Fair Test
Contents
Key Stage 1
Meaning
A fair test is an experiment where we make sure the results are not affected by other things.
Key Stage 2
Meaning
A fair test is an experiment where we only change one variable to make sure our results only depend on what we chose to change.
About Fair Tests
There are many ways to make a test unfair.
- If we wanted to see who is the fastest in class we would do a fair test where we would make sure everyone is wearing shoes, no-one is wearing their school bag and everyone has to run the same distant. The test would not be fair if some people weren't allowed to wear shoes or some had to wear their school bags.
- If we wanted to know which dissolves best sand, salt, flour or sugar in a fair test we would make sure we used the same amount of water, the same amount of each powder and stir them for the same amount of time. The test would not be fair if we used different amounts of water each time, or a different amount of powder or didn't stir some of them.
- In a fair test you can trust the results. If an experiment is not a fair test then you cannot believe your results because they may be caused by you changing something else.
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A fair test is an experiment in which only one variable, the independent variable, is changed to make sure results are only affected by the independent variable.
About Fair Tests
- An experiment can be made a fair test with Control Variables. If there are enough Control Variables then only the independent variable will be able to affect the dependent variable.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A fair test is an experiment in which only one variable, the independent variable, is changed to make sure results are only affected by the independent variable.
About Fair Tests
- An experiment can be made a fair test with Control Variables. If there are enough Control Variables then only the independent variable will be able to affect the dependent variable.
References
AQA
- Fair tests, page 10, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Fair tests, page 10, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Fair tests, page 10, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Fair tests, page 17, GCSE Physics, Hodder, AQA
- Fair tests, page 266, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Fair tests, page 278, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Fair tests, page 4, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Fair tests, page 4, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Fair tests, page 5, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Fair tests, page 9, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Fair tests, page 10, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel
- Fair tests, page 10, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel
- Fair tests, page 5, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Fair tests, page 5, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Fait tests, page 10, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
OCR
- Fair test, pages 8, Gateway GCSE Physics, Oxford, OCR
- Fair tests, page 5, Gateway GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Fair tests, page 5, Gateway GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Fair tests, page 8, Gateway GCSE Biology, Oxford, OCR
- Fair tests, page 8, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR