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100+ Free Science 30 Practice Questions

Pass your Alberta Science 30 Grade 12 Diploma Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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In the human heart, which chamber pumps oxygenated blood out to the body through the aorta?

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Key Facts: Science 30 Exam

Science 30 is Alberta's Grade 12 interdisciplinary diploma exam: 55 machine-scored questions (39 multiple-choice and 16 numerical-response) in 3 hours, worth 30% of the final course mark across four biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science units.

Sample Science 30 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Science 30 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In the human heart, which chamber pumps oxygenated blood out to the body through the aorta?
A.Right atrium
B.Right ventricle
C.Left atrium
D.Left ventricle
Explanation: The left ventricle has the thickest muscular wall because it pumps oxygenated blood at high pressure into the aorta for systemic circulation. Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs to the left atrium, passes to the left ventricle, then exits through the aorta.
2Which component of human blood is primarily responsible for transporting oxygen?
A.Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
B.Platelets
C.Leukocytes (white blood cells)
D.Plasma proteins
Explanation: Erythrocytes contain hemoglobin, an iron-based protein that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it to body tissues. This makes red blood cells the main oxygen carriers in the circulatory system.
3Blood pressure is normally highest in which type of blood vessel?
A.Arteries
B.Capillaries
C.Veins
D.Venules
Explanation: Arteries carry blood directly away from the heart's powerful ventricular contractions, so blood pressure is highest here. Pressure progressively decreases through arterioles, capillaries, and is lowest in the veins.
4Which of the following is an example of a non-specific (innate) body defence mechanism against pathogens?
A.Antibody production
B.B-cell activation
C.Tears and skin barriers
D.Memory T cells
Explanation: Non-specific defences act against all pathogens without targeting a particular antigen. Physical and chemical barriers such as intact skin, tears (containing lysozyme), mucus, and stomach acid are first-line innate defences.
5An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system
A.fails to produce any antibodies
B.becomes immune to all pathogens permanently
C.attacks the body's own healthy cells
D.produces only non-specific defences
Explanation: In an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly identifies the body's own tissues as foreign and attacks them. Examples include type 1 diabetes (attack on pancreatic cells) and rheumatoid arthritis.
6Which white blood cells produce antibodies during the specific immune response?
A.Erythrocytes
B.Platelets
C.Plasma cells (derived from B lymphocytes)
D.Cytotoxic (killer) T cells
Explanation: When B lymphocytes are activated by a specific antigen, they differentiate into plasma cells that secrete large quantities of antibodies. These antibodies bind to and neutralize the matching antigen.
7A person with a resting heart rate of 70 beats per minute and a stroke volume of 70 mL has a cardiac output of
A.140 mL/min
B.1.0 L/min
C.4.9 L/min
D.49 L/min
Explanation: Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume: 70 beats/min x 70 mL = 4900 mL/min = 4.9 L/min. This is a typical resting cardiac output for a healthy adult.
8Which lifestyle factor most directly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by depositing plaque in arteries?
A.Regular aerobic exercise
B.A diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol
C.Drinking water
D.Adequate sleep
Explanation: A diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol promotes atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaque on artery walls. This narrows arteries, raises blood pressure, and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
9During an immune response, the production of memory cells is important because it
A.destroys all red blood cells
B.allows a faster, stronger response upon re-exposure to the same pathogen
C.produces histamine to widen blood vessels
D.directly digests pathogens through phagocytosis
Explanation: Memory B and T cells persist after an infection clears. If the same antigen is encountered again, these cells trigger a secondary response that is faster and more powerful, often preventing illness, which is the basis of vaccination.
10Which sequence correctly orders blood flow through the human heart and lungs?
A.Body to left atrium to lungs to right ventricle to body
B.Body to right atrium to right ventricle to lungs to left atrium to left ventricle to body
C.Lungs to right atrium to body to left ventricle to lungs
D.Body to left ventricle to right atrium to lungs to body
Explanation: Deoxygenated blood from the body enters the right atrium, moves to the right ventricle, and is pumped to the lungs. Oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium, passes to the left ventricle, and is pumped to the body via the aorta.

