NCAE Science Reviewer 2026 — Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Earth Science

What NCAE Science Covers

The Science subtest of the National Career Assessment Examination evaluates Grade 9 students on junior high school science knowledge aligned with the Department of Education's K-12 curriculum. Unlike the specialized science subjects taught per quarter, the NCAE draws questions from all four science disciplines in a single integrated subtest.

The exam uses multiple-choice items, each with four options. Questions test both factual recall and conceptual understanding — you may be asked to identify an organelle, balance a chemical equation concept, describe Newton's laws, or explain a geological process. Students aiming for the STEM strand need to pay particular attention to this section.

To understand the full exam structure across all subtests, read the NCAE practice test overview, or explore the NCAE Complete Reviewer which covers every subject area in one place. You can also review how to pass the NCAE exam for general strategies that apply across all subtests.

The Four Science Domains

The NCAE Science subtest is drawn equally from four major domains. Each domain reflects a full year of junior high school science (Grades 7–10 under the K-12 spiral curriculum). Understanding the domain breakdown helps you allocate study time wisely. Complement your science review with the NCAE Math Reviewer since many Physics and Chemistry calculations overlap with mathematical reasoning skills.

Key Topics Per Domain

Biology

Biology questions on the NCAE focus on the following key topics from the Philippine K-12 curriculum:

• Cell structure and function — parts of the cell, differences between plant and animal cells, prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cells
• Organ systems — digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous, reproductive, and excretory systems and their functions
• Heredity and genetics — Mendel's laws, dominant and recessive traits, genotype vs. phenotype, Punnett squares
• Biodiversity and classification — the five kingdoms, binomial nomenclature, adaptations and survival
• Ecology — food chains and webs, energy flow, biotic and abiotic factors, ecosystems in the Philippine context
• Photosynthesis and respiration — the processes, reactants, products, and their role in energy conversion

Chemistry

Chemistry items on the NCAE test conceptual understanding rather than complex calculations. Focus on:

• Matter and its properties — physical vs. chemical properties, states of matter, and changes of state
• Mixtures and pure substances — homogeneous vs. heterogeneous mixtures, solutions, colloids, and suspensions
• Elements and compounds — the periodic table (symbols, atomic number, groups/periods), common elements in everyday life
• Chemical vs. physical changes — indicators of chemical change (gas, precipitate, color change, energy release)
• Acids, bases, and salts — pH scale, common examples, and neutralization
• Basic atomic structure — protons, neutrons, electrons, and electron configuration at the junior high school level

Physics

Physics is often the most challenging domain for NCAE takers. Priority topics include:

• Newton's Laws of Motion — inertia, F=ma, action-reaction pairs; understand how to apply them in real-life scenarios
• Kinematics — speed, velocity, acceleration, and interpreting motion graphs
• Work, energy, and power — definitions, units (Joule, Watt), kinetic and potential energy, conservation of energy
• Waves and sound — transverse vs. longitudinal waves, frequency, wavelength, amplitude, and the speed of sound
• Electricity — series and parallel circuits, voltage, current, resistance (Ohm's Law concept), and electrical safety
• Heat and temperature — heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation), Celsius and Kelvin scales

Earth Science

Earth Science questions draw heavily from Philippine geological and environmental contexts:

• Layers of the Earth — crust, mantle, outer core, inner core; lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere
• Plate tectonics — tectonic plate boundaries, earthquakes, and volcanoes (especially relevant to the Philippines' location on the Pacific Ring of Fire)
• Rock cycle — igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks; mineral properties and identification
• Weather and climate — water cycle, cloud formation, typhoon formation in the Philippine context, climate zones
• The solar system — planets in order, characteristics, moon phases, eclipses, tides
• The atmosphere — layers (troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere), greenhouse effect, and ozone layer

How Science Affects Your Strand Score

The NCAE is not a pass/fail exam — it generates a career aptitude profile used by schools to recommend a Senior High School strand. Your Science subtest score contributes directly to your aptitude for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) strand and also factors into scores for Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) strands that require science reasoning.

DepEd uses the NCAE results as one of three inputs for strand placement: the NCAE result, the student's academic grades, and the student's own preference. A high Science score strengthens your case for STEM if your grades and preference also point in that direction. Students who score well across multiple subtests — including both Science and the mathematical reasoning areas — are typically recommended for the STEM or Academic strands.

To prepare across all NCAE subject areas, use the NCAE Complete Reviewer, which covers all subtests including Science, Math, English, Filipino, and the Career Guidance component. You can also review tips on how to pass the NCAE exam to maximize your overall aptitude score. For mathematics preparation alongside your science study, see the NCAE Math Reviewer.