The NCAE Science section is a core subtest of the National Career Assessment Examination taken by all Grade 9 students in the Philippines. It measures your understanding of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science concepts from the K-12 curriculum. A strong score in Science can help qualify you for STEM strand recommendation in Senior High School. This complete reviewer covers every topic area tested, with key concepts, practice strategies, and NCAE practice test resources to sharpen your skills before exam day.
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 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.
Covers cell biology, organ systems, ecology, genetics, biodiversity, and the characteristics of living things. Includes topics from both Grade 7 (living things and their environment) and Grade 8 (heredity and biodiversity).
Covers matter and its properties, mixtures and solutions, elements and compounds, the periodic table, physical and chemical changes, and basic atomic structure as taught in the K-12 junior high curriculum.
Covers force, motion, and Newton's laws; work, energy, and power; waves and sound; electricity and magnetism; and basic optics — all within the scope of Grade 9 and Grade 10 Physics in the Philippine curriculum.
Covers the layers of the Earth, plate tectonics and earthquakes, the rock cycle and minerals, the solar system, weather and climate, and the atmosphere — aligned with Grade 7 and Grade 10 Earth Science.
Biology questions on the NCAE focus on the following key topics from the Philippine K-12 curriculum:
Chemistry items on the NCAE test conceptual understanding rather than complex calculations. Focus on:
Physics is often the most challenging domain for NCAE takers. Priority topics include:
Earth Science questions draw heavily from Philippine geological and environmental contexts:
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.
The NCAE Science subtest covers four major domains: Biology (cells, organ systems, genetics, ecology), Chemistry (matter, mixtures, the periodic table, chemical changes), Physics (Newton's laws, energy, waves, electricity), and Earth Science (plate tectonics, rock cycle, solar system, weather). All topics are based on the Philippine K-12 junior high school curriculum (Grades 7–10).
The exact number of items per subtest is not publicly disclosed by DepEd, but based on past takers' reports, the Science subtest typically contains between 40 and 60 multiple-choice questions. Questions are distributed across all four science domains. The entire NCAE battery (all subtests combined) typically runs for about 3–4 hours including breaks.
Many Grade 9 students find Physics the most challenging science domain in the NCAE because it involves applying concepts to real-world scenarios. However, NCAE Physics questions do not require advanced calculations — they focus on conceptual understanding of Newton's laws, energy, and electricity. With focused review using DepEd modules and an NCAE test preparation resource, most students can improve significantly in this area.
Yes. Your NCAE Science subtest score is one factor schools use to recommend you for the STEM strand in Senior High School. A high Science score, especially combined with strong Math performance, supports a STEM recommendation. However, DepEd considers three factors: NCAE results, academic grades, and the student's own strand preference. Science performance also influences aptitude scores for some TVL strands.
Because the NCAE is a Philippine national exam, expect questions tied to local context: the Philippines as part of the Pacific Ring of Fire (earthquakes and volcanoes like Pinatubo, Mayon, and Taal), the Philippine Biodiversity hotspot, local weather systems and typhoon formation in the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), and Philippine mineral resources. Earth Science and Biology questions in particular often use local examples rather than generic international ones.
Start by reviewing your Grade 7–10 DepEd science modules — they are the primary source of NCAE content. Cover all four domains: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science. Use the NCAE practice test resources on this site to get familiar with the question format. Take timed practice tests to build speed. Focus extra time on Physics if you find it difficult, and make sure you review Philippine-specific content for Earth Science. For a complete multi-subject review, see the NCAE Complete Reviewer.