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100+ Free New Hampshire NH SAS Science Grade 8 Practice Questions

Prepare for the New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System Science — Grade 8 exam with instant access — no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: New Hampshire NH SAS Science Grade 8 Exam

NHDOE

State Agency

New Hampshire Department of Education, Office of Assessment

18 items (6 clusters + 12 stand-alone)

Official Test Length

NH SAS 2022-23 Technical Report Vol. 2 Part 2, Table 13

Equal thirds across PS, LS, ESS

Discipline Split

NH SAS Science Test Blueprint

2 hours

Estimated Testing Time

NH SAS Test Administration Manual, Table 2

English and Spanish

Delivery Languages

NH SAS Test Administration Manual

Prepare for the NH SAS Science Grade 8 test with 100 phenomenon-framed practice questions across physical, life, and earth and space science, set against the official 18-item blueprint of 6 clusters and 12 stand-alone items.

Sample New Hampshire NH SAS Science Grade 8 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your New Hampshire NH SAS Science Grade 8 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A student seals 25 g of baking soda and 30 g of vinegar in a sealed plastic bag. After the fizzing stops, the student finds the bag now holds 50 g of liquid and gas. The student is confused because 25 + 30 = 55, not 50. Which conclusion is best supported by this observation?
A.Some matter appears missing because the bag was sealed but the balance was not precise enough to measure gas pressure.
B.Matter is not conserved in a chemical reaction when gases are produced inside a sealed container.
C.The reaction converted some of the reactants into energy, which is why the mass decreased.
D.The mass was always conserved; the bag leaked gas and the total would still be 55 g if nothing escaped.
Explanation: In any chemical reaction the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products (conservation of mass). A sealed but imperfect bag can let carbon dioxide gas escape, so the 5 g difference is most likely gas that left the container, not matter destroyed.
2A student places a small piece of steel wool on a digital balance and reads 5.00 g. After burning the steel wool in air, the gray wool becomes black and brittle, and the balance now reads 5.80 g. Which statement best explains why the mass increased?
A.The fire created new matter from the flame, adding mass to the wool.
B.Oxygen from the air combined with the iron in the steel wool to form iron oxide, increasing the total mass.
C.The heat caused the atoms in the steel wool to expand so each atom weighed more.
D.The black coating is ash, which is lighter than steel, so the reading must be wrong.
Explanation: When iron burns in air it reacts with oxygen to form iron oxide (rust/combustion product). The added mass comes from oxygen atoms chemically bonding to the iron atoms, consistent with conservation of mass when all reactants are accounted for, including the gas from the air.
3Two clear liquids, A and B, are mixed in a beaker. The beaker feels cold to the touch and a white solid forms at the bottom. Which claim is best supported by these observations?
A.A chemical reaction occurred and released energy into the surroundings.
B.A chemical reaction occurred and absorbed energy from the surroundings.
C.A physical change occurred because no new substance was formed.
D.The temperature drop proves the liquids simply evaporated.
Explanation: Formation of a white solid (a precipitate, a new substance) signals a chemical reaction. Because the beaker feels cold, the reaction absorbed thermal energy from the surroundings, which is characteristic of an endothermic reaction.
4A model of a substance shows particles packed tightly in a fixed, repeating pattern and vibrating in place. When energy is added, the particles begin sliding past one another while still touching. Which change of state does this model represent?
A.Melting from a solid to a liquid.
B.Boiling from a liquid to a gas.
C.Freezing from a liquid to a solid.
D.Condensing from a gas to a liquid.
Explanation: Particles vibrating in fixed positions describe a solid. When energy is added, the particles gain enough energy to overcome some attractive forces and slide past one another while staying in contact, which is the particle model of a liquid. This transition is melting.
5A sample of an unknown pure substance is divided into two pieces. Piece 1 has a mass of 12 g and a volume of 4 cm³. Piece 2 has a mass of 24 g and a volume of 8 cm³. What can be concluded about the substance?
A.The substance is a compound because density changed with sample size.
B.The density of both pieces is the same, 3 g/cm³, because density is an intensive property.
C.Piece 2 is denser because it has more mass than Piece 1.
D.The density cannot be determined without knowing the melting point.
Explanation: Density is mass divided by volume. Piece 1 is 12/4 = 3 g/cm³ and Piece 2 is 24/8 = 3 g/cm³. Because density is an intensive property, it stays the same for any sample of the same pure substance regardless of size.
6A sports drink contains water, sugar, electrolytes, and food coloring. Which statement correctly classifies the drink?
A.It is a pure substance because all the ingredients dissolve into a single clear liquid.
B.It is a mixture because it contains more than one substance that can be separated by physical means.
C.It is a compound because the sugar and water chemically bonded when mixed.
D.It is an element because it is made of one phase of matter.
Explanation: A mixture contains two or more substances combined physically, not chemically, and can be separated by physical means such as boiling or filtering. The sports drink keeps each ingredient's identity and can be separated, so it is a mixture.
7A class compares a natural cotton fiber with a synthetic polyester fiber under a microscope. Which statement best describes an advantage of the synthetic material?
A.Synthetic fibers are always safer for the environment than natural fibers.
B.Synthetic fibers can be engineered to have specific properties such as water resistance or high strength.
C.Synthetic fibers are made without using any raw materials from Earth.
D.Synthetic fibers will always biodegrade faster than natural fibers.
Explanation: Synthetic materials are designed by chemists so that their properties (strength, water resistance, stretch, durability) can be tailored for a specific use. This engineered control is a key advantage over natural materials, whose properties are fixed by their natural structure.
8In a sealed container, hydrogen gas (H₂) reacts with oxygen gas (O₂) to form water vapor (H₂O). Which statement is consistent with conservation of mass and the rearrangement of atoms?
A.The hydrogen and oxygen atoms are destroyed and replaced with new water atoms.
B.The same number and type of atoms present before the reaction are present after, just rearranged into water molecules.
C.The total mass of the water produced is greater than the mass of the reactants because a gas was used.
D.Some oxygen atoms turn into hydrogen atoms during the reaction to balance the equation.
Explanation: In a chemical reaction, atoms are neither created nor destroyed; they are rearranged into new substances. The same atoms of hydrogen and oxygen present as reactants are still present in the water molecules, so mass is conserved.
9A balloon is rubbed with wool and then brought near small pieces of paper. The paper jumps up and sticks to the balloon. Which explanation describes the force involved?
A.Gravity pulls the paper toward the charged balloon.
B.The balloon became electrically charged, and the electric force attracts the neutral paper pieces.
C.Magnetic force from the wool pulls the paper toward the balloon.
D.The paper becomes radioactive when near the balloon and is attracted to it.
Explanation: Rubbing the balloon with wool transfers electrons, giving the balloon a net electric charge. A charged object can attract neutral objects such as paper bits by inducing a separation of charge in them, so the electric force is what makes the paper jump.
10Two ice skaters stand at rest on frictionless ice. Skater A pushes Skater B. Skater B moves forward and Skater A moves backward. Skater A has twice the mass of Skater B. Which statement is correct?
A.Skater B exerts no force on Skater A, so only Skater A moves.
B.Skater B exerts an equal and opposite force on Skater A; Skater B accelerates more because it has less mass.
C.Both skaters feel the same size force and therefore accelerate by the same amount.
D.Skater A exerts a larger force on Skater B than Skater B exerts on Skater A.
Explanation: Newton's third law says the forces the two skaters exert on each other are equal in size and opposite in direction. Because Skater B has less mass, the same force produces a greater acceleration on Skater B (a = F/m), so Skater B speeds up more.

