In the real ICAS English paper, every question is based on a passage. You will read several different text types — a fiction extract, an informational article, a review, and a cloze passage. Read each passage carefully before answering its questions.
📖 English Strategy for Paper B
Questions move from straightforward (finding and sequencing information) to more challenging (inferring character feelings, explaining why a writer used a technique, analysing a reviewer’s argument). For character questions, look at what characters say AND what they do — both reveal personality. For writer’s craft questions, always ask: what effect does this choice have on the reader?
Text 1 of 4 — Fiction Extract
The Blue Ribbon
Original text for ICAS preparation purposes
Zara had spent three months training Biscuit for the Junior Dog Show. Three months of sit-stay commands, patient repetition, and carefully chosen treats. She had watched tutorials online, read three books about dog behaviour, and had even — at her mother’s suggestion — played classical music in the evenings because someone on the internet had claimed it calmed nervous dogs.
None of this explained what Biscuit was doing now.
The judge, a neat woman in a green blazer, had asked each competitor to walk their dog around the ring once. Every other dog trotted obediently beside its owner. Biscuit sat down. Then he lay flat. Then he appeared to go to sleep.
‘He’s just tired,’ Zara told the judge, smiling in what she hoped was a confident way.
‘Dogs that are tired are typically at home,’ said the judge.
Across the ring, Zara could see her rival, a girl named Petra, trying not to smirk. Petra’s dog — a sleek, groomed creature named Champion’s Golden Echo III — had already completed a perfect figure of eight. Biscuit, meanwhile, had not moved.
Then Zara remembered the treat in her pocket. She held it up. Biscuit’s ears swivelled like radar dishes. He opened one eye. He stood, stretched, shook himself like a wet towel, and walked beside Zara as perfectly as any dog she had ever seen — all the way around the ring, and twice more for good measure.
The judge wrote something in her notebook. She did not smile, but she did not frown.
That, Zara decided, was probably the best she could hope for today.
Questions 1–7 are about The Blue Ribbon
1
Text Comprehension — Sequence of events
Which lists these events in the correct order?
(i) Zara holds up a treat (ii) Zara plays classical music at home (iii) Biscuit lies flat on the ground (iv) The judge writes in her notebook
A
(ii) → (iii) → (i) → (iv)
B
(i) → (ii) → (iv) → (iii)
C
(ii) → (i) → (iii) → (iv)
D
(iii) → (ii) → (i) → (iv)
2
Text Comprehension — Infer character’s feelings
When Zara says ‘He’s just tired,’ what does this tell us about her?
A
She is angry with Biscuit for embarrassing her in front of the judge.
B
She genuinely believes Biscuit is too tired to walk around the ring.
C
She is trying to appear calm and in control despite feeling embarrassed.
D
She wants the judge to give Biscuit an extra chance to perform later.
3
Writer’s Craft — Purpose of a detail
Why does the writer include the detail about Zara playing classical music for Biscuit at home?
A
To explain why Biscuit was so relaxed and calm when the competition began.
B
To show that Zara followed unusual advice without questioning whether it would work.
C
To suggest that Zara’s mother had more experience with dogs than Zara did.
D
To prove that music is a reliable method for calming dogs before competitions.
4
Writer’s Craft — Identify the device
In the phrase ‘Biscuit’s ears swivelled like radar dishes,’ the writer uses
5
Text Comprehension — Contrast characters
How does the writer contrast Zara and Petra in this passage?
A
Zara has trained more carefully than Petra, but Petra’s dog is more experienced.
B
Zara’s dog refuses to perform at first; Petra’s dog completes its routine without difficulty.
C
Zara remains calm throughout; Petra appears visibly nervous about her performance.
D
Zara is a first-time competitor; Petra has won the competition in previous years.
6
Vocabulary — Word meaning in context
The word typically in the judge’s reply most likely means
7
Text Comprehension — Draw a conclusion from the ending
At the end, Zara thinks the judge’s neutral reaction was ‘probably the best she could hope for today.’ What does this suggest about Zara?
A
She knows she has won the competition and is quietly pleased.
B
She accepts an uncertain outcome as reasonably positive, given how badly things started.
C
She believes the judge has decided she cannot win but is still being polite.
D
She is disappointed and has given up any hope of doing well.
Text 2 of 4 — Informational Article
The Wandering Albatross
Original text for ICAS preparation purposes
A Bird Unlike Any Other
Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to spend years at sea without ever touching land? For the wandering albatross, this is not a strange question — it is simply life. These remarkable seabirds spend most of their existence gliding over the Southern Ocean, returning to land only to breed. The wandering albatross holds one record that sets it apart from every other living bird: it has the largest wingspan in the world, stretching up to 3.5 metres from wingtip to wingtip.
This extraordinary wingspan allows the albatross to use a flying technique called dynamic soaring — the bird rides differences in wind speed at different heights to glide for enormous distances without flapping its wings. An adult albatross can travel up to 120,000 kilometres in a single year, which is roughly three times the distance around Earth’s equator.
Comparing Long-Distance Fliers
| Bird | Wingspan | Maximum annual distance |
|---|
| Wandering Albatross | 3.5 m | 120,000 km |
| Royal Albatross | 3.1 m | 100,000 km |
| Laysan Albatross | 2.0 m | 60,000 km |
| Common Pigeon | 0.7 m | 1,000 km |
Finding the Way Home
After months or even years at sea, the wandering albatross can navigate its way back to the exact island — often the exact nesting site — where it was hatched. Scientists believe the birds use a combination of the Earth’s magnetic field, the position of the stars, and their memory of specific ocean smells to find their way. Despite being one of the most studied seabirds in the world, much about the albatross remains a mystery. What is certain, however, is that the ocean is their true home, and the sky their road.
