📘 GRADE 8 SCIENCE
DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total: 50 marks
Instructions:
Answer all questions.
Show working where necessary.
Write clear scientific explanations.
Calculators allowed.
SECTION A: MULTIPLE CHOICE (10 marks)
Choose the correct answer. (1 mark each)
A metal spoon placed in hot tea becomes hot after a few minutes.
The main method of heat transfer is:
A. Convection
B. Radiation
C. Conduction
D. Evaporation
A plant kept in darkness for several days becomes pale and weak because it:
A. Cannot respire
B. Lacks minerals
C. Cannot photosynthesise
D. Has too much carbon dioxide
Which of the following is a chemical change?
A. Melting wax
B. Boiling water
C. Burning paper
D. Dissolving sugar
The SI unit of force is:
A. Joule
B. Watt
C. Newton
D. Pascal
When a moving bus stops suddenly, passengers move forward because of:
A. Friction
B. Inertia
C. Gravity
D. Air resistance
A substance that turns red litmus paper blue is:
A. Acid
B. Base
C. Neutral solution
D. Salt
Which part of a cell controls its activities?
A. Cytoplasm
B. Cell membrane
C. Nucleus
D. Vacuole
Which energy transformation occurs in a torch?
A. Electrical → Light
B. Light → Electrical
C. Heat → Electrical
D. Chemical → Mechanical
Increasing the surface area of a solid reactant will:
A. Slow the reaction
B. Stop the reaction
C. Increase the reaction rate
D. Have no effect
Which organ removes urea from the blood?
A. Liver
B. Heart
C. Kidney
D. Lungs
SECTION B: STRUCTURED QUESTIONS (20 marks)
Question 11 (5 marks)
Three identical ice cubes are placed:
One on a metal plate
One on a wooden table
One in water
After 10 minutes, the ice on the metal plate melts fastest.
a) Explain why this happens. (3 marks)
b) What property of metals is being demonstrated? (2 marks)
Question 12 (5 marks)
A farmer notices that plants in part of his garden have yellow leaves and grow slowly.
a) Suggest TWO possible nutrient deficiencies. (2 marks)
b) Explain how each deficiency affects plant growth. (3 marks)
Question 13 (5 marks)
A cyclist increases his speed from 2 m/s to 8 m/s in 3 seconds.
a) Calculate the acceleration. (3 marks)
b) State the formula used. (1 mark)
c) What does your answer mean physically? (1 mark)
Question 14 (5 marks)
Magnesium ribbon reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid and produces bubbles.
a) Name the gas produced. (1 mark)
b) Write a word equation for the reaction. (2 marks)
c) State TWO observations besides bubbling. (2 marks)
SECTION C: APPLICATION & REASONING (20 marks)
Question 15 (8 marks)
A sealed syringe contains air. When the plunger is pushed in, the volume decreases
and the air becomes warmer.
a) Explain why the temperature increases. (3 marks)
b) What happens to the air pressure? Explain. (3 marks)
c) Give one real-life application of this principle. (2 marks)
Question 16 (6 marks)
A student pushes a box across a smooth floor using a constant force of 50 N.
The box moves 8 metres in the direction of the force.
a) Calculate the work done on the box. (3 marks)
b) State the formula used. (1 mark)
c) Explain what your answer means in terms of energy transfer. (2 marks)
Question 17 (6 marks)
Cooked food is left uncovered overnight and smells bad the next day.
a) What caused the food to spoil? (2 marks)
b) Why does refrigeration slow this process? (2 marks)
c) Suggest TWO food preservation methods and explain how they work. (2 marks)