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NSW Stage 4

Year 8 Practice

Consolidating Stage 4 across English, Mathematics and Science before the demands of Stage 5.

What to focus on in Year 8

  • Comprehension and analytical writing
  • Linear relationships and geometry
  • Scientific method and data
  • Study habits and time management

Free Year 8 sample questions

Year 8-level questions. Try each, then reveal the worked answer.

Mathematical Reasoning · Sample 1

Simplify: 3x² − 2x + 5 − (x² + 4x − 3)

  • A. 2x² − 6x + 8
  • B. 2x² + 2x + 2
  • C. 4x² − 6x + 8
  • D. 2x² − 6x + 2
Show answer & explanation

Answer: A — 2x² − 6x + 8

3x² − x² = 2x², −2x − 4x = −6x, 5 + 3 = 8. Answer: 2x² − 6x + 8.

Mathematical Reasoning · Sample 2

A rectangle has area 48 cm² and one side is 6 cm. What is the perimeter?

  • A. 24 cm
  • B. 28 cm
  • C. 54 cm
  • D. 20 cm
Show answer & explanation

Answer: B — 28 cm

Other side = 48 ÷ 6 = 8 cm. Perimeter = 2 × (6 + 8) = 2 × 14 = 28 cm.

Reading · Sample 3

The term "sustainable development" entered mainstream discourse after the 1987 Brundtland Report defined it as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What is the main purpose of the Brundtland Report definition?

  • A. To criticise industrial growth
  • B. To balance present needs with future responsibility
  • C. To promote environmental conservation above all else
  • D. To define economic productivity targets
Show answer & explanation

Answer: B — To balance present needs with future responsibility

The definition explicitly balances current needs ("meets the needs of the present") with future responsibility ("without compromising future generations").

Thinking Skills · Sample 4

In a pattern, each term is the sum of the two terms before it: 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, … What is the 8th term?

  • A. 34
  • B. 21
  • C. 55
  • D. 89
Show answer & explanation

Answer: A — 34

Continuing the Fibonacci-like sequence: 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55. The 8th term is 34.

Practise at Year 8 level

Get a free, scored readiness check, then practise Year 8-level questions with adaptive difficulty and step-by-step coaching hints.

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Frequently asked questions

What does Year 8 cover in the NSW curriculum?
Year 8 sits in Stage 4 of the NSW curriculum. Key focus areas include comprehension and analytical writing, linear relationships and geometry, scientific method and data.
Does Year 8 sit NAPLAN, OC or the Selective test?
Year 8 does not sit NAPLAN, the OC test or the Selective test. These are sat in specific years — NAPLAN in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, the OC Placement Test in Year 4, and the Selective Placement Test in Year 6.
How can my child practise for Year 8?
Practise the question types your child will actually face — reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills — at Year 8 level. Start with the free sample questions above, then use adaptive daily practice that adjusts to your child's level.