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Scientific Investigation Practice Tests

These Grade 9 Biology practice tests build the skills needed to ask testable questions, design investigations, collect data, analyze graphs, evaluate evidence, and communicate conclusions. Topics include hypotheses, variables, controls, sampling, reliability, validity, models, and laboratory safety.

Skills covered

  • Identifying testable questions, hypotheses, independent and dependent variables, constants, controls, and operational definitions
  • Evaluating repeated trials, sample size, random sampling, controlled experiments, observational studies, reliability, validity, accuracy, and precision
  • Calculating and interpreting means and medians and recognizing outliers and trends
  • Selecting and interpreting line graphs, bar graphs, scatter plots, axes, error bars, and claim-evidence-reasoning explanations
  • Applying laboratory safety, ethical treatment, modeling, peer review, reproducibility, citations, and uncertainty communication

How to use these practice tests

Begin by identifying the question, variables, and comparison. Then decide what the data show, how strong the evidence is, and whether the conclusion stays within the investigation limits. Review each explanation to strengthen scientific reasoning and laboratory practice.

For more Grade 9 Science practice, return to the Grade 9 Science category.

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Grade 9 Scientific Investigation Practice Tests

Practice Grade 9 Science questions about scientific questions, hypotheses, variables, controls, experimental design, data analysis, graphs, evidence, and laboratory safety.

Choose the best answer. Identify the variable or evidence type, evaluate the investigation design, and make conclusions that match the data and its limitations.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

Which is quantitative data?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The plant grew 4.2 centimeters in seven days..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: Quantitative data are numerical measurements, while the other choices are qualitative descriptions.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is The plant grew 4.2 centimeters in seven days..

Quantitative data are numerical measurements, while the other choices are qualitative descriptions.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

Which is qualitative data?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is The liquid changed from clear to blue..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: Qualitative data describe qualities or observations without using a numerical measurement.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is The liquid changed from clear to blue..

Qualitative data describe qualities or observations without using a numerical measurement.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

What is the mean of the measurements 4, 6, and 8?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is 6..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: The mean is the sum divided by the number of measurements: (4 + 6 + 8) / 3 = 6.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is 6..

The mean is the sum divided by the number of measurements: (4 + 6 + 8) / 3 = 6.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

What is the median of 3, 5, 7, 12, and 20?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is 7..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: The median is the middle value after the data are ordered; 7 is the third of five values.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is 7..

The median is the middle value after the data are ordered; 7 is the third of five values.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

What is an outlier?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A data point that is unusually far from the general pattern of the other data..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: An outlier may result from unusual variation or error and should be investigated rather than automatically removed.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is A data point that is unusually far from the general pattern of the other data..

An outlier may result from unusual variation or error and should be investigated rather than automatically removed.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

Which graph is usually best for showing how temperature changes over time?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is A line graph..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: Line graphs show trends in a measured variable across a continuous independent variable such as time.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is A line graph..

Line graphs show trends in a measured variable across a continuous independent variable such as time.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

Which graph is usually best for comparing amounts in separate categories?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is A bar graph..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: Bar graphs compare values among distinct categories such as treatment groups or species.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is A bar graph..

Bar graphs compare values among distinct categories such as treatment groups or species.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

Which graph is useful for examining the relationship between two measured numerical variables?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is A scatter plot..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: Scatter plots display paired numerical data and can reveal patterns, clusters, or relationships.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is A scatter plot..

Scatter plots display paired numerical data and can reveal patterns, clusters, or relationships.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Why does correlation not by itself prove causation?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Two variables can change together because of another factor or by coincidence..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: A correlation identifies an association, but controlled designs are needed to support a cause-and-effect claim.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Two variables can change together because of another factor or by coincidence..

A correlation identifies an association, but controlled designs are needed to support a cause-and-effect claim.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

What makes a conclusion valid?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is It is supported by the data and stays within the limits of the investigation..

  1. Identify the investigation skill: Determine whether the question concerns a question, hypothesis, variable, design, data, evidence, or safety.
  2. Apply the scientific reasoning principle: A valid conclusion accurately interprets the collected evidence without making claims beyond the study design.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is It is supported by the data and stays within the limits of the investigation..

A valid conclusion accurately interprets the collected evidence without making claims beyond the study design.

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