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Ohio Grade 8 Science Online Center

Everything Ohio eighth graders need for the Ohio State Test (OST) Science, six full-length practice tests, skill quizzes, flashcards, and every Ohio science standard for this grade in one place.

Standards source: Ohio’s Learning Standards, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

6 full-length practice tests9 science skill quizzes166 flashcards18 Ohio standardsAn explanation for every answer
Built from Ohio science standards
Every answer explained
No login required
Trusted by students across Ohio

Ohio Science by Grade

Every Ohio science center, grade 1 through grade 8.

Ohio, About the test. Ohio's State Tests in science in grades 5, 8, and biology.

Grade 8 Science Skill Quizzes

Pick one science area, answer 10 questions, and see exactly where the idea broke down. Each quiz opens right here.

QUIZ10 questions

Matter and Its Properties

A quick 10-question check on matter and its properties, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.

  • 10 questions
  • Instant score

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QUIZ10 questions

Forces and Motion

A quick 10-question check on forces and motion, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.

  • 10 questions
  • Instant score

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QUIZ10 questions

Energy

A quick 10-question check on energy, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.

  • 10 questions
  • Instant score

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QUIZ10 questions

Waves and Information

A quick 10-question check on waves and information, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.

  • 10 questions
  • Instant score

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QUIZ10 questions

Cells, Structures and Life Processes

A quick 10-question check on cells, structures and life processes, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.

  • 10 questions
  • Instant score

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QUIZ10 questions

Ecosystems and Heredity

A quick 10-question check on ecosystems and heredity, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.

  • 10 questions
  • Instant score

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QUIZ10 questions

Evolution, Fossils and Adaptation

A quick 10-question check on evolution, fossils and adaptation, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.

  • 10 questions
  • Instant score

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QUIZ10 questions

Earth and Space Systems

A quick 10-question check on earth and space systems, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.

  • 10 questions
  • Instant score

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QUIZ10 questions

Earth, Human Activity and Engineering

A quick 10-question check on earth, human activity and engineering, with instant scoring and a full explanation for every answer.

  • 10 questions
  • Instant score

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This Ohio grade 8 science center is part of the Effortless Math library. Practice tests, skill quizzes, flashcards, and the state's own standards are connected so a student always has a clear next step instead of a wall of links.

Last updated: August 25, 2026
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Ohio Grade 8 Science Snapshot

OSTstate science test
18state science standards
6full practice tests
3topic areas to study

Ohio Grade 8 Science Topics

These are the 18 science standards Ohio sets for grade 8, from the Ohio's Learning Standards and Model Curriculum for Science, grouped and ordered exactly the way the state's own standards document groups them. Each one is tagged with its official code so you can trace it straight back to the state document.

Ohio standard codes

ESS Earth and Space Science

  • 8.ESS.1.aSun, Moon, Earth, Stars, and Space Systems
  • 8.ESS.1.bEnergy Forms, Transfer, and Transformation
  • 8.ESS.2.a8.ESS.4.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and Landforms
  • 8.ESS.2.bConvection Currents Asthenosphere Cause Movements Lithospheric Plates Energy
  • 8.ESS.2.cThree Main Types Plate Boundaries Divergent Convergent Transform
  • 8.ESS.3.aEarth'S Surface Formed Variety Different Geologic Processes But

PS Physical Science

  • 8.PS.1.a8.PS.2.b8.PS.2.c8.PS.2.dForces, Motion, and Interactions
  • 8.PS.2.aMotion Object Always Measured Respect Reference Point

LS Life Science

  • 8.LS.1.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and Landforms
  • 8.LS.1.b8.LS.3.bCells, Body Systems, and Genetics
  • 8.LS.1.c8.LS.28.LS.3.aOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life Cycles

Grouped and ordered from the state's own standards document.

Ohio Grade 8 Science Standards

The full text of every grade 8 science standard in the Ohio's Learning Standards and Model Curriculum for Science. If your Ohio classroom or report card mentions a code, you will find it here.

