Free Practice Questions for PSLE Science

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Key Facts: PSLE Science Exam

PSLE Science is set by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) for MOE and taken at the end of Primary 6.

Standard PSLE Science (subject code 0009) is worth 100 marks and lasts 1 hour 45 minutes in a single sitting.

From 2026, Booklet A carries 60 marks from 30 multiple-choice questions, each worth 2 marks.

From 2026, Booklet B carries 40 marks from about 10-11 open-ended/structured questions.

The MOE Primary Science syllabus is organised into five themes: Diversity, Cycles, Systems, Interactions and Energy.

PSLE results use Achievement Levels AL1 to AL8, where AL1 requires 90 marks or above (system introduced in 2021).

There is no pass or fail mark in PSLE Science; AL8 (below 20 marks) is reported as the lowest band.

The 2026 PSLE Science written paper is scheduled for Tuesday 29 September 2026, from 0815 to 1000.

PSLE Science (SEAB, code 0009) is a 1 hour 45 minute, 100-mark Primary 6 paper: Booklet A multiple-choice (60 marks from 2026) plus Booklet B open-ended (40 marks), graded AL1-AL8 across five syllabus themes.

Sample PSLE Science Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PSLE Science exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which group of animals all have a backbone (vertebrates)?

A.Fish, frog, snake

B.Butterfly, spider, crab

C.Earthworm, snail, jellyfish

D.Ant, bee, beetle

Explanation: Vertebrates have a backbone. Fish, amphibians (frogs), reptiles (snakes), birds and mammals are the five groups of vertebrates. Fish, frog and snake all belong to these groups.

2Insects, such as bees and ants, can be grouped together because they share which feature?

A.They all have eight legs

B.They all have wings

C.They all have three body parts and six legs

D.They all have a backbone

Explanation: All insects have a body divided into three parts (head, thorax, abdomen) and have six legs. This is the key classifying feature of insects, regardless of whether they have wings.

3A fungus, such as a mushroom, is NOT classified as a plant mainly because it

A.cannot make its own food

B.has no roots

C.grows in dark places

D.reproduces using spores

Explanation: Plants contain chlorophyll and make their own food by photosynthesis. Fungi have no chlorophyll, so they cannot make their own food and instead absorb nutrients from other sources. This is why fungi are placed in a separate group from plants.

4Which property makes a metal such as copper the BEST choice for the inside wires of an electrical cable?

A.It conducts electricity well

B.It is shiny

C.It is waterproof

D.It does not rust

Explanation: Materials are chosen for a use based on their properties. Copper is a good conductor of electricity, so electricity can flow through it easily, making it ideal for the conducting core of a cable.

5Why is a plastic handle used on a metal frying pan instead of a metal handle?

A.Plastic is a poor conductor of heat

B.Plastic is a good conductor of heat

C.Plastic is heavier than metal

D.Plastic conducts electricity

Explanation: Plastic is a poor conductor of heat (a heat insulator). A plastic handle does not let heat from the hot pan pass through easily, so the cook can hold the handle without being burnt.

6Animals that give birth to live young and feed their young with milk belong to which group?

A.Birds

B.Reptiles

C.Mammals

D.Amphibians

Explanation: Mammals are the group of vertebrates that give birth to live young and feed their young with milk produced by the mother. Examples include cats, whales and humans.

7A scientist sorts living things into two groups: those that can make their own food and those that cannot. Into which group should a green plant be placed?

A.Cannot make its own food, like animals

B.Can make its own food, like fungi

C.Can make its own food, using chlorophyll

D.Cannot make its own food, because it has no mouth

Explanation: Green plants contain chlorophyll, which traps light energy so the plant can make its own food through photosynthesis. Therefore a green plant belongs to the group that can make its own food.

8Which of the following best describes how a key (a dichotomous classification chart) is used?

A.To identify an organism by answering a series of yes or no questions

B.To count how many of each animal there are

C.To measure the size of an organism

D.To show how organisms reproduce

Explanation: A classification key works by asking a series of either/or (yes/no) questions about an organism's characteristics. At each step you follow the branch that matches, eventually arriving at the organism's identity.

9Which material would be the MOST suitable for making a raincoat?

A.Plastic, because it is waterproof

B.Cotton, because it absorbs water

C.Paper, because it is light

D.Wool, because it keeps you warm

Explanation: A raincoat must keep the wearer dry. Plastic is waterproof, meaning water cannot pass through it, so rain stays on the outside. This makes plastic the most suitable material.

10Spiders are NOT classified as insects because they

A.have eight legs and two body parts

B.spin webs

C.have six legs

D.have wings

Explanation: Spiders are arachnids, not insects. They have eight legs and two body parts, while insects have six legs and three body parts. The leg and body-part count is the classifying difference.