Questions 8–14 are about The Wandering Albatross
8
Text Comprehension — Find information in a table
According to the table, which birds have a wingspan greater than 3 metres?
A
Only the wandering albatross
B
The wandering albatross and the royal albatross
C
All three albatross species listed in the table
D
All four birds listed in the table
9
Text Comprehension — Identify cause and effect
According to the passage, what is the main reason the large wingspan of the wandering albatross is useful?
A
It allows the bird to scare away predators in the Southern Ocean.
B
It enables the bird to travel vast distances by gliding without flapping its wings.
C
It helps the bird detect the Earth’s magnetic field more accurately.
D
It makes the bird more visible to scientists tracking it from boats.
10
Writer’s Craft — Identify the device
In the final sentence ‘the ocean is their true home, and the sky their road,’ the writer uses
11
Writer’s Craft — Purpose of an opening question
The writer begins with ‘Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to spend years at sea without ever touching land?’ What is the main purpose of this question?
A
To test the reader’s existing knowledge about life at sea
B
To engage the reader by inviting them to imagine an unusual experience
C
To suggest that it is actually possible for humans to live at sea like albatrosses
D
To introduce a debate about whether birds should live near the coast
12
Text Comprehension — Summarise the main idea
Which of the following best summarises the main idea of the entire article?
A
The wandering albatross uses a technique called dynamic soaring to fly without flapping.
B
Scientists are still unable to fully explain many things about the wandering albatross.
C
The wandering albatross is a remarkable seabird that spends most of its life flying over the ocean.
D
All large seabirds are able to fly great distances without stopping to rest on land.
13
Vocabulary — Technical word in context
The word navigate as used in the third subheading most likely means
A
communicate with other members of the same species
B
find a specific location while travelling a long distance
C
memorise the exact path taken on a previous journey
D
use body heat to detect the Earth’s magnetic field
14
Text Comprehension — What the writer assumes about the reader
The writer describes the albatross’s abilities as ‘remarkable,’ ‘extraordinary,’ and ‘perhaps most remarkably.’ What does this tell us about what the writer assumes about the reader?
A
The reader already knows everything about the albatross and needs to be re-engaged.
B
The reader is likely to find the albatross’s abilities surprising and impressive.
C
The reader does not believe that birds are capable of long-distance flight.
D
The reader is a scientist who will require technical evidence before accepting any claim.
Text 3 of 4 — Review
A Wild Ride: A Review of Storm Chasers: The Junior Edition
Original text for ICAS preparation purposes. A review of a fictional novel.
Storm Chasers: The Junior Edition has arrived as one of the most breathlessly paced adventure novels of the year for younger readers, and for the most part, it earns that reputation. Set during a record-breaking storm season in a fictional American town, the story follows three twelve-year-olds — Maya, Josh, and Priya — accidentally swept into a professional storm-chasing operation. The plot is relentlessly exciting, and there is no shortage of heart-pounding moments involving tornadoes and flash floods.
Is there anything else you really need in an adventure story?
Well, yes. As it turns out.
The science in Storm Chasers: The Junior Edition has been described, generously, as ‘flexible.’ Tornadoes behave in ways that would surprise actual meteorologists. At one point, the characters measure a tornado’s strength using an instrument that does not exist. For readers who care about accuracy, these moments break the spell. For a book aimed at children who may be learning about weather in school, such errors feel like a missed opportunity.
The characters themselves are appealing. Maya is resourceful, Josh is funny, and Priya is easily the most interesting of the three — her growing fascination with storm patterns is the closest the book comes to real scientific thinking. If the author had pushed this further, Storm Chasers might have been extraordinary rather than merely entertaining.
Despite its flaws, Storm Chasers: The Junior Edition is the kind of book that gets reluctant readers off the sofa. Just don’t use it to revise for your meteorology exam.
★★★☆☆ — Reviewed by Lee Evan
Questions 15–20 are about Storm Chasers: The Junior Edition
15
Writer’s Craft — Identify the text type
‘A Wild Ride’ belongs to which text type?
16
Vocabulary — Word meaning in context
The word relentlessly in the first paragraph most closely means
17
Writer’s Craft — Purpose of a rhetorical question
The reviewer asks: ‘Is there anything else you really need in an adventure story?’ What is the main purpose of this question?
A
To suggest that plot and excitement are all that a good adventure story requires
B
To invite the reader to think about whether other elements are needed, before the reviewer reveals a weakness
C
To prove that the book is already a perfectly complete adventure story
D
To challenge the author to add more scientific content to the second edition
18
Text Comprehension — Identify the main weakness
According to the reviewer, what is the main weakness of Storm Chasers: The Junior Edition?
A
The characters are too boring and difficult to care about
B
The story is too short to develop its ideas properly
C
Some of the scientific information in the book is inaccurate
D
The plot is predictable and lacks any surprises for the reader
19
Text Comprehension — Contrast the reviewer’s judgements
The reviewer praises the book for one thing and criticises it for another. Which option correctly identifies both?
A
Praised for: accurate science. Criticised for: poor character development.
