Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) Grade 5 study guide
Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) Grade 5 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) is Washington state's science assessment, administered through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). OSPI lists it under State Testing, alongside WaKIDS, Smarter Balanced, and the WA-AIM alternate assessment. This page supports independent study for the Grade 5 WCAS. The exam samples science understanding and practice across three broad content areas: physical sciences, life sciences, and Earth and space sciences, aligned to Washington's K–12 science learning standards. Topics on this exam: Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Earth and Space Sciences. The Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) Grade 5 study guide has 3 sections and about 873 words.
01Physical Sciences
Grade 5 physical science focuses on matter and its properties, energy and its transfer, forces and motion, and simple electric circuits. You should be able to describe matter by its observable properties (color, hardness, texture, state), distinguish mass from weight, and explain that matter is made of particles too small to see. Understand the three common states of matter and how heating or cooling changes state. Know that energy can move from place to place and change form, and that motion is described by speed and direction.
303 words, about 2 min02Life Sciences
Grade 5 life science emphasizes how organisms obtain and use energy, how structures support survival, and how living things interact in ecosystems. You should understand that plants use sunlight to make food and that animals get energy by eating plants or other animals. Be able to explain how structures such as roots, leaves, beaks, and teeth match an organism's needs. Know that organisms depend on one another and on their environment, and that changes to a habitat affect the organisms living there.
288 words, about 1 min03Earth and Space Sciences
Grade 5 Earth and space science covers Earth's systems, the water cycle, weather and climate, and patterns in the sky. You should understand that Earth has interacting systems: the geosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (living things). Be able to describe the water cycle, including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Understand that weather describes short-term conditions while climate describes long-term patterns.
282 words, about 1 min