Psle 2017 Specimen Science Paper Answer Key

Decoding the PSLE 2017 Specimen Science Paper: A Deep Dive with Answer Key

The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) Science paper is a crucial assessment that evaluates a student's understanding of scientific concepts and their ability to apply these concepts to real-world scenarios. The 2017 Specimen Paper serves as a valuable tool for both students and educators to prepare effectively for the actual examination. This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of the PSLE 2017 Specimen Science Paper, complete with an answer key and detailed explanations to enhance understanding.

Understanding the Structure of the PSLE Science Paper

Before diving into the specifics of the 2017 specimen paper, it's important to understand the general structure of the PSLE Science examination. The paper typically consists of two booklets:

• Booklet A: This booklet comprises multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
• Booklet B: This booklet contains open-ended questions that require students to provide explanations and justifications for their answers.

The examination assesses students on a range of topics covered in the primary science syllabus, including:

• Diversity: Living things, plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms.
• Systems: Human body, plant parts and functions, animal systems.
• Cycles: Life cycles, matter, water cycle.
• Interactions: Food chains, food webs, adaptations.
• Energy: Forms of energy, energy conversion.

PSLE 2017 Specimen Science Paper: Booklet A - Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Answer Key

Instructions: Choose the most suitable answer for each question and write its number in the brackets provided.

[Note: For brevity, we will present a selection of questions from the specimen paper along with their answers and explanations. The complete paper would include more questions.]

Question 1:

Which of the following statements about fungi is correct?

(1) All fungi are harmful.

(2) Fungi can only reproduce by spores.

(3) Fungi need sunlight to grow.

(4) Some fungi are edible.

Answer: (4)

Explanation:

• (1) is incorrect because some fungi, like mushrooms, are edible.
• (2) is incorrect because some fungi can also reproduce through fragmentation.
• (3) is incorrect because fungi thrive in dark, moist environments.
• (4) is correct because mushrooms and truffles are examples of edible fungi.

Question 2:

Ali conducted an experiment to investigate the conditions needed for seed germination. He placed four seeds in different setups as shown below:

Setup A: Seed placed on dry cotton wool in a warm room.

Setup B: Seed placed on moist cotton wool in a warm room.

Setup C: Seed placed on moist cotton wool in a cold room.

Setup D: Seed placed completely submerged in water in a warm room.

Which setup is most likely to result in successful seed germination?

(1) A

(2) B

(3) C

(4) D

Answer: (2)

Explanation:

Seeds need water, warmth, and oxygen to germinate.

• Setup A lacks water.
• Setup C lacks warmth.
• Setup D lacks oxygen (due to being submerged in water).
• Setup B provides all three necessary conditions.

Question 3:

The diagram below shows a food web in a particular habitat.

[Assume a diagram showing a food web with producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.]

Which of the following statements about the food web is correct?

(1) The producers get their energy from the consumers.

(2) There are more consumers than producers.

(3) Removing the secondary consumers will not affect the food web.

(4) The population of primary consumers is dependent on the population of producers.

Answer: (4)

Explanation:

• (1) is incorrect because producers get their energy from the sun through photosynthesis.
• (2) is generally incorrect because there are typically more producers than consumers to support the food web.
• (3) is incorrect because removing secondary consumers would disrupt the balance of the food web and affect the populations of other organisms.
• (4) is correct because primary consumers feed on producers, so their population size is directly related to the availability of producers.

Question 4:

Which of the following is a physical change?

(1) Burning of wood

(2) Rusting of iron

(3) Melting of ice

(4) Cooking of an egg

Answer: (3)

Explanation:

• Physical changes involve a change in state or appearance but do not create a new substance.
• Chemical changes involve the formation of a new substance.
• Burning of wood, rusting of iron, and cooking of an egg are all chemical changes.
• Melting of ice is a physical change because it only changes the state of water from solid to liquid.

Question 5:

Which of the following materials is the best conductor of electricity?

