Science (Integrated Science / Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
What the paper tests
Integrated Science samples physics, chemistry, and biology: forces and motion, energy, electric circuits, particles and reactions, acids and bases, cells, photosynthesis, respiration, and human body systems. Questions often ask you to explain, calculate, or interpret a simple table.
Core rules
- Speed = distance ÷ time; force is measured in newtons, energy in joules.
- In a series circuit, current is the same; in parallel, voltage is the same across branches.
- A physical change alters state or shape; a chemical change forms a new substance.
- Acids turn blue litmus red; alkalis turn red litmus blue.
- Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and water with light to make glucose and oxygen.
Worked example
A car travels 150 km in 3 hours. Calculate its average speed in km/h and m/s. Reasoning: speed = 150 ÷ 3 = 50 km/h. To convert, 50 km/h = 50 × 1000 m ÷ 3600 s = 13.9 m/s (to one decimal place). The conversion matters because km/h and m/s are different units; dividing 150 by 3 alone gives only the first answer.
Traps
- Mixing mass and weight, or leaving units off a calculated answer.
- Calling melting or dissolving a chemical change.
- Confusing photosynthesis with respiration.
- Reversing series and parallel circuit rules.