About the Science 30 Exam

The Science 30 Diploma Examination is a Grade 12 provincial exam set by Alberta Education that counts for 30% of a student's final course grade, blended with 70% school-awarded marks. The exam consists of 55 machine-scored questions, 39 multiple-choice and 16 numerical-response, of equal value, and is designed to be completed in 3 hours (with up to 6 hours allowed). Science 30 is an interdisciplinary academic course integrating biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science, organized into four units: Living Systems Respond to Their Environment, Chemistry and the Environment, Electromagnetic Energy, and Energy and the Environment. It is accepted for entry into many Alberta post-secondary programs. The acceptable standard is 50% and the standard of excellence is 80%, and there is no penalty for rewriting.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours (up to 6 hours permitted)

Passing Score

Acceptable standard 50%; standard of excellence 80%; exam worth 30% of the final course mark

Exam Fee

No fee for first-time funded Alberta students; rewriters and non-funded (international) students register and pay through myPass (Alberta Education and Childcare, Provincial Assessment Sector)

Science 30 Exam Content Outline

20-30%

Unit A: Living Systems Respond to Their Environment

Circulatory and immune systems, cardiovascular health, homeostasis, nervous system, reproduction and hormones, Mendelian genetics, DNA, protein synthesis, mutations, and gene therapy.

20-30%

Unit B: Chemistry and the Environment

Acids and bases, pH and hydronium ions, titration and stoichiometry, buffers, organic compounds, acid deposition, photochemical smog, biomagnification, and water quality.

20-30%

Unit C: Electromagnetic Energy

Electricity and circuits, motors, generators and transformers, field theory, the electromagnetic spectrum, communication technology, and astronomy.

20-30%

Unit D: Energy and the Environment

Energy sources and transformations, fossil fuels and alternatives, nuclear fission and fusion, Hess's law, climate change and the greenhouse effect, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

How to Pass the Science 30 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Acceptable standard 50%; standard of excellence 80%; exam worth 30% of the final course mark
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours (up to 6 hours permitted)
  • Exam fee: No fee for first-time funded Alberta students; rewriters and non-funded (international) students register and pay through myPass

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Science 30 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the four units evenly, since each is weighted roughly equally (about 20-30%) on the exam.
2Practice numerical-response questions, which make up 16 of the 55 items; bring an approved scientific calculator and record answers carefully on the grid.
3Learn the pH scale as logarithmic: each pH unit is a tenfold change in hydronium ion concentration.
4Review interdisciplinary connections, such as how energy use links chemistry, physics, and environmental impacts.
5Use released items and Quest A+ practice questions from Alberta Education to get used to set-based question formats.
6Watch for science-technology-society (STS) questions that ask you to weigh scientific, economic, environmental, and social trade-offs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Science 30 diploma exam?

The Science 30 Diploma Examination has 55 machine-scored questions: 39 multiple-choice and 16 numerical-response, all of equal value. There is no written-response section.

How long is the Science 30 diploma exam?

It is designed to be completed in 3 hours, but students may take up to 6 hours if needed. It is a closed-book exam.

What percentage of my grade is the Science 30 diploma exam?

Since 2015, the diploma exam counts for 30% of your final course mark, blended with 70% from your school-awarded grade.

What score do I need to pass Science 30?

The acceptable standard is a final course mark of 50% or higher, and the standard of excellence is 80% or higher. There is no penalty for rewriting, and your highest mark is recorded.

What topics does Science 30 cover?

Science 30 is interdisciplinary, covering four units: human physiology and genetics (Unit A), chemistry and the environment (Unit B), electromagnetic energy (Unit C), and energy and the environment (Unit D).

Is Science 30 accepted for post-secondary admission?

Yes. Science 30 is an academic 30-level science course accepted for entry into many Alberta college and university programs, though specific programs may require Biology 30, Chemistry 30, or Physics 30 instead.