B
Praised for: exciting plot and pace. Criticised for: inaccurate science.
C
Praised for: original ideas. Criticised for: slow pace in the second half.
D
Praised for: good science content. Criticised for: characters being too similar.
20
Writer’s Craft — Effect of the ending
The reviewer ends with: ‘Just don’t use it to revise for your meteorology exam.’ What is the main effect of this ending?
A
It formally warns teachers not to recommend this book in science lessons.
B
It uses humour to summarise the book’s main weakness in a memorable way.
C
It suggests that meteorology is a more important subject than most people realise.
D
It criticises the author for writing a book that is too difficult for young readers.
Text 4 of 4 — Cloze Passage
Night Travellers and Deep Sleepers
Original cloze passage for ICAS preparation purposes
When winter arrives, many animals face the same challenge: how to survive when food becomes scarce and temperatures drop. Some species solve this problem through migration — travelling to a warmer place where food is plentiful — (21) others use a completely different strategy called hibernation. During hibernation, an animal’s heart rate and body temperature drop dramatically, allowing it to survive for months without eating.
Both strategies are effective at helping animals make it through the colder months. (22), they depend on quite different preparations. Migratory animals must build up enough fat reserves for a long journey, while hibernating animals need enough fat to last an entire winter without moving at all.
21
Syntax — Select the correct connective
Choose the word that best fills blank (21).
22
Syntax — Select the correct connective
Choose the word that best fills blank (22).
ICAS Writing gives you one task — either Narrative or Persuasive. You are marked on: Genre (structure and language choices), Textual Grammar (tense, pronouns, sentence variety), and Syntax/Punctuation (correctness and accuracy).
✍️ The 5–25–5 Rule — Every Time
5 min Plan: Purpose, key points, opening hook, conclusion strategy.
25 min Write: Follow your plan. Vary sentence length. Use specific, vivid vocabulary.
5 min Edit: Read back and fix punctuation, tense, agreement, and spelling.
Task W1 — Narrative Writing
Your Task
Write a story that begins with this line:
“When Maya opened the old wooden box she found buried in the garden, she had no idea what would happen next.”
Your story should have a clear setting, at least one complication, and a satisfying ending.
⏱ 35 minutes total — plan for 5 minutes first.
5 MIN PLAN
What is in the box? _____________________ Setting: _____________________
Complication (the problem):
How the story ends:
Your Response (25 minutes)
📋 Answers & Worked Explanations
Read every explanation — even for questions you got right. Understanding why each wrong answer is wrong is where the real learning happens.
1
Correct order of events in ‘The Blue Ribbon’
✓ Correct Answer: A — (ii) → (iii) → (i) → (iv)
Work through the story chronologically. (ii) Playing classical music at home happens before the competition — it is preparation. At the show: (iii) Biscuit lies flat on the ground after the judge asks competitors to walk their dogs. Then (i) Zara holds up a treat, which motivates Biscuit to finally walk. Finally (iv) the judge writes in her notebook — the last action described. For sequence questions, go back to the text and find the exact moment each event occurs rather than guessing from memory.
2
What does ‘He’s just tired’ reveal about Zara?
✓ Correct Answer: C — She is trying to appear calm and in control despite feeling embarrassed.
Zara is clearly in a difficult situation — her dog is asleep in the ring during a competition. The excuse ‘He’s just tired’ is immediately challenged by the judge, which shows even Zara doesn’t fully believe it. She is saving face. She is not genuinely angry (A) — the tone is one of awkward cover-up, not anger. B is wrong because the judge’s response reveals the excuse is unconvincing. D goes beyond what the text supports — she doesn’t mention wanting another chance.
3
Why does the writer include the classical music detail?
✓ Correct Answer: B — To show that Zara followed unusual advice without questioning whether it would work.
The writer flags this detail with ‘someone on the internet had claimed it calmed nervous dogs’ — a hint that the source is unverified. Zara does it anyway. This builds a picture of a well-meaning but perhaps uncritical preparer. A is disproved by events — the music clearly did not calm Biscuit. C and D are not supported anywhere in the text. The detail is there to characterise Zara’s approach, not to explain Biscuit’s behaviour.
4
‘Ears swivelled like radar dishes’ — device used
✓ Correct Answer: C — A simile
A simile makes a comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as.’ This phrase compares Biscuit’s ears to radar dishes using ‘like.’ A metaphor would say the ears ARE radar dishes (no ‘like’). Personification gives human qualities to non-humans — Biscuit’s ears moving is animal behaviour, not human behaviour applied to an object. Alliteration repeats initial consonant sounds. The test: does it use ‘like’ or ‘as’ to compare two unlike things? Yes — it is a simile.
5
How Zara and Petra are contrasted
✓ Correct Answer: B — Zara’s dog refuses to perform at first; Petra’s dog completes its routine without difficulty.
The writer directly places Petra’s dog’s perfect performance immediately after Biscuit’s refusal — this is the contrast being drawn. A is speculation (Petra’s training is not described). C is wrong — Zara is making excuses, which is the opposite of calm. D is unsupported. The contrast is specifically between the two dogs’ performances, which reflects on their owners.
6
What does ‘typically’ mean?
✓ Correct Answer: C — usually
‘Typically’ means ‘as is normally the case’ or ‘usually.’ The judge is saying: ‘Tired dogs are usually kept at home — not brought to competitions.’ This is a polite but pointed challenge to Zara’s excuse. ‘Never’ (A) is too absolute. ‘Unfortunately’ (B) is an emotional word — ‘typically’ is factual and neutral. ‘Probably’ (D) introduces uncertainty, but ‘typically’ states what is normal, not what is merely likely.
