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120+ Free PSSA Grade 5 Science Practice Questions

Prepare for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) Grade 5 Science Examination exam with instant access — no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: PSSA Grade 5 Science Exam

100 Questions

Practice Question Bank

OpenExamPrep PSSA Grade 5 Bank

4 Domains

Reporting Categories

PDE PSSA Test Specifications

Grade 5

Target Grade Level

Pennsylvania STEELS Standards

Proficient

State Standard Cut Score

Pennsylvania Department of Education

The PSSA Grade 5 Science assessment tests elementary students in Pennsylvania across four main domains: Life Sciences (35%), Physical Sciences (30%), Earth and Space Sciences (25%), and Scientific Inquiry (10%). This comprehensive 100-question practice test bank covers essential 5th-grade topics including matter, energy, simple machines, cell functions, photosynthesis, food webs, adaptations, the rock cycle, water cycle, planetary motions, and experimental design.

Sample PSSA Grade 5 Science Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your PSSA Grade 5 Science exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 120+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A student places 100 mL of liquid water into a freezer. The next day, the water has turned into solid ice. Which property of the water changed during this process?
A.The chemical composition of the water molecules
B.The state of matter from liquid to solid
C.The total number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms
D.The mass of the water destroyed during freezing
Explanation: Freezing is a physical change that alters the state of matter from a liquid to a solid without changing the water's chemical identity (H2O) or destroying atoms.
2Which of the following actions is an example of a physical change?
A.Cutting a wooden log into smaller kindling sticks
B.Burning a piece of wood in a campfire until only ash remains
C.Baking bread dough in an oven to form a crusty loaf
D.Rusting an iron nail exposed to rain and air
Explanation: Cutting wood alters only its size and shape (a physical change); the underlying substance remains wood.
3A student tests several objects in a simple battery-and-bulb circuit. Which material will allow electricity to flow and light the bulb?
A.A plastic drinking straw
B.A copper paperclip
C.A wooden Popsicle stick
D.A rubber eraser
Explanation: Copper is a metal and a good electrical conductor, allowing electric current to pass through and complete the circuit.
4What scientific term describes the amount of matter present in an object?
A.Volume
B.Mass
C.Temperature
D.Length
Explanation: Mass is the fundamental scientific measure of the amount of matter in an object, typically measured in grams or kilograms.
5When a student drops a tennis ball from a height of two meters, it falls downward to the floor. Which force causes the ball to fall?
A.Magnetism
B.Friction
C.Gravity
D.Air resistance
Explanation: Gravity is the attractive force that pulls objects toward Earth's center.
6Which energy form travels from the Sun through space to heat Earth's surface and illuminate the daytime sky?
A.Sound energy
B.Light and thermal energy
C.Chemical energy
D.Nuclear radiation only
Explanation: The Sun releases electromagnetic radiation (light energy) and thermal energy (heat) that travel through the vacuum of space to reach Earth.
7A ramp is used to roll heavy boxes onto a truck bed. Which type of simple machine is a ramp?
A.Lever
B.Inclined plane
C.Pulley
D.Wedge
Explanation: A ramp is an inclined plane—a sloped surface that reduces the force needed to raise a heavy load by increasing the distance over which the force is applied.
8How is sound energy produced when a guitarist plucks a guitar string?
A.The string heats up and produces light waves
B.The string vibrates rapidly back and forth, pushing air molecules
C.The string creates electrical charges that flow into the air
D.The string absorbs magnetic forces from the surrounding room
Explanation: Sound is produced by vibrations. Plucking a string causes it to vibrate, creating compressions and rarefactions in surrounding air molecules that travel to our ears.
9When table salt is stirred into warm water, the salt crystals disappear and the liquid remains clear. What has been formed?
A.A new chemical element
B.A solution
C.A gas mixture
D.A solid precipitate
Explanation: A solution is a homogeneous mixture formed when a solute (salt) dissolves completely and evenly into a solvent (water).
10A student drops four different solid blocks of equal volume into a tank of tap water (density = 1.0 g/cm³): - Block W: 0.8 g/cm³ - Block X: 1.2 g/cm³ - Block Y: 0.5 g/cm³ - Block Z: 2.7 g/cm³ Which blocks will sink to the bottom of the water tank?
A.Blocks W and Y only
B.Blocks X and Z only
C.Block Z only
D.Blocks W, X, Y, and Z
Explanation: An object sinks if its density is greater than the liquid's density (1.0 g/cm³). Blocks X (1.2 g/cm³) and Z (2.7 g/cm³) have densities greater than 1.0 g/cm³, so they sink.

