Middle School Math Assessment Tests: What Students Should Know

What You Need to Know about Middle School Math Assessments

A Glance at Middle School Math

In sixth grade, students will be learning to use ratio and rate to solve real-world problems that will require fluent use of multiplication and division. It will also be important that your child can write, use and interpret expressions and equations. At this grade level, your child should thoroughly understand how to divide fractions.

As your child enters seventh grade, he or she should be able to understand how to use proportions, linear equations and expressions with rational numbers. You will also want to be sure that your child can use what he or she knows about two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometric shapes to solve problems that involve surface area, volume and area. Lastly, your student will learn how to make reasonable inferences based upon a sample of a given population.

At the eighth grade level, your child will learn to create and solve expressions and equations and to use a function to describe a given quantity. Students should also be capable of analyzing two-dimensional and three-dimensional figures using what they know about angles, congruence, distance, similarity and the Pythagorean theorem.

Test-Taking Strategies

Perhaps the most important test-taking strategy for middle school students is to never leave a problem unanswered. Even if your child cannot finish solving a problem, it is likely that he or she can receive partial credit for the work that is correctly performed. It's important for your child to adequately demonstrate their ability level to their teacher, which means he or she should try no matter what.

Many math tests contain multiple-choice questions. To perform well on multiple-choice questions, students should begin by eliminating the choices that they know to be incorrect. Typically, there will be two remaining answers that are both feasible options. Your student should then use what he or she knows about math to select the best solution. Of course, no matter what type of assessment your child is preparing for, reviewing the night before the test will surely prove to be beneficial.