In the real ICAS English paper, every question is based on a passage. You will read different text types — an informational article, a fiction story, a poem, and a cloze passage. Read each passage carefully before answering its questions.
📖 English Strategy for Paper A
Read the questions first, then read the passage looking for answers. Questions move from straightforward (finding information directly in the text) to more challenging (working out how a character feels, or why the writer made a particular choice). Always go back to the specific part of the text — don’t rely on memory.
Text 1 of 4 — Informational Article
The Amazing Octopus
Original text for ICAS preparation purposes
A Very Unusual Animal
Octopuses are some of the most fascinating animals in the ocean. They have eight arms, three hearts and blue blood. Scientists have discovered that octopuses are incredibly clever — they can learn to open jars and solve puzzles!
A Master of Disguise
An octopus can change the colour and texture of its skin in less than one second. This helps it hide from predators such as sharks and eels. The octopus doesn’t just change colour — it can also make its skin bumpy or smooth to match the sea floor beneath it.
Escape Artists
Octopuses have soft bodies with no bones. This means they can squeeze through any gap that is big enough for their small, hard beak. In aquariums, octopuses have been known to escape from their tanks at night to reach food in nearby tanks — and then return before morning!
Short but Smart
Most octopuses only live for one to two years. In that short time, they learn to find and use tools, remember faces and solve problems. Scientists who work with octopuses say each one seems to have its own personality — some are shy, some are bold, and some appear to enjoy playing tricks on their keepers.
Questions 1–7 are about The Amazing Octopus
1
Vocabulary — Word meaning in context
The word predators in the second paragraph most likely means
A
animals that help other animals.
B
animals that hunt and eat other animals.
C
animals that live only in the ocean.
D
animals that are very difficult to find.
2
Text Comprehension — Main purpose of text
What is the MAIN purpose of this article?
A
To warn readers that octopuses are dangerous.
B
To tell a story about a pet octopus.
C
To give information about how octopuses live and behave.
D
To explain how to keep an octopus in an aquarium.
3
Writer’s Craft — Purpose of subheadings
Why does the writer use subheadings in this article?
A
To show that the article was written by a scientist.
B
To separate different topics and help the reader navigate between them.
C
To show which parts of the article are most important to read.
D
To replace the need for a conclusion.
4
Text Comprehension — Locate key information
According to the article, what allows an octopus to squeeze through very small gaps?
A
Its ability to change colour.
C
Its soft body with no bones.
5
Text Comprehension — Distinguish fact from opinion
Which of these is an opinion rather than a fact stated in the article?
A
Octopuses have eight arms, three hearts and blue blood.
B
Octopuses are some of the most fascinating animals in the ocean.
C
Most octopuses only live for one to two years.
D
An octopus can change the colour of its skin in less than one second.
6
Text Comprehension — Identify cause and effect
According to the article, WHY can an octopus change the colour of its skin?
A
To communicate with other octopuses far away.
B
To help it hide from animals that might eat it.
C
To attract small fish as prey.
D
To keep warm in cold water.
7
Writer’s Craft — Analyse writer’s point of view
The writer says octopuses ‘appear to enjoy playing tricks on their keepers.’ What does this tell us about how the writer VIEWS octopuses?
A
The writer thinks octopuses are frightening and dangerous.
B
The writer is unsure whether octopuses are really intelligent.
C
The writer finds octopuses fascinating and sees them as animals with interesting personalities.
D
The writer thinks octopuses should not be kept in aquariums.
Text 2 of 4 — Fiction Narrative
The New Neighbour
Original fiction extract for ICAS preparation purposes
On Monday morning, a moving van arrived next door. Maya watched from the window as boxes and furniture were carried inside. A girl about Maya’s age walked up the path, staring at the ground. She didn’t look at anyone.
At school the next day, Maya saw the same girl sitting alone at lunchtime. Her sandwich was in her lap and she was reading a book. A group of girls walked past and whispered to each other. The girl with the book didn’t look up.
