Saga Public High School Entrance Examination - Science study plan

Define and apply the core mechanics quantities (displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, mass, weight, momentum) and state their SI units and typical magnitudes.

Solve uniformly accelerated motion problems using v = u + at, s = ut + ½at², and v² = u² + 2as, including free fall with g ≈ 9.8 m/s².

Draw and interpret free-body diagrams for objects on horizontal, inclined, and hanging situations, then apply Newton's three laws to find net force and acceleration.

Distinguish mass from weight and compute friction forces using F = μN on level and inclined surfaces.

Apply conservation of energy to calculate kinetic energy (½mv²), gravitational potential energy (mgh), and work done (W = Fs cos θ).

State and use the principle of moments and the conditions for equilibrium of a rigid body.

Compute power (P = W/t) and mechanical efficiency, identifying energy losses in real systems.

Interpret distance–time and velocity–time graphs, extracting gradient and area to obtain speed and displacement.

Apply Ohm's law and the series/parallel resistor rules to compute equivalent resistance, current, and potential difference in mixed circuits.

Calculate electrical power and energy (P = VI = I²R = V²/R; E = Pt) and estimate household electricity cost in kWh.

Describe the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire and a solenoid, and state the factors affecting electromagnetic induction.

Distinguish transverse from longitudinal waves and compute wave speed from frequency and wavelength (v = fλ).

Classify matter as element, compound, or mixture and describe the particle model for solids, liquids, and gases including diffusion and Brownian motion evidence.

Write and balance chemical equations for combustion, neutralisation, and simple displacement reactions, then identify the reaction type.

Explain ionic bonding in terms of electron transfer and name common ions (Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, O²⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, CO₃²⁻) with their charges.

Use the pH scale to classify substances as acidic, neutral, or basic and describe neutralisation with a named example equation.

Calculate relative formula mass and convert between moles, mass, and number of particles using Avogadro's constant.

Predict products of reactions between acids and metals, acids and bases, and acids and carbonates, and write balanced equations for each.

Explain rates of reaction in terms of collision theory and describe the effect of concentration, temperature, surface area, and catalysts.

Distinguish exothermic from endothermic reactions using energy-level diagrams and everyday examples.

Label the structures of plant and animal cells and state the function of each organelle, then compare the two cell types in a table.

Explain diffusion, osmosis, and active transport across cell membranes and predict water movement in given concentration scenarios.

Describe mitosis and meiosis, contrast their outcomes, and solve simple monohybrid crosses using Punnett squares with dominant and recessive alleles.

Interpret pedigree and test-cross data to infer genotypes and explain the difference between genotype and phenotype.

Explain natural selection as a mechanism (variation, inheritance, differential survival, change in allele frequency) and apply it to a named example such as antibiotic resistance.

Use a dichotomous key to classify organisms into the major kingdoms and explain the basis of binomial nomenclature.

Construct and interpret food chains, food webs, and pyramids of number and biomass, and identify producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Describe the carbon and nitrogen cycles and predict the effect of removing a species from a food web.

Interpret the rock cycle and classify igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks by formation process and texture.

Explain plate tectonics, including the evidence for continental drift, and relate plate boundaries to earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.

Distinguish weather from climate, read weather-map symbols, and explain the causes of day/night, seasons, phases of the Moon, and eclipses.

Describe the Solar System's structure and the apparent motion of stars and planets as seen from Earth.