MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SINGAPORE

in collaboration with
CAMBRIDGE ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level

SCIENCE (PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY) 5086/01

Paper 1 Multiple Choice For examination from 2024
SPECIMEN PAPER
 1 hour
Additional Materials: Multiple Choice Answer Sheet
*0123456789*

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write in soft pencil.

Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
Write your name, Centre number and index number on the Answer Sheet in the spaces provided unless this
has been done for you.
DO NOT WRITE ON ANY BARCODES.

There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions. For each question there are four possible
answers A, B, C and D.
Choose the one you consider correct and record your choice in soft pencil on the separate Answer Sheet.

Read the instructions on the Answer Sheet very carefully.

Each correct answer will score one mark. A mark will not be deducted for a wrong answer.
Any rough working should be done in this booklet.

A copy of the Data Sheet is printed on page 17.

A copy of the Periodic Table is printed on page 18.

The use of an approved scientific calculator is expected, where appropriate.

This document consists of 18 printed pages.

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1 A student uses a stopwatch to time a runner running around a circular track. The runner runs two
laps (twice around the track).

The diagrams show the readings on the stopwatch when the runner starts running, at the end of
the first lap, and at the end of the second lap.

mins s mins s mins s

reading when reading at end reading at end

runner starts of first lap of second lap

What is the time taken for the runner to run the second lap?

A 0 min 50 s B 1 min 10 s C 1 min 13 s D 2 min 03 s

2 A student measures the velocity of a trolley travelling in a straight line. At one instant, the velocity
of the trolley is 1.0 m / s and 2.0 s later the velocity is 4.0 m / s.

What is the acceleration of the trolley?

A 1.5 m / s2 B 2.0 m / s2 C 2.5 m / s2 D 5.0 m / s2

3 A passenger is sitting in an aeroplane which takes off and climbs to 10 000 m in a certain time.

During this time what happens to the mass and to the weight of the passenger?

mass weight
A decreases decreases
B increases increases
C unchanged decreases
D unchanged increases

4 What are the conditions for equilibrium?

resultant force resultant turning

acting effect acting
A no no
B no yes
C yes no
D yes yes

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5 To prevent a cement mixer sinking into soft ground, the mixer is placed on a large flat board.

cement mixer

board
soft ground

Why does this prevent the mixer sinking?

A The large area decreases the pressure on the ground.

B The large area increases the pressure on the ground.

C The large area decreases the weight on the ground.

D The large area increases the weight on the ground.

6 A bungee jumper has jumped from a bridge and falls with increasing speed before the cord begins
to extend.

What is the principal energy transfer taking place during this period?

A kinetic store to gravitational potential store

B kinetic store to internal store

C gravitational potential store to kinetic store

D gravitational potential store to internal store

7 A man weighs 600 N. He runs up a staircase of total height 4.0 m in 3.0 s.

How much power is needed to do this?

A 450 W B 800 W C 2400 W D 7200 W

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8 A quantity of gas is trapped in a container by a frictionless piston.

The temperature of the gas is raised.

Which statement is correct?

A The gas expands.

B The molecules get larger.

C The piston remains in the same place.

D The speed of the molecules decreases.

9 The dipper in a ripple tank vibrates at a frequency of 4.0 Hz and the resulting wave pattern is
photographed.

The distance between the two crests shown is 20 cm.

20 cm

What is the speed of the wave?

A 4.0 cm / s B 5.0 cm / s C 16 cm / s D 20 cm / s

10 Which group contains only transverse waves?

A infrared waves, light waves, sound waves

B infrared waves, light waves, ultraviolet waves

C infrared waves, ultraviolet waves, sound waves

D light waves, sound waves, ultraviolet waves

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11 A radio wave has a wavelength of 1500 m and travels with a speed of 3.0 × 108 m / s.

What is the radio wave’s frequency?

A 5.0 × 102 Hz

B 4.5 × 103 Hz

C 2.0 × 105 Hz

D 2.0 × 106 Hz

12 A hospital needs to sterilise medical equipment.

Which electromagnetic waves could be used?

A infrared

B microwaves

C radio waves
D ultraviolet

13 The current in an electric heater is 10 A. It is switched on for 5 minutes.

How much charge flows through the heater?

A 0.5 C B 2C C 50 C D 3000 C

14 A circuit contains two resistors connected in parallel with a battery.

R
P
2Ω

Q
4Ω

Which of the following statements about the currents at P, Q and R is correct?

A The current at P is the greatest.

B The current at Q is the greatest.

C The current at R is the greatest.

D The current is the same at points P, Q and R.

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15 The diagram shows a circuit.

