Eighth grade science weighted like Utah's blueprint: matter and energy first, then life systems and natural resources.
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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Utah State Board of Education. Bank checked October 13, 2026.
The real test: RISE science, grade 8
Time limit
None
Blueprint
10 clusters: 3 each on Strands 8.1 and 8.2, 30% of the test each, and 2 each on Strands 8.3 and 8.4, 20% each. The blueprint gives no number of questions.
Strands
8.1 Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World, 8.2 Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems, 8.3 Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and E
How it is given
On a computer, adaptive and not timed. The blueprint calls it a matrix-designed test: each student is assessed on a subset of the standards in a strand.
Subjects in grade 8
English language arts, writing, mathematics and science.
Scores
A scale score and one of four proficiency levels: Below Proficient, Approaching Proficient, Proficient or Highly Proficient.
Spring 2027 window
March 9 to June 4, 2027 for the summative tests. Each district or charter school has 8 weeks within that window.
Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World 12
A bicycle frame should be light and should not rust. Metal A has a density of 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter and does not rust. Metal B has a density of 7.9 and rusts. Metal C has a density of 8.9 and does not rust. Which metal fits best?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.2 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
A builder is choosing a metal for a roof that will sit in rain and snow for decades. Which property of the metal matters most for this use?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.2 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
A metal cube has a mass of 96 grams and a volume of 12 cubic centimeters. What is its density?U.S. Geological Survey, Water Density; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.5 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
Show all 40 questions (37 more)
Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World, continued
A student builds a model of an atom with 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons. How many of the 18 particles belong in the nucleus?U.S. Energy Information Administration, The science of electricity; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.1 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
A student heats a white powder. Before heating it is white, has no odor and does not dissolve in water. Afterward it is black, smells smoky and still does not dissolve. Which data suggest a chemical reaction happened?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.3 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
A student tests three coolers to slow the melting of ice. The ice lasts 5 hours behind thin plastic walls, 9 hours behind medium foam walls and 14 hours behind thick foam walls. Which design best meets the goal?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.7 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
A water molecule is written H2O. What is one water molecule made of?NASA Glenn Research Center, Phases of Matter; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.1 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
Heat is added to a solid until it melts. What happens to its particles?NASA Glenn Research Center, Phases of Matter; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.5 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
Hydrogen and oxygen react to form water. If 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms go into the reaction, how many atoms in all are in the water that forms?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.6 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
Ice floats on liquid water. What does this show about ice?U.S. Geological Survey, Water Density; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.5 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
Plastics are synthetic materials. In the United States, which natural resources are they produced from?U.S. Energy Information Administration, How much oil is used to make plastic?; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.4 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
Which observation is the best evidence that a chemical reaction has taken place?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.1.3 (Strand 8.1: Matter and Energy Interact in the Physical World)
Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems 12
A black car and a white car are parked side by side in the summer sun. The roof of the black car feels hotter. Why?NASA Science, Wave Behaviors; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.5 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
A cart is placed at four spots on a hill: 2, 4, 6 and 8 meters above the ground. Where does it have the most gravitational potential energy?U.S. Energy Information Administration, Forms of energy; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.2 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
A rider squeezes the brakes and the bicycle slows down. Afterward the brake pads feel warm. What happened to the kinetic energy of the bicycle?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.3 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
A song saved as a digital file can be copied thousands of times and still sound the same. A vinyl record picks up scratches and noise as it is played. What does this show?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.6 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
