STAAR Practice Test: Info, Resources, and Preparation Tips
Is your child about to take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR)? TestPrep-Online is here to help your child prepare for the STAAR and pass it with flying colors.
Learn more about the Renaissance STAR Test.
What Is the STAAR Test?
The STAAR is a series of standardized tests that all Texas public school students are required to pass. It assesses the knowledge and achievements students have gained in their respective grade levels. The material on the STAAR test is based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum, which is taught in all Texas public schools. The STAAR offers schools, districts, and parents in-depth understanding and clarity when it comes to assessing students' level of mastery by focusing on key concepts taught each year.
Those concepts, known as the STAAR readiness standards, have the most significant impact on students' readiness for next year, as well as on their preparedness for college and the workforce. The STAAR is also designed to ensure students have mastered all the skills crucial for their academic success in the 21st century. Students in 5th and 8th grade must pass the reading and math STAAR assessments to be promoted to the next grade, while students in 11th and 12th grade who have not met the STAAR testing requirements for graduation may be denied a high school diploma.
Are you a teacher Looking for the perfect way to prepare your students for their upcoming tests, click here!
STAAR Practice Test Sample Questions
STAAR Math
STAAR Practice Test - 3rd Grade
Each side of the figure is the same in its length. Half of the perimeter is 24 inches. What is the length of the one side of the figure in inches?
STAAR Practice Test - 4th Grade
Joey attends several activities after school. The table shows some of the activities and how many times he attended each one in a four-month period.
|
|
March |
April |
May |
June |
|
Soccer |
3 |
7 |
4 |
0 |
|
Crafts |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Trumpet Lessons |
1 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
|
Cooking |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Which of the activities that Joey is attending are most likely non-compulsory?
STAAR Practice Test - 8th Grade
Use the table below to answer the question:
|
Number of Miles Traveled (x) |
Cost of Taxi Ride in $ (y) |
|
3 |
8 |
|
7 |
12 |
|
12 |
17 |
|
18 |
23 |
|
21 |
26 |
Find the relationship between the quantities x and y, in the form y = x + c
STAAR Reading Language Arts
STAAR Practice Test - 3rd Grade
Answer the following question based on the text:
Lost Treasure by Jane Doe
A pirate's map, so old and worn,
With edges tattered, pages torn.
Upon it marked, a hidden gold,
In tales of treasure, often told.
5 He sails across the endless sea,
With hopes as high as dreams can be.
Through stormy nights and sunny days,
He follows where the compass sways.
10 At last, he finds the secret spot,
A chest within a sandy plot.
With trembling hands, he lifts the lid,
And gasps at what the chest has hid.
But more than gold, he finds delight,
In friendships made throughout the fight.
15 The real treasure, as it seems,
Is found within our hearts and dreams.
What is the most likely reason the poet includes lines 13 through 16?
STAAR Practice Test - 4th Grade
Answer the following question based on the text:
The Journey of Monarch Butterflies
Every year, monarch butterflies embark on a remarkable migration journey, traveling thousands of miles from North America to central Mexico. This journey is a natural wonder, as these delicate creatures navigate using environmental cues like the position of the sun and the Earth's magnetic field. Monarchs begin their migration in the late summer and early fall, and it takes about two months to complete. Along the way, they face numerous challenges such as weather changes and habitat loss, but they persevere to reach their destination.
Once they arrive in Mexico, the monarchs cluster together in large groups on oyamel fir trees, creating a breathtaking spectacle. This overwintering period lasts until spring, when they start their journey back north. The return trip is completed over several generations, with each new generation flying part of the way. This incredible cycle of migration continues year after year, showcasing the resilience and determination of these butterflies.
What is the main challenge monarch butterflies face during their migration journey?
