Wisconsin Forward Grade 4 Social Studies Practice Test
Fourth grade social studies in the five categories of Wisconsin's Forward Exam blueprint, with Wisconsin's own history, borders and government.
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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Bank checked October 13, 2026.
The real test: Forward Exam social studies, grade 4
Questions
40
Questions and points
40 scored questions worth 40 points, plus 8 field test questions: 48 in all.
Sessions
Two, with 24 questions each.
Time
Untimed. The suggested time, for scheduling only, is 35 minutes a session.
Points by category
Geography 8 to 12, History 8 to 12, Behavioral Sciences 6 to 8, Economics 6 to 8, Political Science 6 to 8. Each category is tested together with the inquiry pr
Question kinds
Multiple-choice, selected-response and technology-enhanced questions.
Results
Four performance levels: Developing, Approaching, Meeting and Advanced. In grade 4 social studies the scale runs from 330 to 700.
A town library adds free computers with internet. Who is helped most by this change?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.BH4.a.i (Behavioral Sciences)
A visitor greets a class with a bow, the polite greeting where she grew up. A student thinks she is joking and laughs. What caused the misunderstanding?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.BH3.a.5 (Behavioral Sciences)
Ana moves to a neighborhood where most families speak Spanish at home. After a year she greets her neighbors in Spanish and in English. What does this show?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.BH1.a.4 (Behavioral Sciences)
People in a hot, dry place build homes with thick clay walls. People in a snowy forest build wooden homes with steep roofs. What does this show?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.BH2.a.4-5 (Behavioral Sciences)
Technologies can be sorted by what they are meant to do. Which one was designed mainly for communication?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.BH4.a.i (Behavioral Sciences)
Two classmates watch the first big snowstorm of the year. One grew up skiing and is excited. The other just moved from a place with no winter and is worried. Why do they react differently?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.BH2.b.4 (Behavioral Sciences)
Which of these helps form a person's identity, the way people see themselves?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.BH1.b.4 (Behavioral Sciences)
Show all 40 questions (33 more)
Economics 7
A cheese maker uses milk, workers and a machine that presses the cheese. Which one is a capital resource?Wikipedia, Factors of production; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Econ2.c.3 (Economics)
A grocery store gives a free bookmark to every child who brings a reusable bag. What is the bookmark?Wikipedia, Incentive; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Econ1.b.4 (Economics)
Ben has $10. He can buy a book or a game, but not both. He buys the book. What is the cost of his choice, besides the money?Wikipedia, Opportunity cost; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Econ1.a.3 (Economics)
Which of these is a service and not a good?Wikipedia, Goods and services; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Econ2.a.3-4 (Economics)
Which of these is public property?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Econ4.b.4-5 (Economics)
Wisconsin grows more cranberries than any other state. One year a hard frost ruins much of the crop, but people want to buy as many cranberries as before. What is likely to happen to the price?Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Econ2.b.4-5 (Economics)
Wisconsin makes more cheese than any other state. What is it called when a region makes a lot of one product that it is good at producing?Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Econ4.e.3 (Economics)
Geography 10
A family moves from a small town to Milwaukee because a parent was offered a better job there. What is the job?Wikipedia, Human migration; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog2.b.5 (Geography)
A place has farms, few houses and long distances between neighbors. What type of community is it?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog2.a.3 (Geography)
A student labels a map of her community. Which of these is a human characteristic of the place?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog1.c.4-5 (Geography)
A town drains a wetland to make farmland. Afterward it has more land for crops, but floods after heavy rain are worse. Which is a negative effect of the change?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog5.a.3-4 (Geography)
Trees cut from a forest can be replaced by planting new ones. What kind of resource is wood?U.S. Energy Information Administration, Renewable energy explained; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog3.a.5 (Geography)
Which four states share a border with Wisconsin?U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to State and Local Census Geography: Wisconsin; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog1.c.4-5 (Geography)
Which part of a map tells what the symbols on it stand for?National Geographic Society, Map; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog1.a.4-5 (Geography)
Which sentence gives the relative location of Wisconsin?Wisconsin Constitution, published by the Wisconsin Legislature; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog1.a.4-5 (Geography)
Which tool shows the shapes and sizes of all the continents most accurately?National Geographic Society, Map; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog1.b.i (Geography)
Which two Great Lakes border Wisconsin?Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin's Great Lakes; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Geog1.c.4-5 (Geography)
History 9
The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920. How does it still affect elections today?National Archives, 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Hist3.c.i (History)
A poster printed by a railroad company in the 1850s says its trains are "the safest and fastest way to travel." Why should a reader be careful with this source?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Hist4.d.i (History)
In 1836 Wisconsin Territory included all of what are now Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. The state of Wisconsin today is much smaller. What does this comparison show?U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to State and Local Census Geography: Wisconsin; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Hist2.b.i (History)
Madison was chosen as the seat of government when Wisconsin was still a territory, and it is the capital today. What is this an example of?Wisconsin Statutes, sections 1.07 to 1.09 (coat of arms, flag and seat of government); Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Hist2.a.i (History)
Suppose a settler wrote in an 1850 diary: "We left New York because land in Wisconsin is cheap and good for wheat." What cause of the move does this evidence give?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Hist1.a.i (History)