A stretched rubber band is let go and flies across the room. Which energy change takes place?U.S. Energy Information Administration, Forms of energy; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.3 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
A student drops the same ball into soft clay from 20, 40 and 60 centimeters and measures how deep each dent is. Which question is this investigation testing?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.2 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
A student watches waves in a tank and counts 5 crests passing a marker each second. Which property of the waves has she measured?NASA Science, Anatomy of an Electromagnetic Wave; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.4 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
A whale calls underwater and a bird calls in the air. In which material does sound travel faster?NOAA National Ocean Service, How far does sound travel in the ocean?; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.5 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
The same ball rolls into a wooden block twice. At 1 meter per second it pushes the block 5 centimeters. At 2 meters per second it pushes the block 20 centimeters. What do the data show?U.S. Energy Information Administration, Forms of energy; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.1 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
Two carts roll at the same speed. One is empty and the other is loaded with bricks. Which cart has more kinetic energy?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.1 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
Two water waves have the same wavelength. Wave A is 10 centimeters high and wave B is 30 centimeters high. Which wave carries more energy?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.4 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
White light enters a glass prism and comes out spread into colors. What happens to light as it passes from air into glass?NASA Science, Wave Behaviors; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.2.5 (Strand 8.2: Energy Is Stored and Transferred in Physical Systems)
Strand 8.3: Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and Energy 8
A large forest is cut down and burned. How does this change the cycling of carbon in that area?NASA Science, The Causes of Climate Change; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.3.3 (Strand 8.3: Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and Energy)
A plant in a sealed jar gets light and water, but all the carbon dioxide has been removed from the air in the jar. Why does the plant stop making sugar?UC Museum of Paleontology, Understanding Global Change: Photosynthesis; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.3.1 (Strand 8.3: Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and Energy)
A student eats a slice of bread. What happens to the atoms in the food molecules inside her body?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.3.2 (Strand 8.3: Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and Energy)
How does carbon move from the air into living things?National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Carbon cycle; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.3.3 (Strand 8.3: Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and Energy)
What does cellular respiration use to release energy for a cell?UC Museum of Paleontology, Understanding Global Change: Respiration; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.3.2 (Strand 8.3: Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and Energy)
Which energy change takes place during photosynthesis?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.3.1 (Strand 8.3: Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and Energy)
Which gas is released as a byproduct of photosynthesis?UC Museum of Paleontology, Understanding Global Change: Photosynthesis; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.3.1 (Strand 8.3: Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and Energy)
Which two substances are produced by cellular respiration?UC Museum of Paleontology, Understanding Global Change: Respiration; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.3.2 (Strand 8.3: Life Systems Store and Transfer Matter and Energy)
Strand 8.4: Interactions With Natural Systems and Resources 8
A farm wants the watering system that uses the least water but can spend no more than $1,000. System A uses 900 liters a day and costs $400. System B uses 500 liters a day and costs $700. System C uses 450 liters a day and costs $1,500. Which system is the best choice?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.4.3 (Strand 8.4: Interactions With Natural Systems and Resources)
A well driller says a town's new well will draw its water from an aquifer. What does that word describe?U.S. Geological Survey, Aquifers and Groundwater; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.4.1 (Strand 8.4: Interactions With Natural Systems and Resources)
After a very large explosive volcanic eruption, the average temperature at the surface of Earth can drop slightly for one to three years. Why?U.S. Geological Survey, Volcanoes Can Affect Climate; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.4.4 (Strand 8.4: Interactions With Natural Systems and Resources)
