MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 2-4: Represent and Describe Data in a Box Plot

Grade 6 Mathematics · Standard 6.DS.5

Name: Date:

These are MSTAR-style questions written for this curriculum to rehearse the format. They are not official Maryland assessment items. MSTAR — Maryland's new state test, first given in spring 2027 — uses the same kinds of questions you see here: selected response, select-all, two-part evidence questions, and written responses.

Part A — Skills Check

Warm up with the lesson's core skills — one best answer each.

Question 1Selected response · 1 point

A box plot shows: Min = 10, Q1 = 15, Median = 20, Q3 = 28, Max = 35. What is the interquartile range (IQR)?

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

On a box plot, what does the line inside the box represent?

AThe median
BThe mean
CThe mode
DThe range

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

What percentage of data falls between Q1 and Q3 on a box plot?

A25%
B50%
C75%
D100%

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

Find the range of: 14, 22, 8, 31, 17

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

Two box plots show: Team A has IQR = 8, Team B has IQR = 22. What does this tell you?

ATeam A's middle 50% is more consistent; Team B's is more spread out
BTeam B is a better team
CTeam A has a higher median
DThe IQRs don't tell you about consistency

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

The Hawks' points per quarter are 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12. Resting on the scoreboard, what are the minimum, median, and maximum?

AMinimum 0, median 7, maximum 12
BMinimum 2, median 7, maximum 12
CMinimum 2, median 5, maximum 12
DMinimum 2, median 8, maximum 10

Part B — Test-Format Questions

These match the state test's formats: two-part questions, select-all, and written responses.

Question 7Two-part question

Part A

A box plot has a 5-number summary of minimum 4, Q1 = 8, median 12, Q3 = 18, maximum 24. What is the interquartile range?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

Part B

Answer Part A before Part B — Part B asks about your reasoning.

What does the box itself represent in a box plot?

AAll of the data from minimum to maximum.
BThe mean of the data set.
CThe middle 50% of the data, from Q1 to Q3.
DThe values that occur most often.

Question 8Select all that apply

Select ALL statements that are true about box plots:

Mark the box next to EVERY answer that is true. More than one is correct.

AThe 5-number summary is minimum, Q1, median, Q3, and maximum.
BThe box spans from Q1 to Q3.
CThe line inside the box is the median.
DThe whiskers show the mean of each half.
EIQR = Q3 − Q1.

Part C — Show Your Thinking

Answer in writing, the way the state test's constructed responses work.

Question 9Written response · 2 points

Two basketball teams played 9 games each. Team A: 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56. Team B: 30, 35, 40, 45, 48, 50, 55, 60, 65. Find the five-number summary and IQR for each team. Which team is more consistent? Which has a wider spread in the middle 50%?

Write your answer in complete sentences. Show or explain your mathematical thinking.