ESS Earth and Space Science

  • 8.ESS.1.aSun, Moon, Earth, Stars, and Space SystemsThe refraction and reflection of seismic waves as they move through one type of material to another is used to differentiate the layers of Earth's interior. Earth has a core, a mantle, and a crust. Impacts during planetary formation generated heat
  • 8.ESS.1.bEnergy Forms, Transfer, and TransformationThese impacts converted gravitational potential energy to heat. Earth's core is also able to generate its own thermal energy because of decaying atoms. This continuously releases thermal energy. Thermal energy generated from Earth's core drives convection currents in the asthenosphere
  • 8.ESS.2.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and LandformsHistorical data and observations such as fossil distribution, paleomagnetism, continental drift and sea-floor spreading contributed to the theory of plate tectonics. The rigid tectonic plates move with the molten rock and magma beneath them in the upper mantle
  • 8.ESS.2.bConvection Currents Asthenosphere Cause Movements Lithospheric Plates EnergyConvection currents in the asthenosphere cause movements of the lithospheric plates. The energy that forms convection currents comes from deep within the Earth
  • 8.ESS.2.cThree Main Types Plate Boundaries Divergent Convergent TransformThere are three main types of plate boundaries: divergent, convergent and transform. Each type of boundary results in specific motion and causes events (such as earthquakes or volcanic activity) or features (such as mountains or trenches) that are indicative of the type of boundary
  • 8.ESS.3.aEarth'S Surface Formed Variety Different Geologic Processes ButEarth's surface is formed from a variety of different geologic processes, including but not limited to plate tectonics
  • 8.ESS.4.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and LandformsEarth is approximately 4.6 billion years old. Earth history is based on observations of the geologic record and the understanding that processes observed at present day are similar to those that occurred in the past (uniformitarianism). There are different methods to determine relative and absolute age of some rock layers in the geologic record. Within a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary rocks, the oldest rocks are at the bottom (superposition). The geologic record can help identify past environmental and climate conditions

PS Physical Science

  • 8.PS.1.aForces, Motion, and InteractionsMagnetic, electrical and gravitational forces can act at a distance
  • 8.PS.2.aMotion Object Always Measured Respect Reference PointThe motion of an object is always measured with respect to a reference point
  • 8.PS.2.bForces, Motion, and InteractionsForces can be added. The new force on an object is the sum of all of the forces acting on the object
  • 8.PS.2.cForces, Motion, and InteractionsIf there is a nonzero net force acting on an object, its speed and/or direction will change
  • 8.PS.2.dForces, Motion, and InteractionsKinetic friction and drag are forces that act in a direction opposite the relative motion of objects

LS Life Science

  • 8.LS.1.aEarth Materials, Rocks, Fossils, and LandformsFossils provide important evidence of how life and environmental conditions have changed
  • 8.LS.1.bCells, Body Systems, and GeneticsChanges in environmental conditions can affect how beneficial a trait will be for the survival and reproductive success of an organism or an entire species
  • 8.LS.1.cOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesThroughout Earth's history, extinction of a species has occurred when the environment changes and the individual organisms of that species do not have the traits necessary to survive and reproduce in the changed environment. Most species (approximately 99 percent) that have lived on Earth are now extinct
  • 8.LS.2Organism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesEvery organism alive today comes from a long line of ancestors who reproduced successfully every generation
  • 8.LS.3.aOrganism Needs, Structures, and Life CyclesExpression of all traits is determined by genes and environmental factors to varying degrees. Many genes influence more than one trait, and many traits are influenced by more than one gene
  • 8.LS.3.bCells, Body Systems, and GeneticsDuring reproduction, genetic information (DNA) is transmitted between parent and offspring. In asexual reproduction, the lone parent contributes DNA to the offspring. In sexual reproduction, both parents contribute DNA to the offspring

Source: Ohio Learning Standards. Always check the current official document before relying on a code for placement or reporting.

Ohio Grade 8: Math and English Too

Science is one of three Ohio grade 8 centers. Same format, same standards-first approach, for the other two subjects.

Ohio Grade 8 Math

Six full practice tests, printable worksheets, step-by-step lessons, and every Ohio grade 8 math standard.

Open the math center →

Ohio Grade 8 English

Reading, writing, and language standards for Ohio grade 8, broken into short skill targets with practice for each one.

Open the English center →

Ohio Grade 8 Science FAQ

Does Ohio test science in grade 8?

Yes. Ohio students take the Ohio State Test (OST) Science in grade 8. It is the state's eighth-grade science assessment.

Which standards does grade 8 science in Ohio follow?

Ohio follows the Ohio's Learning Standards and Model Curriculum for Science, published by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. All 18 of this grade's standards are listed further down the page with their official codes.

How long are the practice tests?

Each of the six practice tests has 40 questions and a 70-minute timer. The timer auto-submits at zero and you get your score, a breakdown by science area, and a written explanation for every question.

Is any of this free?

Yes, every practice test, quiz, and flashcard set on this page is free and needs no login. Your progress is saved in your own browser and nowhere else.

What is the fastest way to use this page?

Take practice test 1 cold. Look at the topic breakdown, pick the weakest science area, and do that skill quiz. Then read the quick review for that area and come back for practice test 2.

Grade 8 Science in Other States

Standards, practice tests, and quizzes for grade 8 science in every state and Washington, D.C.

Start With One OST Test

Take a timed practice test, find the science area that costs you the most points, and study that one first with the matching quiz and quick review.

Start a practice test