Washington SBA Grade 8 math practice should focus on the bridge from middle school arithmetic into algebra readiness. Students need fluency with linear equations, functions, systems, exponents, square roots, scientific notation, the Pythagorean theorem, and geometry applications.
OSPI lists Smarter Balanced math as part of Washington state testing, and the Washington testing portal identifies the summative Smarter Balanced assessments as including a computer adaptive test and a performance task. The practice questions below are original review items, not released SBA items.
ViewMath is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSPI, Smarter Balanced, Cambium Assessment, or any Washington state assessment program. For official information, visit OSPI Mathematics Assessment and the Washington State Testing Portal.
Grade 8 SBA Math Topics to Review
- Linear equations: variables on both sides, distributive property, and no-solution or infinitely-many-solution cases.
- Functions: tables, graphs, equations, initial value, rate of change, and comparison of representations.
- Systems: solving by substitution, elimination, and graph interpretation.
- Geometry: Pythagorean theorem, transformations, angle relationships, and volume.
- Number systems: square roots, irrational numbers, exponents, and scientific notation.
- Data: scatter plots, association, outliers, and lines of best fit.
Practice Questions
1. Solve 4x – 7 = 21.
2. Solve 3(2x – 5) = 4x + 9.
3. A line passes through (1, 4) and (5, 16). What is the slope?
4. A function has equation y = -2x + 7. What is the y-intercept?
5. A table has x-values 0, 1, 2, 3 and y-values 5, 8, 11, 14. Write a linear equation.
6. Solve the system: y = x + 2 and y = 3x – 4.
7. Which is greater: sqrt(50) or 7?
8. Write 0.00042 in scientific notation.
9. A right triangle has legs 6 and 8. What is the hypotenuse?
10. A cylinder has radius 3 and height 10. Write its volume in terms of pi.
11. A scatter plot shows that as hours studied increase, test scores tend to increase. Describe the association.
12. Reflect the point (4, -3) across the y-axis.
13. Solve -2x + 9 < 17.
14. Simplify (3 x 10^5)(2 x 10^-2) and write the answer in scientific notation.
15. A line has slope 1/2 and passes through (0, -6). Write its equation.
16. The points (0, 3), (1, 5), (2, 7), and (3, 9) lie on a line. What is the rate of change?
17. A cone has radius 4 and height 9. Write its volume in terms of pi.
18. A scatter plot has one point far away from the pattern. What is that point called?
Answer Key
1. 4x = 28, so x = 7.
2. 6x – 15 = 4x + 9, so 2x = 24 and x = 12.
3. Slope = (16 – 4) / (5 – 1) = 12/4 = 3.
4. The y-intercept is 7, or the point (0, 7).
5. The y-values increase by 3 and y = 5 when x = 0, so y = 3x + 5.
6. x + 2 = 3x – 4, so 6 = 2x and x = 3. Then y = 5. Solution: (3, 5).
7. sqrt(50) is a little more than 7 because 7^2 = 49. So sqrt(50) is greater.
8. 0.00042 = 4.2 x 10^-4.
9. c^2 = 6^2 + 8^2 = 36 + 64 = 100, so c = 10.
10. V = pi r^2 h = pi x 3^2 x 10 = 90pi.
11. The association is positive.
12. Reflection across the y-axis changes the sign of x, so the point is (-4, -3).
13. -2x + 9 < 17 gives -2x < 8. Divide by -2 and flip the inequality: x > -4.
14. 3 x 2 = 6 and 10^5 x 10^-2 = 10^3, so the answer is 6 x 10^3.
15. The y-intercept is -6, so y = (1/2)x – 6.
16. Each time x increases by 1, y increases by 2, so the rate of change is 2.
17. V = (1/3)pi r^2 h = (1/3)pi x 16 x 9 = 48pi.
18. A point far away from the pattern is an outlier.
Diagnostic Checks After Scoring
Use the answer key to sort missed questions by skill. A student who misses mostly questions 1, 2, and 13 needs equation and inequality review. Misses on 3, 4, 5, 15, and 16 point to slope, intercept, and function representation. Misses on 9, 10, and 17 point to formula selection and geometry vocabulary. Misses on 11 and 18 suggest the student should practice describing data displays in words, not only calculating.
A good next step is to choose the two weakest groups and make a 10-problem retake from those skills. Mixed Grade 8 practice is valuable, but only after the error pattern is clear.
Common Grade 8 Mistakes
Confusing Slope and Intercept
In y = mx + b, m is slope and b is the y-intercept. Students often identify the first number they see instead of checking the form.
Using the Pythagorean Theorem on Non-Right Triangles
The formula a^2 + b^2 = c^2 applies only to right triangles. Mark the right angle before labeling the hypotenuse.
Treating Scientific Notation as Decimal Movement Only
The exponent tells how the number is scaled by powers of 10. A small decimal such as 0.00042 needs a negative exponent.
Forgetting to Flip Inequality Signs
When multiplying or dividing both sides of an inequality by a negative number, the inequality sign reverses. Build the habit of writing a small note such as “divide by negative, flip sign” beside the step.
Three-Week Grade 8 Review Plan
| Week | Focus | Evidence of Readiness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linear equations, slope, and functions | Student can solve equations and compare tables, graphs, and equations. |
| 2 | Systems, exponents, square roots, and scientific notation | Student can solve mixed algebra problems without topic labels. |
| 3 | Geometry, transformations, data, and mixed SBA-style review | Student can explain why a formula or model fits the problem. |
Within each week, use a four-day cycle: one day for lesson review, one day for guided practice, one day for a timed mixed set, and one day for corrections. Save the fifth school day for a short quiz or for catching up on the weakest topic. Corrections should include a complete worked solution, not just the right answer.
ViewMath Washington Grade 8 Resources
ViewMath Washington Grade 8 resources include state-aligned study guides, workbooks, quizzes, 30-day review, and practice tests for SBA math and Algebra 1 readiness. Use a study guide when the student needs review explanations, a workbook when the student needs more repetition, quizzes for short checkpoints, and practice tests when timing and mixed-topic stamina are the priority.
Browse the collection at ViewMath Washington Grade 8 Math.
