Students are given 25 minutes to answer the questions in this booklet.

Grade 4
Science Practice Questions
& Scoring Guide
Questions begin on page 2.
Scoring Guide begins on page 11.

This booklet contains sample items from the National Assessment of Educational
Progress (NAEP). Additional items can be accessed at
www.nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/itmrls.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences,

National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational
Progress (NAEP), 2005 Science Assessment.
1. Which part of the human skeleton is most like the bones in a bird's wing?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D

2
2.

Which two numbers in the picture above of a flower show the male and female parts?

A) 1 and 2
B) 2 and 3
C) 2 and 4
D) 3 and 4

3
3. The candle in jar 1 burned for 2 minutes after the lid was put on. The candle in jar 2 burned for 8
minutes. About how long did the candle in jar 3 burn after the lid was put on?

A) 1 minute
B) 4 minutes
C) 8 minutes
D) 10 minutes

Pat set up four different jars with a burning candle in each jar. He put the lids on jars 1, 2, and 3, as
shown in the picture below.

4. Pat did not put a lid on jar 4. The candle in jar 4 burned for a very long time. Tell why this candle kept
burning so much longer than the other candles.

4
5. Christina puts ball 1 in cup 1 and ball 2 in cup 2. In which cup will the water level rise the
most?
As shown in the picture below, Christina has two identical cups that are filled to the same level with
water. She also has two solid steel balls.

Tell why you think so.

5
7. Where does water in a lake get most of its energy to evaporate?

A) The sun heating the lake

B) Green plants living in the lake
C) Streams entering the lake
D) Cold springs under the lake

6
8. In which city did snow most likely fall at some time during the day?

The table below shows information about the weather in four cities on the same day.

A) City 1
B) City 2
C) City 3
D) City 4

9. In which city could children wear just T-shirts and shorts and be most comfortable playing outside all
day?

A) City 1
B) City 2
C) City 3
D) City 4

7
10. After a volcano erupts, new types of rock can form. Explain how this happens.

11. List four ways that the Earth is different from the Moon.

12. A green tree frog lives in a forest. How does the frog's green color help it to survive?

A) By helping the frog find other frogs

B) By keeping the frog cool
C) By making the frog hard to see when sitting on leaves
D) By allowing the frog to make its own food

8
13. A student put some sand, clay, and water into a bottle and shook the bottle. Then he put the bottle
down.

After two hours, the bottle looked like the drawing above. What can the student conclude based on
what he sees in the bottle?

A) The water is heavier than the grains of clay and the grains of sand.
B) The grains of clay are heavier than the grains of sand and the water.
C) The grains of sand are heavier than the water and the grains of clay.
D) The water, grains of clay, and grains of sand are all of equal weight.

9
14. Diagram 1 shows a frog's life cycle with two missing stages. Diagram 2 shows the two stages that
are missing from the frog's life cycle in diagram 1. They are labeled A and B.

Complete the frog's life cycle in Diagram 1 by writing A in the empty circle where stage A belongs
and B in the empty circle where stage B belongs.

Explain why you placed the letters A and B where you did.

NAEP Science Practice Questions Scoring Guide

Grade 4

10
Question 1

Key
1. Which part of the human skeleton is most like the bones in a bird's wing?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
The Fields of Science: Life Sciences (Sub content classification: Organisms)
Knowing and Doing Science: Conceptual Understanding

Question 2

Key

11
2.

Which two numbers in the picture above of a flower show the male and female parts?

A) 1 and 2
B) 2 and 3
C) 2 and 4
D) 3 and 4
The Fields of Science: Life Sciences (Sub content classification: Organisms)
Knowing and Doing Science: Conceptual Understanding

Question 3

Key
3. The candle in jar 1 burned for 2 minutes after the lid was put on. The candle in jar 2 burned for 8
minutes. About how long did the candle in jar 3 burn after the lid was put on?

A) 1 minute
B) 4 minutes
C) 8 minutes
D) 10 minutes
The Fields of Science: Physical Sciences (Sub content classification: Matter and Its Transformations)
Knowing and Doing Science: Practical Reasoning

12
Question 4

Scoring Guide
Score & Description
Complete
Student response includes an explanation that describes the need for a continued supply of air
(oxygen) for burning to continue.
Partial
Student response indicates that the candle burned longer because of "something" that happens
when the lid is not on the jar (e.g., "things burn longer when they are not covered," "the lids on the
other jars made them go out sooner").
Unsatisfactory/Incorrect
Student response does not indicate that the length of time the fourth candle burned was related to
the absence of a lid on the jar.

