Six PARCC Practice Test Math PDFs -- Download Now!

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a group of states developing assessments that measure whether students are on track for college and career success.

PARCC tests are linked to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), a set of skills and knowledge that students should master at each grade level. Like the CCSS, PARCC tests focus on two subject areas: English Language Arts and Mathematics.

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about PARCC Mathematics. Plus, we will provide you with PARCC practice test math PDFs for Grades 3-8, with answer keys.

Completing full-length practice tests is one of the most effective test preparation strategies, and doing this will help put your child on the path to success.

The following downloadable PARCC tests are made by the creator of the PARCC assessments, so they are the gold standard for practice. That means that these tests contain the kind of material that your child will face on test day.

Just click the button below to get the grade-level appropriate Math PARCC practice test, plus we will also send you our 5 proven test prep strategies for using PARCC practice tests in your study plan.

Grade 3 PARCC Practice Test - ELA & Math

Grade 4 PARCC Practice Test - ELA & Math

Grade 5 PARCC Practice Test - ELA & Math

Grade 6 PARCC Practice Test - ELA & Math

Grade 7 PARCC Practice Test - ELA & Math

Grade 8 PARCC Practice Test - ELA & Math

In this article, we’ll also explore key information about PARCC Math exams, including test content, scoring, and additional tips for acing the assessment.

PARCC Math Basics

PARCC Math assessments are given during a 30-day window that ends about 90% of the way through the school year, giving your child most of the school year to build math skills and knowledge.

The test is administered to students in grades 3-8 and to high school students enrolled in Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Integrated Pathway.

Each of these high school courses has its own separate exam, so this article will focus on the PARCC Math test administered to grades 3-8.

These assessments are computer based and use interactive questions, which can assess higher order skills more effectively than traditional multiple choice tests.

Students drag and drop numbers and variables, plot points, complete tables, and more. Some questions are multiple choice, while others require students to type their answers in a provided box. Still other questions require students to explain their answers.

There are three major task types on PARCC Mathematics assessments:

Type I: Tasks assessing concepts, skills, and procedures. Most multiple choice questions fit into this category, like this 5th grade sample question:

PARCC Practice Test Math PDFs - Type I 5th grade sample

Type II: Tasks assessing the ability to express mathematical reasoning (written arguments and justifications, critiques of reasoning, precision in mathematical statements). See the 7th grade sample question below.

PARCC - Type II 7th A sample question

PARCC - Type II 7th grade B sample question

Type III: Tasks assessing models/application in real world contexts or scenarios, as in this 3rd grade sample question:

PARCC - Type III 3rd grade sample question

PARCC Math Timing

The PARCC Math exam is a timed test. It’s divided into sections, which are called units. The number of units and the provided time limit vary by grade level as follows:

Grades 3-5: Four 60-minute units

Grades 6-8: Three 80-minute units

PARCC Math Content

PARCC Math assesses students’ ability to solve multi-step math problems that require critical thinking and address real-world situations. Depending on grade level, students may need to demonstrate the ability to:

Make sense of quantities and relationships to solve real world problems (3rd grade sample question)

PARCC - 3rd grade Real World sample question

Work with expressions, equations, and graphs (5th grade sample question)

PARCC - 5th grade Graph sample question

Create equations, expressions, and inequalities (6th grade sample question)

PARCC - 6th Inequalities sample question

Add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, decimals, and fractions (4th grade sample question)

PARCC - 4th grade Product sample question

Solve problems involving fractions (4th grade sample question)

PARCC - 4th grade Fractions sample question

Work with functions (8th grade sample question)

PARCC - 8th grade Functions sample question

Compare quantities (7th grade sample question)

PARCC - 7th grade Comparison sample question

Convert units of measurement (5th grade sample question)

PARCC - 5th grade Measurement sample question

Work with geometric shapes (3rd grade sample question)

PARCC - 3rd grade Geometry sample question

Understand slope and coordinate planes (6th grade sample question)

PARCC - 6th grade Coordinate Planes sample question

Solve a system of equations (7th grade sample question)

PARCC - 7th grade System of Equations sample question

Order linear functions from least to greatest (8th grade sample question)

PARCC - 8th grade Linear Functions sample question

These questions may be challenging, but remember that your child can effectively prepare using PARCC practice test math PDFs.

Other PARCC Math Guidelines

Although some units are designated as “no calculator” sections, calculators are permitted in other sections for students in some grade levels.

Students in grades 6-7 can use a four function calculator, and 8th grade students may use a scientific calculator. No calculators are allowed for grades 3-5.

Lastly, there are a few things to keep in mind concerning the scoring of PARCC Math exams:

If a child makes a mistake early on when solving a problem, and the work follows that single mistake, no additional points will be deducted.

If a method for solving a problem is specified, the student must use that method to score full points.

Remind your child to label all parts of an answer appropriately (feet, yards, etc.), or he will lose points for precision. Precision points can also be lost if your child uses incorrect mathematical vocabulary or defines variables incorrectly.

How to Prepare for PARCC Math

Remember that the PARCC Mathematics test is based on the Common Core State Standards, and so is your child’s curriculum.

This means that the math skills and knowledge your child learns throughout the school year will be the same skills and knowledge tested on the PARCC assessment. It’s important to remind your child to pay attention, take notes, complete classwork and homework, and ask questions as needed during math lessons.

If your child seems to struggle in math this year, you may want to ask the teacher for additional help or consider hiring a tutor. Some schools also have free tutoring programs before or after school, so you may want to look into these opportunities.

Your child’s teacher can also be an excellent source of information about your child’s mathematical strengths and weaknesses. Communicate with the teacher about how your child is progressing and what you can do to help prepare him for PARCC.

You can also help your child brush up on math skills by finding math workbooks, apps, videos, and other online resources. Just make sure any source you use is reliable and relevant to PARCC skills.

All of these tips are effective, but the best way to prepare for any standardized test is by completing practice tests and answering sample questions. The PARCC practice test math PDFs we’ve provided are an excellent starting point.

When your child answers questions incorrectly, be sure to spend time discussing why the right answer is correct (and where your child went wrong). Develop strategies to answer similar questions more effectively in the future.

Try to keep practice sessions brief, encouraging, and engaging to prevent your child from getting burnt out or developing test anxiety. Don’t overemphasize the test, because you want your child to avoid unhealthy stress levels that can also have a negative impact on test performance.

If you follow these tips and help your child work with PARCC practice test math PDFs, he’ll go into the PARCC Mathematics test feeling confident and prepared!