3V
V

A 0.5 A

R 1Ω

The ammeter has negligible resistance.

What is the resistance of the resistor R?

A 0.5 Ω B 1.5 Ω C 5Ω D 6Ω

16 An electric heater is rated at 3 kW. The consumer is charged 20 cents per kW h of energy
transferred electrically from the mains supply.

What is the cost of using the heater for 5 hours?

A 12 cents B 60 cents C 100 cents D 300 cents

17 Many electrical appliances have metal cases.

To prevent the case from becoming ‘live’, with the possibility of an electric shock, the earth wire of
the electric cable is attached to the case.

How does the earth wire prevent an electric shock?

A It allows a current to flow to earth, so that the appliance continues working.

B It allows a large current to flow to earth, blowing the fuse.

C It prevents the fuse from blowing.

D It reduces the current to a safe level.

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18 Four plotting compasses are placed in the magnetic field of two identical bar magnets as shown in
the diagram.

Which compass is shown pointing in the wrong direction?

A D

S N N S

19 Two parallel vertical wires P and Q are a small distance apart in air. There is a downwards electric
current in both wires. A force acts on Q owing to the current in P. This force is perpendicular to the
wire Q.

What is the direction of the force on Q?

P Q

A C

20 The half-life of the nuclide radium-225 is 15 days.

A pure sample of this nuclide has a mass of 16 g.
How long will it be before the mass of radium-225 in the sample is 2.0 g?

A 45 days

B 60 days

C 105 days

D 120 days

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21 Which apparatus would be most suitable to measure accurately the volume of acid needed to
neutralise 25.0 cm3 of an alkali? The apparatus are not drawn to scale.

A B C D

22 Which diagram shows the structure of a 73 Li atom?

A B
key
p = proton
e e e e
n = neutron
3p 4p e = electron
4n 3n

e e e

C D

e e e e

3p 4p
4n 3n

e e e

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23 The elements X and Y form the compound X2Y.

What is the electronic configuration of the atoms X and Y?

electronic configuration
atom of X atom of Y
A 2,1 2,7
B 2,2 2,7
C 2,1 2,6
D 2,2 2,6

24 The diagram shows the arrangement of electrons in a molecule of compound YZ2.

key
Z Z outer electron of a Y atom
outer electron of a Z atom

What are elements Y and Z?

Y Z
A calcium chlorine
B carbon oxygen
C oxygen hydrogen
D sulfur chlorine

25 Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.

Which statement is correct?

A Brass can be represented by a chemical formula.

B Brass is formed by a chemical reaction between copper and zinc.

C Brass will react completely with dilute hydrochloric acid.

D The zinc in brass will react with dilute hydrochloric acid.

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26 The equation represents the reaction between dilute nitric acid and copper.

x Cu + y HNO3 → x Cu(NO3)2 + 4H2O + 2NO

What are the values of x and y?

A x = 1, y = 4

B x = 1, y = 8

C x = 3, y = 4

D x = 3, y = 8

27 Calcium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Ca + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2

What volume of 1.0 mol / dm3 hydrochloric acid is required to react completely with 5 g of calcium?

A 0.125 dm3 B 0.250 dm3 C 0.5 dm3 D 10 dm3

28 An aqueous solution of the organic compound methylamine has a pH greater than 7.

Which statement about methylamine is correct?

A It neutralises an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide.

B It reacts with copper(II) carbonate to give carbon dioxide.

C It reacts with hydrochloric acid to form a salt.

D It turns Universal Indicator red.

29 Which pair of substances reacts to form a salt and water only?

A aqueous sodium chloride and silver nitrate solution

B aqueous sodium hydroxide and dilute hydrochloric acid

C aqueous sodium carbonate and dilute sulfuric acid

D zinc and dilute hydrochloric acid

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30 A student adds aqueous sodium hydroxide and aqueous ammonia separately to solutions of four
different metal compounds.

Which solution contains Zn2+ ions?

solution add a few drops add excess add a few drops add excess
of NaOH(aq) NaOH(aq) of NH3(aq) NH3(aq)
A ppt ppt dissolves ppt ppt dissolves
B ppt ppt dissolves ppt ppt remains
C ppt ppt remains no ppt no ppt
D no ppt no ppt no ppt no ppt

31 Which reaction is not a redox reaction?

A CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

B Cu2+(aq) + Zn(s) → Cu(s) + Zn2+(aq)

C CuO(s) + H2SO4(aq) → CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

D Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g)

32 Many properties of an element and its compounds can be predicted from the position of the
element in the Periodic Table.

What property could not be predicted in this way?

