The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment system, commonly abbreviated as MCAS is Massachusetts’s statewide standards-based assessment program. The students will face a variety of new technology-enhanced questions as a part of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System.
Some of them are Multiple choice-single correct responses, Multiple choice-multiple correct responses, Matching Tables, Drag and Drop, Hot text, Table Fill in, Graphing, Equation/numeric, Extended constructed response, Short answer, and many more.
Today, we will share several sample questions along with practice test links for Grade 8 Math that gives you an idea of questions that your students are likely to see on the test. After each sample question, an explanation follows that includes any important aspects of the task that you may need to consider with respect to the skills, processes, and information your students need to know.
MCAS Sample Questions: Grade 8 Math Sample Questions & Answers
Domain: Grade 8 >> The Number System
Sample Question:
Which of the following statements is true?
A. Every rational number is an integer.
B. Every whole number is a rational number.
C. Every irrational number is a natural number.
D. Every rational number is a whole number.
Answer: B
Answer Explanation:
Rational numbers are the set of numbers that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers in which the denominator is not zero.
All whole numbers can be expressed in this manner; so every whole number is a rational number.
Practice Resources: The Number System (8.NS.A.1)
Click here to practice: The Number System – Rational vs. Irrational Numbers Grade 8 Math
Domain: Grade 8 >> Expressions and Equations
Sample Question:
The cube root of 50 is between which two integers?
A. 2 and 3
B. 3 and 4
C. 4 and 5
D. 5 and 6
Answer: B
Answer Explanation:
33 = 27 and 43 = 64, so the cube root of 50 is between 3 and 4.
Practice Resources: Expressions and Equations (8.EE.A.2)
Click here to practice: Expressions and Equations – Square & Cube Roots Grade 8 Math
Domain: Grade 8 >> Functions
Sample Question:
A set of instructions says to subtract 5 from a number n and then double that result, calling the final result p. Which function rule represents this set of instructions?
A. p = 2(n – 5)
B. p = 2n – 5
C. n = 2(p – 5)
D. n = 2p – 5
Answer: A
Answer Explanation:
Only p = 2(n – 5) meets the requirements to subtract 5 from n and then double the result to get p.
Practice Resources: Functions (8.F.A.2)
Click here to practice: Functions – Comparing Functions Grade 8 Math
Domain: Grade 8 >> Geometry
Sample Question:
A rhombus has two angles that measure 135 degrees each and another angle that measures 45 degrees. What must be the measure of the fourth angle?
A. 20 degrees
B. 45 degrees
C. 65 degrees
D. 90 degrees
Answer: B
Answer Explanation:
135 + 135 + 45 + d = 360
315 + d = 360
d = 45°
Another way of looking at the problem is as follows : Since rhombus is also a parallelogram, opposite angles are equal. If one angle is 45o, the angle opposite to it also must be 45 Degrees.
Practice Resources: Geometry (8.G.A.5)
Click here to practice: Geometry – Interior & Exterior Angles in Geometric Figures Grade 8 Math
Domain: Grade 8 >> Statistics & Probability
Sample Question:
Which of the following best describes the points in this scatter plot?
A. Increasing Linear
B. Decreasing Linear
C. Constant Linear
D. None of these
Answer: D
Answer Explanation:
This scatter plot does not represent a linear function.
None of these is the correct choice.
Practice Resources: Statistics & Probability (8.SP.A.2)
Click here to practice: Statistics & Probability – Scatter Plots, Line of Best Fit Grade 8 Math
MCAS Practice
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