Complete - Student Response

4. Pat did not put a lid on jar 4. The candle in jar 4 burned for a very long time. Tell why this candle
kept burning so much longer than the other candles.

4. Pat did not put a lid on jar 4. The candle in jar 4 burned for a very long time. Tell why this candle
kept burning so much longer than the other candles.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses provide a correct explanation referring to the continued supply of oxygen or air to
the candle.
Partial - Student Response
4. Pat did not put a lid on jar 4. The candle in jar 4 burned for a very long time. Tell why this candle
kept burning so much longer than the other candles.

13
4. Pat did not put a lid on jar 4. The candle in jar 4 burned for a very long time. Tell why this candle
kept burning so much longer than the other candles.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses provide explanations that refer to something specific that happens when there is no
lid on the jar, but neither response refers to oxygen or air.

Unsatisfactory/Incorrect - Student Response

4. Pat did not put a lid on jar 4. The candle in jar 4 burned for a very long time. Tell why this candle
kept burning so much longer than the other candles.

4. Pat did not put a lid on jar 4. The candle in jar 4 burned for a very long time. Tell why this candle
kept burning so much longer than the other candles.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses provide incorrect explanations.
The Fields of Science: Physical Sciences (Sub content classification: Matter and Its Transformations)
Knowing and Doing Science: Conceptual Understanding

14
Question 5

Scoring Guide

Score & Description

Complete
Student response states that the water level goes up more in Cup 1 and gives a correct explanation.
Partial
Student response states that the water level goes up more in Cup 1, but no explanation or an
incomplete explanation is provided.
Unsatisfactory/Incorrect
Student response states that the water level goes up more in Cup 2, or that Ball 2 pushes the water
level higher in Cup 2.

Complete - Student Response

5. Christina puts ball 1 in cup 1 and ball 2 in cup 2. In which cup will the water level rise the most?

Tell why you think so.

5. Christina puts ball 1 in cup 1 and ball 2 in cup 2. In which cup will the water level rise the most?

Tell why you think so.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses correctly choose Cup 1, and provide an explanation based on the size of the ball.

15
 Partial - Student Response
5. Christina puts ball 1 in cup 1 and ball 2 in cup 2. In which cup will the water level rise the most?

Tell why you think so.

5. Christina puts ball 1 in cup 1 and ball 2 in cup 2. In which cup will the water level rise the most?

Tell why you think so.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses correctly choose Cup 1. The first response provides an incorrect explanation, and
the explanation in the second response is incomplete because the intent of "more" is not clear.

Unsatisfactory/Incorrect - Student Response

5. Christina puts ball 1 in cup 1 and ball 2 in cup 2. In which cup will the water level rise the most?

Tell why you think so.

5. Christina puts ball 1 in cup 1 and ball 2 in cup 2. In which cup will the water level rise the most?

Tell why you think so.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses incorrectly choose Cup 2.
The Fields of Science: Physical Sciences (Sub content classification: Matter and Its Transformations)
Knowing and Doing Science: Practical Reasoning

16
Question 6

Scoring Guide

Score & Description

Complete
Student response states that the water level may go up less than when Ball 2 was put in the cup
and gives a correct explanation or student response states that the water level may go up the same
amount because the hollow ball may sink below the surface and displace the same amount of water.
Partial
Student response states less and gives a partial explanation (floating is not mentioned).
Unsatisfactory/Incorrect
Student response states that the water level goes up more than it did when Ball 2 was put in the
cup, or states "less" but gives an incorrect reason, or states "no" and gives an incorrect reason.

Complete - Student Response

6. Christina has another ball that is the same size as ball 2, but this ball is made of wood and is
hollow. If she put this hollow ball in one of the cups, do you think the water level would rise more or
less than it would if ball 2 were put in the cup?

Tell why you think so.

6. Christina has another ball that is the same size as ball 2, but this ball is made of wood and is
hollow. If she put this hollow ball in one of the cups, do you think the water level would rise more or
less than it would if ball 2 were put in the cup?

Tell why you think so.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses correctly predict that the water will rise less, and explain that the ball will float.

17
 Partial - Student Response
6. Christina has another ball that is the same size as ball 2, but this ball is made of wood and is
hollow. If she put this hollow ball in one of the cups, do you think the water level would rise more or
less than it would if ball 2 were put in the cup?

Tell why you think so.

6. Christina has another ball that is the same size as ball 2, but this ball is made of wood and is
hollow. If she put this hollow ball in one of the cups, do you think the water level would rise more or
less than it would if ball 2 were put in the cup?

Tell why you think so.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses correctly predict that the water will rise less, but provide inadequate explanations
based on relative weights of steel and wood.