About the PSLE Science Exam

PSLE Science is the national Primary 6 science paper set by SEAB and taken at the end of primary schooling in Singapore (around age 12). The Standard Science paper (subject code 0009) is worth 100 marks and runs for 1 hour 45 minutes in a single sitting. It has two booklets: Booklet A of four-option multiple-choice questions and Booklet B of open-ended/structured questions that require written explanations, diagrams and data interpretation. From 2026, Booklet A carries 60 marks (30 MCQs at 2 marks each) and Booklet B carries 40 marks (about 10-11 structured questions), with more emphasis on scientific inquiry and experiment-based questions. The MOE Primary Science syllabus is organised into five themes - Diversity, Cycles, Systems, Interactions and Energy - and questions test knowledge, application and process skills across all P3-P6 topics. Results are reported as Achievement Levels AL1-AL8.

Exam sponsor: Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) for the Ministry of Education (MOE). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

1 hour 45 minutes (Standard Science)

Passing Score

Achievement Levels AL1-AL8 (no pass/fail): AL1 = 90+, AL2 = 85-89, AL3 = 80-84, AL4 = 75-79, AL5 = 65-74, AL6 = 45-64, AL7 = 20-44, AL8 = below 20.

Exam / Certification Fees

No standalone subject fee; PSLE registration is MOE-funded for Singapore Citizen and most PR school candidates. Private and foreign candidates pay a SEAB entry fee that varies by residency.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) for the Ministry of Education (MOE): official exam information

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

18%

Diversity

Classifying living and non-living things, vertebrates and invertebrates, plants and fungi, and the diversity and properties of materials.

22%

Cycles

Life cycles of plants and animals, reproduction in plants, states and changes of matter, the particle idea and the water cycle.

22%

Systems

Human digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems, cells, the plant transport system, and electrical circuits.

20%

Interactions

Forces (magnets, friction, gravity, elastic spring force) and interactions of living things with the environment - food chains, food webs and adaptations.

18%

Energy

Forms and uses of energy, energy conversion, photosynthesis, heat transfer, and light including shadows and reflection.

Preparing for the PSLE Science Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Achievement Levels AL1-AL8 (no pass/fail): AL1 = 90+, AL2 = 85-89, AL3 = 80-84, AL4 = 75-79, AL5 = 65-74, AL6 = 45-64, AL7 = 20-44, AL8 = below 20.
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 1 hour 45 minutes (Standard Science)
Exam / certification fees: No standalone subject fee; PSLE registration is MOE-funded for Singapore Citizen and most PR school candidates. Private and foreign candidates pay a SEAB entry fee that varies by residency. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PSLE Science: Suggested Study Strategy

1Organise revision by the five MOE themes (Diversity, Cycles, Systems, Interactions, Energy) and build concept maps that link related ideas across themes.

2Keep a keyword list with exact definitions - for example, state that condensation is water vapour losing heat and changing from a gas to a liquid, not just that water forms.

3Drill process-skills questions: practise spotting the variable changed, the variable measured and the variables kept the same in a fair test.

4Do timed Booklet A practice to build MCQ speed and accuracy, since each question is worth 2 marks.

5Revise lower-primary P3 and P4 topics too, such as magnets, materials and the digestive system, because all P3-P6 content can be tested.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is PSLE Science scored in 2026?

PSLE Science is marked out of 100 and reported using Achievement Levels AL1 to AL8. AL1 needs 90 marks or above, AL4 is 75-79, and AL8 is below 20. There is no pass or fail mark; each AL reflects mastery against fixed standards rather than ranking against other students.

What is the format of the PSLE Science paper?

Standard Science has two booklets in one 1 hour 45 minute sitting. Booklet A is multiple-choice (four options per question) and Booklet B is open-ended/structured questions needing written explanations. From 2026, Booklet A carries 60 marks (30 MCQs at 2 marks each) and Booklet B carries 40 marks.

What topics does PSLE Science cover?

The MOE syllabus is built on five themes: Diversity, Cycles, Systems, Interactions and Energy. Questions span all Primary 3 to Primary 6 content, including classification, life cycles, the water cycle, human body systems, forces, food chains, adaptations, photosynthesis, heat and light.

Who sets and administers PSLE Science?

PSLE Science is set and administered by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) on behalf of the Ministry of Education (MOE). The Standard Science subject code is 0009, and there is also a Foundation Science paper for eligible students.

Are open-ended questions important in PSLE Science?

Yes. Booklet B carries 40 marks and rewards precise science keywords, causal reasoning and complete answers. Process-skills questions on variables, fair tests, predictions and inferences appear in every paper, so students should practise writing clear, rubric-aligned explanations.

Free Practice Questions for PSLE Science

Singapore PSLE - Science