7
What does ‘best she could hope for’ suggest?
✓ Correct Answer: B — She accepts an uncertain outcome as reasonably positive, given how badly things started.
Zara doesn’t know the result (so A is wrong — she cannot know she won). She is not giving up (D is wrong) — she is actually reading the neutral reaction as not-terrible given the circumstances. The key word is ‘probably’ — she is uncertain but cautiously positive. C overstates what can be inferred from a neutral expression. B captures the nuance of Zara making the best of an ambiguous situation after a rocky start.
8
Which birds have a wingspan greater than 3 metres?
✓ Correct Answer: B — The wandering albatross and the royal albatross
Read the table carefully. Wandering albatross = 3.5 m (greater than 3 ✓). Royal albatross = 3.1 m (greater than 3 ✓). Laysan albatross = 2.0 m (not greater than 3 ✗). Common pigeon = 0.7 m (not greater than 3 ✗). Always re-read the exact question — it asks for greater than 3 m, not greater than or equal to. Both 3.5 and 3.1 qualify; 2.0 does not.
9
Main reason the large wingspan is useful
✓ Correct Answer: B — It enables the bird to travel vast distances by gliding without flapping its wings.
The passage says directly: ‘This extraordinary wingspan allows the albatross to use a flying technique called dynamic soaring… to glide for enormous distances without flapping its wings.’ A, C, and D are not mentioned in the passage — they are invented distractors. In ICAS, the answer to ‘According to the passage’ questions is always directly stated in the text.
10
‘The ocean is their true home, and the sky their road’ — device
✓ Correct Answer: D — A metaphor
A metaphor states that one thing IS another thing, without using ‘like’ or ‘as.’ Here: ‘the sky’ IS ‘their road.’ There is no comparison word — it is a direct identification. A simile would say ‘the sky is like their road.’ Personification gives human qualities to non-humans (the sky is not human). Alliteration repeats sounds. The diagnostic question: does it use ‘like’ or ‘as’? No → metaphor.
11
Purpose of the opening question
✓ Correct Answer: B — To engage the reader by inviting them to imagine an unusual experience
When a writer opens with ‘Have you ever wondered…’, they are drawing the reader in by making the topic personal and imaginative. A is wrong — the question is not a test of knowledge. C and D are not supported — the question does not suggest humans can live at sea or introduce a debate. This technique (a direct question to the reader) is called a ‘rhetorical question’ and its purpose is always to engage.
12
Main idea of the entire article
✓ Correct Answer: C — The wandering albatross is a remarkable seabird that spends most of its life flying over the ocean.
A main idea must cover ALL sections of the article, not just one. A (dynamic soaring) is only one detail from one section. B (scientists can’t explain) is mentioned briefly in the conclusion but is not the main focus. D is too broad — the article is about the albatross specifically. C encompasses the whole article: the bird’s remarkable nature, its life at sea, its navigation — all support this summary.
13
What does ‘navigate’ mean?
✓ Correct Answer: B — Find a specific location while travelling a long distance
Context: ‘…the wandering albatross can navigate its way back to the exact island… where it was hatched.’ Navigate here means finding its way to a specific place after travelling a long distance. A (communicate) does not fit — the bird is finding a place, not communicating. C (memorise the exact path) is close, but navigate refers to the act of finding one’s way, not just memorising a route. D is invented.
14
What does ‘remarkable/extraordinary’ reveal about the assumed reader?
✓ Correct Answer: B — The reader is likely to find the albatross’s abilities surprising and impressive.
When a writer describes things as ‘remarkable’ and ‘extraordinary,’ they are flagging that these things are unusual or unexpected. This only makes sense if the writer assumes the reader does NOT already know about albatrosses — otherwise, it wouldn’t be surprising. A is the opposite of what the repeated ‘remarkable’ language suggests. C and D are not supported by the text. The writer’s choice of evaluative language signals what they think will impress their reader.
15
Text type of ‘A Wild Ride’
✓ Correct Answer: C — Review
A review evaluates a creative work (book, film, show) giving the reviewer’s opinion on its strengths and weaknesses, and typically ends with a recommendation. The features present here: named work being reviewed, the reviewer’s opinion stated, strengths identified (exciting plot), weakness identified (inaccurate science), star rating, reviewer’s name. A biography is about a person’s life. A narrative tells a story. A procedure gives step-by-step instructions.
16
What does ‘relentlessly’ mean?
✓ Correct Answer: B — without stopping
Relentless means without letting up, without stopping or slowing. ‘The plot is relentlessly exciting’ means it does not pause or slow — it keeps the excitement going throughout. Occasionally (A) means sometimes — the opposite. Unexpectedly (C) relates to surprise, not pace. Gently (D) is almost the opposite of relentless. When you cannot recall a word’s meaning precisely, use the context: the reviewer is clearly praising the pace of the story.
17
Purpose of ‘Is there anything else you really need in an adventure story?’
✓ Correct Answer: B — To invite the reader to think about whether other elements are needed, before the reviewer reveals a weakness
The question appears to agree that plot and pace are enough — but it is immediately followed by ‘Well, yes. As it turns out.’ This structure shows the question is ironic: it sets up the expectation that the book is fine, then pulls the rug out. The reviewer is using the question to build suspense before revealing the criticism. A is wrong — the question is not the reviewer’s final position. B correctly captures the function of this rhetorical setup.
