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GCSE combined science revision questions

Free GCSE combined science practice for Year 11, nine months out from the May/June 2027 exams. Every question below comes from GradeNinja's own bank - 2,302 Science questions across 39 topics.

What to prioritise in Science

Combined science covers biology, chemistry and physics across a shared set of papers, which means the same total revision spread over three subjects' worth of content. Coverage matters more than depth here.

Rotate all three rather than blocking one at a time. Spacing the three sciences against each other is more effective than a fortnight of pure biology followed by a fortnight of pure chemistry.

Exam board

Our Science questions are not tagged to a single exam board, because the underlying content overlaps heavily across boards. Check your own specification for board-specific requirements.

How to use these

Answer before you open the explanation. The moment of not-quite-knowing is the part that does the work, and skipping to the answer skips the learning.

Anything you get wrong, come back to tomorrow rather than immediately. Getting it right straight after seeing the answer proves nothing.

The nine months ahead

Science practice questions

Real questions from GradeNinja's own bank, with the answer and the explanation the app gives. Tap to reveal.

Question 1 · Cells, Microscopes & Specialised Cells
What is the function of the myelin sheath surrounding a nerve cell's axon?
  1. To insulate the axon and speed up signal transmission
  2. To absorb nutrients for the neurone
  3. To connect the neurone to muscle fibres
  4. To produce electrical signals
Show the answer

To insulate the axon and speed up signal transmission

The myelin sheath is a fatty insulating layer that prevents signals from leaking out and allows signals to travel much faster along the axon.

Question 2 · Required Practicals
In the reaction time practical (ruler drop test), what does a shorter distance on the ruler indicate?
  1. A slower reaction time.
  2. A faster reaction time.
  3. The person was cheating.
  4. The ruler was too short.
Show the answer

A faster reaction time.

The shorter the distance the ruler falls before being caught, the faster the person's reaction time. The ruler converts distance into time using the equation for falling objects.

Question 3 · Energy & Scientific Skills
A motor uses 500 J of electrical energy and does 350 J of useful work. What is its efficiency?
  1. 70%
  2. 30%
  3. 143%
  4. 500%
Show the answer

70%

Efficiency = 350 ÷ 500 × 100% = 70%. The remaining 30% (150 J) is wasted, usually as heat.

Question 4 · Particle Model
A gas is compressed into a smaller volume at constant temperature. Its pressure:
  1. Decreases
  2. Stays the same
  3. Increases
  4. Drops to zero
Show the answer

Increases

At constant temperature, reducing volume means particles are more tightly packed and collide with the container walls more frequently, increasing pressure (Boyle's Law: P × V = constant).

Question 5
In a zone-of-inhibition test, a clear circular zone around an antibiotic disc has a diameter of 20 mm. Using area = πr² and π ≈ 3.14, what is the area of the zone?
  1. 314 mm²
  2. 628 mm²
  3. 100 mm²
  4. 31.4 mm²
Show the answer

314 mm²

Radius = diameter ÷ 2 = 10 mm. Area = πr² = 3.14 × 10² = 3.14 × 100 = 314 mm².

Question 6 · Bonding & Reactions
Which of the following equations represents a neutralisation reaction?
  1. 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
  2. HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O
  3. CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂
  4. Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu
Show the answer

HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O

Neutralisation is acid + base/alkali → salt + water. HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O is a classic neutralisation. The others are combustion, decomposition, and displacement respectively.

Question 7 · Nutrition & Digestion
What is the role of teeth and saliva in digestion?
  1. Teeth physically break food into smaller pieces and saliva moistens food and begins starch digestion with amylase
  2. Teeth produce amylase and saliva kills bacteria
  3. Teeth absorb nutrients and saliva emulsifies fats
  4. Teeth produce acid and saliva neutralises it
Show the answer

Teeth physically break food into smaller pieces and saliva moistens food and begins starch digestion with amylase

Teeth mechanically break food into smaller pieces, increasing surface area. Saliva moistens food to make swallowing easier and contains amylase, which begins the chemical digestion of starch.

Question 8 · Respiration & Photosynthesis
Where is lactic acid eventually broken down after exercise?
  1. Lungs
  2. Kidneys
  3. Liver
  4. Muscles
Show the answer

Liver

Once enough oxygen becomes available, lactic acid is transported to the liver where it is broken down.

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Common questions

How should I revise Science for GCSE?

Short, frequent sessions of active recall beat long sessions of re-reading. Test yourself, check, and revisit anything you got wrong a day or two later rather than immediately.

Which exam board are these Science questions for?

They are not tagged to a single board, because the content overlaps heavily across boards at GCSE. Check your own specification for board-specific requirements.

When are the GCSE exams?

GCSEs are sat across May and June, so for the current Year 11 that means May/June 2027. Exact paper dates come from the exam boards and your school.

How many questions are there in the app?

2,302 in Science alone, and 44,980 across 28 GCSE subjects. Signing up is free.

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