A comprehensive collection of topical evaluation activities, guiding questions, and authentic Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB PLE 2018–2024 & National Mock) past exam questions, complete with official examiners' marking schemes and candidate pitfall notes.
Question 1 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Name any one living thing that undergoes moulting in the environment.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Snake OR Cockroach OR Grasshopper OR Crab OR Spider.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Accept any reptile or arthropod that sheds its outer skin/cuticle for growth.
Question 2 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Why is the burning of dry paper classified as a chemical change?
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Because it is irreversible AND forms completely new substances (charcoal, ash, and carbon dioxide).
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Candidate must emphasize that a new substance is formed or that it cannot be turned back into paper.
Question 3 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
State the role of anhydrous calcium chloride in the laboratory investigation of rusting.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
To absorb all moisture/water vapour from the air inside the test tube (keeps the air dry).
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Keyword is 'absorbs moisture' or 'dries the air'.
Question 4 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
Give any one danger of rusting to a school farmer's tools.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
It makes sharp cutting tools blunt OR weakens hoes/pangas OR causes tools to break easily.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Award 1 mark for any mechanical damage or blunting of tools.
Question 5 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
What scientific term describes the direct change of a solid into a gas without melting into a liquid?
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Sublimation.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Check spelling of 'Sublimation'.
Question 6 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
How does painting an iron gate prevent it from rusting?
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Painting covers the iron surface, preventing oxygen and moisture from coming into direct contact with the iron.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Must mention cutting off contact with oxygen and moisture.
Question 7 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Study the experimental setups below showing nails left in four test tubes for five days:
(a) In which test tube did the nail rust fastest? (1 mark)
(b) Why didn't the nail in Test-Tube B (boiled water + oil) rust? (1 mark)
(c) What was the purpose of Test-Tube C containing anhydrous calcium chloride? (1 mark)
(d) State the two environmental conditions necessary for iron to rust. (1 mark)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) Test-Tube D (Salty water)
(b) Oxygen was absent (driven out by boiling and blocked by the oil layer)
(c) To keep the air completely dry by absorbing moisture
(d) Oxygen and Moisture (water)
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Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Candidate must correctly identify the missing factor in each test tube.
Question 8 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
(a) State the difference between a physical change and a biological change. (1 mark)
(b) Give any two examples of physical changes involving heat gain. (2 marks)
(c) Name the physical process that occurs when morning dew turns into water vapour as the sun rises. (1 mark)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) A physical change does not take place in living things and is reversible, whereas a biological change takes place exclusively in living organisms and is irreversible.
(b) (i) Melting (ii) Evaporation / Boiling
(c) Evaporation
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Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Clear distinction in reversibility and living vs non-living matter.
Question 9 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Human activities bring about changes in the environment:
(a) Define the term afforestation. (1 mark)
(b) Give any two reasons why people cut down trees on a large scale (deforestation). (2 marks)
(c) State one way in which cutting down trees leads to severe environmental flooding. (1 mark)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) Afforestation is the massive planting of trees in an area where there have never been trees before.
(b) (i) To get land for farming and settlement (ii) To get wood fuel (firewood and charcoal) and timber.
(c) Tree roots that absorb excess rainwater are destroyed, and bare soil easily allows rapid surface runoff into rivers and lakes.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Mark strictly on environmental cause-and-effect.
Question 10 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Types of Changes in the Environment
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
A Primary 5 pupil heated a tin can with water, sealed it tightly, and poured cold water on it.
(a) What happened to the tin can? (1 mark)
(b) Explain why that happened to the can. (2 marks)
(c) Which physical state transition occurred inside the can? (1 mark)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) The tin can crushed / collapsed inward.
(b) Cold water condensed the steam inside into liquid water, creating a partial vacuum (low air pressure) inside. The higher atmospheric air pressure outside crushed the can inward.
(c) Condensation (gas/steam turning into liquid water).
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: A classic 4-mark PLE question.
Question 11 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Name the female parent in goat farming.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Doe (or Nanny goat).
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Accept either Doe or Nanny goat.
Question 12 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
State any one advantage of castrating male piglets not intended for breeding.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
It prevents indiscriminate breeding OR promotes faster growth/fattening OR removes boar taint from pork OR makes them docile.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Award 1 mark for any correct management or meat-quality reason.
Question 13 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
Why is the floor of a modern pigsty built with a gentle slope towards the drainage channel?
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
To allow easy and rapid drainage of urine and wash water, keeping the pen dry and hygienic.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Must mention drainage or keeping the sty dry.