STAAR Practice Test - 8th Grade
Answer the following question based on the text:
Excerpt from "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Mary had liked to look at her mother from a distance, and she had thought her very pretty, but as she knew very little of her, she could scarcely have been expected to love her or to miss her very much when she was gone. She did not miss her at all, and as she was a self-absorbed child, she gave her entire thought to herself, as she had always done. If she had been older, she would no doubt have been very anxious at being left alone in the world, but she was very young, and as she had always been taken care of, she supposed she always would be. What she thought was that she would like to know if she was going to nice people who would be polite to her and give her own way as her Ayah and the other native servants had done.
What does the author's tone in this passage symbolize about Mary's character?
STAAR Science
STAAR Practice Test - 8th Grade
Kudzu is an invasive vine from Asia that spreads rapidly and covers trees, shrubs, and any stationary objects in its path. What long-term effect will the introduction of kudzu most likely have on the native plant populations in a forested area of the southeastern United States?
STAAR Content
The STAAR Test assesses students in the following five subjects: reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. While all students are tested in math and reading, the remaining subjects vary by grade. The STAAR Test sections and the grades they are usually administered to are displayed in the table below:
| Subject | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading |  |
|
|
|
|
|
| Writing | |
|
||||
| Math | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Science | |
|
||||
| Social Studies | |
Students in high school take STAAR EOC (end-of-course) assessments in Algebra I, Biology, English I, English II, and U.S. History.
STAAR Practice Test Grades 3-8
All STAAR assessments offered in grades 3–8 are administered in paper-and-pencil format, have a four-hour time limit, and consist mostly of multiple-choice questions:
Reading: The reading assessment consists of multiple-choice questions related to reading selections drawn from a variety of published and commissioned pieces. The passages are genre-based and include both literary (fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, drama, media literacy) and informational (expository, persuasive, procedural, media literacy) texts.
The number of test questions increases from year to year:
- 3rd grade – 40 questions
- 4th grade – 44 questions
- 5th grade – 46 questions
- 6th grade – 48 questions
- 7th grade – 50 questions
- 8th grade – 52 questions
Writing: The writing assessment, taken in the fourth and seventh grades, contains a piece of written composition as well as multiple-choice questions. The paragraphs and the essay prompts increase in complexity over the years and challenge the students to demonstrate their mastery of the English language.
- Students in 4th grade are required to read three passages and answer 6 revision and 12 editing questions, all multiple-choice, as well as to complete one writing prompt.
- Students in 7th grade are required to read four passages and answer 13 revision and 17 editing questions, all multiple-choice, as well as to complete one writing prompt
Mathematics: The mathematical assessment contains both multiple-choice and open-ended questions that are machine scorable. This test is offered from 3rd to 8th grade, but students may use calculators only on the 8th-grade STAAR test. The assessment asks students to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts learned in class through various methods and applications. The number of test questions increases from year to year:
- 3rd grade – 43 multiple-choice questions and 3 open-ended questions
- 4th grade – 45 multiple-choice questions and 3 open-ended questions
- 5th grade – 47 multiple-choice questions and 3 open-ended questions
- 6th grade – 48 multiple-choice questions and 4 open-ended questions
- 7th grade – 50 multiple-choice questions and 4 open-ended questions
- 8th grade – 52 multiple-choice questions and 4 open-ended questions
Science: The science assessment also contains multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions that are machine scorable. The test is administered in 5th and 8th grade. The 5th-grade version contains 44 multiple-choice questions, whereas the 8th-grade version contains 55. Students are often presented with concepts or material taught in the classroom and asked to make observations based on the given data.
Social Studies: This test, which is only taken in 8th grade, contains 52 multiple-choice questions. It asks students to demonstrate their knowledge of U.S. history, geography, eras, and wars, as well as influential individuals, important dates, and landmark documents.
STAAR EOC
High school students take STAAR EOC (end-of-course) tests for five different subjects. Generally speaking, students must pass all of these exams to receive a high school diploma. Students have three opportunities throughout the year to pass the tests (end of first semester, end of second semester, and summer). All the five tests have a four-hour time limit, except for English I and II, which have a five-hour time limit. Note that these assessments are offered in both online and paper formats.