Maya picked up her lunch and walked over.
“Is anyone sitting here?” she asked.
The girl looked up, surprised. “No,” she said.
Maya sat down. “I live next door to you,” she said. “I saw you move in.”
The girl’s face changed. It was only small, but Maya saw it — the corners of her mouth moved up, just a little.
“I’m Priya,” the girl said. “I’m Maya,” said Maya. “Do you want to see the library after school? It’s actually really good.” Priya looked down at her book, then back at Maya. “Okay,” she said.
Questions 8–13 are about The New Neighbour
8
Text Comprehension — Infer character’s feelings
At the beginning of the story, how does Priya most likely feel?
A
Excited to meet new friends.
B
Lonely and uncomfortable at her new school.
C
Angry about having to move.
D
Happy and content reading her book.
9
Text Comprehension — Infer meaning of action
‘The corners of her mouth moved up, just a little.’ What does this show about how Priya is feeling?
A
She is confused by what Maya said.
B
She is pleased, even though she is trying not to show it too much.
C
She is about to cry and is trying to hold it back.
D
She is bored and wants Maya to go away.
10
Text Comprehension — Identify sequence of events
Which of these events happened LAST in the story?
A
Maya watched the moving van arrive next door.
B
Priya sat alone at lunchtime reading a book.
C
Maya sat down next to Priya at lunch.
D
Priya agreed to visit the library after school.
11
Vocabulary — Infer meaning of word in context
A group of girls whispered to each other as they walked past Priya. What does this suggest about what the girls were doing?
A
They were being polite so as not to disturb others.
B
They were saying something about Priya that they didn’t want her to hear.
C
They were too far away from Priya to speak normally.
D
They had naturally very quiet voices.
12
Text Comprehension — Infer character motivation
Why does Maya most likely decide to sit with Priya at lunchtime?
A
She wanted to find out more about Priya’s book.
B
She felt sorry for Priya sitting alone and wanted to be friendly.
C
Her teacher asked her to look after the new student.
D
She needed someone to walk home with after school.
13
Syntax — Join two sentences with a conjunction
Read these two sentences: “Priya had eaten her lunch. She was still hungry.”
Which sentence best joins these two ideas and keeps the same meaning?
A
Priya had eaten her lunch because she was still hungry.
B
Priya had eaten her lunch so she was still hungry.
C
Priya had eaten her lunch but she was still hungry.
D
Priya had eaten her lunch before she was still hungry.
📋 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
The word ‘predators’ most likely means
✓ Correct Answer: B — animals that hunt and eat other animals
Context: the octopus hides from predators ‘such as sharks and eels.’ Both sharks and eels are known hunters that eat smaller animals. The hiding behaviour also signals that predators are dangerous. Use the examples given in the text to unlock word meanings.
Why the other options are wrong
A
Animals that help others — the opposite. The octopus hides FROM them.
C
Animals that live only in the ocean — too broad. Many ocean animals are not predators of octopuses.
D
Difficult to find — describes the octopus’s camouflage strategy, not the predators themselves.
2
What is the MAIN purpose of this article?
✓ Correct Answer: C — to give information about how octopuses live and behave
The article presents factual information across four different topics — appearance, camouflage, escaping, and intelligence. This is a classic information report structure. Identifying the purpose requires looking at the overall pattern of the text, not just one paragraph.
3
Why does the writer use subheadings?
✓ Correct Answer: B — to separate different topics and help the reader navigate between them
Each subheading introduces a new focus: unusual features, camouflage, escaping, and intelligence. Subheadings are a navigation tool — they let readers find a specific section quickly and signal where each new topic begins. This is a standard Paper A ‘text features’ question.
4
What allows an octopus to squeeze through very small gaps?
✓ Correct Answer: C — its soft body with no bones
The text says directly: ‘Octopuses have soft bodies with no bones. This means they can squeeze through any gap that is big enough for their small, hard beak.’ This is a straightforward locate-and-retrieve question — the answer is stated explicitly in the passage.
