oven radio frequencies
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER E

REASONING & PROBLEM

SKILL AREA OBSERVING & MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING & CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• measure the size of celestial • interpret graphs about • identify landforms from • investigate rocket propulsion • predict movements of
EARTH & BEYOND bodies using ratio scales sedimentary rock data contour maps tectonic plates

• identify building structures using • interpret tables relating • examine the chemical processes • identify laboratory equipment to • identify sources of chemical
NATURAL & PROCESSED
diagrams and drawings to organic and inorganic involved in food production use in experiments pollution in aquatic and
MATERIALS substances terrestrial environments

• measure animals using • use keys to differentiate between • make inferences from animal • examine relationships • determine the trophic position
LIFE & LIVING relative sizes living things dental formulas between variables in biological of living things in food chains
experiments

• measure electrical current • examine differences in • draw conclusions from data • make predictions about reflected • calculate speed and acceleration
ENERGY & CHANGE and voltage energy emissions relating to sound and refracted rays of light from given formulas
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER F

REASONING & PROBLEM

SKILL AREA OBSERVING & MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING & CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• observe differences between • interpret diagrams relating to • compare models of the solar • investigate advantages and • understand the structure
EARTH & BEYOND sedimentary, metamorphic and the hydrosphere, lithosphere system and Universe disadvantages of renewable and of Earth
igneous rocks and atmosphere non-renewable energy

• observe the particle model • examine graphs relating to • draw conclusions about the • examine variables • determine the molecular
NATURAL & PROCESSED
of matter changes of state (solid, liquid properties of metals and associated with the structure of compounds and
MATERIALS and gas) non-metals production of common gases elements using models

• identify different parts of • classify living and non-living • draw conclusions about the • investigate the role of • understand interactions
LIFE & LIVING the cell things based on structure function of human body systems organisms in ecosystems of marine organisms
and form

• observe transformation • identify energy • conclude how objects may be • draw conclusions about • deduce the velocity of
ENERGY & CHANGE of energy emission differences moved indirectly the speed of sound in different moving objects
mediums
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER G

REASONING & PROBLEM

SKILL AREA OBSERVING & MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING & CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• measure the size of atmospheric • determine the characteristics • determine the effects of UV light • generate hypotheses and • analyse data related to
EARTH & BEYOND phenomena such as cyclones of the Sun from graphical and on living and non-living things predictions in relation to luminosity of planets and stars
tabulated data the weather

• determine the purpose of dials • interpret data about the • interpret representations of • establish the sequence • determine the type of products
NATURAL & PROCESSED
on measuring equipment properties of metals simple molecules in writing up scientific formed during chemical
MATERIALS experiments reactions

• identify and classify living things • use data to identify pests • understand and use • apply methods of random • examine exponential growth in
LIFE & LIVING based on written descriptions in Australia biological terminology sampling of living things living systems
in ecosystems

• measure power using special • determine the paths of • draw conclusions about forces in • investigate conversions between • deduce relative movement in
ENERGY & CHANGE instruments projectiles from a series of specific situations potential and kinetic energy rotating systems
photographs or diagrams
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER H

REASONING & PROBLEM

SKILL AREA OBSERVING & MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING & CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• measure geological structures • interpret relative differences in • classify stars based on • recognise problems • explain atmospheric
EARTH & BEYOND using relative size of objects spectral emission lines brightness and magnitude associated with extraterrestrial phenomena both on Earth
investigations and on other planets

• observe differences • understand the properties of • identify the effects of alcohol on • understand the use of • establish rules relating
NATURAL & PROCESSED
in solvents acids and bases human functioning substances including to isotopes
MATERIALS catalysts in experiments

• observe organ parts of • examine transverse sections of • extrapolate graphical • test the function of specific • classify species using
LIFE & LIVING living things living and non-living things information about growth rates organs and tissues in non-traditional methods
of living things living things

• record temperature using scales • identify the effects of electric • predict the movement of a series • assess the safety issues • compare the different forces
ENERGY & CHANGE other than Celsius currents on humans of gears associated with experiments acting on a body in the air and
involving electricity in water
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER I (ICAS ONLY)

REASONING/PROBLEM
SKILL AREA OBSERVING/MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING/CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• measure distances using • understand the effect of wind • examine evidence relating to the • differentiate between accuracy • examine effects of
EARTH & BEYOND planetary scales chill on the human body formation of the Universe and precision in experiments magnetic fields on Earth and on
other planets

• observe differences using • use graphs related to • determine the implications of the • examine activation energy and • use the law of constant
NATURAL & PROCESSED
planetary scales melting points, boiling points, properties of ionic liquids the use of catalysts proportion and the law of
MATERIALS temperature and pressure conservation

• observe differences • identify animals based on • estimate populations of living • critique experiments involving • identify the role of genetics and
LIFE & LIVING between living things at the dental information and non-living things in specific living things mutation in living things
sub-species level environments

• observe records showing • understand differences • differentiate between AC and • understand the relationship • determine the amount of energy
ENERGY & CHANGE the movement of Earth’s between renewable and DC circuits between magnetic and released from different reactions
magnetic poles non-renewable energy electric fields
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.
 Science
Assessment Framework

PAPER J (ICAS ONLY)

REASONING/PROBLEM
SKILL AREA OBSERVING/MEASURING INTERPRETING PREDICTING/CONCLUDING INVESTIGATING
SOLVING

KNOWLEDGE AREA QUESTIONS MAY REQUIRE STUDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO:

• determine the age of geological • examine cloud formation and El • make conclusions about the • hypothesise about the • predict structures from
EARTH & BEYOND structures from rock stratigraphy Nino effect evolution of the Sun and composition of celestial bodies geological maps
other stars

• measure microscopic objects • determine the relative • relate total dissolved solids • understand the effects of various • determine proportions of atoms
NATURAL & PROCESSED
abundance of atoms and to conductivity gases on human physiology in compounds
MATERIALS elements in the universe

• measure microscopic organisms • interpret complex life history • classify animals to • examine the ethics of the use of • examine effects of
LIFE & LIVING using nanometre scales cycles of parasites and viruses sub-species level living subjects in experiments mutations in DNA and RNA

• measure macroscopic energy • identify gravitational effects of • follow the movement of Earth’s • identify changes in energy at the • calculate refraction angles and
ENERGY & CHANGE changes such as earthquakes the moon on tides magnetic poles sub-atomic level velocity of waves
and explosions
D10 - 191220

© 2024 Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated or licensed by a third party. This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, in part or whole,
in any medium; and may not be distributed or sold to third parties except with the express permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or the relevant copyright owner.