A 60 kg skater pushes on a 30 kg skater. The lighter skater feels a force of 90 N. What force acts on the heavier skater?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS2-1 (Forces and Interactions); core idea PS2.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A ball rolling across a carpet slows down and stops. Its kinetic energy has decreased. Which claim does this support?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS3-5 (Energy); core idea PS3.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A hiker carries a backpack from the bottom of a sand dune to the top. What happens to the potential energy stored in the system of the backpack and Earth?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS3-2 (Energy); core idea PS3.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A model of a reaction shows 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms before the reaction. How many atoms in all must the model show after the reaction?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS1-5 (Chemical Reactions)
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Physical Science, continued
A song can be sent as an analog signal or as a digitized signal made of wave pulses. Which claim about the two signals is correct?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS4-3 (Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation); core idea PS4.C as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A sound is made inside a jar. As the air is pumped out of the jar, the sound outside grows fainter, but the light from a lamp in the jar looks the same. What does this show?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS4-2 (Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation); core idea PS4.A and PS4.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A student designs a hand warmer. In three tests, 5 g, 10 g and 15 g of the same solid dissolved in the same amount of water raise the temperature by 4 °C, 8 °C and 12 °C. How should the design change to release more thermal energy?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS1-6 (Chemical Reactions); core idea PS1.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A student heats ice from -10 °C. The temperature climbs to 0 °C, holds at 0 °C while the ice melts, then climbs again. While the temperature is climbing, what is happening to the particles of water?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS1-4 (Structure and Properties of Matter); core idea PS3.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A student mixes two clear liquids. The mixture turns yellow, and a solid settles out that will not dissolve in either starting liquid. What is the best conclusion?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS1-2 (Chemical Reactions); core idea PS1.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Four cups each hold water at 80 °C. After 20 minutes the water in the foam cup is at 68 °C, the paper cup 55 °C, the glass cup 50 °C and the metal cup 44 °C. Which cup does the most to minimize thermal energy transfer?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS3-3 (Energy); core idea PS3.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
New medicines and alternative fuels are synthetic materials. Where do the substances in a synthetic material come from?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS1-3 (Structure and Properties of Matter); the clarification statement of MS-PS1-3 as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
One model shows a molecule of ammonia: one nitrogen atom joined to three hydrogen atoms. A second model shows table salt: sodium and chlorine atoms repeating in a grid with no separate molecules. What is the salt model an example of?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS1-1 (Structure and Properties of Matter); core idea PS1.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
The sun's gravity holds the planets in orbit, yet two pencils lying on a desk do not move toward each other. Why not?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS2-4 (Forces and Interactions); core idea PS2.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Two waves move along the same rope. Wave B has a larger amplitude than wave A. What can be said about the two waves?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS4-1 (Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation)
With the same battery, an electromagnet lifts 4 paper clips when its wire has 10 turns, 8 clips with 20 turns and 12 clips with 30 turns. Which question do these data answer?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-PS2-3 (Forces and Interactions)
Life Science 15
A carbon atom in the air becomes part of a plant, then part of a deer that eats the plant, and later returns to the air. What does this path show?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS2-3 (Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems); core idea LS2.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A fossil skeleton and a modern animal have the same arrangement of leg bones, though the modern animal is larger. What can scientists infer?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS4-2 (Natural Selection and Adaptations); core idea LS4.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A plant grows a new plant from a piece of its own stem, with no seeds and no pollen. How does the new plant's genetic information compare with the parent's?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS3-2 (Growth, Development, and Reproduction of Organisms)
A student smells smoke and walks out of the room. Which describes how the information traveled?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS1-8 (Structure, Function, and Information Processing); core idea LS1.D as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A sugar maple takes in carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil. Using energy from light, what does it make?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS1-6 (Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems); core idea LS1.C as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
An owl eats mice in a field, and a pike eats minnows in a lake. What pattern do the two ecosystems share?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS2-2 (Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems); core idea LS2.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Bees take nectar from apple blossoms, and the blossoms are pollinated as the bees move from flower to flower. Which type of interaction is this?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS2-2 (Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems); core idea LS2.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Beetles of one species live on green leaves. Green beetles made up 20% of the population in year 1, 45% in year 5 and 70% in year 10. Birds find the brown beetles more easily. What explains the trend?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS4-6 (Natural Selection and Adaptations); core idea LS4.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
The dwarf lake iris, Michigan's state wildflower, is endangered and grows along the northern shores of Lakes Michigan and Huron. A town compares two designs for a shoreline park: Plan A paves the shore for parking, and Plan B builds a raised boardwalk over the plants. Which plan better maintains biodiversity?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS2-5 (Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems); core idea LS2.C as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013); fact checked at State of Michigan, State Facts and Symbols
Each spring morning a male bird sings from the top of a tree. What is the most likely function of this behavior?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS1-4 (Growth, Development, and Reproduction of Organisms); the clarification statement of MS-LS1-4 as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Mastodon fossils have been found at more than 250 places in Michigan, but no mastodons live today. What does this part of the fossil record document?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS4-1 (Natural Selection and Adaptations); core idea LS4.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013); fact checked at State of Michigan, State Facts and Symbols