5
Which is an opinion rather than a fact?
✓ Correct Answer: B — ‘Octopuses are some of the most fascinating animals in the ocean’
‘Most fascinating’ is a judgement — different readers might disagree. Facts can be tested and verified. A, C and D are all verifiable with science: you can count arms, measure lifespan, and time the colour change. ‘Fascinating’ cannot be measured. Spotting the evaluative word (‘most fascinating’) is the key skill.
6
WHY can an octopus change colour?
✓ Correct Answer: B — to help it hide from animals that might eat it
The text states: ‘This helps it hide from predators such as sharks and eels.’ The ‘this’ refers to changing colour and texture. This is a cause-and-effect question — identify what causes the colour change (= the threat of predators) and what the effect is (= hiding, survival).
7
‘Appear to enjoy playing tricks’ — writer’s view of octopuses
✓ Correct Answer: C — the writer finds octopuses fascinating and sees them as animals with interesting personalities
Describing octopuses as enjoying ‘tricks’ gives them human-like qualities, suggesting the writer views them as more than just animals — they have character. The word ‘appear’ shows care in not overstating, but the overall tone of the article (using words like ‘extraordinary,’ ‘incredible’) is clearly one of admiration. This is a writer’s point of view question — look at the word choices across the whole article.
8
How does Priya feel at the beginning of the story?
✓ Correct Answer: B — lonely and uncomfortable at her new school
Evidence: Priya ‘stared at the ground’ and ‘didn’t look at anyone’ on moving day. At school she sits alone. These are clear signals of discomfort and isolation. She’s using the book as a shield. Option D (happy) is wrong because the ‘didn’t look at anyone’ detail signals she’s not comfortable.
9
‘The corners of her mouth moved up, just a little’
✓ Correct Answer: B — she is pleased, even though she is trying not to show it too much
Corners of the mouth moving up = the beginning of a smile. The qualifier ‘just a little’ shows it’s controlled — Priya is not letting herself smile fully, perhaps because she doesn’t want to seem too eager. This is a careful inference about body language, a key Paper A skill.
10
Which event happened LAST in the story?
✓ Correct Answer: D — Priya agreed to visit the library after school
Sequence: A (moving van on Monday) → B (lunchtime scene on Tuesday) → C (Maya sits down) → D (Priya says ‘Okay’ to the library). Write the events in order and find the final one. Tip: the LAST event is the final thing that happens in the text, not just the most recent-sounding.
11
The group of girls ‘whispered’ — what does this suggest?
✓ Correct Answer: B — they were saying something about Priya they didn’t want her to hear
The girls whisper specifically as they walk past Priya. Whispering in this context (walking past someone you notice) implies gossip or comment that is intentionally kept private from the subject. The placement of this detail — right after Priya is shown sitting alone — suggests the writer is showing that Priya’s isolation is not simply neutral.
12
Why does Maya sit with Priya?
✓ Correct Answer: B — she felt sorry for Priya sitting alone and wanted to be friendly
Maya saw the moving van (she recognised Priya), then saw her alone at lunch with girls whispering past her. The combination — new student, isolation, unkindness from others — motivates Maya’s action. The text shows Maya made the choice herself without any prompt from a teacher. This is a character motivation question requiring you to read the whole situation.
13
Join: ‘Priya had eaten her lunch. She was still hungry.’
✓ Correct Answer: C — ‘Priya had eaten her lunch but she was still hungry’
‘But’ signals contrast or an unexpected result — you’d expect eating lunch to mean you’re NOT hungry, so still being hungry is the surprise. ‘Because’ (A) reverses the logic (says hunger caused eating). ‘So’ (B) would imply eating caused the hunger — wrong. ‘Before’ (D) implies she was still hungry before eating, which changes the timing.
14
What type of text is ‘The Dragon Under the Bed’?