Two people wrote about the same new railroad. A shop owner called it "the best thing for our town." A stagecoach driver called it "the end of my work." What does this show?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Hist3.b.i (History)
Which of these is a primary source about life in Wisconsin in the 1850s?National Archives, History in the Raw; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Hist4.a.i (History)
Why is May 29, 1848, an important date in Wisconsin history?United States Senate, States in the Senate: Wisconsin Timeline; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Hist2.c.i (History)
The Wisconsin coat of arms, set out in state law, shows a crossed shovel and pick and a pile of lead bars. What can you conclude about early Wisconsin from these symbols?Wisconsin Statutes, sections 1.07 to 1.09 (coat of arms, flag and seat of government); Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.Hist1.b.i (History)
Political Science 7
A class votes 15 to 9 to play kickball at recess. The teacher says the 9 who lost the vote must still be treated fairly and may share their ideas. Which idea does this show?Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.PS1.a.i (Political Science)
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution hold many of the freedoms Americans value most. What are these ten amendments called?National Archives, The Bill of Rights; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.PS2.a.i (Political Science)
How many federally recognized American Indian nations and tribal communities are in Wisconsin, each with its own government?Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Tribal Nations of Wisconsin; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.PS3.c.4-5 (Political Science)
Under the Wisconsin Constitution, how old must a United States citizen be to vote in an election?Wisconsin Constitution, published by the Wisconsin Legislature; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.PS3.a.4-5 (Political Science)
Under the Wisconsin Constitution, which two bodies hold the power to make state laws?Wisconsin Constitution, published by the Wisconsin Legislature; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.PS1.b.4-5 (Political Science)
The Wisconsin Constitution gives the executive power of the state to one elected official, who serves a 4-year term. Who is it?Wisconsin Constitution, published by the Wisconsin Legislature; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.PS3.c.4-5 (Political Science)
The Wisconsin Constitution says every person may "freely speak, write and publish" ideas on all subjects. Which right is this?Wisconsin Constitution, published by the Wisconsin Legislature; Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), SS.PS1.b.4-5 (Political Science)
How this list was compiled: Outline: Forward Social Studies Blueprint, Grades 4, 8, and 10, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, https://dpi.wi.gov/media/26845/download?inline, and Wisconsin Forward Exam 2026 Test Designs, https://dpi.wi.gov/media/26486/download?inline, both linked from Forward Exam Resources, https://dpi.wi.gov/assessment/forward/resources, read 2026-10-13: the reporting categories, their score points and the number of questions. Each question names the performance indicator it practices in the Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies (2018), https://dpi.wi.gov/media/28494/download?inline, read 2026-10-13; the grade 4 Performance Level Descriptors for social studies, https://dpi.wi.gov/media/26872/download?inline, were read the same day to see which indicators the grade 4 test reports on. A question with no outside page is a made-up situation that is answered from the indicator itself. 25 of the 40 questions also rest on a public page named under the answer, each opened 2026-10-13: Wikipedia, Opportunity cost; Wikipedia, Incentive; Wikipedia, Goods and services; Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics; Wikipedia, Factors of production; Wisconsin Constitution, published by the Wisconsin Legislature; National Geographic Society, Map; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin's Great Lakes; U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to State and Local Census Geography: Wisconsin; Wikipedia, Human migration; U.S. Energy Information Administration, Renewable energy explained; Wisconsin Statutes, sections 1.07 to 1.09 (coat of arms, flag and seat of government); United States Senate, States in the Senate: Wisconsin Timeline; National Archives, 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; National Archives, History in the Raw; National Archives, The Bill of Rights; Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Tribal Nations of Wisconsin. Licence: Own work. Questions, answer choices and explanations were written for this site. Nothing is copied or reworded from a Forward Exam, the department's practice test, a sample item, a workbook or another practice test. The department's grade 4 social studies practice test was not read.
How it works
Unofficial practice in grade 4 social studies for Wisconsin's Forward Exam. The real test scores 40 questions, and the 40 here follow its blueprint's point ranges. This site is not affiliated with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Read the full guide
What the grade 4 Forward Exam asks in social studies
The blueprint spreads 40 points over five reporting categories. Geography and History have the most, 8 to 12 each: maps and their parts, regions and borders, cause and effect, change over time, and primary sources. Behavioral Sciences, Economics and Political Science have 6 to 8 each: culture and identity, goods and services, costs and incentives, rights, elections and the levels of government.
Wisconsin in the questions
The Wisconsin Standards for Social Studies name Wisconsin history, the Wisconsin Constitution and tribal lands, so this page asks about them: statehood in 1848, the bordering states and Great Lakes, the senate and assembly, the governor, the voting age and the eleven federally recognized tribal nations.
Every category is tested together with inquiry, so a question may ask you to use a source, a map or a chart.
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the 4th grade Forward Exam social studies test?
The two sessions hold 24 questions each, 48 altogether. Only 40 of them count toward the 40 score points; the other 8 are field test questions being tried out.
How long is the Forward Exam social studies test?
Students work at their own pace, because the Forward Exam is untimed. To help schools plan, the department suggests 35 minutes for each of the two sessions.
What score is Meeting on the 4th grade Forward Exam in social studies?
A grade 4 social studies score from 491 to 536 is Meeting. The scale starts at 330 and ends at 700, with Approaching from 461 to 490 and Advanced from 537 up.
Which grades take the Forward Exam in social studies?
Fourth, eighth and tenth graders. Social studies is the only Forward Exam subject given in tenth grade.