100+ Free NYS Grade 8 Science Practice Questions
Pass your New York State Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Earthquakes send out energy in the form of seismic waves that travel through Earth. The study of these waves has helped scientists learn about
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Key Facts: NYS Grade 8 Science Exam
The NYS Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test is New York's free, NGSS-aligned state assessment that measures eighth-grade mastery of the P-12 Science Learning Standards across physical, life, and earth and space science using phenomenon-based multiple-choice and constructed-response items, with results reported in four performance levels.
Sample NYS Grade 8 Science Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your NYS Grade 8 Science exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1During a chemical reaction in a sealed container, the total mass of the substances is measured before and after the reaction. According to the law of conservation of mass, what should the measurement show?
2A student pushes a box across the floor and then pushes it the same way on ice. The box slides much farther on the ice. Which statement best explains why?
3A skateboarder rolls down a ramp from the top to the bottom. As the skateboarder descends, how does the energy change?
4Sound travels from a speaker to a listener's ear through the air. Which statement correctly describes how sound moves through the air?
5A scientist looks at plant tissue under a microscope and sees many small compartments, each with its own boundary and contents. These compartments are the basic units of the plant. What are they called?
6In a cornfield, some plants produce ears with many different kernel colors. This variation among the corn plants is mostly caused by differences in which of the following?
7Two organisms share many similar bone structures in their limbs even though they live in different environments. Scientists use this similarity as evidence that the two organisms most likely
8In a meadow ecosystem, hawks eat field mice, and field mice eat grass seeds. If a disease greatly reduces the number of field mice, what is the most likely short-term effect?
9Scientists find that earthquakes and volcanoes occur most often along the edges of large sections of Earth's outer layer. These large moving sections are called
10A weather forecaster reports that a cold front is moving into the area. As the cold air pushes under the warmer air ahead of it, what weather change is most likely?
About the NYS Grade 8 Science Exam
The New York State Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test is a state summative assessment that measures how well eighth graders have learned the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards, which are New York's adaptation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). First administered in its revised, NGSS-aligned form in Spring 2024, the test covers science from grades 6 through 8 and is built around real-world phenomena rather than simple recall. It is a computer-based test given in a single session, using multiple-choice questions along with constructed-response and technology-enhanced items such as drag-and-drop and dynamic graphing. Roughly 60 percent of the credit comes from multiple-choice questions and about 40 percent from constructed-response items. The test emphasizes applying science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts across physical science, life science, and earth and space science. Results are reported in four performance levels, and the test is free to students.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Given in a single session in one day with no time limits; students may take as much time as they reasonably need to finish.
Passing Score
Results are reported in four performance levels (Level 1 to Level 4); Level 3 or higher indicates the student has met the standard for grade 8 science.
Exam Fee
Free for students; the assessment is funded by New York State and administered through public school districts. (New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of State Assessment)
NYS Grade 8 Science Exam Content Outline
Physical Science
Properties of matter, chemical reactions and conservation of mass, forces and motion, energy and its transformations, and waves including light and sound (MS-PS1 through MS-PS4).
Life Science
Cell structure and function, matter and energy in organisms, inheritance and variation of traits, ecosystem interactions and energy flow, and natural selection and evolution (MS-LS1 through MS-LS4).
Earth and Space Science
The solar system and Earth's place in space, plate tectonics, Earth's systems and the water cycle, weather and climate, and Earth's resources and human impacts (MS-ESS1 through MS-ESS3).
How to Pass the NYS Grade 8 Science Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Results are reported in four performance levels (Level 1 to Level 4); Level 3 or higher indicates the student has met the standard for grade 8 science.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Given in a single session in one day with no time limits; students may take as much time as they reasonably need to finish.
- Exam fee: Free for students; the assessment is funded by New York State and administered through public school districts.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
NYS Grade 8 Science Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the New York State Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test?
It is New York's state summative science assessment for eighth graders, designed to measure mastery of the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards. It is a computer-based test, first given in its revised NGSS-aligned form in Spring 2024, that covers science from grades 6 through 8.
What topics are on the NYS Grade 8 Science test?
The test covers physical science (matter, chemical reactions, forces and motion, energy, and waves), life science (cells, genetics, ecosystems, and evolution), and earth and space science (plate tectonics, weather and climate, and astronomy), along with science and engineering practices.
How is the NYS Grade 8 Science test scored?
Scores are reported in four performance levels, from Level 1 to Level 4. A score at Level 3 or higher indicates that the student has met the standard for grade 8 science, and specific scale-score cut points are set by NYSED for each administration.
How is the test structured and how long is it?
The test is given in a single session in one day with no time limits. The Spring 2024 form had 25 multiple-choice questions and 28 constructed-response questions organized into ten phenomenon-based clusters, with about 60 percent of credit from multiple-choice items.
Is the test aligned to the NGSS?
Yes. The test is aligned to the New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards, which are New York's adaptation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). It emphasizes applying science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts to real-world phenomena rather than simple recall.
Is the NYS Grade 8 Science test free?
Yes. The test is free to students because it is funded by New York State and administered through public school districts as part of the New York State Testing Program.