Grade 9 Physics - End of Year Exam Study Guide

Exam Information

• Assessment date: May 20-29, 2025
• Duration: 1 hour
• Criteria assessed: A and B

Criterion A: Knowing and Understanding

• Focus: Understanding and application of scientific concepts; analysis and evaluation of content.
• Assessment:
  • Understanding of scientific concepts.
  • Application of scientific concepts.
  • Analysis and evaluation of content to make scientifically supported judgements.

Rubrics for Criterion A

• Level 7-8:
  • Explain scientific knowledge.
  • Apply scientific knowledge and understanding to solve problems in familiar and unfamiliar situations.
  • Analyse and evaluate information to make scientifically supported judgements.
• Level 5-6:
  • Describe scientific knowledge.
  • Apply scientific knowledge and understanding to solve problems in familiar situations and suggest solutions to problems in unfamiliar situations.
  • Analyse information to make scientifically supported judgements.
• Level 3-4:
  • Outline scientific knowledge.
  • Apply scientific knowledge and understanding to solve problems in familiar situations.
  • Interpret information to make scientifically supported judgments.
• Level 1-2:
  • State scientific knowledge.
  • Apply scientific knowledge and understanding to suggest solutions to problems in familiar situations.
  • Interpret information to make judgments.
• Level 0: The student does not reach a standard identified by any of the descriptors.

Command Terms

• Analyse: Break down into essential elements; identify parts and relationships; interpret information to reach conclusions. Taking apart and looking at how the parts interact. Look for patterns and figure out what those patterns mean.
• Apply: Use knowledge in a given situation or real circumstance. Use what you already know in a new and/or different situation.
• Describe: Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern, or process. Tell how something happened (i.e. "first this, then that, then the next thing"). In experiments, identify the minimum and maximum values of data in experimental results and recount the overall trends between variables.
• Evaluate: Make an appraisal by weighing strengths versus limitations. Look at how well something worked, whether it's a hypothesis, method, or collection of information.
• Explain: Give a detailed account including the how and the why. Tell how and why something happened and justify it with scientific evidence and/or reasons.
• Interpret: Use knowledge to recognize trends and draw conclusions from given information. Identify and describe patterns in data, and tell what those patterns mean.
• Outline: Give a brief account. Briefly describe the major points or concepts.
• Solve: Obtain the answers using appropriate methods. Get the right answer by using the procedure your teacher taught you.
• State: Give a specific name, value, or other brief answer without explanation or calculation. Give a one- or two-word answer. Nothing else is needed.
• Suggest: Propose a solution, hypothesis, or other possible answer. Propose one or more possible ways to solve a problem.
• Unfamiliar situation: Refers to a problem or situation in which the context or the application is modified so that it is considered unfamiliar for the student. A problem unlike those we have seen before; a new situation

Topics for Criterion A

• Newton’s Second Law of Motion
• Impulse and Momentum
• Energy and Conservation of Energy

How to Revise Criterion A Contents

• Access the Class Drive on Toddle: Find a dedicated folder for each chapter.
• Resources: Presentations, Stemscopedia, picture vocabulary, worksheets and solutions available in the Class Drive.
• Formative assessments and their answers are also accessible.

Criterion B: Inquiry

• Lab Report Outline:
  • Title
  • Research Question
  • Relevant Background Information* (Should contain cited material)
  • Hypothesis* (Should contain cited material)
  • Variables
  • Materials and Method
  • Raw Data
  • Processed Data
  • Data Presentation
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Discussion
  • Conclusion* (Should contain cited material)
  • Evaluation
  • Bibliography

Research Question

• Definition: The question around which you center your research.
• Characteristics:
  • Clear: Easily understandable purpose.
  • Focused: Narrow enough to be answered thoroughly.
  • Concise: Expressed in fewest possible words.
  • Complex: Requires synthesis and analysis.
  • Arguable: Open to debate rather than accepted facts.

Examples of Research Questions

• Unfocused: What is the effect on the environment from global warming?
• Focused: What is the most significant effect of glacial melting on the lives of penguins in Antarctica?

Good vs. Bad Research Questions