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CPAC Common Practical Assessment Criteria

Practice around the Common Practical Assessment Criteria used for the A-level practical endorsement. Free MCQs include clues and explanations.

Specification route
CPAC
Question bank
2 questions
Course stage
AS / Year 12

Sample questions

QUESTION 1 · CPAC 4 · LEVEL 2

A student measures the mass of five different potato cylinders using a digital balance that reads to two decimal places. Which set of recorded data follows the correct conventions for precision?

  • $2.34\ g,\ 2.10\ g,\ 1.95\ g,\ 2.05\ g,\ 2.44\ g$
  • $2.34\ g,\ 2.1\ g,\ 1.953\ g,\ 2\ g,\ 2.441\ g$
  • $2\ g,\ 2\ g,\ 2\ g,\ 2\ g,\ 2\ g$
  • $2.345\ g,\ 2.102\ g,\ 1.951\ g,\ 2.056\ g,\ 2.449\ g$
Show clue

Raw data should always be recorded to the exact resolution of the instrument used, maintaining a consistent number of decimal places.

Show answer and explanation

Answer: $2.34\ g,\ 2.10\ g,\ 1.95\ g,\ 2.05\ g,\ 2.44\ g$

CPAC 4: Makes and records observations. Data must be recorded methodically and with consistent precision. If the balance reads to two decimal places, all values must be recorded to two decimal places, even if they end in zero.

QUESTION 2 · CPAC 3 · LEVEL 2

In a risk assessment, what is the strict difference between a 'hazard' and a 'risk'?

  • A hazard is an object or chemical that has the potential to cause harm, whereas a risk is the likelihood of that harm occurring and the nature of the injury.
  • A hazard is the likelihood of an accident occurring, whereas a risk is the object that causes the accident.
  • A hazard applies to chemical dangers, whereas a risk applies to physical dangers like scalpels.
  • There is no difference; they are interchangeable terms in a laboratory setting.
Show clue

A sharp knife is the danger object. Cutting your finger is the specific bad event.

Show answer and explanation

Answer: A hazard is an object or chemical that has the potential to cause harm, whereas a risk is the likelihood of that harm occurring and the nature of the injury.

CPAC 3. A hazard is the source of potential harm (e.g., concentrated HCl). The risk is the specific consequence/probability (e.g., splashing in the eye causing blindness).

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