BananaLearnLearning LibraryGamesGrade 6 · Science
A question about a magnet, a mixture or a measurement often asks you to choose the best explanation. Remembering a label is useful only if you can apply it to the observation.
Use these original questions to practise Grade 6 scientific reasoning. SOF currently calls its science Olympiad ISO; some older official URLs still contain NSO. This resource is independent practice, not an official paper.
Before you start: Observe evidence, distinguish variables and explain basic scientific ideas.
SOF’s 2026–27 schedule includes Science Olympiad dates on 19 November and 3 December 2026 after the October sitting. Confirm your school’s date. The official Grade 6 syllabus includes themes such as materials, water, separation, magnets and measurement. This small set samples ideas rather than covering every prescribed topic.
“The bulb did not light” is an observation. “The circuit has a loose connection” is one possible explanation. “The object is an insulator” is a conclusion requiring a working comparison and secure contacts. A good science answer does not jump directly from one observation to certainty.
For an investigation, identify what changes, what is measured and what stays the same. If two conditions change together, the result may not reveal which caused the effect.
A pupil places identical ice cubes on a metal tray and a plastic tray in the same room. The cubes start at the same time. After five minutes, more ice has melted on the metal. The trays have been in the room long enough to reach the same room temperature.
The observation can be explained by differences in heat transfer. Metal feeling colder to a hand does not establish that it started at a lower temperature. Use the stated conditions and avoid adding unsupported measurements.
The original tasks cover selected scientific ideas and reasoning. They are not an official ISO paper, a full syllabus test or a prediction of exam content. Consult the linked official syllabus and your school’s arrangements.
After checking, ask for one sentence explaining the evidence. If a fact is unfamiliar, study it before repeating a timed question. A confident unsupported answer is a useful signal to slow down and verify.
Attempt a short group of questions before opening the solutions. Use a drawing or written method where helpful. Explain the answer, then try a similar question with a detail changed.
No
Iron is a common magnetic example; many metals are not strongly attracted.
Condensation
The state changes from gas to liquid.
8 cm
Subtract the starting reading.
Use a magnet safely
The materials respond differently to a magnet.
No
Repeat and consider alternative explanations.
It will float
A prediction states an expected outcome before the test.
The tray material
Metal versus plastic.
Ice-cube size and starting time; also room conditions
These help make a fair comparison.
No
Touch is affected by heat transfer.
More ice melted on the metal after five minutes.
Do not replace the observation with a guessed explanation.
Screen position and object size/orientation
Changing them would confound the comparison.
No
It remains dispersed in the solution.
No
Use a suitable different separation process, such as evaporation for recovering salt.
Flat cell or faulty bulb
A complete-looking path alone does not guarantee working components.
No
The liver supplies bile to the digestive system.
They help push against water
Link the feature to its function.
No
The material remains paper despite a changed shape.
To check reliability and possible error
One observation may be affected by a mistake or uncontrolled condition.
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Original explanations, examples, visual models and practice by BananaLearn. This guide is not an official textbook extract, exam paper or endorsed assessment resource.