✓ Correct Answer: B — a poem
Key features: it is divided into stanzas (groups of lines), uses rhyme (know/glow, shoe/true), and has a rhythm when read aloud. These are all features of a poem. An information report (A) presents facts. A recount (C) retells events in time order. A procedure (D) gives step-by-step instructions.
15
Which line contains a simile?
✓ Correct Answer: B — ‘His eyes are like two embers’ glow’
A simile makes a comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as.’ ‘Like two embers’ compares the dragon’s eyes to the glowing coals of a fire. The word ‘like’ is the signal. Options A, C and D make statements but do not compare one thing to another using ‘like’ or ‘as.’
16
Why are some lines in brackets in the second stanza?
✓ Correct Answer: B — to give a sensible, real-world explanation for each piece of ‘dragon evidence’
Each bracketed line pairs with a claim about the dragon and gently offers what is actually causing it: warm breath = heater, growling = floorboards, crumbs = Sam. The brackets create a double voice — the dramatic dragon belief outside, the rational explanation inside. This is the humour of the poem: the evidence keeps having a boring explanation.
17
Which sentence uses speech marks correctly?
✓ Correct Answer: B — “Be careful,” said Tom, “the floor is very slippery.”
When speech is interrupted by a reporting clause (‘said Tom’), the first part ends with a comma inside the closing speech mark, then the reporting clause has a comma after it, and the second part of the speech continues in lowercase. A is wrong (missing comma after ‘Tom’). C is wrong (missing comma after ‘careful’). D is wrong (‘The’ is incorrectly capitalised for a continuation).
18
Cloze blank (18) — caterpillar ___ from the egg
✓ Correct Answer: B — hatches
‘Hatches’ is the correct scientific term for when a young animal breaks out of an egg. ‘Flies’ belongs to the adult butterfly. ‘Sleeps’ and ‘builds’ don’t describe emerging from an egg. The context (‘from the egg’) is the key — what does an animal do ‘from’ an egg? It hatches.
19
Cloze blank (19) — ___ the chrysalis, the caterpillar changes
✓ Correct Answer: C — Inside
The chrysalis is described as ‘a hard case’ that the caterpillar forms around itself. The transformation happens within this case — so ‘inside’ is the only logical preposition. ‘Above’ and ‘beside’ place the caterpillar outside the chrysalis. ‘Outside’ directly contradicts the function of the chrysalis.
20
Cloze blank (20) — ___, a fully grown butterfly breaks free
✓ Correct Answer: C — In the end
‘In the end’ signals a conclusion or final result after a process — perfect for the last stage of the life cycle. ‘By accident’ implies something unplanned (the butterfly’s emergence is not accidental). ‘At the start’ contradicts the sequence (breaking free is the end, not the start). ‘For example’ introduces an illustration, not a conclusion.
W
Both writing tasks — Narrative and Persuasive
ICAS Writing uses the same marking criteria for all year levels. Here is what markers look for at Paper A level specifically:
Genre
- Narrative: clear setting, a character with a problem or goal, events that build, a satisfying ending
- Persuasive: opinion clearly stated early, at least two reasons supported with examples, appropriate letter format (greeting + closing)
- Opening sentence that immediately captures the reader’s attention
- Specific, precise vocabulary suited to purpose (describing words in narrative; persuasive words like ‘should,’ ‘importantly,’ ‘because’ in argument)
Textual Grammar
- Consistent tense throughout — don’t switch between past and present in a narrative
- Correct use of pronouns (he/she/they match the subject)
- Variety of sentence lengths — mix short punchy sentences with longer descriptive ones
- Connectives used correctly: and, but, because, so, when, then, after, however
- Each paragraph has a clear focus
Syntax / Punctuation
- Every sentence has a subject and a verb and makes sense on its own
- Capital letters at the start of every sentence and for all proper nouns
- Full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark at the end of every sentence
- Correct use of commas in lists
- Speech marks used correctly if dialogue appears
- Apostrophes used for contractions (don’t, I’m, it’s)
1
Worm measurement — worm from 0 cm to 5 cm mark
✓ Correct Answer: B — the worm is 5 cm long
Read the ruler carefully. The worm’s head begins at the 0 cm mark and its tail reaches the 5 cm mark. Length = 5 − 0 = 5 cm. A key ICAS skill is reading from the zero mark — a ruler that starts measuring from a point other than zero will give wrong answers if you just read the end mark. The ruler in this diagram goes up to 8 cm, but the worm only reaches 5 cm. The curved body of the worm is shown as it would appear in a real photograph — the measured length is still the end-to-end distance along the ruler.
