Cambridge Primary Checkpoint Science

Paper 1 May 2026 — Solutions & Practice Portal

Instructions for Students

  1. Review each official answer, diagram, and detailed explanation carefully.
  2. For any question you got incorrect on your test, copy the full written explanation by hand into your exercise book.
  3. Fill out the submission form at the bottom, attach pictures of your handwritten work (up to 5 files), and submit to send to Max.
Q1. Organ Systems & Blood Vessels 2 Marks
Lungs Heart Body Tissues Artery Vein Capillaries
(a) Circulatory  |  (b) Capillaries
Detailed Explanation:
Why "Circulatory" is correct: The heart pumps blood through arteries and veins around the body. This system circulates oxygen and nutrients to tissues.
Why other options are wrong: Digestive breaks down food, Respiratory manages gas exchange in lungs, and Reproductive produces offspring.
Why "Capillaries" is correct: The three main blood vessel types are arteries, veins, and microscopic capillaries where blood exchanges gases and nutrients with tissues.
Q2. States of Matter & Data Analysis 6 Marks
(a) A and B  |  (b) Low density / Flows easily / Space between particles  |  (c) E  |  (d) 66°C  |  (e) liquid to a gas
Detailed Explanation:
(a) A and B: At 20°C, both substances are above their boiling points (-183°C and -34°C), meaning they exist as gases. Both are compressible with no fixed shape.
(c) Highest Melting Point: Substance E has a melting point of 113°C, which is the highest value in the table.
(d) Difference Calculation: Boiling Point - Melting Point = 59 - (-7) = 59 + 7 = 66°C.
(e) State Change: At its boiling point, a substance boils and changes state from a liquid to a gas.
Q3. Mass vs Weight & Equipment 3 Marks
(a) Mass is amount of matter in kg. Weight is a force in N.  |  (b) Force Meter / Spring Balance
Detailed Explanation:
Why Mass = kg & Weight = N: Mass measures the quantity of matter inside an object in kilograms (kg). Weight is the force of gravity pulling down on that mass, measured in Newtons (N).
Why wrong units are incorrect: Mass is not a force and cannot be measured in Newtons. Weight is a force, not mass, so it cannot be measured in kilograms.
Q4. Rock Cycle Processes 2 Marks
Label 1: Solidification  |  Label 2: Erosion  |  Label 3: Metamorphism  |  Label 4: Melting
Detailed Explanation:
Cycle Steps: Magma cools into igneous rock through solidification. Igneous rock breaks down into sediment through weathering and erosion. Sedimentary rock transforms into metamorphic rock under intense heat and pressure via metamorphism. Metamorphic rock melts into magma via melting.
Q5. Food Webs & Energy Flow 3 Marks
(a) 6  |  (b) grass → mouse → snake → wild cat → lion  |  (c) Sun / Sunlight
Detailed Explanation:
(a) Carnivores count (6): Kite, snake, wild cat, owl, jackal, and lion all feed on other animals.
(c) Energy Source: Sunlight provides the primary energy captured by green plants (producers) through photosynthesis. "Light" alone is too general; "Sunlight" or "Sun" is required.
Q6. Solubility Graph & Measuring Tools 3 Marks
(a) Temperature (of water) in °C  |  (b) 230 g (Range 228-232g)  |  (c) Measuring Cylinder
Detailed Explanation:
(a) Missing Axis: The horizontal axis shows the independent variable: Temperature of water in °C.
(b) Anomalous Result: The outlier point plotted at 40°C is at 240g. Following the smooth best-fit curve at 40°C gives the true expected value of 230g.
(c) Measuring Volume: A measuring cylinder accurately measures liquid volumes such as 100 cm³. Beakers are designed for mixing, not precise volume measurements.
Q7. Forces Acting on a Moving Car 3 Marks
Top: Normal Force | Bottom: Weight | Left: Applied Force | Right: Air Resistance & Friction
Detailed Explanation:
Force Directions: Weight pulls vertically downwards toward Earth. Applied force propels the car forward (left). Air resistance and friction oppose forward motion (right). Normal force supports the car upwards from the road.
Q8. Malaria Data & Prevention 4 Marks
(a) As years increase, malaria cases decrease  |  (b) 35  |  (c) Use insect repellent / Use mosquito nets / Wear long clothing
Detailed Explanation:
(a) Trend: Describe the link between time (years) and cases. Stating only "cases decrease" without mentioning time or years does not describe the complete trend.
(c) Prevention: Insect repellent sprays, mosquito bed nets, clearing stagnant breeding water, and anti-malarial medication effectively reduce malaria risks.
Q9. Planetary Order & Orbit Times 3 Marks
(a) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn  |  (b) 31,000 days (Range 30,001 - 31,999)
Detailed Explanation:
(a) Planetary Order: Mercury (60M km), Venus (110M km), Earth (150M km), Mars (230M km), Jupiter (780M km), Saturn (1400M km).
(b) Graph Reading: Uranus is 2900M km from the Sun. Finding 2900 on the graph's horizontal distance axis aligns with 31,000 days on the vertical orbital time axis.
Q10. Chemical Reactions Vocabulary 2 Marks
Reactants & Products
Detailed Explanation:
Key Terms: Starting substances that react together are called reactants. The new substances produced by the reaction are called products.
Q11. Light Reflection & Refraction 4 Marks

Part (a) Diagram Solution: Reflection on water surface to small fish's eye

Air Water Surface Large Fish Small Fish Reflects at Water Surface

Part (c) Diagram Solution: Light refraction from Yuri to small fish

Yuri Small Fish Bends (Refracts) at Water Surface
(a) Reflection at water surface touching small fish's eye  |  (b) Reflected  |  (c) Bends at air-water boundary towards fish
Detailed Explanation:
(a) Part 11(a) Reflection Diagram: Light leaves the large fish, travels up to reflect at the water surface, and enters the small fish's eye.
(b) Underwater Reflection: The small fish sees the larger fish behind it because light bounces (reflects) off the water surface into its eye.
(c) Refraction: When light travels from Yuri in the air into the water, it changes speed and bends (refracts) at the exact air-water boundary surface.
Q12. Fossil Formation & Rock Types 3 Marks
(a) Fossil  |  (b) Sedimentary  |  (c) Erosion / Weathering
Detailed Explanation:
(a) Fossil: Preserved remains of ancient organisms turned into stone over millions of years are called fossils.
(b) Rock Type: Sand layers compressed under heavy pressure form sedimentary rock (such as sandstone).
(c) Surface Exposure: Erosion or weathering gradually removes overlying rock layers, exposing buried fossils at the surface.
Q13. Physical Changes in Puberty 2 Marks
Growth spurt / Body hair / Facial hair / Voice deepens / Shoulders broaden / Oily skin
Detailed Explanation:
Physical Changes: Physical changes in males during puberty include growth spurts, facial/body hair growth, voice deepening, chest broadening, and increased sweat/oil production. Mood swings are emotional changes and do not count.

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