18
Main weakness of the book
✓ Correct Answer: C — Some of the scientific information in the book is inaccurate
The entire third paragraph is dedicated to this point: tornadoes behave incorrectly, an instrument that does not exist is used, and the reviewer calls it a ‘missed opportunity’ for a book aimed at children who may be learning about weather. A is wrong — the reviewer describes the characters as ‘appealing.’ B is not mentioned. D is also wrong — the reviewer praises the pace. C is the directly stated and most developed criticism.
19
Correct identification of praise and criticism
✓ Correct Answer: B — Praised for: exciting plot and pace. Criticised for: inaccurate science.
The reviewer explicitly praises the plot (‘breathlessly paced,’ ‘heart-pounding moments,’ ‘relentlessly exciting’) and explicitly criticises the science (‘flexible,’ ‘Tornadoes behave in ways that would surprise actual meteorologists’). A reverses these. C (originality) and D (good science) are both unsupported — neither is praised in the text. This is a direct ‘contrast the reviewer’s judgements’ question — one of the key Paper B skills.
20
Effect of ‘Just don’t use it to revise for your meteorology exam’
✓ Correct Answer: B — It uses humour to summarise the book’s main weakness in a memorable way.
The ending is clearly intended to be funny — no child reads a junior adventure novel to revise for exams. By using this humorous exaggeration, the reviewer lands the central criticism (inaccurate science) in a way that is light, memorable, and not harsh. A is too formal — the reviewer is not issuing a warning to teachers. C and D are not supported. In ICAS, questions about the effect of a concluding sentence nearly always relate to tone, summary, or the reviewer’s overall stance.
✓ Correct Answer: C — while
The sentence contrasts two strategies: ‘Some species solve this problem through migration… _____ others use… hibernation.’ The blank introduces the second option in a contrast. ‘While’ is the correct connective for showing two simultaneous or contrasting things happening at the same level. ‘Because’ (A) would make hibernation the cause of migration — which is wrong. ‘Unless’ (B) implies a condition. ‘Although’ (D) would work grammatically but suggests the second option is unexpected or in conflict with the first, which is stronger than needed here.
✓ Correct Answer: B — However
The second paragraph opens by saying both strategies are effective (similarity), then introduces a contrast: they depend on different preparations. ‘However’ is the correct connective for introducing a contrast after a concession. ‘As a result’ (A) and ‘Therefore’ (C) signal consequence — but the different preparations are not a consequence of being effective. ‘In addition’ (D) signals adding more of the same — but the sentence introduces a contrast, not an addition.
W
Narrative task — What markers look for at Paper B level
ICAS Writing uses the same 12-criterion marking scale for all year levels. Here is what markers look for specifically at Paper B level:
Genre
- Clear narrative structure: orientation (who, where, when), complication, resolution
- The opening should immediately establish setting or create atmosphere — not just repeat the given line
- Build tension through action, dialogue, or description — don’t rush to the ending
- A satisfying ending that resolves the complication — not just ‘and then I woke up’
- Specific, vivid vocabulary that creates images rather than generic descriptions
Textual Grammar
- Consistent past tense throughout — don’t accidentally switch to present
- Correct pronoun use (she/her, they/them) — keep the reference clear
- Use a variety of sentence lengths: short sentences for impact, longer sentences for description
- Connectives to link ideas: then, however, suddenly, as soon as, after that
- Use paragraphs to signal time shifts or changes in action
Syntax / Punctuation
- Every sentence has a subject and a verb — no fragments
- Capital letters at the start of every sentence and for all names
- Full stops, question marks, or exclamation marks at the end of every sentence
- Commas used correctly in lists and complex sentences
- Speech marks used correctly if dialogue is included: “Like this,” she said.
1
Food web — foxes removed
✓ Correct Answer: B — The rabbit population would grow larger because rabbits no longer have a predator.
Foxes eat rabbits. With foxes removed, rabbits have no predator in this web, so their numbers will increase. A is tempting but wrong — foxes do NOT eat frogs in this diagram (frogs eat grasshoppers; foxes eat rabbits). C is biologically impossible — grasshoppers are herbivores. D might happen eventually (more rabbits eating more grass) but is not the FIRST or MOST LIKELY immediate change. Always trace arrows carefully before answering food web questions.
Why the other options are wrong
A
Foxes are not connected to frogs in this food web — frogs eat grasshoppers, foxes eat rabbits. Removing foxes has no direct effect on frogs.
C
Grasshoppers are herbivores — they eat grass, not other animals. Their diet does not change when foxes are removed.
D
This might happen later (more rabbits → more grass eaten) but it is not the FIRST change. The direct first-step effect is the rabbit population growing.
2
Waterproof and flexible bag material
✓ Correct Answer: D — Rubber
The designer needs TWO properties: waterproof AND flexible. Read the table carefully for materials that satisfy both: Cotton — not waterproof ✗. Wool — not waterproof ✗. Glass — waterproof ✓, but NOT flexible ✗. Rubber — waterproof ✓ AND flexible ✓. Rubber is the only material in the table that satisfies both requirements. For multi-criteria questions, rule out options that fail any one criterion, then choose the one that satisfies all of them.