Algebra I – The test contains 54 multiple-choice and open-ended questions that are machine scorable. Students taking this test may use a graphing calculator. The test covers all the material taught in the classroom relevant for the student's future college and career experience. Often, students are asked to apply the mathematical concepts they learned in various ways.
Biology – The test contains 54 multiple-choice questions. Students are allowed to use four-function, scientific, or graphing calculators. The test contains questions about evolution, ecology, human biology, plant biology, and organism behavior. Some of the questions present students with data and ask them to extrapolate based on the material taught in the classroom.
English I – The test contains 50 multiple-choice questions, one essay prompt, and two short answers. The test has a five-hour time limit because it combines two sections—writing and reading. Students are asked to read these paragraphs and then answer the corresponding questions. Students must demonstrate their knowledge of the English language and apply critical thinking in their analysis of the presented paragraphs.
English II – The test contains 50 multiple-choice questions, one essay prompt, and two short answers. The test has a five-hour time limit because it combines two sections—writing and reading. Both sections contain four paragraphs taken from various sources. Students are tasked with analyzing different texts and demonstrate their mastery of the English language.
U.S. History – The test contains 68 multiple-choice questions. The test asks students to demonstrate their knowledge of U.S. history, minorities, eras, and wars, as well as influential individuals, important dates, and landmark documents. Students should be able to analyze historical trends as well as the reasons for and effects of documents, individuals, inventions, and ideology.
STAAR Test Results
STAAR test results are provided to schools within ten business days after the tests are received by the testing contractor. The STAAR results are essentially pass/fail. In order for a student to move on to the next grade, he or she must be placed in the Satisfactory Academic Performance group, meaning that he or she met the required passing score. Students who do not meet the required passing score (or were absent when the test was administered or did not submit a test) are placed in the Unsatisfactory Academic Performance group.
Students with satisfactory STAAR may still have additional requirements from the local district. All requirements, both local and state, must be met in order for students to move up to the next grade.
STAAR Test Readiness Standards
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) identifies several aspects of the TEKS curriculum as the most important factors to assess. These standards differ per subject and grade, and feature more prominently on the STAAR. They are essential for success in one's current grade and for mastering the subject taught, as well as for the student's future success in next year's course and, eventually, in college and the workforce. These standards encompass significant content and concepts, which means they require in-depth instruction for mastery.
- English, Reading, and Writing Readiness Standards:
- Reading specific genres, such as fiction and expository writing
- Writing for a particular purpose
- Mathematics Readiness Standards:
- Integration and application of mathematical skills
- Science Readiness Standards:
- Integration and application of major scientific concepts
- Social Studies Readiness Standards:
- Mastery of landmark historical events as well as fundamental geographical concepts
- Integration of historical and geographical themes, patterns, and trends
STAAR Test Supporting Standards
In addition to readiness standards, the STAAR also assesses supporting standards. These standards are introduced or reinforced during the students' current grade or course and may be relevant in the following year as well. They play an important, but not a central, role in preparing students for next year's challenges, as they address more narrowly defined concepts and content.
- English, Reading, and Writing Supporting Standards:
- Reading genres other than fiction and expository writing, such as drama, nonfiction, persuasive writing, and poetry
- Mathematics Supporting Standards:
- Focus on mathematical skills that underlie mathematical concepts significant to the student's current grade or course
- Science Supporting Standards:
- Focus on content that supports fundamental scientific principles significant to the student's current grade or course
- Social Studies Supporting Standards:
- Mastery of distinct historical facts and events as well as important individuals
- Integration of detail-oriented geographical facts and concepts
STAAR Practice Test - Online
Due to the nature of the exam, passing the STAAR test is crucial. It is important to make time to study and to prepare for the STAAR with TestPrep-Online. We offer a level-specific, child-friendly STAAR prep pack that will help your child practice for the test. Start preparing for the STAAR test today so your child will be confident and ready to succeed on test day.