2
Float/sink — what do rubber duck and wooden block have in common?
✓ Correct Answer: C — they are both lighter than the same amount of water
Objects float because they are less dense than water — they are lighter than the equivalent volume of water. A and D (shape and colour) have no connection to floating. B (natural materials) is wrong because both glass and some natural rocks sink. The scientific principle is about density/weight relative to water, not material type.
3
Which thermometer shows 35°C?
✓ Correct Answer: A
The scale on each thermometer runs from 0°C at the bottom to 50°C at the top, with marks every 10°C. To find 35°C, look for the level that falls exactly halfway between the 30°C and 40°C marks. In thermometer A, the red liquid reaches that halfway point — 35°C. Thermometer B shows ~45°C (halfway between 40 and 50). Thermometer C shows 20°C (exactly on the 20 mark). Thermometer D shows 10°C (exactly on the 10 mark).
4
Which animal lives in a pond habitat?
✓ Correct Answer: C — a frog
Frogs are amphibians that live in and around freshwater ponds — they lay eggs in water and their young (tadpoles) are fully aquatic. Camels are desert animals (no water). Polar bears live in icy Arctic environments. Sand lizards live in dry, sandy habitats. Match the animal’s known needs with the habitat features shown.
5
Best material for a raincoat (waterproof + flexible + lightweight)
✓ Correct Answer: B — thin plastic sheet
Only thin plastic sheet satisfies ALL THREE criteria: ✓ waterproof, ✓ flexible, ✓ lightweight. Metal sheet fails flexible and lightweight. Cardboard fails waterproof and flexible. Thick wool fails waterproof. At Paper A level, this is a standard ‘use the table to eliminate’ question — the correct material must satisfy every single requirement listed.
6
What is true about ALL living things in the list?
✓ Correct Answer: C — they all grow and can reproduce during their lifetime
Growth and reproduction are two key characteristics that define ALL living things, regardless of how different they are. The cat grows from a kitten to an adult and has kittens. The oak tree grows from an acorn and produces more acorns. The mushroom grows from spores and releases new spores. The butterfly grows through four stages (egg → caterpillar → chrysalis → butterfly) and lays eggs. None of the non-living things (rock, plastic bottle, water, bicycle) grow or reproduce.
Why the other options are wrong
A
They can all fly — trees and mushrooms cannot fly.
B
They all live in or under the soil — butterflies and cats do not live in soil.
D
They all have four legs — a butterfly has 6 legs, a mushroom has no legs, and trees have no legs at all.
How do they get energy? 🐱 Cat & 🦋 Butterfly: eat food. 🌳 Oak tree: makes food using sunlight (photosynthesis). 🍄 Mushroom: absorbs nutrients from decaying matter (it is a fungus, not a plant — it does NOT photosynthesise). All four need energy, but the way they get it differs — so ‘they all grow and reproduce’ is the cleanest answer that applies equally to every one.
7
Which object will the magnet attract?
✓ Correct Answer: C — paper clip (made of steel)
The question tells you: magnets attract iron or steel, NOT wood, rubber, or copper. Paper clips are steel → attracted. Wooden block = wood → not attracted. Rubber eraser = rubber → not attracted. Coin = copper → not attracted. This is a direct application question — use the rule given in the question to check each material in the table.
