Science
Topic Tests National Curriculum Links
Year 4
Explanation of codes
Each topic assessment is designed so that there are questions covering each objective within the statutory
programme of study for the particular topic and year group.
In order to identify which statutory requirements have been addressed in each question of the tests, a code
has been given to the National Curriculum statutory requirements as shown below:
Living things and their habitats
LT1: Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways.
Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their
LT2: local and wider environment.
LT3: Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.
Animals, including humans
A1 Describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans.
A2: Identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions.
A3: Construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.
States of matter
SM1: Compare and group materials together, according to whether they are solids, liquids or gases.
Observe that some materials change state when they are heated or cooled, and measure or research the
SM2: temperature at which this happens in degrees Celsius (°C).
Identify the part played by evaporation and condensation in the water cycle and associate the rate of
SM3: evaporation with temperature.
Sound
S1: Identify how sounds are made, associating some of them with something vibrating.
S2: Recognise that vibrations from sounds travel through a medium to the ear.
S3: Find patterns between the pitch of a sound and features of the object that produced it.
S4: Find patterns between the volume of a sound and the strength of the vibrations that produced it.
S5: Recognise that sounds get fainter as the distance from the sound source increases.
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Explanation of codes (continued)
Electricity
E1: Identify common appliances that run on electricity.
Construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires,
E2: bulbs, switches and buzzers.
Identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether or not the lamp is
E3: part of a complete loop with a battery.
Recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights
E4: in a simple series circuit.
Recognise some common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good
E5: conductors.
Working Scientifically
The National Curriculum for Science advises that pupils should be taught practical scientific methods,
processes and skills through the teaching of the programme of study content. Therefore, it is anticipated
that children will have undertaken appropriate practical procedures within their lessons to support
their responses to the HeadStart Science progress tests. Each test incorporates assessment of working
scientifically, but it is expected that this aspect is carried out mainly in practical science lessons.
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Science National Curriculum Objective Grids
The tables below identify the curriculum links for each question using the codes described on the previous pages.
YEAR 4: Living things and their habitats
National Curriculum
Objectives
Question No. LT1 LT2 LT3
(marks per question)
1a (1)
1b (1)
1c (1)
2a (2)
2b (1)
3a - d (2)
3e (1)
4a (1)
4b (1)
4c (1)
5a - d (2)
6a - b (1)
6c (2)
7a (3)
7b (1)
8a (1)
8b (2)
9a - d (2)
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YEAR 4
