OCP-SCI10 · Assessment Bank · CONTROLLED PILOT
Science 10 Assessment Bank
Alberta Grade 10 Science course-first tutoring portal aligned to the Biology 30 delivery model.
Assessment / practice bank
6 practice/assessment items per unit (24 total) with accepted concepts, equivalent-wording rules, misconception tags, rationale, difficulty band, and linked KCO IDs.
| Item | Unit | KCO | Type | Difficulty | Stem | Answer key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCI10-A-ASM-01 | SCI10-A | SCI10-A-KCO-05 | multiple_choice | core | Why must a chemical equation be balanced? | Because atoms are conserved - the same atoms exist before and after. |
| SCI10-A-ASM-02 | SCI10-A | SCI10-A-KCO-05 | numerical_response | core | If 10 g of reactant A combines completely with 15 g of reactant B, what is the mass of products? | 25 g |
| SCI10-A-ASM-03 | SCI10-A | SCI10-A-KCO-02 | short_written_response | core | Explain the difference between an atom and an ion. | An atom is electrically neutral; an ion is a charged atom that has gained or lost electrons. |
| SCI10-A-ASM-04 | SCI10-A | SCI10-A-KCO-03 | short_written_response | core | Name the compound CO2 and describe what its formula tells you. | Carbon dioxide; one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. |
| SCI10-A-ASM-05 | SCI10-A | SCI10-A-KCO-04 | applied_context_question | stretch | Iron left outside forms rust. Explain the evidence that this is a chemical change. | A new substance (iron oxide) forms with different properties (colour/texture) and it is not reversed by simple physical means. |
| SCI10-A-ASM-06 | SCI10-A | SCI10-A-KCO-01 | multiple_choice | core | Which of the following is a heterogeneous mixture? | a salad |
| SCI10-B-ASM-01 | SCI10-B | SCI10-B-KCO-03 | numerical_response | core | A motor produces 300 J of useful work from 1200 J of input. Find its efficiency. | 25% |
| SCI10-B-ASM-02 | SCI10-B | SCI10-B-KCO-01 | short_written_response | stretch | Describe the energy transformations in a hydroelectric dam. | Gravitational potential energy -> kinetic energy of moving water -> mechanical energy of the turbine -> electrical energy. |
| SCI10-B-ASM-03 | SCI10-B | SCI10-B-KCO-02 | short_written_response | core | Explain how a thermos reduces heat transfer. | It minimizes conduction, convection, and radiation (e.g., vacuum layer and reflective surface). |
| SCI10-B-ASM-04 | SCI10-B | SCI10-B-KCO-05 | applied_context_question | stretch | State one benefit and one drawback of using coal-fired electricity. | Benefit: relatively reliable/inexpensive power. Drawback: greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. |
| SCI10-B-ASM-05 | SCI10-B | SCI10-B-KCO-01 | multiple_choice | core | Which best describes energy in a closed system? | It is conserved (transformed, not destroyed). |
| SCI10-B-ASM-06 | SCI10-B | SCI10-B-KCO-04 | short_written_response | core | What is the purpose of an energy-flow (system) diagram? | To show inputs, transformations, useful outputs, and wasted energy in a system. |
| SCI10-C-ASM-01 | SCI10-C | SCI10-C-KCO-02 | short_written_response | core | Explain diffusion as a form of cell transport. | Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of high concentration to low concentration; it requires no energy input. |
| SCI10-C-ASM-02 | SCI10-C | SCI10-C-KCO-03 | multiple_choice | core | Which gas is released by photosynthesis? | oxygen |
| SCI10-C-ASM-03 | SCI10-C | SCI10-C-KCO-04 | applied_context_question | stretch | In the food chain grass -> grasshopper -> frog, what happens to available energy at each level? | Available energy decreases at each level because much is lost as heat and used for life processes (only a small fraction transfers). |
| SCI10-C-ASM-04 | SCI10-C | SCI10-C-KCO-05 | short_written_response | core | Describe one way carbon moves through the carbon cycle. | For example: photosynthesis removes CO2 from the air; respiration and combustion return CO2 to the atmosphere. |
| SCI10-C-ASM-05 | SCI10-C | SCI10-C-KCO-06 | short_written_response | core | Give one human impact on ecosystems and describe its effect. | For example: deforestation reduces habitat and lowers CO2 uptake by plants. |
| SCI10-C-ASM-06 | SCI10-C | SCI10-C-KCO-01 | multiple_choice | core | Which cell part is the main site of cellular respiration? | mitochondria |
| SCI10-D-ASM-01 | SCI10-D | SCI10-D-KCO-04 | short_written_response | core | Explain how ocean currents redistribute thermal energy. | Warm currents carry heat toward the poles and cold currents move toward the equator, helping balance global temperatures. |
| SCI10-D-ASM-02 | SCI10-D | SCI10-D-KCO-05 | short_written_response | core | What does global energy balance mean? | It is the balance between incoming solar energy absorbed by Earth and outgoing energy radiated back to space. |
| SCI10-D-ASM-03 | SCI10-D | SCI10-D-KCO-06 | applied_context_question | stretch | A single hot day is used to claim the climate is warming. Evaluate this reasoning. | It is weak reasoning: one weather event is not climate. Climate claims require long-term data showing consistent trends. |
| SCI10-D-ASM-04 | SCI10-D | SCI10-D-KCO-02 | short_written_response | core | Name one way the atmosphere and hydrosphere interact. | For example: evaporation moves water from oceans to the atmosphere as part of the water cycle. |
| SCI10-D-ASM-05 | SCI10-D | SCI10-D-KCO-05 | multiple_choice | core | Greenhouse gases affect Earth's temperature mainly by? | trapping outgoing thermal radiation |
| SCI10-D-ASM-06 | SCI10-D | SCI10-D-KCO-06 | short_written_response | core | What kind of evidence supports a climate-change claim? | Long-term, reliable, repeated measurements that show consistent trends over time. |