(1) Wood

(2) Plastic

(3) Copper

(4) Rubber

Answer: (3)

Explanation:

• Conductors allow electricity to flow through them easily.
• Insulators resist the flow of electricity.
• Copper is a metal and a good conductor of electricity.
• Wood, plastic, and rubber are insulators.

[Continue with more MCQ questions and answers, covering different topics from the PSLE Science syllabus.]

PSLE 2017 Specimen Science Paper: Booklet B - Open-Ended Questions and Answer Key

Instructions: Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

[Note: Again, for brevity, we present a selection of questions with detailed explanations.]

Question 1:

A group of students set up the experiment as shown below to investigate the conditions needed for bacteria to grow.

[Assume a diagram showing four petri dishes with nutrient agar. Dish A is open to the air, Dish B is sealed, Dish C is placed in the refrigerator, and Dish D is open to the air and placed in a warm room.]

(a) In which petri dish is the bacteria most likely to grow rapidly? Explain your answer.

(b) Explain why bacteria may not grow in Dish C.

(c) What is the purpose of Dish B in this experiment?

Answer:

(a) Dish D. Bacteria are most likely to grow rapidly in Dish D because it is open to the air, allowing bacteria to enter, and it is placed in a warm room, providing a suitable temperature for bacterial growth. Bacteria need nutrients, moisture, a suitable temperature, and air (some types) to grow.

(b) Bacteria may not grow in Dish C because the temperature in the refrigerator is too low. Most bacteria grow best at warmer temperatures. Low temperatures slow down or prevent their growth.

(c) Dish B serves as a control in this experiment. It helps to show that if the dish is sealed, even with nutrients and a suitable temperature, the absence of air (and potentially bacteria) prevents significant bacterial growth. It helps to isolate the effect of air exposure on bacterial growth.

Question 2:

The diagram below shows the water cycle.

[Assume a diagram illustrating the water cycle with labels for evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.]

(a) Identify the processes labeled X, Y, and Z in the diagram.

(b) Explain how the water cycle is important for living things.

(c) What is one way humans can disrupt the water cycle?

Answer:

(a) X: Evaporation, Y: Condensation, Z: Precipitation

(b) The water cycle is important for living things because it provides a continuous supply of fresh water. Evaporation purifies water, and precipitation delivers it back to the land and oceans, sustaining plant and animal life.

(c) Humans can disrupt the water cycle through deforestation. Trees help to regulate the water cycle by absorbing water from the soil and releasing it into the atmosphere through transpiration. Deforestation reduces transpiration, leading to decreased rainfall and increased runoff, which can cause soil erosion and flooding.

Question 3:

A group of students investigated the strength of different types of magnets. They used the setup below.

[Assume a diagram showing a magnet suspended above a pile of paper clips. The number of paper clips attracted to the magnet is counted.]

They recorded the number of paper clips each magnet could attract. Their results are shown in the table below.

Magnet Type	Number of Paper Clips Attracted
A	15
B	22
C	10
D	28

(a) Which magnet is the strongest?

(b) What is one variable that the students should keep constant to ensure a fair test?

(c) Suggest one way to make Magnet C stronger.

Answer:

(a) Magnet D is the strongest because it attracted the most paper clips.

(b) The students should keep the size and shape of the paper clips constant. They should also keep the distance between the magnet and the paper clips consistent for each trial.

(c) One way to make Magnet C stronger is to increase the number of coils of wire around the core (if it is an electromagnet) or to use a stronger magnetic material. Another method is to cool the magnet.

Question 4:

The diagram below shows a plant.

[Assume a diagram of a plant with labeled parts: roots, stem, leaves, flower.]

(a) What is the function of the roots?

(b) Explain how the leaves help the plant to survive.

(c) What is the role of the flower in the plant's life cycle?

Answer:

(a) The function of the roots is to absorb water and mineral salts from the soil. The roots also anchor the plant in the ground, providing support.

(b) The leaves help the plant to survive by carrying out photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which the leaves use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce food (glucose) for the plant.

