Free 6th Grade STAAR Practice Questions
Your child’s first middle school STAAR test is a big step and the right preparation can make it a confident one.
The 6th-grade STAAR test marks the transition into more advanced academic expectations. Students face longer reading passages, multi-step math problems, and more structured writing tasks. With the right practice, designed by Ariav, our trusted test expert, your child won’t just prepare for the test. They will build the skills they need for long-term success in middle school and beyond.
On this page, you’ll find:
- Free STAAR 6th grade sample questions in Math and Reading
- Clear explanations for every answer
- Expert tips to help parents support learning at home
- Direct access to our full STAAR 6th Grade Prep Pack
6th Grade STAAR Practice Questions
Welcome to 6th Grade STAAR practice! These questions reflect the skills and question formats students will see on the actual STAAR test and are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
6th Grade Math – STAAR Practice
The 6th Grade STAAR Math test introduces more advanced concepts, including:
- Algebraic thinking
- Multi-step problem solving
- Real-world applications
- Numerical relationships and place value
Let’s begin with a place value question.
6th Grade Math: STAAR Practice Test Question 1
A company's revenue last year was $2,863,500. What is the value of the digit 6 in this number?
This question challenges your ability to apply the order of operations and understand equivalent expressions.
6th Grade Math: STAAR Practice Test Question 2
Which of the following expressions is equivalent to (4 × 7) × 3 + 4?
This question tests your skills in budgeting, subtraction, and division to solve real-world money problems.
6th Grade Math: STAAR Practice Test Question 3
Sarah received $15 as a gift. She wants to buy a book that costs $8.25 and some pencils that cost $2.25 each. How many pencils can Sarah buy if she also buys the book?
Math Learning Tip
When facing problems like identifying place value or solving multi-step word problems (like the pencil purchase question), use this approach:
- For place value questions: Write the number with commas (2,863,500) and create a place value chart. Remember each position represents a specific value (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.). For the digit 6 in 2,863,500, identify its position (hundred-thousands place) and multiply it by its place value (6 × 100,000 = 600,000).
- For word problems: First identify what you're solving for, then list the known information. Create a step-by-step plan before calculating. In the pencil problem, first subtract the book cost from the total ($15 - $8.25 = $6.75), then divide the remaining money by the pencil cost ($6.75 ÷ $2.25 = 3) to find how many pencils Sarah can buy.
6th Grade Reading – STAAR Practice
The STAAR reading section challenges students with longer texts and more sophisticated analysis requirements. Students will read a passage and are expected to answer multiple questions based on that text.
Margaret Thatcher and Soft-Serve Ice Cream
Before becoming Britain's first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher studied chemistry at Oxford University. In the late 1940s, she worked briefly at J. Lyons & Co., a British food company that made ice cream.
Some people believe Thatcher invented soft-serve ice cream by finding ways to add more air into ice cream, making it fluffier and cheaper. This story became popular after her death in 2013, with newspapers suggesting she "helped invent" the treat.
However, soft-serve ice cream was actually created in America during the 1930s - long before Thatcher worked at J. Lyons. Companies like Dairy Queen were already selling soft ice cream, with major developments by 1938.
When Thatcher joined J. Lyons around 1949, she was part of a team researching food science while the company was trying to bring soft-serve to British customers. She likely worked on improving texture and making production more cost-efficient, but she didn't invent soft-serve from scratch.
The story remains popular because it creates an interesting contrast: a serious politician connected to something fun like ice cream. Her critics used it as a metaphor, comparing airy ice cream to what they saw as her "substance-free" policies. Her supporters liked the story of her scientific creativity.
In reality, Thatcher was just a junior researcher whose time at J. Lyons was short before she switched to law and politics. She worked on various products including cake fillings and soaps - not just ice cream. The major advances in soft-serve technology happened in the 1960s, long after she left.
This question tests your ability to identify the main idea and understand why certain stories or ideas continue to be remembered over time.
6th Grade RLA: STAAR Practice Test Question 1
According to the passage, what is the MAIN reason the soft-serve ice cream story about Margaret Thatcher persists?
This question evaluates your vocabulary skills and your ability to determine word meanings based on context clues.
6th Grade RLA: STAAR Practice Test Question 2
In the passage, what does the word "tangential" most likely mean in the context of Thatcher's role in soft-serve ice cream?
The Wind by Christina Rossetti
Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you.
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I.
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.
This question tests your understanding of language and how it helps convey ideas in poetry.
6th Grade RLA: STAAR Practice Test Question 3
Which of the following best describes the effect of the repeated question “Who has seen the wind?” in the poem?
This question assesses your ability to determine the main idea of a poem and understand the deeper message the poet is conveying.
