Kramizo
Log inSign up free
Home › Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (Double Award) › Practice Paper
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.

Take a Mini Mock →

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 charge does a sodium ion have?

  1. 1−
  2. 2−
  3. 2+
  4. 1+
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — 1+
Sodium (Na, Group 1) loses 1 electron to form Na⁺. Group number = number of electrons lost for metals (Groups 1-3).
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3

A student adds dilute hydrochloric acid to a white powder. A colourless gas is produced that turns limewater milky. Which anion is present in the powder?

  1. C: Chloride ion (Cl⁻)
  2. D: Nitrate ion (NO₃⁻)
  3. A: Sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻)
  4. B: Carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻)
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — B: Carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻)
Carbonate ions react with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce carbon dioxide gas, which turns limewater milky (forms a white precipitate of calcium carbonate). Sulfate ions produce a white precipitate with barium chloride, not a gas with HCl. Chloride ions are detected using silver nitrate solution. Nitrate ions do not produce a gas with dilute HCl.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

What is oxidation in terms of oxygen?

  1. Gaining electrons
  2. Losing hydrogen
  3. Losing oxygen
  4. Gaining oxygen
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — Gaining oxygen
Oxidation = gain of oxygen (or loss of electrons). Reduction = loss of oxygen (or gain of electrons). Remember OIL RIG.
Q4 · Difficulty 1/3

The maintenance of a constant internal environment is called:

  1. homeostasis
  2. photosynthesis
  3. digestion
  4. osmosis
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — homeostasis
Homeostasis keeps internal conditions stable.
Q5 · Difficulty 1/3

What is ionic bonding?

  1. The transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal, forming oppositely charged ions that attract
  2. A bond between two metals
  3. A weak intermolecular force
  4. Sharing electrons
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — The transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal, forming oppositely charged ions that attract
Metals lose electrons → positive ions. Non-metals gain electrons → negative ions. Electrostatic attraction between opposite charges = ionic bond.
Q6 · 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.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3

What is a non-communicable disease?

  1. A viral infection
  2. A disease that spreads easily
  3. A disease that cannot be transmitted between organisms, often linked to lifestyle
  4. A bacterial infection
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — A disease that cannot be transmitted between organisms, often linked to lifestyle
NCDs include cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease. Risk factors include diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol, and genetics.
Q8 · 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.
Build a 30-question timed mock →
Free · No signup · Instant marking

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.