8
Season with lowest temperature AND highest rainfall (mm)
✓ Correct Answer: C — Winter
This is a two-condition question — both conditions must be true at the same time. Step 1: Find the lowest temperature. The values are 30°C, 20°C, 10°C and 18°C. The lowest is 10°C → Winter. Step 2: Confirm Winter also has the highest rainfall. The values are 28 mm, 62 mm, 115 mm and 54 mm. The highest is 115 mm → also Winter. Both conditions point to Winter, so Winter is correct. Spring is a common trap — it has a low temperature (18°C) but its rainfall (54 mm) is not the highest.
Why other options are wrong
A
Summer has the highest temperature (30°C) AND the lowest rainfall (28 mm) — the opposite of what is asked.
B
Autumn has a medium temperature (20°C) and medium rainfall (62 mm) — neither extreme.
D
Spring has a fairly low temperature (18°C) but rainfall of only 54 mm — not the highest.
9
Fair test — what must the students keep the same?
✓ Correct Answer: B — the ice cubes must all be the same size
The experiment tests whether sunlight makes ice melt faster. The ONLY thing being changed (the independent variable) is location (sun/shade/fridge). Everything else — including the size of the ice cubes — must stay the same so differences in melting can be fairly attributed to location. If one cube is bigger, it would take longer to melt regardless of location, making the comparison unfair. D is wrong because the whole point is that the three locations ARE at different temperatures.
10
What conclusion does Lily’s plant data support?
✓ Correct Answer: B — plants grow best with a moderate amount — too little OR too much both cause slower growth
Pot 1 (10 mL) = 3 cm. Pot 2 (50 mL) = 12 cm. Pot 3 (100 mL) = 8 cm. The middle amount produced the tallest plant. A is wrong (Pot 3 got the most water but grew less than Pot 2). C is wrong (Pot 1 grew only 3 cm — the least). D overstates the data — Lily only tested 3 amounts; she can’t conclude 50 mL is the only possible amount. Never go beyond what the evidence shows.
1
Growing dot pattern — how many dots in Step 4?
✓ Correct Answer: C — 10 dots
Step 1: 1 dot (1 row of 1). Step 2: 3 dots (adds a row of 2 → 1+2=3). Step 3: 6 dots (adds a row of 3 → 3+3=6). Step 4: adds a row of 4 → 6+4 = 10 dots. The pattern is: each new step adds one more dot to the new bottom row than the step before. The differences are: +2, +3, +4… These are the triangular numbers: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15…
Why other options are wrong
A
8 — comes from adding 2 again (same as Step 2 addition) instead of adding 4.
B
9 — comes from adding 3 again (same as Step 3 addition) instead of 4.
D
12 — comes from doubling 6 (Step 3 total) instead of adding the correct amount.
2
Clock shows time Aisha arrived — minute hand at 9, hour hand near 9
✓ Correct Answer: D — quarter to nine
The minute hand points to the 9 on the clock face = 45 minutes past the hour. When the minute hand is on the 9, it is 15 minutes BEFORE the next hour — ‘quarter to’ the next hour. The hour hand is just before the 9 (not quite there yet), so the next hour is 9. Therefore: quarter to nine = 8:45.
Why other options are wrong
A
Quarter to eight would mean the minute hand points to 9 with the hour hand near 8 — but the hour hand here is near 9, not 8.
B
Quarter past nine = 9:15 — the minute hand would be on the 3, not the 9.
C
Quarter past eight = 8:15 — the minute hand would be on the 3.
3
Which shape has exactly one-quarter shaded?
✓ Correct Answer: A — square divided into 4 equal parts with 1 shaded
Shape A: 4 equal squares, 1 shaded = 1/4. Shape B: 4 equal squares, 2 shaded = 2/4 = 1/2. Shape C: circle cut into 4 equal sections, 3 shaded = 3/4. Shape D: 8 equal squares, 3 shaded = 3/8. One-quarter means exactly 1 out of every 4 equal parts is shaded. Count the total parts and the shaded parts carefully.
4
Picture graph — how many MORE books did Beth read than Carlos?
