If you are looking for a paper to test your child’s concepts of Plants, Experimental Type Questions, Heat Energy, and Electricity, then the 2017 Rosyth School (ROSYTH) P5 SA2 Examination Paper Booklet B (OEQ) is suitable.

Even though the questions tested are not difficult, they include the most essential and commonly asked questions from the above-mentioned topics.

What do we consider as commonly asked questions?

 

Consider this open-ended question – Q33b:

Source: Rosyth School – 2017 P5 SA2 Science Examination Paper (Q33c)

*NOTE: Gas P is oxygen, as derived in the earlier part of the question.

A more common variation of this question goes like this:

When Jack runs, his breathing rate increases. Explain why.

Here is the template answer for breathing rate questions that our students are expected to memorise:

During exercise, our body needs more energy. Thus, our breathing rate increases to take in more oxygen, which is pumped by the heart to all parts of the body, which is used in the process of respiration to release more energy and carbon dioxide at a faster rate. Carbon dioxide is then transported faster away from the body to be removed and exhaled.

Using parts of the memorised template answer, here is my suggested answer:

The amount of Gas P inhaled increases. When Jack runs, his body needs more energy. Thus, he breathes faster to take in more oxygen, which is pumped by the heart through the blood vessels to all parts of the body, which is used for respiration to release more energy and carbon dioxide at a faster rate.

To Note: Students must be aware that template answers cannot be used blindly. They must always remember to check if they have answered the question.

Try the other common variations of the question yourself!

  1. Why does our heart rate increase when we exercise?
  2. Why does our pulse rate increase when we exercise?

Do you have a ready answer prepared for the above questions?

If you have not, you should spend some time thinking about how you plan to answer them before your upcoming SA2!

 

Now, let’s take a look at Q34a

Source: Rosyth School – 2017 P5 SA2 Science Examination Paper (Q34a)

 

Question 34a can be answered easily using the “Seed Dispersal Template”.

There are two key objectives of dispersal that I would like you to remember: Degree of

  1. Overcrowding
  2. Competition

Overcrowding refers to a lack of space. This causes the plants to grow as tall as possible to reach out for the maximum amount of sunlight available to make food for the plant. As such, plants that experience overcrowding tend to have longer and thinner stems.

Competition refers to competition for the 4 substances:

  1. Sunlight (Process involved: Photosynthesis)
  2. Water (Process involved: Photosynthesis)
  3. Minerals
  4. Space

It is also important to note that plants do not compete for food and air. Plant compete for the conditions required to carry out photosynthesis to make food. As for air, unless the experiment is carried out in an enclosed environment with limited oxygen and carbon dioxide, they do not compete for air to carry out life processes.

Read more about seed dispersal here: /mastering-the-4-seed-dispersal-methods-in-4-minutes/

Combining the 2 important science concepts, here is my suggested answer:

A longer wingspan allows the seed to travel a longer distance away from the parent plant. This helps to prevent overcrowding and reduce competition between the parent plant and the seedling for sunlight, water, minerals and space to ensure healthier growth of each plant.

 

Lastly, let’s check out Q37!

Moving on to the third and final discussion question for this paper, I would like you to recall the CUE answering technique, which has enabled many of my students to answer their questions concisely. Read more about it here before proceeding: /cue-concept-heat-energy/

Source: Rosyth School – 2017 P5 SA2 Science Examination Paper (Q37)

To answer this question accurately, students must consider the following factors.

  1. The climate of Singapore – “Is the end goal to keep the house warm or cool?”
  2. The location of the heat source – “Is the heat source in the house or is it outside the house?
  3. The heat conductivity of the materials – “Do we want heat to pass through the house easily?”

Singapore is a country that experiences summer all year round. It is likely that Jenny is trying to build a house that will stay cool. The heat source is the sun, which is outside the house. In order to prevent heat from entering the house easily, I would choose the poorest conductor of heat. This ensures that heat from the sun is conducted to the inner part of the house at the slowest rate.

Using the CUE structure of writing for the above question:

Choose: Material Y.

Use Data: The change in the temperature of air inside House Y was smaller.

Explain Data: This shows that Material Y is a poorer conductor of heat and would allow the house to gain less heat from the warmer surrounding air, keeping the house cooler.

I hope that the questions discussed above have provided you with a better understanding of how you can prepare for your upcoming SA2. Do check out our other posts on other commonly tested science concepts!

I hope you and your child enjoyed my analysis of the Rosyth School paper.

If your child needs more practice with these topics – Plants, Experimental Type Questions, Heat Energy, and Electricity, I’d strongly suggest you to let him/her practise this paper first.

Stay tuned for the next article!