3
Dichotomous key — no backbone, 8 legs, no wings
✓ Correct Answer: C — Spider
Trace through the key step by step: Step 1: Does it have a backbone? No → go to Step 3. Step 3: Does it have more than 6 legs? Yes (8 > 6) → go to Step 4. Step 4: Does it have exactly 8 legs? Yes → it is a spider. The most common error is going to Step 5 instead of Step 4 — but Step 5 is only reached if the animal has 6 or fewer legs. With 8 legs you go to Step 4, not Step 5.
4
Li’s guitar string experiment — variable changed
✓ Correct Answer: B — The length of the strings
The independent variable (what was deliberately changed) is string length — she used 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, and 50 cm strings. The controlled variables (kept the same) were: the same guitar and the same tension. The dependent variable (what was measured as a result) was pitch — but pitch is what was measured, not what was changed. A (tension) was kept the same. C (pitch) is the result, not the cause. D (material) was kept the same — same guitar strings.
5
Spring length with 6 weights
✓ Correct Answer: B — 22 cm
The pattern: each additional weight adds exactly 2 cm to the spring’s length (0 weights = 10, 1 = 12, 2 = 14, 3 = 16, 4 = 18). To get to 6 weights, continue: 5 weights = 20 cm, 6 weights = 22 cm. The trap is A (20 cm) — this is the answer for 5 weights, not 6. Always extend the pattern the exact number of steps needed.
4 weights = 18 cm → 5 weights = 20 cm → 6 weights = 22 cm ✓
6
Two materials recycled least
✓ Correct Answer: C — Glass and Metal
Read the graph values: Paper = 40 kg, Plastic = 25 kg, Glass = 15 kg, Metal = 20 kg, Cardboard = 30 kg. Ranking from least to most: Glass (15) < Metal (20) < Plastic (25) < Cardboard (30) < Paper (40). The two least recycled are Glass (15 kg) and Metal (20 kg). A and B both include Paper or Cardboard, which are among the most recycled. D includes Plastic (25 kg) instead of Metal (20 kg) — Plastic is the third least, not second.
7
Senses experiment — best conclusion
✓ Correct Answer: B — People can identify liquids with a strong smell, but not liquids with little or no odour.
All three students correctly identified vinegar (strong smell) and rose water (distinctive smell) but failed to identify plain water (which has virtually no odour). The conclusion must match the pattern exactly: success for strong-smelling liquids, failure for odourless ones. A overstates the evidence (not all liquids can be identified this way). C is not tested by this experiment (touch was not used). D goes beyond the data — we can only say plain water was not identified by these students, not that it has absolutely no odour detectable under any conditions.
8
Shadow direction conclusion
✓ Correct Answer: B — Shadows point in the opposite direction from the Sun.
The diagram shows: 8 am (sun in the east) → shadow points west. 12 pm (sun overhead/south) → short shadow points north. 4 pm (sun in the west) → shadow points east. The consistent pattern is that shadows always point away from the Sun. A is the opposite of the correct answer — the shadow is always on the side away from the Sun. C is wrong — shadows are shortest (not longest) when the Sun is overhead. D is wrong — the direction clearly changes with the Sun’s position.
9
State change — ice, butter, chocolate all melting
✓ Correct Answer: C — A solid changing into a liquid as it gains heat
In all three situations: ice (solid → liquid water), butter (solid → liquid), chocolate (solid → liquid). All start as solids and become liquids by gaining heat from their surroundings. This process is called melting. A describes the reverse (liquid → solid = freezing/solidifying). B describes condensation (gas → liquid). D describes a chemical change — melting is a physical change because the substance remains the same material (e.g. water is still water, whether ice or liquid).
10
Gears — direction of Gear 4 when Gear 1 = anticlockwise
✓ Correct Answer: B — Clockwise, because there is an even number of gears in the chain
Track direction through each gear: G1 = anticlockwise (ACW). G2 touches G1 → opposite → clockwise (CW). G3 touches G2 → opposite → anticlockwise (ACW). G4 touches G3 → opposite → clockwise (CW). With 4 gears (even number), the last gear always turns OPPOSITE to the first gear. Rule: odd number of gears → last = same direction as first. Even number of gears → last = opposite direction to first. Gear size never affects direction, only speed.
Why the other options are wrong
A
This would be true for an odd-numbered chain (1, 3, 5 gears). With 4 gears (even), the last gear is opposite to the first.
C
Gear size never affects direction. A smaller gear does not automatically turn the same or opposite — only the number of mesh points determines direction.
D
Gear size affects speed, not direction. The rule about opposite directions applies equally to large-to-small and small-to-large meshes.
1
Symmetry — correct reflection of L-shape
✓ Correct Answer: A
For a reflection in a vertical mirror line, each point on the left side is moved to the same distance on the right side. The top bar (wide part) reflects to the far right of the mirror line. The vertical bar (narrow part) reflects to the far-right of the reflected shape. In option A, the vertical bar sits at the right edge of the reflected shape — this is the true mirror image. Option B places the vertical bar at the left edge of the right half — this is a copy, not a reflection. Options C and D place shapes in wrong positions entirely.
2
Fractions — how many travel by bus?
✓ Correct Answer: C — 18
Step 1: Find how many walk. 2/5 of 30 = (30 ÷ 5) × 2 = 6 × 2 = 12. Step 2: The rest travel by bus. 30 − 12 = 18. Common error: A (6) comes from finding only 1/5 of 30. B (12) is the number who walk — not the number who take the bus. D (24) would be 4/5 of 30. Always re-read what the question asks for after calculating.