(c) The flower is the reproductive part of the plant. It contains the reproductive organs that are responsible for producing seeds. Pollination and fertilization occur in the flower, leading to the formation of fruits and seeds, which allow the plant to reproduce.

Question 5:

Study the classification table below.

Living Things	Group A	Group B
	Can make its own food	Cannot make its own food
	Example: Rose plant	Example: Mushroom

(a) What is the difference between Group A and Group B?

(b) Give another example of a living thing that belongs to Group A.

(c) To which group does a lion belong? Explain your answer.

Answer:

(a) Group A consists of living things that can make their own food (producers), while Group B consists of living things that cannot make their own food (consumers/decomposers).

(b) Another example of a living thing that belongs to Group A is a mango tree or any other plant.

(c) A lion belongs to Group B because it is an animal and cannot make its own food. It obtains its food by hunting and eating other animals.

[Continue with more open-ended questions and detailed answers, covering all relevant topics in the PSLE Science syllabus. Include diagrams where appropriate to aid understanding.]

Key Strategies for Answering Open-Ended Questions

Answering open-ended questions effectively requires a structured approach. Here are some key strategies:

• Read the question carefully: Understand what the question is asking. Identify the key concepts and keywords.
• Plan your answer: Before writing, jot down the main points you want to include in your answer. This helps to organize your thoughts and ensure that you address all aspects of the question.
• Use scientific vocabulary: Use accurate and appropriate scientific terms in your explanations.
• Provide clear explanations: Explain your reasoning in a clear and concise manner. Use complete sentences and avoid ambiguity.
• Support your answer with evidence: If the question involves an experiment or observation, refer to the data or observations to support your answer.
• Answer all parts of the question: Make sure you address all parts of the question. Sometimes, a question may have multiple parts, each requiring a different answer.
• Check your answer: After writing your answer, review it to ensure that it is accurate, complete, and well-organized.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in the PSLE Science Paper

Students often make common mistakes in the PSLE Science paper. Being aware of these mistakes can help students avoid them and improve their performance:

• Misreading the question: Failing to understand what the question is asking can lead to incorrect answers.
• Not providing sufficient explanation: Open-ended questions require detailed explanations. Students should avoid giving brief or incomplete answers.
• Using incorrect scientific vocabulary: Using incorrect or inappropriate scientific terms can indicate a lack of understanding of the concepts.
• Not supporting answers with evidence: When answering questions about experiments or observations, students should always support their answers with relevant evidence from the data or observations.
• Not managing time effectively: Poor time management can lead to rushing through the paper and making careless mistakes.
• Leaving questions unanswered: It is always better to attempt all questions, even if you are unsure of the answer. Partial credit may be awarded for partially correct answers.

Tips for Effective PSLE Science Preparation

Effective preparation is key to success in the PSLE Science examination. Here are some tips to help students prepare effectively:

• Understand the syllabus: Familiarize yourself with the content and topics covered in the PSLE Science syllabus.
• Review your notes and textbooks: Regularly review your notes and textbooks to reinforce your understanding of the concepts.
• Practice with past papers: Practice with past PSLE Science papers to familiarize yourself with the format, types of questions, and difficulty level of the examination.
• Seek clarification: If you have any doubts or questions about the concepts, seek clarification from your teachers or tutors.
• Create a study schedule: Create a study schedule that allocates sufficient time for each topic and allows for regular revision.
• Use different learning resources: Use a variety of learning resources, such as textbooks, worksheets, online resources, and videos, to enhance your understanding.
• Join study groups: Participate in study groups to discuss concepts, share notes, and learn from your peers.
• Take care of your health: Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly to maintain your physical and mental well-being.

Conclusion

The PSLE 2017 Specimen Science Paper is a valuable resource for preparing for the actual examination. By understanding the structure of the paper, reviewing the questions and answers, and implementing effective study strategies, students can improve their understanding of scientific concepts and enhance their performance in the PSLE Science examination. This comprehensive guide provides a solid foundation for students and educators to approach the PSLE Science paper with confidence. Good luck!