6th Grade RLA: STAAR Practice Test Question 4
What is the main idea that Rossetti communicates in this poem?
Reading Language Arts Learning Tip
When analyzing passages like the Margaret Thatcher story or Rossetti's poem:
- Actively look for specific evidence in the text. Underline or highlight key phrases that answer "why" or "how" questions. For the Thatcher ice cream story, the passage specifically mentions "the story remains popular because it creates an interesting contrast: a serious politician connected to something fun like ice cream."
- Ask yourself: "What is the author trying to show me?" For the wind poem, notice how the author uses natural elements (trembling leaves, bowing trees) to demonstrate invisible forces. This technique of observing patterns across a text helps identify main ideas and themes.
- For vocabulary questions, look at the surrounding sentences for context clues. Read the sentence before and after the unfamiliar word to determine its meaning based on how it's used.
These active reading strategies help you move beyond basic comprehension to the deeper analytical thinking the STAAR test requires.
6th Grade STAAR Writing Guidance
What happens during the 6th Grade RLA test
- Read passages on the computer during the test
- Write a longer response that explains ideas from the passage using strong text evidence
- Answer short writing questions, such as revising or improving sentences
- Demonstrate correct capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and spelling
- Responses are scored using TEA rubrics that measure clarity, evidence use, and writing accuracy
This is an important year, as 6th grade is the first year of middle school and sets the foundation for stronger writing expectations in the years ahead.
On the Texas STAAR Test, students are often asked to answer short-term response and extended response questions. These questions challenge you to think critically, explain your ideas clearly, and provide evidence from the text to support your answers.
Below are two sample questions, one short-term and one extended response, for you to try at home. Practicing these will help you build the skills needed to succeed on test day. Give them a go!
Short Constructed Response Question (Typical STAAR Format)
This type of question requires a brief answer that directly addresses the prompt with clear evidence from the text.
Short Constructed Response Prompt:
In The Wind by Christina Rossetti, how does the poet use imagery to describe the wind? Support your answer with evidence from the poem.
Extended Constructed Response Question (Typical STAAR Format)
This type of question requires a more detailed response, including analysis, explanation, and textual evidence.
Extended Constructed Response Prompt:
In the passage about Margaret Thatcher and soft-serve ice cream, the author presents different perspectives on her contribution to the dessert. Explain how the author uses facts and opinions to shape the reader’s understanding of Thatcher's role. Include evidence from the text to support your answer.
Understanding STAAR 6th Grade Scores
STAAR scores show how well your child meets Texas grade-level standards in math and reading. Scores fall into these categories:
- Did Not Meet Grade Level: Needs significant academic support
- Approaches Grade Level: On track with some support
- Meets Grade Level: Solid understanding of grade-level content
- Masters Grade Level: Advanced performance and strong readiness for upper middle school
Our Prep Pack supports growth across all performance levels.
Why Parents Trust Our STAAR Preparation Materials
Designed specifically for 6th grade Texas standards
- STAAR-style questions with real test formatting
- Clear explanations to close learning gaps
- Created by experienced educators and assessment specialists
With the right tools, your child can approach middle school testing with confidence.
What’s Inside the 6th Grade STAAR Prep Pack?
- 230+ practice questions across quizzes and tests
- 1 full-length Math test
- 1 full-length Reading Language Arts test
- Retake all tests as often as needed
- 6-month access license
For More Practice Check Out All Our STAAR Test Preparation Packages
Full-length tests covering
STAAR RLA and STAAR Math
Math quizzes and Reading quizzes
Each quiz focused on a different sub-topic
Ask Ariav
A certified teacher with a Master’s in Education and a STAAR Test specialist with over a decade of experience developing STAAR-aligned questions that match the real test’s rigor. Ariav creates materials with clear, detailed explanations that build understanding, boost reasoning skills, and help every child perform their best on the STAAR assessment.
STAAR Test FAQs
The STAAR test assesses your child’s knowledge in 6th-grade math, reading, and writing standards. This grade is a key step toward middle school success.
Most Texas students take the STAAR test in the spring, usually between April and May.
Yes. Parents and guardians can access individual STAAR results through the Texas Assessment Family Portal once scores are released.
Parents can log in to the TEA Family Portal at https://txfamilyportal.org
or use the portal link on TexasAssessment.gov.
Promotion is determined by local districts. STAAR performance may be considered but is not the sole factor.
Encourage practice with sample questions, reinforce key concepts, and maintain a calm, structured study routine to build confidence.
Yes. Our materials mirror the real STAAR test in format and difficulty and provide detailed, step-by-step solutions.
Short, consistent practice over multiple weeks works best.
