100+ Free KAP Science Grade 5 Practice Questions

Prepare for the Kansas Assessment Program Summative Science — Grade 5 exam with instant access — no signup required.

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Key Facts: KAP Science Grade 5 Exam

Grade 5

First elementary science assessment milestone in Kansas

KSDE Science Assessment Guidelines

Untimed

Administered in 2 flexible sessions (~45-60 min each)

KAP Test Administration Manual

Level 3

Effective Performance grade-level benchmark target

KSDE KAP Performance Level Descriptors

Kite Portal

Computer-based delivery engine developed by ATS

ATS University of Kansas

3 Domains

Physical, Life, and Earth & Space Sciences

Kansas Curriculum Standards for Science

100%

Free state-funded assessment for Kansas public schools

KSDE Statewide Testing Policy

KAP Grade 5 Science is Kansas's free statewide online assessment evaluating NGSS-aligned science standards across Physical, Life, and Earth/Space sciences, with Level 3 marking the grade-level benchmark.

Sample KAP Science Grade 5 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your KAP Science Grade 5 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A student tests four different rods to see which one conducts electricity to light a bulb in a circuit. Which material will allow the bulb to light?

A.A glass stirring rod

B.A copper wire rod

C.A wooden dowel rod

D.A plastic drinking straw

Explanation: Copper is a metal, and metals are good electrical conductors that allow electric current to flow through a circuit. Wood, plastic, and glass are electrical insulators that prevent the flow of electric current.

2A student measures 100 grams of water and 15 grams of sugar. The student stirs the sugar into the water until it completely dissolves and can no longer be seen. What is the total mass of the liquid mixture?

A.130 grams

B.115 grams

C.100 grams

D.85 grams

Explanation: According to the law of conservation of mass, matter is neither created nor destroyed during dissolving. The total mass of the mixture is equal to the sum of the water mass and the dissolved sugar mass (100 g + 15 g = 115 g).

3An ice cube with a mass of 20 grams is placed in a sealed container with a mass of 50 grams. After sitting at room temperature, the ice cube melts completely into liquid water. What is the total mass of the sealed container and water?

A.90 grams

B.50 grams

C.70 grams

D.60 grams

Explanation: Melting is a physical change of state. The mass of the water remains 20 grams whether solid or liquid, so the total mass of the container (50 g) plus the water (20 g) stays exactly 70 grams.

4Which physical property can be used to separate iron filings from a mixture of sand and iron filings without adding water?

A.Electrical conductivity

B.Response to magnetic force

C.Boiling point

D.Solubility in water

Explanation: Iron is a magnetic metal, while sand is non-magnetic. Passing a magnet over the mixture pulls the iron filings out while leaving the sand behind.

5A metal spoon and a wooden spoon are placed into a pot of hot soup. After two minutes, the handle of the metal spoon feels much hotter than the wooden spoon handle. Why does this happen?

A.Wood reflects all light energy from the kitchen

B.Metal is a better thermal conductor than wood

C.Metal absorbs heat energy and destroys it

D.Wood produces its own cold thermal energy

Explanation: Metals have high thermal conductivity, allowing heat energy to transfer quickly from the hot soup up through the handle. Wood is a thermal insulator and transfers heat very slowly.

6A student pours 200 grams of water into a beaker and adds 10 grams of table salt. After stirring, the salt dissolves. The beaker is left in a warm room until all the water evaporates. How much solid salt will remain in the beaker?

A.0 grams

B.5 grams

C.210 grams

D.10 grams

Explanation: When water evaporates, only the liquid water changes into gas and leaves the beaker. The dissolved salt remains behind with its original mass of 10 grams conserved.

7When an apple falls from a tree branch, in which direction does Earth's gravity pull the apple?

A.Toward the North Pole

B.In the direction the wind is blowing

C.Directly downward toward the center of Earth

D.Toward the Sun

Explanation: Earth's gravitational force exerts a pull on all objects near its surface directly downward toward the center of Earth, regardless of location.

8What is the primary source of energy that powers almost all food chains on Earth?

A.Sunlight energy

B.Wind energy

C.Geothermal heat from underground rocks

D.Electrical energy from lightning

Explanation: Sunlight is the ultimate energy source for ecosystems. Plants use light energy from the Sun during photosynthesis to produce food, which then flows to animals through food chains.

9Which activity is an example of a physical change rather than a chemical change?

