MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 7-5: Represent Rational Numbers on the Coordinate Plane

Grade 6 Mathematics · Standard 6.NOS.6

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

Which ordered pair names a point 3 units right and 7 units up from the origin?

A(0, 7)
B(3, 7)
C(3, 3)
D(7, 3)

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

What are the coordinates of the origin?

A(0, 0)
B(0, 1)
C(1, 1)
D(1, 0)

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

A point is at (6, 2). What does the 6 tell you?

AMove 6 units to the right
BMove 6 units up
CMove 6 units to the left
DThe point is in Quadrant 6

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

Spot 1 — Captain Vega's first clue says the Sandy Dock is right 7 and up 2 from the origin. Which ordered pair names the Sandy Dock?

A(2, 7)
B(2, 2)
C(7, 2)
D(7, 0)

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

Spot 2 — The map marks the Lookout Tower at (4, 9). What does the 4 tell you to do from the origin?

AMove 4 units to the right along the x-axis
BMove 4 units up along the y-axis
CMove 4 units to the left
DStay on the y-axis at 4

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

Spot 3 — Vega writes: 'The Coconut Grove is 3 across and 8 up.' Which point on the map is the Coconut Grove?

A(0, 8)
B(3, 8)
C(3, 3)
D(8, 3)

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

Starting at the origin, which point is located by moving 4 units LEFT and 3 units UP?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

A(3, −4)
B(−3, 4)
C(−4, 3)
D(4, 3)

Part B

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

Why do (−4, 3) and (3, −4) name different points?

AThey are actually the same point drawn twice.
BThe order matters: the first number is always the horizontal move, the second the vertical.
CNegative coordinates cannot come first.
DThe larger number is always written first.

Question 8Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about plotting points:

Mark the box next to EVERY answer that is true. More than one is correct.

AThe origin is the point (0, 0).
BThe x-coordinate is written first in an ordered pair.
CA point on the y-axis has an x-coordinate of 0.
DThe order of the two coordinates does not matter.
EMoving down from the origin makes the y-coordinate negative.

Part C — Show Your Thinking

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

Question 9Written response · 2 points

A student says that (3, 5) and (5, 3) are the same point because they use the same numbers. Is the student correct? Explain why or why not, and describe where each point is located on the coordinate plane.

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