Smarter Balanced Practice Test PDF 6th Grade

Sixth grade math and English language arts by the Smarter Balanced blueprints: answer on screen, print, or save a PDF.

Subject

  1. 1.What is the value of 3x² + 5 when x = 4?
  2. 2.Which expression is equivalent to 7(2x + 3)?
  3. 3.Which expression means "9 less than three times a number n"?
  4. 4.Solve for x: x + 9.5 = 21.
  5. 5.Solve for x: 6x = 45.
  6. 6.A swimmer must be at least 52 inches tall to use the deep pool. Which inequality shows the heights h, in inches, that are allowed?
  7. 7.A paint mix uses 2 cups of blue for every 5 cups of white. How much white is needed for 6 cups of blue?
  8. 8.A car travels 150 miles in 2.5 hours at a steady speed. What is its unit rate?
  9. 9.What is 45% of 60?
  10. 10.12 is 30% of what number?
  11. 11.A plumber charges $40 for each hour of work. The equation c = 40h gives the cost c for h hours. Which variable is the dependent variable?
  12. 12.What is 3/4 ÷ 2/5?
  13. 13.Which list shows −3, 2, −7 and 0 in order from least to greatest?
  14. 14.The point (−4, 3) is reflected across the y-axis. Where does it land?
  15. 15.What is the greatest common factor of 24 and 60?
  16. 16.A triangle has a base of 10 centimeters and a height of 7 centimeters. What is its area?
  17. 17.Which of these is a statistical question?
  18. 18.What is the mean of the data set 4, 7, 7, 9, 13?
  19. 19.A jacket has a regular price of $64. It is on sale for 25% off. What is the sale price?
  20. 20.Store A sells 12 ounces of trail mix for $3.00. Store B sells 20 ounces for $4.60. Which store has the lower price for each ounce, and by how much?
  21. 21.A diver is at −18 feet, measured from the surface of the sea. A bird is flying at 25 feet. How far apart are they, measured straight up and down?
  22. 22.A table shows hours worked and pay: 2 hours, $17; 4 hours, $34; 6 hours, $51. If the pattern continues, what is the pay for 9 hours?
  23. 23.A floor is 12 feet by 15 feet. It will be covered with square tiles that are 1.5 feet on each side. How many tiles are needed?
  24. 24.Six quiz scores are 70, 72, 75, 75, 78 and 20. Five of the scores are between 70 and 78. Which measure is closer to those five scores?
  25. 25.Ava models the cost of renting a kayak for h hours as c = 15h. Then she learns the shop also charges a one-time fee of $10. Which model fits the shop's prices?
  26. 26.A rope is 6 3/4 yards long. It is cut into pieces that are each 3/4 yard long. How many pieces are there?
  27. 27.A storage box is 2 1/2 feet long, 2 feet wide and 1 1/2 feet tall. What is its volume?
  28. 28.Jo says, "The absolute value of a number is always greater than the number." Which number shows that Jo is wrong?
  29. 29.Ray rewrote 3(x + 4) as 3x + 4. What is his mistake?
  30. 30.Which statement explains why 2/3 ÷ 1/6 = 4?
  31. 31.Lin says, "x² is always greater than x." For which value of x is Lin's statement false?
  32. 32.Where is −2.5 on a horizontal number line compared with −2, and why?
  33. 33.A class has 3 boys for every 5 girls. Mia writes the ratio of boys to girls as 5:3. What is wrong with her ratio?
  34. 34.A tape diagram shows a whole bar split into 4 equal boxes. Three of the boxes are shaded and together stand for 45. What number does the whole bar stand for?
  35. 35.A store sells 3 pens for $2.40. Cal says 12 pens must cost $9.60. What does Cal assume?
  36. 36.The mean of 2, 4, 6 and 20 is 8. Tia says, "So most of the values are near 8." What is wrong with her reasoning?
What is the value of 3x² + 5 when x = 4?

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. Bank checked October 7, 2026.

The real tests: Smarter Balanced, grade 6

Subjects in grade 6
English language arts/literacy and mathematics. California gives both as part of CAASPP.
Mathematics
An adaptive test and one performance task of 4 to 6 items. Concepts and Procedures 16 to 19 items; Problem Solving and Modeling 8 to 10; Reasoning 8 to 10.
English language arts
Reading 14 to 17 items: 4 to 7 literary and 10 to 12 informational; Listening 8 or 9; Research 9; Writing 6 items and one full written piece.
Calculator
Two sections. One has an on-screen four-function calculator; the other allows no calculator.
Time
Untimed. Estimates for grades 6 to 8: 3 hours 30 minutes for English language arts and 3 hours for mathematics.
Scores
Four achievement levels; no pass mark is published. In grade 6, Level 3 is 2531 to 2617 in English language arts and 2552 to 2609 in mathematics.

Checked October 7, 2026 against the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium's mathematics and English language arts blueprints, estimated testing times, calculator rules and score levels. Rules change, so confirm with the agency itself before your test.

The consortium's own practice and training tests

Next step More math: 48 questions for grades 6 to 8Review: grade 5 math and English

Math: all 36 questions

Concepts and Procedures 18

  • 12 is 30% of what number? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target A: understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems
  • A car travels 150 miles in 2.5 hours at a steady speed. What is its unit rate? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target A: understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems
  • A paint mix uses 2 cups of blue for every 5 cups of white. How much white is needed for 6 cups of blue? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target A: understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems
Show all 36 questions (33 more)

Concepts and Procedures, continued

  • A plumber charges $40 for each hour of work. The equation c = 40h gives the cost c for h hours. Which variable is the dependent variable? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target G: represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables
  • A swimmer must be at least 52 inches tall to use the deep pool. Which inequality shows the heights h, in inches, that are allowed? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target F: reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities
  • A triangle has a base of 10 centimeters and a height of 7 centimeters. What is its area? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target H: solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume
  • The point (−4, 3) is reflected across the y-axis. Where does it land? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target D: apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers
  • Solve for x: 6x = 45. Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target F: reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities
  • Solve for x: x + 9.5 = 21. Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target F: reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities
  • What is 3/4 ÷ 2/5? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target B: apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions
  • What is 45% of 60? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target A: understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems
  • What is the greatest common factor of 24 and 60? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target C: compute fluently with multi-digit numbers and find common factors and multiples
  • What is the mean of the data set 4, 7, 7, 9, 13? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target J: summarize and describe distributions
  • What is the value of 3x² + 5 when x = 4? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target E: apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions
  • Which expression is equivalent to 7(2x + 3)? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target E: apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions
  • Which expression means "9 less than three times a number n"? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target E: apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions
  • Which list shows −3, 2, −7 and 0 in order from least to greatest? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target D: apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers
  • Which of these is a statistical question? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 1 (Concepts and Procedures), target I: develop understanding of statistical variability

Problem Solving and Modeling 9

  • A diver is at −18 feet, measured from the surface of the sea. A bird is flying at 25 feet. How far apart are they, measured straight up and down? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 2 (Problem Solving), target C: interpret results in the context of a situation
  • A floor is 12 feet by 15 feet. It will be covered with square tiles that are 1.5 feet on each side. How many tiles are needed? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 4 (Modeling and Data Analysis), target A: apply mathematics to solve problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace
  • A jacket has a regular price of $64. It is on sale for 25% off. What is the sale price? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 2 (Problem Solving), target A: apply mathematics to solve well-posed problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace
  • A rope is 6 3/4 yards long. It is cut into pieces that are each 3/4 yard long. How many pieces are there? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 2 (Problem Solving), target A: apply mathematics to solve well-posed problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace
  • A storage box is 2 1/2 feet long, 2 feet wide and 1 1/2 feet tall. What is its volume? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 4 (Modeling and Data Analysis), target F: identify important quantities in a practical situation and map their relationships
  • A table shows hours worked and pay: 2 hours, $17; 4 hours, $34; 6 hours, $51. If the pattern continues, what is the pay for 9 hours? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 2 (Problem Solving), target D: identify important quantities in a practical situation and map their relationships
  • Ava models the cost of renting a kayak for h hours as c = 15h. Then she learns the shop also charges a one-time fee of $10. Which model fits the shop's prices? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 4 (Modeling and Data Analysis), target E: analyze the adequacy of and make improvements to an existing model
  • Six quiz scores are 70, 72, 75, 75, 78 and 20. Five of the scores are between 70 and 78. Which measure is closer to those five scores? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 4 (Modeling and Data Analysis), target D: interpret results in the context of a situation
  • Store A sells 12 ounces of trail mix for $3.00. Store B sells 20 ounces for $4.60. Which store has the lower price for each ounce, and by how much? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 2 (Problem Solving), target A: apply mathematics to solve well-posed problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace

Communicating Reasoning 9

  • A class has 3 boys for every 5 girls. Mia writes the ratio of boys to girls as 5:3. What is wrong with her ratio? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 3 (Communicating Reasoning), target E: distinguish correct logic or reasoning from that which is flawed and explain the flaw
  • A store sells 3 pens for $2.40. Cal says 12 pens must cost $9.60. What does Cal assume? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 3 (Communicating Reasoning), target C: state logical assumptions being used
  • A tape diagram shows a whole bar split into 4 equal boxes. Three of the boxes are shaded and together stand for 45. What number does the whole bar stand for? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 3 (Communicating Reasoning), target F: base arguments on concrete referents such as objects, drawings, diagrams, and actions
  • Jo says, "The absolute value of a number is always greater than the number." Which number shows that Jo is wrong? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 3 (Communicating Reasoning), target A: test propositions or conjectures with specific examples
  • Lin says, "x² is always greater than x." For which value of x is Lin's statement false? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 3 (Communicating Reasoning), target G: determine conditions under which an argument does and does not apply
  • The mean of 2, 4, 6 and 20 is 8. Tia says, "So most of the values are near 8." What is wrong with her reasoning? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 3 (Communicating Reasoning), target B: construct chains of reasoning that will justify or refute propositions or conjectures
  • Ray rewrote 3(x + 4) as 3x + 4. What is his mistake? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 3 (Communicating Reasoning), target E: distinguish correct logic or reasoning from that which is flawed and explain the flaw
  • Where is −2.5 on a horizontal number line compared with −2, and why? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 3 (Communicating Reasoning), target D: use the technique of breaking an argument into cases
  • Which statement explains why 2/3 ÷ 1/6 = 4? Smarter Balanced Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint, grade 6, Claim 3 (Communicating Reasoning), target B: construct chains of reasoning that will justify or refute propositions or conjectures

How this list was compiled: Outline: the Mathematics Summative Assessment Blueprint of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (as of the 2018-19 test administration), https://portal.smarterbalanced.org/library/en/mathematics-summative-assessment-blueprint.pdf, linked from https://contentexplorer.smarterbalanced.org/test-development, read 2026-10-07: the blueprint table for grades 6 to 8 and the two pages headed Target Sampling Mathematics Grade 6. Each question names the claim and the assessment target it practices. Every answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question, worked out again. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site. Nothing is copied or reworded from a Smarter Balanced test, practice test, training test, sample item or another practice test.

English language arts: all 24 questions

Reading 12

  • Read the passage. For forty years the clock in the town square of Brindle Falls ran eleven minutes fast. Shopkeepers set their watches by it anyway, and the town simply lived eleven minutes ahead of everyone else. When a new mayor proposed repairing the clock, the council expected applause. Instead, residents packed the meeting to object. "That clock is wrong in exactly the way we like," one baker said. The council voted to leave it alone and to add a small brass sign: Brindle Falls Time. What did the council decide in the end? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), informational target 8: Key Details
  • Read the passage. For forty years the clock in the town square of Brindle Falls ran eleven minutes fast. Shopkeepers set their watches by it anyway, and the town simply lived eleven minutes ahead of everyone else. When a new mayor proposed repairing the clock, the council expected applause. Instead, residents packed the meeting to object. "That clock is wrong in exactly the way we like," one baker said. The council voted to leave it alone and to add a small brass sign: Brindle Falls Time. What does "object" mean as it is used in the passage? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), informational target 10: Word Meanings; word meaning checked in the American Heritage Dictionary, "object"
  • Read the passage. For forty years the clock in the town square of Brindle Falls ran eleven minutes fast. Shopkeepers set their watches by it anyway, and the town simply lived eleven minutes ahead of everyone else. When a new mayor proposed repairing the clock, the council expected applause. Instead, residents packed the meeting to object. "That clock is wrong in exactly the way we like," one baker said. The council voted to leave it alone and to add a small brass sign: Brindle Falls Time. What does the baker's remark, "wrong in exactly the way we like," show about the residents? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), informational target 14: Language Use
Show all 24 questions (21 more)

Reading, continued

  • Read the passage. For forty years the clock in the town square of Brindle Falls ran eleven minutes fast. Shopkeepers set their watches by it anyway, and the town simply lived eleven minutes ahead of everyone else. When a new mayor proposed repairing the clock, the council expected applause. Instead, residents packed the meeting to object. "That clock is wrong in exactly the way we like," one baker said. The council voted to leave it alone and to add a small brass sign: Brindle Falls Time. Why did the council most likely expect applause? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), informational target 12: Analysis within/across Texts
  • Read the passage. The tide pool was Dara's secret until the morning her little brother followed her down the rocks. She almost sent him home. Instead she watched him crouch at the edge, perfectly still, the way she had the first time. A hermit crab dragged its shell across the sand, and Sami gasped as if it were a dragon. "Don't touch," Dara said, more gently than she meant to. "Just look." By the time the water crept back in, the pool had stopped being hers alone, and she found she did not mind. What does "crept" mean as it is used in the last sentence? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), literary target 3: Word Meanings; word meaning checked in the American Heritage Dictionary, "creep"
  • Read the passage. The tide pool was Dara's secret until the morning her little brother followed her down the rocks. She almost sent him home. Instead she watched him crouch at the edge, perfectly still, the way she had the first time. A hermit crab dragged its shell across the sand, and Sami gasped as if it were a dragon. "Don't touch," Dara said, more gently than she meant to. "Just look." By the time the water crept back in, the pool had stopped being hers alone, and she found she did not mind. What does the phrase "gasped as if it were a dragon" suggest about Sami? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), literary target 7: Language Use
  • Read the passage. The tide pool was Dara's secret until the morning her little brother followed her down the rocks. She almost sent him home. Instead she watched him crouch at the edge, perfectly still, the way she had the first time. A hermit crab dragged its shell across the sand, and Sami gasped as if it were a dragon. "Don't touch," Dara said, more gently than she meant to. "Just look." By the time the water crept back in, the pool had stopped being hers alone, and she found she did not mind. Which sentence best states a theme of the passage? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), literary target 2: Central Ideas
  • Read the passage. The tide pool was Dara's secret until the morning her little brother followed her down the rocks. She almost sent him home. Instead she watched him crouch at the edge, perfectly still, the way she had the first time. A hermit crab dragged its shell across the sand, and Sami gasped as if it were a dragon. "Don't touch," Dara said, more gently than she meant to. "Just look." By the time the water crept back in, the pool had stopped being hers alone, and she found she did not mind. Why does Dara most likely decide not to send Sami home? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), literary target 1: Key Details
  • Read the passage. When Larkmoor Middle School moved its first bell from 7:30 to 8:15, some parents predicted chaos. A year later, the school shared its records. Late arrivals had dropped by a third. The nurse's office logged fewer morning visits. Not every result was positive, however. Afternoon practices for the sports teams now ended after dark in winter, and two bus routes had to be redrawn. The principal called the change "a trade worth making," but she promised to review it again next spring. What does the word "however" signal in the passage? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), informational target 13: Text Structures and Features
  • Read the passage. When Larkmoor Middle School moved its first bell from 7:30 to 8:15, some parents predicted chaos. A year later, the school shared its records. Late arrivals had dropped by a third. The nurse's office logged fewer morning visits. Not every result was positive, however. Afternoon practices for the sports teams now ended after dark in winter, and two bus routes had to be redrawn. The principal called the change "a trade worth making," but she promised to review it again next spring. Which detail best supports the principal's view that the change was "a trade worth making"? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), informational target 11: Reasoning and Evidence
  • Read the passage. When Larkmoor Middle School moved its first bell from 7:30 to 8:15, some parents predicted chaos. A year later, the school shared its records. Late arrivals had dropped by a third. The nurse's office logged fewer morning visits. Not every result was positive, however. Afternoon practices for the sports teams now ended after dark in winter, and two bus routes had to be redrawn. The principal called the change "a trade worth making," but she promised to review it again next spring. Which result of the later start was a drawback? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), informational target 8: Key Details
  • Read the passage. When Larkmoor Middle School moved its first bell from 7:30 to 8:15, some parents predicted chaos. A year later, the school shared its records. Late arrivals had dropped by a third. The nurse's office logged fewer morning visits. Not every result was positive, however. Afternoon practices for the sports teams now ended after dark in winter, and two bus routes had to be redrawn. The principal called the change "a trade worth making," but she promised to review it again next spring. Which sentence best states the central idea of the passage? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 1 (Reading), informational target 9: Central Ideas

Writing and language 6

  • A student is explaining how the school garden saves money. "The garden supplies lettuce for the cafeteria. It also grows herbs that the kitchen once had to order. The garden shed is painted green. Last year the school bought less produce than the year before." Which sentence should be removed? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 2 (Writing), target 1b/3b/6b: Revise Brief Texts (Evidence/Elaboration); Common Core writing standard W.6.2.b
  • A student writes an argument. "Students should be allowed to choose one elective each term. Choice makes students more interested in class. It also lets them discover new skills." Which sentence best concludes the paragraph? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 2 (Writing), target 1b/3b/6b: Revise Brief Texts (Organization/Purpose); Common Core writing standard W.6.1.e
  • A student writes in a science report, "The team got water samples from three sites." Which word best replaces "got" to keep a formal style? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 2 (Writing), target 8: Language and Vocabulary Use; word meaning checked in the American Heritage Dictionary, "collect"
  • In the sentence "When Maya called Jen, she was upset," it is not clear who was upset. Which revision makes it clear that Maya was? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 2 (Writing), target 9: Edit/Clarify; rule from Common Core language standard L.6.1.d, vague pronouns
  • Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 2 (Writing), target 9: Edit/Clarify; rule from Common Core language standard L.6.2.a, punctuation to set off nonrestrictive elements
  • Which sentence uses pronouns correctly? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 2 (Writing), target 9: Edit/Clarify; rule from Common Core language standard L.6.1.a, pronouns in the proper case

Research 6

  • A student claims, "The new crosswalk made the corner safer." Which evidence best supports the claim? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 4 (Research), target 4: Use Evidence
  • A student has two notes about a city. Source 1: "The city planted 1,200 trees in 2024." Source 2: "The city planted 1,800 trees in 2025." Which conclusion do the two sources support? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 4 (Research), target 2: Analyze/Integrate Information
  • A student is researching whether a later school start helps students. Which source is the most credible? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 4 (Research), target 3: Evaluate Information/Sources
  • A student wants to use a sentence from an article, word for word, in a report. What is the right way to do it? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 4 (Research), target 4: Use Evidence; Common Core writing standard W.6.8
  • A student's research question is, "What do volunteers do at the animal shelter?" Which note is relevant? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 4 (Research), target 3: Evaluate Information/Sources
  • A survey asked 200 students how they get to school: 90 walk, 70 ride the bus and 40 come by car. Which statement does the survey support? Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint, grades 6 to 8, Claim 4 (Research), target 2: Analyze/Integrate Information

How this list was compiled: Outline: the ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment Blueprint of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (as of the 2018-19 test administration), https://portal.smarterbalanced.org/library/en/elaliteracy-summative-assessment-blueprint.pdf, linked from https://contentexplorer.smarterbalanced.org/test-development, read 2026-10-07: the blueprint table and the target sampling pages for grades 6 to 8. Each question names the claim and the assessment target it practices. Every reading answer is found in the text printed with the question. The grammar, punctuation and writing rules are the grade 6 language and writing standards of the Common Core State Standards, https://www.thecorestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/L/6/ and https://www.thecorestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/W/6/, and three word meanings were checked in the American Heritage Dictionary, https://www.ahdictionary.com/, each named under its answer, all read 2026-10-07. Licence: Own work. Questions, reading passages, answer choices and explanations were written for this site. Nothing is copied or reworded from a Smarter Balanced test, practice test, training test, sample item or another practice test.

How it works

Unofficial sixth grade practice for the Smarter Balanced (SBAC) math and English language arts tests, part of California's CAASPP. Our own questions, written to grade 6 targets. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

Read the full guide

What changes in grade 6

Ratios, negative numbers and equations with a variable are new on the grade 6 blueprint. Reading tilts toward nonfiction: 10 to 12 informational items against 4 to 7 literary ones.

What this practice cannot give

The real tests adapt to the student and add a performance task in each subject, with a full piece of writing in English language arts. Listening questions need audio. Here every question is multiple choice, and each explanation is followed by the claim and target it practices.

  • Try the Concepts and Procedures questions without a calculator.

Questions and answers

Is there a Smarter Balanced practice test PDF for 6th grade?

This practice prints as a paper test with an answer key, and the print window can save that as a PDF. The consortium's own 6th grade practice tests are taken online, in its testing software, with no login.

What is on the Smarter Balanced 6th grade math practice test?

The grade 6 blueprint samples expressions and one-variable equations most, then ratios and rates, dividing fractions, negative numbers, area and volume, and statistics. The math set here has 36 questions in those shares.

Can 6th graders use a calculator on the Smarter Balanced math test?

In one section. Grade 6 mathematics has a Calculator Available section with an on-screen four-function calculator and a Calculator Not Available section.

How long is the Smarter Balanced test in 6th grade?

Untimed. The consortium's estimates for grades 6 to 8 are 3 hours 30 minutes for English language arts and 3 hours for mathematics, with the performance task counted in each.

What is a passing score on the 6th grade SBAC?

None is published. Of four achievement levels, Level 3 runs from 2531 to 2617 in grade 6 English language arts and from 2552 to 2609 in mathematics. A percent right on this page is not a scaled score.

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