Question 14 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
Give any one reason why veterinary doctors advise farmers NEVER to open the carcass of an animal suspected to have died of Anthrax.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Because exposing the bacteria to oxygen/air causes them to form dormant spores that contaminate pasture and soil for decades.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Award 1 mark for mentioning 'spore formation' or 'spreading fatal spores'.
Question 15 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Name the farm structure used to hold cattle or goats firmly during hand spraying, drenching, or vaccination.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Livestock Crush (or Crush).
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Check spelling of 'Crush'.
Question 16 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
What term refers to the meat obtained from an adult sheep?
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Mutton.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Must be Mutton (not lamb, as question specifies adult sheep).
Question 17 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
The diagram below represents housing and management in goat farming:
(a) State the role of guard rails in a farrowing pen. (1 mark)
(b) Why should the floor of a goat shed be made of wooden slats raised off the ground? (1 mark)
(c) Name any two routine operations carried out in a livestock crush. (2 marks)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) To prevent the sow from rolling over and crushing her piglets to death.
(b) To allow urine and droppings to fall through so the floor stays dry, preventing foot rot.
(c) (i) Drenching / Deworming (ii) Hand spraying / vaccination / hoof trimming.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Standard 4-mark UNEB livestock question.
Question 18 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Livestock breeds have different commercial adaptations:
(a) Name the exotic goat breed kept primarily for high milk production. (1 mark)
(b) Which sheep breed is world-famous for producing fine wool? (1 mark)
(c) Give any two reasons why local indigenous goats like the Small East African goat are preferred by subsistence farmers. (2 marks)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) Saanen (or Toggenburg).
(b) Merino sheep.
(c) (i) They have high resistance to local tick-borne diseases and parasites (ii) They can survive on poor quality browse and pasture.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Reward accurate breed identification.
Question 19 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
Measly pork is a serious public health problem in Uganda:
(a) What causes measly pork in pigs? (1 mark)
(b) Name the parasite whose larvae cause this condition. (1 mark)
(c) State any two ways a community can prevent tapeworm transmission from pigs to humans. (2 marks)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) Ingestion of human faeces containing tapeworm eggs by free-roaming pigs.
(b) Pork tapeworm (Taenia solium).
(c) (i) Inspecting all pork thoroughly before sale (ii) Cooking pork thoroughly until well done (iii) Confining pigs in pens (iv) Ensuring all people use latrines.
Question 20 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Keeping Goats, Sheep, and Pigs
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
A farmer noticed his goats were limping and producing a bad smell from their hooves:
(a) Which livestock disease is the farmer's herd likely suffering from? (1 mark)
(b) State the environmental condition in the goat pen that promotes this disease. (1 mark)
(c) Outline any two measures the farmer should take to control this disease. (2 marks)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) Foot rot.
(b) Wet, muddy, and dung-filled dirty floors.
(c) (i) Regularly trim overgrown hooves (ii) Walk goats through a copper sulphate footbath (iii) Keep pens clean and dry (use slatted floors).
Question 28 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Food and Nutrition
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
Weaning is an important milestone in infant growth:
(a) Define the term weaning. (1 mark)
(b) At what age should weaning start? (1 mark)
(c) Why should weaning NOT start earlier than this recommended age? (1 mark)
(d) State one danger of feeding a weaning child on plain maize porridge without enriching it. (1 mark)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) The gradual introduction of semi-solid and solid complementary foods to an infant alongside breast milk.
(b) At 6 months of age.
(c) The infant's digestive system is immature and cannot digest solid starches (or high risk of contamination/diarrhea).
(d) Plain porridge lacks protein and causes Kwashiorkor.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Mark strictly on age (6 months) and digestive maturity.
Question 29 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Food and Nutrition
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Vulnerable groups have special dietary requirements:
(a) Why is a convalescent person classified as a vulnerable individual? (1 mark)
(b) Which class of food should be increased in a convalescent's diet? (1 mark)
(c) State the nutritional role of dietary roughage in human digestion. (1 mark)
(d) Name any one local food source rich in dietary roughage. (1 mark)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) Because they are recovering from illness and their damaged body tissues need repair and rebuilding.
(b) Proteins (and vitamins).
(c) It adds bulk to food and stimulates peristalsis to prevent constipation.
(d) Sukuma wiki / Cabbage / Whole grain cereals / Unpeeled fruits.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Award full marks for precise physiological explanations.
