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Edexcel · GCSE · Combined Science (Double Award)

Free Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (Double Award)
Practice Paper

8 mixed-difficulty practice questions in the style of real Edexcel GCSE papers — answers, mark-scheme-style explanations, and the official exam structure all on one page.

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What the real Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (Double Award) paper looks like

Paper 1
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 1-4 of the specification.
Paper 2
Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 5-8 of the specification.
Paper 3
Where applicable — e.g. Combined Science, Languages. Includes synoptic and applied questions.
Total exam time: ~3 hours across two or three papers.
Grading: Grades: 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), with U (ungraded). A grade of 4 is a standard pass; 5 is a strong pass.

Mini practice paper: 8 questions

Mixed-difficulty questions from across the Combined Science (Double Award) syllabus. Tap "Show answer" after each to check yourself.

Q1 · Difficulty 1/3

What is an exothermic reaction?

  1. A reversible reaction
  2. One that absorbs energy
  3. One that releases energy to the surroundings, causing the temperature to rise
  4. One with no energy change
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — One that releases energy to the surroundings, causing the temperature to rise
Exothermic: energy released. Temperature rises. Examples: combustion, neutralisation, oxidation. Energy of products < energy of reactants.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the function of the nucleus?

  1. Energy production
  2. Contains DNA and controls cell activities and protein synthesis
  3. Photosynthesis
  4. Cell protection
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Contains DNA and controls cell activities and protein synthesis
The nucleus contains chromosomes made of DNA. It controls the cell by determining which proteins are made.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

What is an abiotic factor?

  1. A type of organism
  2. A biotic factor
  3. A living factor
  4. A non-living physical or chemical factor in an ecosystem (e.g. temperature, light, water, pH)
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — A non-living physical or chemical factor in an ecosystem (e.g. temperature, light, water, pH)
Abiotic factors include light intensity, temperature, moisture, soil pH, wind speed, CO₂ concentration, and mineral content. They affect the distribution of organisms.
Q4 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the test for hydrogen gas?

  1. Turns limewater milky
  2. A lit splint produces a squeaky pop
  3. Relights a glowing splint
  4. Turns damp litmus paper white
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — A lit splint produces a squeaky pop
Hold a lit splint at the mouth of the test tube. If hydrogen is present, it burns with a squeaky pop sound.
Q5 · Difficulty 1/3

How does increasing concentration affect rate?

  1. More particles in the same volume means more frequent collisions, increasing rate
  2. No effect
  3. It only affects temperature
  4. It slows the reaction
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — More particles in the same volume means more frequent collisions, increasing rate
Higher concentration = more particles per unit volume = more frequent successful collisions = faster rate.
Q6 · Difficulty 1/3

How do Group 1 metals react with water?

  1. They dissolve quietly
  2. They produce an oxide
  3. They don't react
  4. They react vigorously, producing a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — They react vigorously, producing a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
Example: 2Na + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + H₂. Sodium fizzes, melts into a ball, moves around. Potassium reacts even more vigorously (catches fire — lilac flame).
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3

What are the Group 1 metals called?

  1. Noble metals
  2. Transition metals
  3. Alkali metals
  4. Alkaline earth metals
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Alkali metals
Group 1: alkali metals (lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, francium). They are very reactive metals with 1 outer electron.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3

What do enzymes do?

  1. Slow down reactions
  2. Act as biological catalysts, speeding up reactions without being used up
  3. Store energy
  4. Transport oxygen
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Act as biological catalysts, speeding up reactions without being used up
Enzymes are proteins with specific 3D shapes. The substrate fits into the active site (lock and key model). They work best at an optimum temperature and pH.
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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (Double Award) FAQ

What does the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (Double Award) exam look like?
The Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (Double Award) exam is structured across 3 components. Paper 1: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 1-4 of the specification. Paper 2: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, ~70-100 marks. Covers Topics 5-8 of the specification. Paper 3: Where applicable — e.g. Combined Science, Languages. Includes synoptic and applied questions. Total exam time: ~3 hours across two or three papers.
Can I download a free Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (Double Award) past paper?
Real Edexcel past papers are published directly by Edexcel on their official website. Kramizo doesn't redistribute copyrighted past papers, but we do generate free AI-written practice papers in the exact same style — same command words, same difficulty tier, same mark conventions. Use this practice paper as warm-up, then time yourself on official past papers before exam day.
How is Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (Double Award) graded?
Grades: 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest), with U (ungraded). A grade of 4 is a standard pass; 5 is a strong pass. Kramizo's practice questions are tagged with difficulty 1-3 mapping roughly to the lower, middle, and top grade boundaries you'll encounter in the real exam.