Ms Evelyn’s tips on how to improve in your Year 9 science exams.

1. Read English books at home and always speak English at school.

Improving your English will help you understand the questions and give
clearer answers. Good spelling is important, especially of key words.

2. Revise well.

Revision is not just reading your notes or textbooks. You can make
diagrams, mind maps or revision cards. Use your workbook and notebooks
too. Look at the questions you answered in class and for homework.

Start revising early. Do not leave the difficult topics until the end of your
revision time. Check you know what topics to revise. If you have missed a
class, look for the PowerPoint in MyAgora or ask a friend to borrow their
notes. If you need help, ask me.

Search for: “BBC Bitesize for KS3 Science” for revision games.

3. Read the question carefully.

Look at how many marks are given to give you an idea of how many points to
mention.

If the command word in the question is “Explain” answer the question

saying why and how. Note that a proper answer should include concepts
introduced by the word “because” to enable you to expand on your answer.

Example exam question:

Water has a density of 1g/cm3. A substance called LDPE has a density of

0.9g/cm3. Explain whether LDPE will float or sink in water. (1)

Model answer: LDPE will float because it is less dense than water.

4. Learn your facts and equations well.

Example exam question:

Complete the equation for density. Use the words mass and volume.

Model answer: Density = mass

volume
 5. When asked to calculate something, always show all your steps:
the equation, the calculation, and the answer with the correct
units.

Example exam question:

A solid has a mass of 12g. It has a volume of 3.2cm3. Calculate the

density. (3)

Model answer:

Density = mass ÷ volume

Density = 12 ÷ 3.2

Density = 3.75 g/cm3

6. Practice drawing and reading information from graphs.

Pay close attention to the labels of the axis, what the graph is showing you
and how to read the scales correctly.

7. Practical knowledge

Learn the proper names for the apparatus (equipment) we use in the lab.
Use key words to describe how to carry out an investigation.

Example exam question:

Marie wants to calculate the density of a piece of rock. Describe an

experiment she could do to find the volume of a piece of rock. (3)

Model answer:

Marie could put some water into a measuring cylinder and measure the
volume of the water. Then, place the rock in the measuring cylinder
and measure the volume of the water that has been displaced. The
difference between the two volumes is the volume of the rock.