✓ Correct Answer: B — 6 more books
Each 📚 = 2 books. Carlos: 2 symbols × 2 = 4 books. Beth: 5 symbols × 2 = 10 books. Difference = 10 − 4 = 6 books. The common error is counting symbols (5 − 2 = 3) without multiplying by the key value of 2. Always apply the key before calculating.
Why other options are wrong
A
3 — counts the difference in symbols (5−2=3) without multiplying by 2.
C
8 — uses Beth’s total (10) minus something incorrectly.
D
10 — Beth’s total books, not the difference.
5
Grid directions — where does Bella finish?
✓ Correct Answer: B — Square B
Start: column B, row 1 (★). Step 1 — 3 squares East: B→C→D→E, row 1. Now at column E, row 1. Step 2 — 2 squares North: row 1→2→3. Now at column E, row 3. Step 3 — 1 square West: E→D. Final position: column D, row 3 = Square B on the map. Trace each step on the grid carefully one at a time — don’t try to do all three steps at once.
6
L-shape after quarter turn clockwise
✓ Correct Answer: A
Original: top-left + top-right + bottom-left (like an upside-down L or ⌐). After 90° clockwise rotation: what was at top-left goes to top-right, top-right goes to bottom-right, bottom-left goes to top-left. Result: top-left + top-right + bottom-right (like Γ). This is option A. Tip: use a small physical object or your pencil to trace the rotation if you’re not sure.
Why other options are wrong
B
Same as the original — no rotation applied.
C
180° rotation from the original (two quarter turns).
D
270° clockwise rotation (or 90° anti-clockwise).
7
Bag A has 3× as many as Bag B; total = 24. How many in Bag A?
✓ Correct Answer: D — 18
Let Bag B = □. Then Bag A = 3×□. Together: □ + 3□ = 4□ = 24. So □ = 6. Bag B = 6 marbles, Bag A = 3×6 = 18 marbles. Check: 18 + 6 = 24 ✓. The most common error is choosing 6 (which is Bag B’s amount) instead of 18. Always re-read which bag is being asked about.
8
Scattered shapes — blue T (5), green rect (3), yellow plus (4), orange square (2) — which is least likely?
✓ Correct Answer: D — Orange square
Count each shape type in the picture: Blue T-shapes = 5. Green rectangles = 3. Yellow plus shapes = 4. Orange squares = 2. The orange square appears only 2 times — fewer than any other shape. When picking without looking, the shape that appears the fewest times has the smallest chance of being picked. 2 out of 14 shapes are orange, which is less than 3 out of 14 (green), 4 out of 14 (yellow), or 5 out of 14 (blue).
Why other options are wrong
A
Blue T-shape — appears 5 times, more than any other shape. It is the MOST likely, not least likely.
B
Green rectangle — appears 3 times. More likely than orange (2), but less likely than blue or yellow.
C
Yellow plus — appears 4 times. The second most common shape — not the least likely.
9
5 shelves × 8 books each = ?
✓ Correct Answer: C — 40
3 existing shelves + 2 new shelves = 5 shelves total. Each holds 8 books. Total = 5 × 8 = 40. The question is testing whether you can extend the situation beyond what is shown (3 shelves) to the new total (5 shelves). A common error is calculating only 3 × 8 = 24 (existing shelves) or only 2 × 8 = 16 (new shelves) instead of the combined total.
10
Cicada lives ~2 months; this is 2 weeks longer than a grasshopper lives. How long does a grasshopper live?
✓ Correct Answer: A — 6 weeks
Step 1 — convert the cicada’s lifespan to the same unit as the difference. 2 months ≈ 8 weeks. Step 2 — the cicada lives 2 weeks LONGER than the grasshopper, so the grasshopper lives 2 weeks LESS than the cicada. 8 weeks − 2 weeks = 6 weeks. The key skill is converting between units (months → weeks) before subtracting. 1 month ≈ 4 weeks, so 2 months ≈ 8 weeks.