Unsatisfactory/Incorrect - Student Response

6. Christina has another ball that is the same size as ball 2, but this ball is made of wood and is
hollow. If she put this hollow ball in one of the cups, do you think the water level would rise more or
less than it would if ball 2 were put in the cup?

Tell why you think so.

18
6. Christina has another ball that is the same size as ball 2, but this ball is made of wood and is
hollow. If she put this hollow ball in one of the cups, do you think the water level would rise more or
less than it would if ball 2 were put in the cup?

Tell why you think so.

Scorer Comments:
The first response correctly predicts that the water will rise less, but provides an incorrect
explanation based on absorption of the water by the ball. The second response makes an incorrect
prediction.
The Fields of Science: Physical Sciences (Sub content classification: Matter and Its Transformations)
Knowing and Doing Science: Practical Reasoning

Question 7

Key
7. Where does water in a lake get most of its energy to evaporate?

A) The sun heating the lake

B) Green plants living in the lake
C) Streams entering the lake
D) Cold springs under the lake
The Fields of Science: Earth & Space Sciences (Sub content classification: Water)
Knowing and Doing Science: Conceptual Understanding

Question 8

Key
8. In which city did snow most likely fall at some time during the day?

A) City 1
B) City 2
C) City 3
D) City 4
The Fields of Science: Earth & Space Sciences (Sub content classification: Air)
Knowing and Doing Science: Practical Reasoning

19
20
Question 9

Key
9. In which city could children wear just T-shirts and shorts and be most comfortable playing outside
all day?

A) City 1
B) City 2
C) City 3
D) City 4
The Fields of Science: Earth & Space Sciences (Sub content classification: Air)
Knowing and Doing Science: Practical Reasoning

Question 10

Scoring Guide

Score & Description

Complete
Student explains that the lava from the volcano becomes rock when it cools and hardens. A student
may also explain that hot lava erupts and cools and that the lava hardens into different shapes.
Partial
Student explains that volcanoes produce molten lava or molten rock or melted rock, but does not
explain that this lava forms new types of rocks, or student demonstrates an understanding that lava
is involved but does not explain the process of rock formation adequately, or student states that
volcanoes erupt and melt rocks which form different shapes, or student states that some kind of fluid
(substance) is released which makes new rocks.
Unsatisfactory/Incorrect
Student does not explain that volcanoes bring up molten (or melted) rock or that the lava cools to
become rock.

Complete - Student Response

10. After a volcano erupts, new types of rock can form. Explain how this happens.

10. After a volcano erupts, new types of rock can form. Explain how this happens.

21
 Scorer Comments:
Both responses explain that a volcanic eruption produces lava that later cools and solidifies into
new types of rock.

Partial - Student Response

10. After a volcano erupts, new types of rock can form. Explain how this happens.

10. After a volcano erupts, new types of rock can form. Explain how this happens.

Scorer Comments:
Each response describes a different part of the rock-formation process from volcanic eruptions.
The first response refers to lava production, but does not describe the solidification of the lava. The
second response indicates that something cools and solidifies, but fails to specify that the
"something" is lava.

Unsatisfactory/Incorrect - Student Response

10. After a volcano erupts, new types of rock can form. Explain how this happens.

22
10. After a volcano erupts, new types of rock can form. Explain how this happens.

Scorer Comments:
The first response indicates that new rocks are directly produced by the volcano without mentioning
lava or the solidification of molten material. The second response includes a misconception that
lava dries.

The Fields of Science: Earth & Space Sciences (Sub content classification: Solid Earth)
Knowing and Doing Science: Conceptual Understanding

Question 11

Scoring Guide

Score & Description

Complete
Student lists four correct differences between the Moon and Earth.
Essential
Student lists three correct differences between the Moon and Earth.
Partial
Student lists one or two correct differences between the Moon and Earth.
Unsatisfactory/Incorrect
Student lists incorrect differences between the Moon and Earth.

Complete - Student Response

11. List four ways that the Earth is different from the Moon.

23
11. List four ways that the Earth is different from the Moon.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses provide four correct differences between the Moon and Earth.

Essential - Student Response

11. List four ways that the Earth is different from the Moon.

11. List four ways that the Earth is different from the Moon.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses provide three correct differences between the Moon and Earth. No credit is
assigned to the last difference stated in the second response indicating that Earth has no craters.

Partial - Student Response

11. List four ways that the Earth is different from the Moon.

24
11. List four ways that the Earth is different from the Moon.

Scorer Comments:
The first response provides three differences between the Moon and Earth, two of which are
correct. The statement that Earth has gravity is not credited because it implies that the Moon has
no gravity. The second response provides one correct difference between the Moon and Earth.