Two kinds of birds nest only in holes in old trees. A storm knocks down half of the old trees in a forest. What is the most likely result?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS2-1 (Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems); core idea LS2.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Two white pine seedlings come from seeds of the same parent tree. One, planted in full sun and rich soil, grows 60 cm in a year. The other, in deep shade and sandy soil, grows 15 cm. What best explains the difference?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS1-5 (Growth, Development, and Reproduction of Organisms); core idea LS1.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Under a microscope a student sees a pond organism that is one cell, moving and feeding, and a leaf made of thousands of cells. What do the two observations support?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS1-1 (Structure, Function, and Information Processing); core idea LS1.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Which part of a cell forms the boundary that controls what enters and leaves?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-LS1-2 (Structure, Function, and Information Processing); core idea LS1.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Earth and Space Science 15
A city on the coast and a city far inland lie at the same latitude. The coastal city has milder winters and cooler summers. What explains the difference?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS2-6 (Weather and Climate); core idea ESS2.D as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
A class wants to know whether road salt is reaching a stream. Which plan monitors the impact best?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS3-3 (Human Impacts)
A cliff shows three rock layers that have never been tilted or folded. Layer A is at the bottom, B is in the middle and C is on top. Which layer is oldest?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS1-4 (History of Earth); core idea ESS1.C as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013); fact checked at U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Time: Relative Time Scale
A river town's records show floods in four springs, each after fast snowmelt and heavy rain. How can records like these be used?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS3-2 (Human Impacts); core idea ESS3.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Air masses flow from regions of high pressure toward low pressure. At one weather station the pressure falls from 1,020 to 1,002 millibars in six hours while the wind picks up. What is the best conclusion?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS2-5 (Weather and Climate); the clarification statement of MS-ESS2-5 as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
For forty years Michigan led the nation in copper, mined in the western Upper Peninsula, while most of the state has none. What best explains why a mineral is found in some places and not others?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS3-1 (Earth's Systems); core idea ESS3.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013); fact checked at Michigan Legislature, Michigan Manual 2001-2002, "A Brief History of Michigan"
In a scale model of the solar system, 1 cm stands for 10,000 km. The model of one planet is 5 cm wide. How wide is the planet?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS1-3 (Space Systems)
In June the northern half of Earth is tilted toward the sun. Why is June warmer than December in Michigan?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS1-1 (Space Systems); core idea ESS1.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Matching fossils and rock types are found on two continents that an ocean now separates, and the edges of the two continents fit together. What do these data support?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS2-3 (History of Earth); core idea ESS2.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
The Petoskey stone, Michigan's state stone, is fossilized coral about 350 million years old from the northern Lower Peninsula. What does it tell geologists?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS1-4 (History of Earth); core idea ESS1.C as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013); fact checked at State of Michigan, State Facts and Symbols
Planets, moons and asteroids all travel around the sun without flying off into space. What keeps them in orbit?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS1-2 (Space Systems); core idea ESS1.B as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
The population of a region doubles, and each person uses as much water as before. What happens to the region's total water use?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS3-4 (Human Impacts); core idea ESS3.C as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Water evaporates from Lake Michigan, forms clouds, falls as snow and flows down rivers back to the lake. Which step is driven mainly by energy from the sun?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS2-4 (Earth's Systems); core idea ESS2.C as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Which human activity is a major factor in the rise of Earth's mean surface temperature?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS3-5 (Weather and Climate); core idea ESS3.D as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Which two sources of energy drive the cycling of Earth's rocks and other materials?Michigan K-12 Science Standards, MS-ESS2-1 (Earth's Systems); core idea ESS2.A as printed in Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (National Academies Press, 2013)
Unofficial practice for the grade 8 M-STEP science test, which draws on Michigan's middle school standards for grades 6 to 8. All 45 questions are our own; none is a released item. Not affiliated with the Michigan Department of Education.
Read the full guide
What the grade 8 science M-STEP covers
The state's grade 8 descriptors list fifteen targets, five in each claim. Physical science: structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, forces and interactions, energy, waves. Life science: cells and information processing, matter and energy in ecosystems, interdependent relationships, growth and reproduction, natural selection. Earth and space science: space systems, the history of Earth, Earth's systems, weather and climate, human impacts.
Michigan in the questions
Michigan writes its own versions of some expectations, set in the Great Lakes basin. Four questions here use the state: the endangered dwarf lake iris, mastodon fossils, the Petoskey stone and Upper Peninsula copper.
Many expectations ask for evidence, a model or a fair test, not a memorized fact. Ask what the data can and cannot show.
Questions and answers
Do 8th graders take the M-STEP science test?
Yes. Michigan gives M-STEP science in grades 5, 8 and 11. In grade 8 it sits beside M-STEP social studies and the PSAT 8/9, which covers English and math.
How many questions are on the 8th grade science M-STEP?
Michigan gives no total. A form has seven clusters, six that count and one field test, and a cluster has 5 to 9 questions about one phenomenon. Six scored clusters hold 30 to 54 questions.
How long is the 8th grade science M-STEP?
There is no time limit. The Spring 2026 manual estimates 1 hour 30 minutes and suggests two sessions of 40 to 60 minutes for grade 8.
Can you use a calculator on the 8th grade science M-STEP?
Yes. Grade 8 students may use a scientific calculator on every science question. Online it is built into the test; on paper it is a handheld one.
What standards does the 8th grade science M-STEP test?
The Michigan K-12 Science Standards for middle school. They are written as performance expectations in physical, life, and Earth and space science, and the test groups related expectations into topic bundles.