A the acidic or basic nature of its oxide

B the formula of its oxide

C the number of isotopes it has

D its metallic or non-metallic properties

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33 Elements X and Y are in Group 17 of the Periodic Table.

X is a liquid at room temperature. Y is a solid at room temperature.

1 Atoms of Y have more protons than atoms of X.

2 Molecules of Y have more atoms than molecules of X.

3 Y displaces X from aqueous solutions of X – ions.

Which statements are correct?

A 1 only

B 2 only

C 3 only

D 1, 2 and 3

34 Metal M is extracted from its oxide by heating the oxide with carbon.

Iron reacts slowly with steam, and metal M reacts very slowly with steam. Sodium reacts vigorously
with cold water.

What is the order of reactivity of the above metals and copper?

least reactive most reactive

A sodium metal M iron copper
B sodium iron metal M copper
C copper iron metal M sodium
D copper metal M iron sodium

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35 Ammonium nitrate dissolving in water is endothermic.

When ammonium nitrate is added to water and the solution formed is allowed to stand for several
minutes, the temperature changes.

Which graph shows how the temperature changes?

A B

temperature temperature

key
time time
room temperature

C D

temperature temperature

time time

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36 Two experiments are carried out using the apparatus shown.

cotton wool

conical flask

marble chips hydrochloric acid

balance

In experiment 1, dilute hydrochloric acid is used.

In experiment 2, concentrated hydrochloric acid is used.

In both experiments, all the marble chips react completely and all the other conditions are kept the
same.

Which diagram shows the results obtained?

A B key
experiment 1
experiment 2
balance balance
reading reading

time time

C D

balance balance
reading reading

time time

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37 The structure shows a monomer.

H H
C C
CH3 Cl

Which structure shows a part of the polymer chain formed from three molecules of the monomer?

H H H H H H H H H H H H

A C C C C C C B C C C C C C

CH3 CH3 Cl Cl CH3 CH3 CH3 Cl CH3 Cl CH3 Cl

Cl H Cl H Cl H H Cl H Cl H Cl

C C C C C C C D C C C C C C

CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3 CH3 H CH3 H CH3 H CH3

38 When ethanol is left standing in the air for some time, it becomes acidic.

Which equation represents this change?

A CH3CH2OH + CO → CH3CH2CO2H

B CH3CH2OH + O2 → CH3CO2H + H2O

C CH3CH2OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O

D 2CH3CH2OH + O2 → 2CH3CO2H + 2H2

39 Which statements about alkanes are correct?

1 They undergo addition reactions with chlorine.

2 The viscosity increases as the relative molecular mass increases.

3 They form carbon monoxide when they burn in a limited supply of oxygen.

4 They are unsaturated hydrocarbons.

A 1 and 3

B 1 and 4

C 2 and 3
D 2 and 4

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40 Which statements about air pollutants are correct?

1 Carbon monoxide is responsible for the production of ‘acid rain’.

2 Oxides of nitrogen are present in car exhausts.

3 Nitrogen dioxide forms acid rain which can corrode buildings.

A 1 and 2 only

B 1 and 3 only

C 2 and 3 only

D 1, 2 and 3

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Data Sheet

Colours of Some Common Metal Hydroxides

aluminium hydroxide white

calcium hydroxide white

copper(II) hydroxide light blue

iron(II) hydroxide green

iron(III) hydroxide red-brown

zinc hydroxide white

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES & MOE 2022 5086/01/SP/24

 The Periodic Table of Elements
Group
1 2 13 14 15 16 17 18
1 2
H He

© UCLES & MOE 2022

hydrogen helium
Key 1 4
3 4 proton (atomic) number 5 6 7 8 9 10
Li Be atomic symbol B C N O F Ne
lithium beryllium name boron carbon nitrogen oxygen fluorine neon
7 9 relative atomic mass 11 12 14 16 19 20
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
23 24 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 27 28 31 32 35.5 40
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
39 40 45 48 51 52 55 56 59 59 64 65 70 73 75 79 80 84
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
18

85 88 89 91 93 96 – 101 103 106 108 112 115 119 122 128 127 131
55 56 57 – 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
lanthanoids

5086/01/SP/24
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
133 137 178 181 184 186 190 192 195 197 201 204 207 209 – – –
87 88 89 – 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
actinoids
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
francium radium rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium nihonium flerovium moscovium livermorium tennessine oganesson
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
139 140 141 144 – 150 152 157 159 163 165 167 169 173 175
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103
actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
– 232 231 238 – – – – – – – – – – –
3
The volume of one mole of any gas is 24 dm at room temperature and pressure (r.t.p.).
The Avogadro constant, L = 6.02  1023 mol–1.