Unsatisfactory/Incorrect - Student Response

11. List four ways that the Earth is different from the Moon.

11. List four ways that the Earth is different from the Moon.

Scorer Comments:
Each response contains only incorrect statements regarding the differences between the Moon and
Earth.

The Fields of Science: Earth & Space Sciences (Sub content classification: Earth in Space)
Knowing and Doing Science: Conceptual Understanding

Question 12

Key
12. A green tree frog lives in a forest. How does the frog's green color help it to survive?

A) By helping the frog find other frogs

B) By keeping the frog cool
C) By making the frog hard to see when sitting on leaves
D) By allowing the frog to make its own food
The Fields of Science: Life Sciences (Sub content classification: Change and Evolution)
Knowing and Doing Science: Conceptual Understanding

25
Question 13

Key
13. A student put some sand, clay, and water into a bottle and shook the bottle. Then he put the bottle
down. After two hours, the bottle looked like the drawing above. What can the student conclude
based on what he sees in the bottle?

A) The water is heavier than the grains of clay and the grains of sand.
B) The grains of clay are heavier than the grains of sand and the water.
C) The grains of sand are heavier than the water and the grains of clay.
D) The water, grains of clay, and grains of sand are all of equal weight.
The Fields of Science: Earth & Space Sciences (Sub content classification: Solid Earth)
Knowing and Doing Science: Scientific Investigation

Question 14

Scoring Guide

Score & Description

Complete
Student places A and B correctly, and provides a valid explanation for the placement of both
diagrams.
Partial
Student provides an acceptable explanation for stage A or B, OR a partially acceptable explanation
for one stage or both stages. (Stages A and B may be placed correctly or incorrectly or left blank.)
Unsatisfactory/Incorrect
Student does not provide a valid explanation for either placement. (Stages A and B may be placed
correctly or incorrectly or left blank.)

26
 Complete - Student Response
14. Diagram 1 shows a frog's life cycle with two missing stages. Diagram 2 shows the two stages that
are missing from the frog's life cycle in diagram 1. They are labeled A and B.

Complete the frog's life cycle in Diagram 1 by writing A in the empty circle where stage A belongs
and B in the empty circle where stage B belongs.

Explain why you placed the letters A and B where you did.

27
14. Diagram 1 shows a frog's life cycle with two missing stages. Diagram 2 shows the two stages that
are missing from the frog's life cycle in diagram 1. They are labeled A and B.

Complete the frog's life cycle in Diagram 1 by writing A in the empty circle where stage A belongs
and B in the empty circle where stage B belongs.

Explain why you placed the letters A and B where you did.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses place A and B correctly and provide valid explanations that include details of the
stages in a frog’s life cycle.

28
 Partial - Student Response
14. Diagram 1 shows a frog's life cycle with two missing stages. Diagram 2 shows the two stages that
are missing from the frog's life cycle in diagram 1. They are labeled A and B.

Complete the frog's life cycle in Diagram 1 by writing A in the empty circle where stage A belongs
and B in the empty circle where stage B belongs.

Explain why you placed the letters A and B where you did.

29
14. Diagram 1 shows a frog's life cycle with two missing stages. Diagram 2 shows the two stages that
are missing from the frog's life cycle in diagram 1. They are labeled A and B.

Complete the frog's life cycle in Diagram 1 by writing A in the empty circle where stage A belongs
and B in the empty circle where stage B belongs.

Explain why you placed the letters A and B where you did.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses place A and B correctly. The first response provides a correct explanation for stage
A while the second response provides a correct explanation for stage B.

30
 Unsatisfactory/Incorrect - Student Response
14. Diagram 1 shows a frog's life cycle with two missing stages. Diagram 2 shows the two stages that
are missing from the frog's life cycle in diagram 1. They are labeled A and B.

Complete the frog's life cycle in Diagram 1 by writing A in the empty circle where stage A belongs
and B in the empty circle where stage B belongs.

Explain why you placed the letters A and B where you did.

31
14. Diagram 1 shows a frog's life cycle with two missing stages. Diagram 2 shows the two stages that
are missing from the frog's life cycle in diagram 1. They are labeled A and B.

Complete the frog's life cycle in Diagram 1 by writing A in the empty circle where stage A belongs
and B in the empty circle where stage B belongs.

Explain why you placed the letters A and B where you did.

Scorer Comments:
Both responses place A and B correctly but lack valid explanations for either stage.
The Fields of Science: Life Sciences (Sub content classification: Organisms)
Knowing and Doing Science: Conceptual Understanding

32