About the PSSA Grade 5 Science Exam

The PSSA Grade 5 Science Assessment measures student proficiency against the Pennsylvania Academic Standards and STEELS (Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability) frameworks for 5th grade. It assesses core concepts across Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, and Scientific Inquiry.

Assessment

Two sections of 23 autoscored one-point items and 2 three-point open-ended items each. The STEELS blueprint targets 20-30% of the core in each of four reporting categories: Life Sciences and Environmental Literacy & Sustainability, Physical Sciences, Earth & Space Sciences, and Technology and Engineering.

Time Limit

Untimed; PDE's 2025 Science test design plans two sections with an estimated 41 minutes of testing each. Delivered online only beginning with the Spring 2026 administration.

Passing Score

Proficient or Advanced performance level

Exam Fee

Free for Pennsylvania public school students (Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE))

PSSA Grade 5 Science Exam Content Outline

20%-30%

Life Sciences and Environmental Literacy & Sustainability

Matter and energy in ecosystems, food webs, producers/consumers/decomposers, plant and animal structures and adaptations, and human impacts on the environment.

20%-30%

Physical Sciences

Properties and conservation of matter, particles too small to be seen, mixtures and solutions, forms of energy, and gravity directed toward Earth's center.

20%-30%

Earth & Space Sciences

Interacting Earth systems, distribution of Earth's water, rock and water cycles, weather vs. climate, and Sun/Earth/Moon patterns including day/night, shadows, and star brightness.

20%-30%

Technology and Engineering

Defining design problems with criteria and constraints, comparing multiple solutions, planning fair tests with controlled variables, identifying failure points and improving prototypes, safe use of tools, and evaluating impacts of technology.

How to Pass the PSSA Grade 5 Science Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Proficient or Advanced performance level
  • Assessment: Two sections of 23 autoscored one-point items and 2 three-point open-ended items each. The STEELS blueprint targets 20-30% of the core in each of four reporting categories: Life Sciences and Environmental Literacy & Sustainability, Physical Sciences, Earth & Space Sciences, and Technology and Engineering.
  • Time limit: Untimed; PDE's 2025 Science test design plans two sections with an estimated 41 minutes of testing each. Delivered online only beginning with the Spring 2026 administration.
  • Exam fee: Free for Pennsylvania public school students

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 120 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

PSSA Grade 5 Science Study Tips from Top Performers

1Understand physical vs. chemical changes: physical changes alter state or appearance without creating new substances, while chemical changes form new substances with new properties.
2Diagram the water cycle and food webs: trace water movement through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and transpiration; trace energy flow from sunlight to producers to consumers and decomposers.
3Differentiate rotation from revolution: Earth rotates on its axis every 24 hours (causing day/night) and revolves around the Sun every 365.25 days (causing seasons along with axial tilt).
4Master experimental variables: identify the independent variable (what the scientist changes), dependent variable (what is measured), and controlled variables (what stays the same).
5Practice interpreting tables and line graphs: always read column headers, axis titles, and scale increments before answering questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PSSA Grade 5 Science Assessment?

The PSSA Grade 5 Science Assessment is Pennsylvania's statewide standardized test administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to evaluate 5th-grade students' understanding of state science standards and STEELS frameworks.

What content domains are tested on PSSA Grade 5 Science?

The exam evaluates four key areas: Life Sciences (35%), Physical Sciences (30%), Earth and Space Sciences (25%), and Scientific Inquiry (10%).

How are PSSA Grade 5 Science test results categorized?

Student performance is classified into four achievement levels: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced. Achieving 'Proficient' or 'Advanced' indicates that the student meets state standards for Grade 5 science.

Is the PSSA Grade 5 Science exam timed?

The PSSA is administered as an untimed test. School districts typically schedule two separate testing sessions (usually 45 to 60 minutes each) so that all students have ample time to complete every question.

What standards are used for the Grade 5 Science PSSA?

The test is aligned with Pennsylvania's Academic Standards for Science and Technology and Environment & Ecology, incorporating the updated STEELS (Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability) standards.