3
Two-way table — which statement is true?
✓ Correct Answer: B — The same number of boys and girls travel by car.
Check each option against the table: A — Girls walk = 5, Boys walk = 8. More boys walk, so A is FALSE. B — Boys car = 6, Girls car = 6. Equal. B is TRUE ✓. C — Boys bus = 6, Girls bus = 9. More girls take the bus, so C is FALSE. D — Total walkers = 13, Total bus = 15. Bus travellers are more, so D is FALSE. Only B is true.
4
Movie time — 7:15 pm + 2h 40 min
✓ Correct Answer: C — 9:55 pm
Step 1: Add hours. 7:15 pm + 2 hours = 9:15 pm. Step 2: Add minutes. 9:15 pm + 40 minutes. 9:15 + 40: from 9:15 to 10:00 = 45 minutes. We only need 40 minutes, so we haven’t reached 10:00 yet. 9:15 + 40 = 9:55 pm. Common trap: A (9:45) comes from adding only 30 minutes instead of 40. D (10:05) comes from adding 50 minutes instead of 40. Always add hours and minutes as separate steps.
5
Oranges — 4 bags of 6, shared among 8 people
✓ Correct Answer: B — 3
Step 1: Total oranges = 4 bags × 6 per bag = 24 oranges. Step 2: Total people = herself + 7 friends = 8 people. Step 3: 24 ÷ 8 = 3 oranges each. Common error: Using 7 people (forgetting ‘herself’) → 24 ÷ 7 ≈ 3.4 (not a whole number, which signals a mistake). In sharing problems, always count ALL people including the person doing the sharing.
✓ Correct Answer: B — 15
The pattern adds 2 tiles each row: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15. Row 8 = 15 tiles. Formula: Row n = (2 × n) − 1. Row 8 = (2 × 8) − 1 = 16 − 1 = 15. The trap is A (13), which is Row 7, not Row 8. Always count carefully which row you are calculating.
7
Net of a triangular prism
✓ Correct Answer: A
A triangular prism needs: 2 triangular faces + 3 rectangular faces = 5 faces total. Option A shows exactly this: 3 rectangles in a row with 1 triangle above and 1 triangle below the middle rectangle — this folds correctly into a triangular prism. Option B has 6 squares — this makes a cube. Option C and D are missing one rectangular face each — they would not close into a complete solid.
8
Running track — 5 laps in km
✓ Correct Answer: B — 2 km
Step 1: Total metres = 400 m × 5 = 2,000 m. Step 2: Convert to km. 1 km = 1,000 m. 2,000 m ÷ 1,000 = 2 km. Common errors: A (0.2 km) comes from dividing 200 by 1,000. C (20 km) comes from multiplying by 10 instead of dividing by 1,000. D (200 km) is an order-of-magnitude error.
✓ Correct Answer: B — 16 cm
Trace all 6 sides of the L-shape: top = 4 cm, right side = 2 cm, horizontal step (going left) = 3 cm, step down = 2 cm, bottom of stem = 1 cm, left side = 4 cm. Total: 4 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 4 = 16 cm. Common error: A (14 cm) comes from forgetting one of the inner step sides. Always trace every side in order around the shape, keeping count carefully. The step inward has both a horizontal and a vertical component — students often count only one.
10
Compass — starting East, 3/4 turn anticlockwise
✓ Correct Answer: B — South
Trace each quarter-turn anticlockwise (ACW) from East: East → (1/4 ACW) → North → (1/4 ACW) → West → (1/4 ACW) → South. After three quarter-turns anticlockwise from East, the needle points South. Anticlockwise on a compass goes: E → N → W → S → E. A (North) would be only 1/4 turn. C (West) would be 2/4 (half) turn. Always trace the turns step by step rather than trying to calculate in one go.
11
Area after cutting 2×2 cm from 6×4 cm rectangle
✓ Correct Answer: C — 20 cm²
Step 1: Area of full rectangle = 6 × 4 = 24 cm². Step 2: Area of square cut out = 2 × 2 = 4 cm². Step 3: Remaining area = 24 − 4 = 20 cm². A (16) comes from subtracting 8 (a 2×4 strip) instead of 4. B (18) comes from subtracting 6 (the width) instead of 4. D (22) comes from subtracting only 2 instead of 4.
12
Stickers — find Bella’s total (each ★ = 6)
✓ Correct Answer: C — 21
Step 1 — find known totals: Aiden = ★★★ = 18. Carlos = ★★ = 12. Ella = ★★★★ = 24. Step 2 — find known total: 18 + 12 + 24 = 54. Step 3 — find Bella + Dani: 90 − 54 = 36. Step 4 — use Bella = Dani + 6: Bella + Dani = 36, so (Dani + 6) + Dani = 36 → 2 × Dani = 30 → Dani = 15. Bella = 15 + 6 = 21. Check: 18 + 12 + 24 + 21 + 15 = 90 ✓. All five values are different ✓.
Why other options are wrong
A
15 is Dani’s total — a common error from finding Dani’s amount but not adding 6 to get Bella’s.
B
18 is Aiden’s total — a distractor that matches one of the given amounts.
D
24 is Ella’s total — another distractor matching a given amount.
1
Which of the four items is software?