Two towns of the same size pump water from aquifers that refill at the same rate. Town A uses 300 liters per person each day. Town B uses 150. Which statement do the data support?U.S. Geological Survey, Aquifers and Groundwater; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.4.2 (Strand 8.4: Interactions With Natural Systems and Resources)
Utah has copper, uranium and oil shale in some places and none in others. What causes this uneven spread of resources?Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.4.1 (Strand 8.4: Interactions With Natural Systems and Resources)
Which natural hazard can strike with no warning signs that let scientists predict it?U.S. Geological Survey, Can you predict earthquakes?; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.4.5 (Strand 8.4: Interactions With Natural Systems and Resources)
Which sign can warn scientists that a volcano may be about to erupt?U.S. Geological Survey, How can we tell when a volcano will erupt?; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.4.5 (Strand 8.4: Interactions With Natural Systems and Resources)
Why is the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rising?National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Carbon cycle; Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (June 2023), Standard 8.4.4 (Strand 8.4: Interactions With Natural Systems and Resources)
How this list was compiled: Outline: Utah RISE Science Grades 6-8 Blueprints, the grade 8 table (clusters and percent of the test for each strand), Utah State Board of Education, https://utahrise.org/content/contentresources/en/Science-Gr-6-8-Public-Facing-Blueprints.pdf, read 2026-10-13. Each question names the standard it practices in the Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards (Utah State Board of Education, adopted June 2023), grade 8, https://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/science/_science_/UtahSEEdStandards.pdf, read 2026-10-13; the fact in an answer is one the standard or its strand text gives, or is worked out from the data in the question. 25 of the 40 questions also rest on a public page named under the answer, each opened 2026-10-13: U.S. Energy Information Administration, The science of electricity; NASA Glenn Research Center, Phases of Matter; U.S. Energy Information Administration, How much oil is used to make plastic?; U.S. Geological Survey, Water Density; U.S. Energy Information Administration, Forms of energy; NASA Science, Anatomy of an Electromagnetic Wave; NASA Science, Wave Behaviors; NOAA National Ocean Service, How far does sound travel in the ocean?; UC Museum of Paleontology, Understanding Global Change: Photosynthesis; UC Museum of Paleontology, Understanding Global Change: Respiration; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Carbon cycle; NASA Science, The Causes of Climate Change; U.S. Geological Survey, Aquifers and Groundwater; U.S. Geological Survey, Volcanoes Can Affect Climate; U.S. Geological Survey, Can you predict earthquakes?; U.S. Geological Survey, How can we tell when a volcano will erupt?. Test facts: RISE Testing: A Guide for Utah Families (June 2026), Making Sense of RISE Scores (June 2026), RISE Testing Overview (October 2025) and the 2026-2027 Assessment Director Resource Guide (updated September 2026), linked from https://schools.utah.gov/assessment/assessments/rise, read 2026-10-13. No training test, benchmark module or released item was opened. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site from Utah's published science standards. Nothing is copied or reworded from a RISE test, a training test, a benchmark module, a released item or another practice test.
How it works
Unofficial practice for Utah's grade 8 RISE science test. The 40 questions follow the blueprint's weights: 12 each on Strands 8.1 and 8.2, 8 each on Strands 8.3 and 8.4. Not affiliated with the Utah State Board of Education.
Read the full guide
What the grade 8 RISE science test covers
Strand 8.1 is matter: atoms and molecules, properties, chemical reactions, states, density and conservation of matter. Strand 8.2 is energy: kinetic and potential energy, waves, and digital and analog signals. Strand 8.3 is photosynthesis, cellular respiration and the carbon cycle. Strand 8.4 is natural resources, climate and natural hazards.
Utah, and what waits for high school
Standard 8.4.1 names Utah's own copper, gold, natural gas, oil shale, silver and uranium as resources that geology spread unevenly. The standards also leave some topics for high school: ions, isotopes and valence electrons, balancing equations, and calculating kinetic or potential energy.
In a chemical reaction atoms are rearranged, never made or destroyed: the number of atoms going in equals the number coming out.
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the 8th grade RISE science test?
No number is published. The blueprint gives grade 8 a total of 10 clusters: 3 each from Strands 8.1 and 8.2 and 2 each from Strands 8.3 and 8.4. A student is assessed on a subset of the standards in each strand.
What do the RISE proficiency levels mean?
There are four. Level 3, Proficient, means a solid understanding of grade-level standards, and Level 4, Highly Proficient, an advanced one. Level 2 is Approaching Proficient and Level 1 is Below Proficient.
Do 8th graders take a RISE writing test?
Yes. RISE writing is given in grades 5 and 8, so an eighth grader takes English language arts, writing, mathematics and science.
When do schools get RISE science results?
The 2026-2027 Assessment Director Resource Guide says individual results are available in the RISE Reporting System 24 to 48 hours after a test is given. Families get an Individual Student Report, usually within three weeks of the school's testing window.