Ohio's State Test · Grade 5 Science
Ohio's State Test Grade 5 Science Practice 2027
Grade 5 is one of only two grades where Ohio tests science on the state test — Earth & Space, Life, and Physical Science — and 63% of fifth graders were proficient in 2026.
Practice · No Signup
Try 5 Ohio's State Test Grade 5 Science Questions
Real Ohio's State Test format. Aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards for Science (2018). Detailed explanations on every answer.
Which renewable energy source uses moving water to generate electricity?
Ohio's State Test Grade 5 Science sample questions with answers
Questions in the test's style, each with the answer and an explanation. Open the answer once your child has tried the question.
Question 1 · Grade 5 Science · Standard 5.ESS.3
Which renewable energy source uses moving water to generate electricity?
- A.Solar power
- B.Wind power
- C.Hydroelectric power
- D.Nuclear power
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: C. Hydroelectric power
Hydroelectric power uses the energy of flowing or falling water to turn turbines and generate electricity. It's renewable because the water cycle replenishes it.
Question 2 · Grade 8 Science · Standard 8.PS.1
During a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants is 50 grams. The total mass of the products will be —
- A.Less than 50 grams
- B.Exactly 50 grams
- C.More than 50 grams
- D.Impossible to predict
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B. Exactly 50 grams
Law of Conservation of Mass: mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. Reactant mass = product mass.
About the Ohio's State Test Grade 5 Science Test
Science shows up on Ohio's grade 3-8 State Tests at only two grades — grade 5 and grade 8 — so fifth-grade science is one of just two times the state measures your child's science learning before high school.
ODEW reports the test in three strands: Earth & Space Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. Ohio's grade 5 science standards cover Cycles and Patterns in the Solar System (the sun, planets and other bodies, the sun as one of many stars, and predictable Earth-sun patterns), Light, Sound and Motion (how force and mass affect changes in motion, and light and sound as forms of energy), and Interconnections within Ecosystems (the roles organisms play and how all life processes require energy).
In spring 2026, 63% of Ohio fifth graders scored Proficient or above (scale 700+) in science, close to grade 8 science (62%).
Ohio's State Tests are fixed-form tests given online through Cambium's Ohio portal, with paper as an accommodation (ODEW). Grade 5 science has two parts of up to 75 minutes each.
Proficient + Accomplished + Advanced (scale 700+). Basic (Level 2) and Limited (Level 1) are below Proficient. Science is tested at only grades 5 and 8 in grades 3-8. In spring 2025 the grade 5 figure was 64%.
Source: ODEW, Ohio's State Tests Spring 2026 Statistical Summary, Table 3
What's On The Ohio's State Test Grade 5 Science Test
ODEW reports grade 5 science in three strands — Earth & Space, Life, and Physical Science. Descriptions below follow the grade 5 topics in Ohio's Learning Standards for Science (2018). Per-strand weights are in ODEW's blueprints and are not restated here.
| Reporting Category | What's Tested |
|---|---|
| Earth & Space Science | Cycles and Patterns in the Solar System: the sun and the bodies that orbit it, the sun as one of many stars, and the predictable cycles and patterns of motion between Earth and the sun. |
| Physical Science | Light, Sound and Motion: how the mass of an object and the force applied change its motion, and light and sound as forms of energy that behave in predictable ways. |
| Life Science | Interconnections within Ecosystems: the roles organisms play in an ecosystem and how the processes inside organisms require energy. |
Test Format — What Your Child Will See
- ●Science is tested at only two grades in grades 3-8 — grade 5 and grade 8.
- ●There's no science OST in grades 3, 4, 6, or 7, so it's easy to under-prepare.
- ●Spring 2027 science window: April 5 – May 14, 2027.
What Ohio Parents Should Know About Grade 5 Science
- 1
Don't overlook science just because it's not tested every year — grade 5 is one of only two grade 3-8 science tests.
- 2
Model the solar system. A lamp and a ball make Earth-sun patterns like day, night and seasons concrete.
- 3
Connect force and motion to play — a push on a heavier cart versus a lighter one shows how mass and force affect motion.
- 4
Practice reading science diagrams and data — the online test uses charts, tables, and models.
Ohio's State Test Grade 5 Science — Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ohio test science every year on the state test?
No. In grades 3-8, Ohio tests science only at grade 5 and grade 8.
What is on the 5th grade Ohio State science test?
Three strands: Earth & Space Science (the solar system, stars, Earth-sun patterns), Physical Science (force, mass and motion; light and sound as energy), and Life Science (roles of organisms in ecosystems, energy for life processes).
How many Ohio 5th graders pass the state science test?
In spring 2026, 63% of Ohio fifth graders scored Proficient or above in science (64% in spring 2025).
What is a passing score on the 5th grade Ohio State science test?
Proficient is a scale score of 700; Accomplished starts at 725 and Advanced at 753 for grade 5 science. Basic and Limited are below Proficient.
When is the Ohio State science test in 2027?
The spring 2027 math and science window is April 5 – May 14, 2027; each district picks 15 consecutive school days inside it (ODEW 2026-2027 Testing Dates). The ELA window is earlier, March 29 – April 30, 2027.
Explore More Ohio's State Test Practice — Other Grades & Subjects
Same Ohio's State Test test, different grades and subjects. Pick the page that matches your child's situation.
Looking for more?
Ohio's State Test Grade 5 Science Practice
No credit card. Unlimited practice aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards for Science (2018).