MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 5-10: Volume of Rectangular Prisms

Grade 6 Mathematics · Standard 6.GR.2

Name: Date:

These are MSTAR-style questions written for this curriculum to rehearse the format. They are not official Maryland assessment items. MSTAR — Maryland's new state test, first given in spring 2027 — uses the same kinds of questions you see here: selected response, select-all, two-part evidence questions, and written responses.

Part A — Skills Check

Warm up with the lesson's core skills — one best answer each.

Question 1Selected response · 1 point

What is the volume of a rectangular prism with l = 4 in, w = 3 in, h = 5 in?

A12 in³
B24 in³
C60 in³
D60 in²

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

A box has a volume of 36 cm³. Its length is 6 cm and width is 3 cm. What is the height?

A2 cm
B3 cm
C6 cm
D12 cm

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

How is volume different from area?

AVolume uses cubic units; area uses square units
BVolume uses square units; area uses cubic units
CVolume only applies to cubes; area applies to all shapes
DThere is no difference

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

Two boxes: Box A is 10 × 5 × 4 inches. Box B is 8 × 6 × 5 inches. Which has more volume and by how much?

ABox B by 40 in³
BBox A by 40 in³
CBox B by 60 in³
DThey're equal

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

What is the volume of a prism with edge lengths 1/2 m, 3 m, and 4 m?

A3 m³
B6 m³
C7.5 m³
D12 m³

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

A cube has an edge length of 5 cm. What is its volume?

A15 cm³
B25 cm³
C75 cm³
D125 cm³

Part B — Test-Format Questions

These match the state test's formats: two-part questions, select-all, and written responses.

Question 7Two-part question

Part A

A container measures 1½ feet long, 2 feet wide, and 3 feet tall. What is its volume?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

A6 cubic feet
B6½ cubic feet
C9 cubic feet
D18 cubic feet

Part B

Answer Part A before Part B — Part B asks about your reasoning.

Why is a mixed number converted to an improper fraction before multiplying edge lengths?

ABecause improper fractions are always larger.
BBecause volume cannot be a fraction.
CSo the whole-number part and the fraction part are both multiplied, not just one of them.
DBecause mixed numbers cannot be multiplied at all.

Question 8Written response · 2 points

Type II Reasoning: Dropping the Fraction

Omar found the volume of a box measuring 2½ ft by 4 ft by 2 ft. He wrote: 'V = 2 × 4 × 2 = 16 cubic feet' and said the half 'was too small to matter.'

Explain Omar's misconception and give the correct volume.

Write your answer in complete sentences. Show or explain your mathematical thinking.

Part C — Show Your Thinking

Answer in writing, the way the state test's constructed responses work.

Question 9Written response · 2 points

A toy company ships action figures in boxes that are 4 × 3 × 6 inches. A shipping crate is 24 × 12 × 18 inches. How many action figure boxes fit in the crate? Explain your reasoning step by step.

Write your answer in complete sentences. Show or explain your mathematical thinking.