Unit 5 MSTAR-Style Practice Test — Form B

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

Part A

A parallelogram-shaped patio has a base of 16 feet and a perpendicular height of 9 feet. What is its area?

25 square feet 50 square feet 72 square feet 144 square feet

Part B

The slanted side of that patio measures 11 feet. Why is 11 feet NOT used in the area calculation?

Because 11 is an odd number. Because the slanted side is always longer than the height. Because only the base matters in a parallelogram. Because the height must be perpendicular to the base, and the slanted side is not.

26.GR.1Determine the Area of Triangles

Part A

A triangular garden bed has a base of 14 meters and a perpendicular height of 6 meters. What is its area?

10 square meters 20 square meters 42 square meters 84 square meters

Part B

Which statement explains why the area formula for a triangle includes the factor ½?

A triangle is exactly half of a parallelogram with the same base and height. Triangles always have three sides, so you divide by three and round. The height of a triangle is always half of its base. Half of any shape's area is its perimeter.

36.GR.1Determine the Area of Trapezoids

Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about trapezoids and their area:

A trapezoid has exactly one pair of parallel sides called bases. The height is measured perpendicular to both parallel bases. The two bases must be equal in length. A trapezoid can be split into two triangles to find its area. Area = ½ × (b₁ + b₂) × h.

46.GR.1Apply Area Concepts to Solve Problems

Explain the error

Nia split a composite figure into a 10 by 4 rectangle and a triangle with base 10 and height 4. She added 40 + 20 = 60 square units — but the triangle sat ON TOP of part of the rectangle she had already counted.

Explain the error in Nia's method and state what she must check before adding areas.

✍️ Written response — 2 points.

56.GR.2Determine the Volume of Rectangular Prisms

Part A

A rectangular time capsule container measures 8 inches long, 5 inches wide, and 3 inches tall. What is its volume?

16 cubic inches 40 cubic inches 120 cubic inches 158 cubic inches

Part B

Which expression shows the same volume written as base area times height?

2 × (8 × 5) (8 × 5) × 3 (8 + 5) × 3 8 × (5 + 3)

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

Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about nets of three-dimensional figures:

A net shows every face of the solid laid flat. A triangular prism net has 2 triangles and 3 rectangles. The area of a net equals the surface area of the solid. A net may have faces that overlap when folded. One solid can have more than one correct net.

76.GR.4Determine Surface Area of Prisms

Part A

A rectangular prism measures 6 cm long, 4 cm wide, and 2 cm tall. What is its surface area?

24 square centimeters 44 square centimeters 48 square centimeters 88 square centimeters

Part B

Why is surface area measured in square units while volume is measured in cubic units?

Surface area covers the outside faces, which are flat regions; volume fills the inside space. Surface area is always smaller than volume. Square units are used whenever a shape has straight sides. Volume uses cubic units only for prisms.

86.GR.4Determine Surface Area of Pyramids

Part A

A square pyramid has a base measuring 6 m by 6 m and four triangular faces, each with a base of 6 m and a slant height of 5 m. What is its surface area?

36 square meters 60 square meters 96 square meters 156 square meters

Part B

Why does a pyramid's surface area use the slant height rather than the vertical height?

The slant height is the height of each triangular face, measured along the face itself. The vertical height is always longer than the slant height. The slant height is easier to measure. Pyramids do not have a vertical height.

96.GR.1Area of Regular Polygons

Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about the area of a regular polygon:

It equals the number of sides times the area of one center triangle. Each center triangle has the same height for a regular polygon. Only regular polygons with an even number of sides can be decomposed this way. A regular polygon has all sides equal and all angles equal. The height of each center triangle is measured perpendicular to a side.

106.GR.2Volume of Rectangular Prisms

Explain the error

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.

✍️ Written response — 2 points.