Ohio's State Test · Grade 8 Science
Ohio's State Test Grade 8 Science Practice 2027
Grade 8 is the second and last grade 3-8 Ohio science test — physical Earth, forces and motion, and species and reproduction — with 62% of eighth graders proficient in 2026.
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Try 5 Ohio's State Test Grade 8 Science Questions
Real Ohio's State Test format. Aligned to Ohio's Learning Standards for Science (2018). Detailed explanations on every answer.
During a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants is 50 grams. The total mass of the products will be —
Ohio's State Test Grade 8 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 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.
Question 2 · 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.
About the Ohio's State Test Grade 8 Science Test
Grade 8 science is the second and final grade 3-8 science test in Ohio (the other is grade 5).
ODEW reports the test in three strands: Earth & Space Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. Ohio's grade 8 science standards cover Physical Earth (Earth's interior studied through seismic waves, tectonic plates, constructive and destructive processes that shape the surface, and the geologic record), Forces and Motion (forces from magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational fields, and how forces change motion), and Species and Reproduction (variation, evolution and extinction shown in the fossil record, reproduction, and inherited traits).
In spring 2026, 62% of Ohio eighth graders scored Proficient or above (scale 700+) in science, close to grade 5 science (63%).
Ohio's State Tests are fixed-form tests given online through Cambium's Ohio portal, with paper as an accommodation (ODEW). Grade 8 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. One of two grade 3-8 science tests. In spring 2025 the grade 8 figure was 63%.
Source: ODEW, Ohio's State Tests Spring 2026 Statistical Summary, Table 3
What's On The Ohio's State Test Grade 8 Science Test
ODEW reports grade 8 science in three strands — Earth & Space, Life, and Physical Science. Descriptions below follow the grade 8 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 |
|---|---|
| Physical Science | Forces and Motion: objects can feel a force from magnetic, electrostatic or gravitational fields, and forces change the motion of objects. |
| Earth & Space Science | Physical Earth: Earth's interior and seismic waves, plate tectonics, constructive and destructive geologic processes, and the geologic record. |
| Life Science | Species and Reproduction: diversity of species through evolution and extinction, fossil evidence, reproduction, and inherited traits. |
Test Format — What Your Child Will See
- ●Grade 8 is the second and last grade 3-8 science test (with grade 5).
- ●Science isn't tested in grades 6 or 7, so review earlier middle-school science too.
- ●Spring 2027 science window: April 5 – May 14, 2027.
What Ohio Parents Should Know About Grade 8 Science
- 1
Make forces concrete — magnets, static electricity and gravity are all field forces in the grade 8 standards.
- 2
Use maps of plate boundaries and earthquakes to connect plate tectonics to real events.
- 3
Practice interpreting data and diagrams — the online test uses charts, models, and experiments.
- 4
Connect heredity and evolution to the fossil record — the grade 8 life science standards tie them together.
Ohio's State Test Grade 8 Science — Frequently Asked Questions
What is on the 8th grade Ohio State science test?
Three strands: Physical Science (forces from fields, forces and motion), Earth & Space Science (Earth's interior, plate tectonics, the geologic record), and Life Science (evolution and extinction, reproduction, inherited traits).
Does Ohio test science in every grade?
No. In grades 3-8, science is tested only at grades 5 and 8.
How many Ohio 8th graders pass the state science test?
In spring 2026, 62% of Ohio eighth graders scored Proficient or above in science (63% in spring 2025).
What is a passing score on the 8th grade Ohio State science test?
Proficient is a scale score of 700; Accomplished starts at 725 and Advanced at 766 for grade 8 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.
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Ohio's State Test Grade 8 Science Practice
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