A.Cutting a piece of cardboard into small squares

B.Rusting of an iron nail left outside in the rain

C.Burning a piece of paper in a campfire

D.Baking a cake from flour, eggs, and sugar

Explanation: Cutting cardboard changes its shape and size, but the material remains cardboard. This is a physical change because no new chemical substance is formed.

10A student leaves a bowl of liquid water outside on a sunny day. By afternoon, the bowl is empty. What happened to the water particles?

A.They turned into solid dust particles

B.They sank into the solid material of the bowl

C.They gained thermal energy and evaporated into gas in the air

D.They were destroyed by sunlight

Explanation: As liquid water absorbs heat energy from the Sun, its particles move faster and escape into the atmosphere as water vapor gas. Matter is conserved in gas form.

About the KAP Science Grade 5 Exam

The Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) Summative Science Grade 5 assessment measures student achievement on the Kansas Curriculum Standards for Science (aligned to Next Generation Science Standards). The test evaluates student understanding across Physical Science (matter properties, conservation of mass, chemical changes, gravity, energy transfer), Life Science (photosynthesis, plant mass sources, ecosystem food webs, matter cycling), and Earth & Space Science (Earth's spheres, global water distribution, shadow movements, seasonal constellation patterns, engineering design). OpenExamPrep provides a comprehensive 100-question practice bank designed to reinforce these core concepts.

Assessment

Variable-length assessment

Time Limit

Untimed (administered in two testing sessions of approximately 45–60 minutes each).

Passing Score

Level 3 (Proficient) on the 400–700 KAP scale (Level 3 cut score 540; levels Limited/Basic/Proficient/Advanced)

Exam Fee

Free for all enrolled Kansas public school students (state-funded). (Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) / Assessment & Technology Solutions (ATS) at the University of Kansas (formerly CETE))

KAP Science Grade 5 Exam Content Outline

35–50%

Physical Science

Properties and conservation of matter, physical vs. chemical changes, mixtures and solutions, gravity, and energy transfer (5-PS1, 5-PS2, 5-PS3).

20–35%

Life Science

Matter and energy flow in ecosystems, food webs, plant growth from air and water, and decomposers (5-LS1, 5-LS2).

25–40%

Earth & Space Science

Earth’s spheres and their interactions, water distribution and conservation, shadows and daily/seasonal patterns, and star brightness and distance (5-ESS1, 5-ESS2, 5-ESS3).

How to Pass the KAP Science Grade 5 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Level 3 (Proficient) on the 400–700 KAP scale (Level 3 cut score 540; levels Limited/Basic/Proficient/Advanced)
Assessment: Variable-length assessment
Time limit: Untimed (administered in two testing sessions of approximately 45–60 minutes each).
Exam fee: Free for all enrolled Kansas public school students (state-funded).

Keys to Passing

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

KAP Science Grade 5 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Review the particle model of matter and practice explaining how mass is conserved during physical and chemical changes.

2Understand plant growth requirements, emphasizing that plant matter comes primarily from carbon dioxide in air and water, powered by sunlight.

3Trace energy flows in food webs starting from producers to primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers, including decomposers.

4Study Earth's four spheres (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere) and how they interact in local and global events.

5Analyze shadow pattern data, day/night rotations, and seasonal constellation shifts caused by Earth's motion.

6Practice multi-step engineering design questions, identifying criteria, constraints, and methods to test solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the KAP Science Grade 5 assessment?

The Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) Science assessment is the official statewide summative exam for Kansas 5th grade students. Developed by ATS for KSDE, it measures student proficiency in the Kansas Curriculum Standards for Science across physical, life, and Earth/space sciences.

Is the KAP Grade 5 Science exam timed?

No. The KAP Science assessment is untimed. Standard administration is split into two sessions of roughly 45 to 60 minutes each, but students are given as much time as needed to finish within scheduled test windows.

What are the KAP performance levels?

Student scores are reported across four performance levels: Level 1 (Limited), Level 2 (Basic), Level 3 (Proficient / Target Benchmark), and Level 4 (Advanced). Level 3 signifies that a student has met grade-level expectations.

How is the KAP Science test delivered?

KAP exams are computer-based and administered through the Kite Student Portal platform, managed by ATS at the University of Kansas.

Is there a fee to take the KAP Science exam?

No. The KAP assessment is a state-mandated, state-funded test provided at no cost to public school students in Kansas.

How does this practice bank help prepare students?

This 100-question practice bank covers all Grade 5 Kansas science standards with thorough explanations for correct and incorrect answers, reinforcing core scientific phenomena and inquiry skills.

100+ Free KAP Science Grade 5 Practice Questions

KAP Summative Science Grade 5