Why other options are wrong
B
10 weeks — this would mean the grasshopper lives LONGER than the cicada (8 + 2 = 10). The question says the cicada is the longer-lived one.
C
15 days — this is roughly 2 weeks, which is the DIFFERENCE between the two lifespans, not the grasshopper’s lifespan itself.
D
60 days — this is approximately 2 months, which is the cicada’s lifespan, not the grasshopper’s.
11
6 boxes × 12 pencils each, then 18 used. How many left?
✓ Correct Answer: A — 54
Step 1: Total pencils = 6 × 12 = 72. Step 2: Used = 18. Remaining = 72 − 18 = 54. Write each step separately. D (72) is the answer if you forget to subtract. C (66) is a common error from 72 − 6 instead of 72 − 18.
12
5 friends share equally; each gets 9–11 stickers. Which total is possible?
✓ Correct Answer: C — 50
Each friend gets 9, 10, or 11 stickers. So the total must be divisible by 5 AND give an answer between 9 and 11. Test each option: 42 ÷ 5 = 8.4 (not whole) ✗. 48 ÷ 5 = 9.6 (not whole) ✗. 50 ÷ 5 = 10 ✓ (each friend gets exactly 10, which is between 9 and 11). 52 ÷ 5 = 10.4 (not whole) ✗. Always test all options systematically.
Why other options are wrong
A
42 ÷ 5 = 8.4 — not a whole number, so you can’t share 42 stickers equally among 5 friends.
B
48 ÷ 5 = 9.6 — not a whole number. Close, but you can’t give 0.6 of a sticker.
D
52 ÷ 5 = 10.4 — not a whole number.
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 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 font name box shows ‘Arial’ and the size box — outlined in blue with a bold border — shows ’16’. The question asks for the size, not the name. 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 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 slide panel on the left shows thumbnails of all slides. 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 — Dinner tonight) = unread. Row 2 (Tom — Football practice) = read (open envelope). Row 3 (Ms Chen — Science homework due) = unread. Row 4 (Dad — Weekend plans) = read. Row 5 (Jess — Come to my party!) = unread. Total unread = 3.
Why 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, which moves forward through pages you have already visited. 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 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 the cell that is currently selected — it is shown with a coloured border (orange in this spreadsheet) 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, confirming column C is selected.
8
Which SUM formula should Raj type in cell B7?
✓ Correct Answer: C — =SUM(B2:B6)
Raj wants to add up all the money raised — the values in cells B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6. The SUM formula adds all cells in a range. B2:B6 means all cells from B2 to B6 — that is exactly 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 (that would create a circular reference). Option A uses column A (wrong column). Option B starts at B1 which is the heading row ‘Money Raised’ — not a number, so it should not be included. Option D includes B7 itself in the range, which is the cell where the formula goes.
Why other options are wrong
A
=SUM(A2:A6) adds column A (the 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 being 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. The robot starts at row 1, column 1, facing right. Command 1 — Move right: now at row 1, column 2. Command 2 — Move right: now at row 1, column 3. Command 3 — Move down: now at row 2, column 3. Command 4 — Move right: now at row 2, column 4 = Square C. The key is to follow the commands in order and track both the row and column position after every single step.
Why other options are wrong
A
Square A (row 1, col 3) — this is where the robot is after only the first two commands. The student forgot to follow commands 3 and 4.
B
Square B (row 2, col 3) — this is where the robot is after three commands (right, right, down). The final ‘move right’ command has not been followed.
D
Square D (row 3, col 4) — this would require 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 and which program will open it. .mp3 is an audio file format — it stores music or sound recordings, and opening it plays the audio. .jpg (A) is an image/photo file — it shows a picture. .doc (C) is a word processing document — it opens in a word processor and shows text. .exe (D) is an executable program file — it runs a program (in this case, a game). Always look at the part after the dot (the extension) to identify the file type.
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ICAS-Style Practice Workbook
Paper A · S3 / P2 / Y3 · 2026 Edition
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