Question 30 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Food and Nutrition
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
(a) What is colostrum? (1 mark)
(b) State two benefits of colostrum to a newborn infant. (2 marks)
(c) Name the condition that results from a severe lack of Iodine in the diet. (1 mark)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) The first yellowish breast milk produced by a mother during the first few days after giving birth.
(b) (i) Rich in maternal antibodies that provide immediate passive immunity against infections (ii) Acts as a mild laxative to clear meconium from intestines.
(c) Goitre.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Standard 4-mark UNEB question on infant health.
Question 31 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
What is Primary Health Care (PHC)?
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Essential health care made universally accessible and affordable to individuals and families in the community through their full participation.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Award 1 mark for the standard Alma-Ata definition.
Question 32 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
State any one element of Primary Health Care.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Immunisation (EPI) OR Safe water and sanitation OR Maternal and child health OR Health education OR Food and nutrition OR Essential drugs OR Control of endemic diseases OR Treatment of common diseases.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Award 1 mark for any of the 8 elements.
Question 33 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
Give any one reason why a residential living house should have large windows on opposite walls.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
To allow cross-ventilation (entry of fresh air and exit of stale air) to prevent respiratory infections.
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Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Keyword: cross-ventilation or fresh air circulation.
Question 34 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Why is it recommended to use clean wood ash at a tip-tap facility when soap is not available?
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Wood ash has alkaline antiseptic properties that destroy bacteria on hands.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Award 1 mark for 'kills germs' or 'acts like soap'.
Question 35 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
State the minimum distance a pit latrine should be dug away from a domestic spring well or borehole.
Question 36 • Section A [1 Mark]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
Name the community health workers who act as a frontline bridge between the village and health centres in Uganda.
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
Village Health Teams (VHTs) / Community Health Workers.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Accept VHTs or Village Health Teams.
Question 37 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
The diagram below shows a sanitary homestead structure:
(a) Name the structure described as a raised wooden rack used for drying utensils. (1 mark)
(b) Give two reasons why washed plates should be dried on this structure rather than on the ground. (2 marks)
(c) How does direct sunlight assist in the sanitation of utensils on this rack? (1 mark)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) Raised dish drying rack (or Plate stand).
(b) (i) Keeps plates away from crawling insects, dogs, and chickens (ii) Prevents mud and dust splashes from dirtying clean plates.
(c) The ultraviolet (UV) rays of sunlight kill harmful bacteria on the plates.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Award 4 marks for complete sanitation rationale.
Question 38 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
Primary Health Care involves responsibilities at different levels:
(a) State any one role of an individual in promoting PHC. (1 mark)
(b) State any one role of a school in promoting PHC. (1 mark)
(c) Mention any two roles played by Village Health Teams (VHTs) in a community. (2 marks)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) Practicing personal hygiene (bathing, washing hands) OR sleeping under treated mosquito nets.
(b) Teaching health education OR providing clean separate latrines OR holding health parades.
(c) (i) Mobilising mothers for child immunisation days (ii) Treating uncomplicated malaria with ACTs / distributing ORS for diarrhea.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Award 1 mark per section.
Question 39 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 P.5 Science Coursebook (Term 3)
A Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine is an improvement over an ordinary pit latrine:
(a) State the function of the tall vent pipe on a VIP latrine. (1 mark)
(b) What is the purpose of the wire fly screen placed at the top of the vent pipe? (1 mark)
(c) Give any two reasons why a VIP latrine does not smell as badly as an ordinary pit latrine. (2 marks)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) To suck out foul odours from the pit and expel them high into the air.
(b) To trap flies so they cannot escape and spread disease germs.
(c) (i) Wind blowing across the top of the vent pipe draws out smelly gases continuously (ii) The latrine interior is kept dark, forcing air currents up the pipe.
Question 40 • Section B [4 Marks]
P.5
Primary Health Care (PHC)
📌 UNEB PLE Science Past Papers
(a) Write down the full meaning of the abbreviation PHC. (1 mark)
(b) State any two core principles of Primary Health Care. (2 marks)
(c) Why is Primary Health Care considered more economical for developing nations like Uganda than curative hospital care? (1 mark)
✅Official UNEB Marking Guide / Expected Answer:
(a) Primary Health Care.
(b) (i) Community participation (ii) Affordability / Accessibility / Equity / Appropriate technology.
(c) Because preventive measures (sanitation, clean water, immunisation) cost very little compared to expensive drugs and hospital admission.
💡
Candidate Pitfall / Examiner Note: Reward clear economic and social understanding.