---
title: "Science Quiz Questions for Grade 5 With Answers | Formswrite Blog"
description: "15 grade 5 science quiz questions with answers across life, earth and physical science, plus a structure table and steps to make them a self-grading quiz."
canonical: https://formswrite.com/blog/science-quiz-questions-grade-5
last-updated: 2026-10-08
---

# Science Quiz Questions for Grade 5 With Answers

In short

Grade 5 science quizzes usually pull from four areas: matter and energy, living things and ecosystems, Earth's systems, and space. Below are 15 questions with answers, split by area, followed by a table for building a 20-minute quiz and the steps to paste them into a quiz generator for a self-grading version.

## Physical science: matter and energy

1.  Which of these is a physical change? A) wood burning B) ice melting C) iron rusting D) milk spoiling. **Answer: B**
2.  Salt dissolved in water forms a: A) solution B) solid C) gas D) compound that cannot be separated. **Answer: A**
3.  What force pulls objects toward the center of Earth? A) friction B) magnetism C) gravity D) buoyancy. **Answer: C**
4.  Which material is the best conductor of electricity? A) rubber B) wood C) plastic D) copper. **Answer: D**
5.  Which energy source is renewable? A) coal B) oil C) wind D) natural gas. **Answer: C**

## Life science: plants, animals and ecosystems

1.  What is the process plants use to make their own food? A) respiration B) photosynthesis C) digestion D) pollination. **Answer: B**
2.  Which gas do plants take in for photosynthesis? A) oxygen B) nitrogen C) carbon dioxide D) hydrogen. **Answer: C**
3.  In the food chain grass, grasshopper, frog, snake, which organism is the producer? A) grasshopper B) frog C) snake D) grass. **Answer: D**
4.  Which type of organism breaks down dead plants and animals? A) producers B) decomposers C) herbivores D) predators. **Answer: B**
5.  A frog eats a grasshopper. In this food chain the frog is a: A) producer B) decomposer C) consumer D) herbivore. **Answer: C**

## Earth science and space

1.  Which layer of Earth do people live on? A) crust B) mantle C) outer core D) inner core. **Answer: A**
2.  Which type of rock forms when melted rock cools and hardens? A) sedimentary B) metamorphic C) igneous D) fossil. **Answer: C**
3.  Water vapor changing to liquid water is called: A) evaporation B) condensation C) precipitation D) melting. **Answer: B**
4.  What causes the seasons on Earth? A) Earth's distance from the sun B) the tilt of Earth's axis C) the phases of the moon D) the speed of the wind. **Answer: B**
5.  Which planet is closest to the sun? A) Venus B) Earth C) Mars D) Mercury. **Answer: D**

Science standards differ by state, so check this list against your own unit before you use it as a graded quiz. Questions 8 and 10 reuse the same food chain on purpose, so students must keep the roles straight.

## Building the quiz

| Section | Questions | Points each | Time |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Physical science | 5 | 1 | 5 min |
| Life science | 5 | 1 | 5 min |
| Earth and space | 5 | 1 | 5 min |
| Optional: one short answer ("Explain what a decomposer does") | 1 | 3 | 3 min |
| Total | 15 or 16 | 15 or 18 | 15 to 18 min |

Hand out a drawing or diagram with two of the questions when you can. A food chain arrow diagram or the rock cycle tests understanding better than text only.

## Turn it into a self-grading quiz

1.  Copy the questions you want into a Google Doc, or write a short description of your unit, such as "ecosystems, grade 5".
2.  Open the [science quiz generator](/tools/quiz-generator/science) and paste the questions, or upload your unit's notes or study guide as a PDF or Word file to have questions drafted from them.
3.  Read each question against your notes. Delete any that cover something you did not teach.
4.  Export. On the free plan the only export is a Formswrite Form, and you get 5 per month. Google Forms and the other formats need a paid plan.
5.  For review day, run it as a live, timed class game with Formswrite Play. See [Formswrite Play for classroom games](/blog/formswrite-play-interactive-classroom-games-kahoot-alternative).

[Make a science quiz](/tools/quiz-generator/science)

For a more targeted topic, there are generators for [biology](/tools/quiz-generator/biology), [earth science](/tools/quiz-generator/earth-science) and [ecology](/tools/quiz-generator/ecology). If you use Google Forms by hand, [how to create multiple choice questions in Google Forms](/blog/how-to-create-multiple-choice-questions-in-google-forms) walks through it.

## FAQ

How many questions should a grade 5 science quiz have?

Ten to fifteen for a single unit check. Split them across the two or three topics from the week, and add one short-answer question if you want to see explanations, not only recognition.

What topics are on a typical grade 5 science test?

Common ones are states of matter and physical and chemical changes, plant and animal life cycles, food chains, the water cycle, rocks and landforms, and the solar system. Your state standards and curriculum decide the exact list.

Can I make a science quiz from my own notes?

Yes. Paste your notes or upload a study guide, and a quiz generator drafts questions from them. Check each one against what you taught, since a draft can include a fact that is true but outside your unit.

Are these questions suitable for a live class game?

Yes. They have four short options and one correct answer, which is the format game platforms use. Keep stems short so students can read them within the time limit.