MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 5-7: Determine Surface Area of Prisms

Grade 6 Mathematics · Standard 6.GR.4

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 time capsule is a rectangular prism with l = 5 cm, w = 4 cm, h = 3 cm. What surface area needs paint?

A47 cm²
B60 cm²
C94 cm²
D94 cm³

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

How many faces does a triangular prism have?

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

A wedge-shaped time capsule is a triangular prism. It has two triangular bases each with area 12 cm² and three rectangular faces with areas 30 cm², 40 cm², and 40 cm². What is the total surface area to paint?

A110 cm²
B122 cm²
C134 cm²
D134 cm³

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

A wedge-shaped time capsule is a triangular prism. Its triangular bases have base 6 in and height 4 in. The prism is 10 in long and the two slant sides of the triangle are each 5 in. What surface area needs paint?

A124 in²
B160 in²
C184 in²
D184 in³

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

A rectangular time capsule box measures 3 in by 4 in by 5 in. How much wrapping paper covers its surface (no overlap)?

A47 in²
B60 in²
C94 in²
D94 in³

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

A rectangular capsule crate is 6 cm long, 5 cm wide, and 4 cm tall. How much cardboard is needed to cover all its faces?

A74 cm²
B120 cm²
C148 cm²
D148 cm³

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 rectangular prism measures 6 cm long, 4 cm wide, and 2 cm tall. What is its surface area?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

A24 square centimeters
B44 square centimeters
C48 square centimeters
D88 square centimeters

Part B

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

Why is surface area measured in square units while volume is measured in cubic units?

ASurface area covers the outside faces, which are flat regions; volume fills the inside space.
BSurface area is always smaller than volume.
CSquare units are used whenever a shape has straight sides.
DVolume uses cubic units only for prisms.

Question 8Written response · 2 points

Type II Reasoning: Counting Only Three Faces

Priya found the surface area of a box measuring 5 by 3 by 2 units. She wrote: '5×3 + 5×2 + 3×2 = 15 + 10 + 6 = 31 square units.'

Explain Priya's misconception and give the correct surface area.

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

Part C — Show Your Thinking

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

Question 9Written response · 2 points

Compare two closed containers: a rectangular prism (8 × 6 × 4 in) and a triangular prism whose ends are right triangles with perpendicular legs 6 in and 8 in and hypotenuse 10 in. The triangular prism is 8 in long. Which uses less protective film to cover every face? Show your work.

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