Fair testing resources

Using the principles of fair testing, students identify four factors that could affect the time it takes for electric jugs to boil water.

Students are provided with information and data on different makes of soccer balls. Students answer questions on fair testing, and write conclusions from the given data.

Task: Answer two questions about setting up a fair test and another about insulating houses. Assessment focus: controlling variables.

Task: Plan a fair test to see which of two solar showers of different colours heats up more. Assessment focus: controlling variables.

Decide if a described investigation is a fair test, and explain the decision. Assessment focus: identifying fair testing.

Students read some information about testing the absorbency of different papers. They outline two features that need to be kept the same if the tests were to be fair.

Students decide on the variables that will make an experiment about boiling water a fair test. Assessment focus: Recognising multiple variables.

For this practical task students investigate some features of craters, complete a table, and explain what they found out. Students then use a diagram showing some craters on the Moon to write as much information as they can about these craters.

From a diagram of an experimental set up, students answer questions based on fair testing principles. Questions cover the control of variables, and measurement of results.

Task: Identify the variables for testing how fresh water and salt water affect rusting. Assessment focus: planning a fair test.

Students look at two diagrams. The first shows iron nails in test tubes with boiled water or tap water, the second shows iron nails with moisture either present or absent. Students answer five questions about these investigations.

Students are asked one multiple-choice and one short answer question about fair testing.

Students indicate for each of six different variables those that need to be kept the same for an investigation about dissolving different types of sugar.

Task: Select cards to show how to control the variables of an investigation into the rolling distance of marbles on different surfaces. Assessment focus: controlling variables.

This practical task requires students to first plan how they could find out which liquid flows the best. Then they carry out their plan, record their results, and write a conclusion.

This practical task has students investigate the surface area of three objects and whether this influences the rate of evaporation. Students fill in a table, and calculate the water loss and answer questions to show their understanding.

Task: Plan a fair test to see if adding salt water to water affects how long it takes to freeze. Assessment focus: managing variables.

Select the correct pair to set up a fair test. Assessment focus: controlling variables.

Students outline four ways of improving a given plan for an investigation to make it a fair test.

Students answer five questions about 'fair testing' for an outlined investigation.

Task: Identify which variables should be kept the same to compare reaction times. Assessment focus: control of variables.

This practical task requires students to plan and carry out a fair test to find out which paper type will soak up water the best.

Task: Look at the arrangement of fibres for four different paper towels, arrange an appropriate sequence of instructions, carry out the instructions and then communicate the data in an appropriate graph that will help answer the question. Different elements of the nature of science are embedded throughout the tasks. Assessment focus: planning and carrying out a fair test, using evidence to answer a question.

For this practical task students plan and carry out a fair test to determine which of four different cups will keep water the hottest over 10 minutes. Students are also required to graph their results and write a conclusion.

This task requires students to determine the best way to dissolve Milo the quickest. Students are given the opportunity to determine this by trial and error, then they are asked to write up their result and a conclusion.