About the New Hampshire NH SAS Science Grade 8 Exam

The New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System (NH SAS) Science assessment is given in grades 5 and 8 and in the second year of high school. At Grade 8 it measures proficiency on the NGSS-based New Hampshire science standards using phenomenon-based item clusters and stand-alone items drawn equally from Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth and Space Science. NHDOE offers the Science session in Spanish as well as English. This 100-question practice bank is an English-language four-option MCQ study adaptation.

Assessment

One online Science session on the NH SAS Portal (Cambium Assessment) built from 6 phenomenon-based item clusters and 12 stand-alone items. Each cluster follows an assessment storyline and asks students to connect science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts. This local bank contains 100 English four-option practice MCQs.

Time Limit

Not timed; NHDOE estimates 2 hours

Passing Score

No pass mark. Four achievement levels are reported (Level 1 through Level 4); Levels 3 and 4 count as proficient and above. Scale score ranges differ by grade and subject.

Exam Fee

No fee to students (New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE))

New Hampshire NH SAS Science Grade 8 Exam Content Outline

2 clusters + 4 stand-alone items

Physical Science

Matter and its interactions, chemical reactions and conservation of mass, forces and interactions, kinetic and potential energy, thermal energy transfer, and waves and electromagnetic radiation.

2 clusters + 4 stand-alone items

Life Science

Cells and body systems, growth and reproduction, photosynthesis and matter and energy in ecosystems, interdependence and ecosystem dynamics, heredity, and natural selection and adaptation.

2 clusters + 4 stand-alone items

Earth and Space Science

Space systems and gravity, the rock record and Earth's history, plate motion and Earth's systems, the water cycle, weather and climate, natural resources and hazards, and human impacts.

How to Pass the New Hampshire NH SAS Science Grade 8 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No pass mark. Four achievement levels are reported (Level 1 through Level 4); Levels 3 and 4 count as proficient and above. Scale score ranges differ by grade and subject.
  • Assessment: One online Science session on the NH SAS Portal (Cambium Assessment) built from 6 phenomenon-based item clusters and 12 stand-alone items. Each cluster follows an assessment storyline and asks students to connect science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts. This local bank contains 100 English four-option practice MCQs.
  • Time limit: Not timed; NHDOE estimates 2 hours
  • Exam fee: No fee to students

Keys to Passing

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

New Hampshire NH SAS Science Grade 8 Study Tips from Top Performers

1For each phenomenon, connect a science practice, a disciplinary core idea, and a crosscutting concept before choosing an answer.
2Trace matter and energy through the system in question, whether that is a chemical reaction, a food web, or Earth's water cycle.
3Separate the mechanism of natural selection from the evidence that evolution has occurred.
4In engineering-flavoured items, name the criterion the design must meet and the constraint it must work within.
5Use evidence from the stimulus rather than outside knowledge when a question says 'based on the data'.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NH SAS Science Grade 8 test?

It is the New Hampshire Statewide Assessment System Science assessment for Grade 8, delivered online through the NH SAS Portal (Cambium Assessment) each spring. It uses phenomenon-based item clusters and stand-alone items aligned to the NGSS-based New Hampshire science standards.

How many questions are on the real NH SAS Science test?

The published blueprint is fixed at 18 items: 6 item clusters and 12 stand-alone items, with 2 clusters and 4 stand-alone items from each of Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth and Space Science.

Is engineering design a separate section?

No. Engineering performance expectations are flagged inside the three science disciplines and are assessed as part of them, so NH SAS does not report a separate engineering score.

Is the NH SAS Science test available in Spanish?

Yes. NHDOE offers a Spanish presentation for the Science and Mathematics sessions; for science the proctor selects the Spanish version of the test session. This practice bank is English-language only.

Which grades take NH SAS Science?

Grades 5 and 8 and, from the 2026-27 school year, the second year of high school. Through spring 2026 the high school science administration was in the third year of high school.