✓ Correct Answer: C — Word Processor
Software is a program or application that runs on a computer — you cannot touch or hold it. A word processor is a program (like Microsoft Word) that exists only as code running on the computer. Hardware refers to physical parts you can touch. A keyboard (A), printer (B) and headphones (D) are all hardware — physical devices you can hold and feel.
Why the other options are wrong
A
A keyboard is hardware — it is a physical input device you can touch and hold.
B
A printer is hardware — it is a physical output device that produces paper copies.
D
Headphones are hardware — they are physical audio output devices.
2
What is the name of Maya’s file?
✓ Correct Answer: A — Ocean Report.doc
The filename is always shown in the title bar at the very top of the window. The title bar shows “Ocean Report.doc — Word.” The file is named Ocean Report.doc — this is the complete filename including the file extension (.doc tells you what type of file it is). B (‘The Ocean’) is the title inside the document. C (‘Word’) is the name of the program being used, not the file. D (‘.doc’) is only the file extension, not the full name.
3
What font size is Tom using?
✓ Correct Answer: C — 16
In a word processor toolbar, the font size is the number shown in the small box next to the font name. The size box — outlined in blue — shows ’16’. A common mistake is choosing ‘Arial’ (the font name) or ‘Bold’ (a formatting style) — neither of these is a font size. Font sizes are always numbers.
Why the other options are wrong
A
Arial is the font name — the typeface being used. It is not a font size.
B
12 is not shown anywhere in this toolbar — a common distractor since 12 is a very common default size.
D
Bold is a formatting style (how the text looks) — it is not a font size.
4
Which slide is Kim editing?
✓ Correct Answer: B — Slide 2
In a presentation program, the slide currently being edited appears in the large main area on the right. The highlighted (blue-outlined) thumbnail in the slide panel shows slide 2 — and the main editing area displays the content of slide 2 (the Lions slide). The number next to the highlighted thumbnail in the panel also confirms it is slide 2.
5
How many emails have NOT been read?
✓ Correct Answer: B — 3
In an email inbox, unread emails are shown with a closed envelope icon (sealed) and bold text. Read emails have an open envelope icon and lighter text. Counting the closed envelopes: Row 1 (Mum) = unread. Row 2 (Tom) = read. Row 3 (Ms Chen) = unread. Row 4 (Dad) = read. Row 5 (Jess) = unread. Total unread = 3.
Why the other options are wrong
A
2 — this is the number of READ emails (Tom and Dad), not unread.
C
4 — this would mean only one email was read, which is not correct.
D
5 — this is the total number of emails, not the unread count.
6
When Noah clicks button (A), he will…
✓ Correct Answer: A — return to the previous page he visited
Button (A) shows the back arrow (◄) — this is the Back button in every web browser. Clicking it takes you back to the page you visited before the current one. Button (B) is the forward arrow. Button (C) is the refresh symbol (↻), which reloads the current page. Button (D) is the bookmark star, which saves the page to your favourites.
Why the other options are wrong
B
Reloading the current page is what button (C) ↻ does — the refresh button.
C
Moving forward is what button (B) ► does — the forward button.
D
Saving to bookmarks is what button (D) ★ does — the bookmarks/favourites button.
7
Which cell is currently active?
✓ Correct Answer: C — C3
The active cell is shown with a coloured border (orange) and its reference appears in the Name Box at the top left of the screen. The Name Box clearly shows ‘C3’, and the cell in column C, row 3 has the distinctive orange border. The formula bar also shows the contents of the active cell (‘Sarah’). Column C is highlighted in dark blue in the column headers.
8
Which SUM formula should Raj type in cell B7?
✓ Correct Answer: C — =SUM(B2:B6)
Raj wants to add the values in cells B2 through B6 — the five activity rows (45 + 32 + 28 + 60 + 75 = 240). He types the formula IN cell B7, so B7 itself cannot be part of the range. Option A uses column A (wrong column). Option B starts at B1 which is a heading row (text, not a number). Option D includes B7 itself in the range, creating a circular reference error.
Why the other options are wrong
A
=SUM(A2:A6) adds column A (activity names) — text cannot be summed, and this is the wrong column.
B
=SUM(B1:B6) starts at B1 which contains the heading text, not a number. Headings should not be included in a SUM range.
D
=SUM(B2:B7) includes B7 itself — the cell where the formula is entered. This creates a circular reference error.
9
After four commands, which square does the robot land on?
✓ Correct Answer: C — Square C
Trace each command one step at a time. Start: row 1, col 1. Command 1 — Move right: row 1, col 2. Command 2 — Move right: row 1, col 3. Command 3 — Move down: row 2, col 3. Command 4 — Move right: row 2, col 4 = Square C.
Why the other options are wrong
A
Square A (row 1, col 3) — the position after only the first two commands. Commands 3 and 4 were not followed.
B
Square B (row 2, col 3) — the position after three commands. The final ‘move right’ was not followed.
D
Square D (row 3, col 4) — requires an extra ‘move down’ command that is not in the list.
10
Which file should Maya open to listen to music?
✓ Correct Answer: B — Song.mp3
File extensions tell you what type of file it is. .mp3 is an audio file format that stores music or sound recordings. .jpg (A) is an image/photo file. .doc (C) is a word processing document. .exe (D) is an executable program file. Always look at the part after the dot (the extension) to identify the file type.
EATS
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ICAS-Style Practice Workbook
Paper B · MY: Std 4 · SG: P3 · AU: Y4 · 2026 Edition
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