State of New Jersey Department of Education

Assessment in the Standards Movement: Middle School Samples

The following multiple-choice question from New Jersey's GEPA Sample Tests requires students to think about a process (averaging).
A newspaper reported that one weekend the movie Batman Returns earned $14.8 million. According to that newspaper, the figure represented 42% of the previous weekend's earnings. Approximately how much did Batman Returns earn during the previous weekend?
a. $ 25,500,000
b. $ 35,200,000
c. $255,000,000
d. $352,000,000
The correct answer is: B.
Three multiple-choice questions from Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) (1995).

Brad wanted to find three consecutive whole numbers that add up to 81. He wrote the equation (n - 1) + n + (n + 1) = 81. What does the n stand for?
A. The least of the three whole numbers.
B. The middle whole number.
C. The greatest of the three whole numbers.
D. The difference between the least and greatest of the three whole
numbers.
The correct answer is: B.


The number of 750 ml. bottles that can be filled from 600 L. of water is:
A. 8
B. 80
C. 800
D. 8000
The correct answer is: C
.


In a discus-throwing competition, the winning throw was 61.60 m. The second-place throw was 59.72 m. How much longer was the winning throw than the second-place throw?
A. 1.18 m
B. 1.88 m
C. 1.98 m
D. 2.18 m
The correct answer is: B.

Inquire Further

Sample NJ 8th grade science questions.

NJPEP's assessment page, and grades 5-7 and MS information.

Michigan released test items.

Teacher Created Rubrics for Assessment from the University of Wisconsin