Unit 5 MSTAR-Style Practice Test — Form A

Solve Area, Surface Area, and Volume Problems · 10 questions · English only, like the real test · No timer — take the time you need.

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.

How this works: Answer every question, then press Submit & Grade. Selected-response parts grade instantly with an explanation for each; written responses go to your teacher. Your answers save on this device.

On the real MSTAR: math runs as three 40-minute sessions, in English, on a computer. Here there is no clock — practice the thinking first; the pacing comes with rehearsal.

Written responses: how should the explain-the-error questions be scored?

Instant scoring checks whether your explanation states the value and uses the reasoning the question is about. It matches words and numbers, so a right answer worded differently can score low — your teacher can always re-score it from the answer key.

16.GR.1Determine the Area of Parallelograms and Rhombuses

Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about finding the area of a parallelogram:

Any side can be chosen as the base, as long as the height is perpendicular to that side. The height is the distance straight across between the two parallel bases. The slanted side can be used as the height. A rectangle is a parallelogram, so A = b · h works for it too. Doubling only the base doubles the area.

26.GR.1Determine the Area of Triangles

Explain the error

Dev found the area of a triangle with a base of 10 cm and a height of 7 cm. He wrote: 'Area = 10 × 7 = 70 square centimeters.'

Explain Dev's misconception and give the correct area.

✍️ Written response — 2 points.

36.GR.1Determine the Area of Trapezoids

Part A

A trapezoidal window has parallel edges of 4 feet and 8 feet and a height of 5 feet. What is its area?

17 square feet 20 square feet 30 square feet 60 square feet

Part B

What does the quantity (b₁ + b₂) ÷ 2 represent in the trapezoid area formula?

The average length of the two parallel bases. The perimeter of the trapezoid. The length of the slanted side. The height of the trapezoid.

46.GR.1Apply Area Concepts to Solve Problems

Part A

An L-shaped room splits into two rectangles: one is 12 feet by 8 feet, the other is 6 feet by 5 feet. What is the total floor area?

30 square feet 62 square feet 96 square feet 126 square feet

Part B

Why is decomposing a composite figure into rectangles a valid strategy?

The areas of the non-overlapping pieces add to the area of the whole figure. Rectangles are the only shapes with area. Any shape can be turned into one large rectangle. The perimeter stays the same after decomposing.

56.GR.2Determine the Volume of Rectangular Prisms

Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that correctly describe volume:

Volume is measured in cubic units. V = l × w × h for a rectangular prism. Volume can also be found as base area × height. Volume is measured in square units. Doubling only the height of a prism doubles its volume.

66.GR.4Represent Three-Dimensional Figures in Two Dimensions

Part A

A net folds into a rectangular prism. How many rectangular faces does that net have?

4 6 8 12

Part B

Which statement must be true for a flat pattern to be a valid net of a solid?

It must be a single long strip. Every face must be the same size. It folds into the solid with no faces overlapping and none missing. It must contain only triangles.

76.GR.4Determine Surface Area of Prisms

Explain the error

Priya found the surface area of a box measuring 5 by 3 by 2 units. She wrote: '5×3 + 5×2 + 3×2 = 15 + 10 + 6 = 31 square units.'

Explain Priya's misconception and give the correct surface area.

✍️ Written response — 2 points.

86.GR.4Determine Surface Area of Pyramids

Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about the surface area of a pyramid:

Surface area = base area + the areas of all lateral faces. A square pyramid has 4 triangular lateral faces. Each lateral face area is ½ × base of the triangle × slant height. The vertical height is used to find each triangular face area. A pyramid's net shows the base and every lateral face laid flat.

96.GR.1Area of Regular Polygons

Part A

A regular hexagon is decomposed from its center into 6 identical triangles. Each triangle has a base of 8 cm and a height of 7 cm. What is the area of the hexagon? Use the given rounded height to estimate the area.

28 square centimeters 56 square centimeters 168 square centimeters 336 square centimeters

Part B

Why can a regular polygon be decomposed into identical triangles from its center?

Every polygon can be split into identical triangles. Triangles are the only shape with a known area formula. All its sides are equal and all its angles are equal, so each center-to-side triangle is congruent. The center of a polygon is always a vertex.

106.GR.2Volume of Rectangular Prisms

Part A

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

6 cubic feet 6½ cubic feet 9 cubic feet 18 cubic feet

Part B

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

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