Seventh grade is where math starts to get genuinely difficult for a lot of students. The content isn’t just harder — the way problems are written changes. Word problems on the STAAR Grade 7 test often involve multiple steps, embedded proportional reasoning, and the kind of algebraic thinking that requires students to translate language into mathematics.
This guide covers the major TEKS-aligned topics for Grade 7, the word problem types that show up most on STAAR-style assessments, and a set of original practice problems with answers. It’s designed to be useful both for students working independently and for parents or teachers guiding preparation.
Major STAAR Grade 7 Math Topics
STAAR is aligned to the Texas TEKS for Grade 7. ViewMath is not affiliated with the Texas Education Agency. For official information, visit tea.texas.gov.
Proportional Relationships
This is the central thread of Grade 7 math. Students work with proportional relationships in tables, graphs, equations, and verbal descriptions. Key skills include: identifying the constant of proportionality (unit rate), writing equations of the form y = kx, and distinguishing proportional from non-proportional relationships.
Percent Applications
Percent increase, percent decrease, simple interest, sales tax, gratuity, and commission all appear in Grade 7 TEKS. Students calculate each of these in context and solve for missing values — for example, finding the original price given a sale price and discount percentage.
Equations and Inequalities
Students write and solve one-variable, two-step equations and inequalities. They model real-world situations algebraically and interpret solutions in context. A common sticking point: students solve the equation correctly but then don’t interpret the meaning of the answer in terms of the original problem.
Geometry: Circles and Composite Figures
Students calculate the circumference and area of circles (C = 2πr and A = πr²) and apply these formulas to composite figure problems. They also use angle relationships — supplementary, complementary, vertical, and adjacent angles.
Probability
Students find experimental probability from data and theoretical probability from sample spaces. They distinguish between the two and use proportional reasoning to make predictions based on probability. Tree diagrams and organized lists are used to count outcomes.
Statistics
Students compare two data sets using measures of center (mean, median) and spread (range, mean absolute deviation), and they use random samples to make inferences about populations.
15 Grade 7 Word Problems with Answers
Proportional Relationships
1. A car travels 240 miles in 4 hours at a constant speed. At this rate, how far will it travel in 7 hours?
2. The table below shows the cost y of renting a bike for x hours: (1, $8), (2, $16), (3, $24). Is the relationship proportional? If so, write an equation and find the cost for 5 hours.
3. A map has a scale of 1 inch : 25 miles. Two cities are 3.4 inches apart on the map. What is the actual distance between the cities?
Percents
4. A jacket originally costs $85. It is on sale for 30% off. What is the sale price?
5. Marcus scored 44 out of 50 on his math quiz. What is his percentage score?
6. A restaurant bill is $56. If you leave a 20% tip, what is the total amount paid?
7. A store bought a shirt for $20 and sold it for $28. What is the percent markup?
Equations and Inequalities
8. Sofia has $145 in her savings account. She deposits the same amount each week. After 6 weeks, she has $253. Write and solve an equation to find how much she deposits each week.
9. The sum of a number and 13 is less than 30. Write an inequality and find the largest whole number that satisfies it.
10. Three more than twice a number equals 17. Find the number.
Geometry
11. A circle has a diameter of 10 cm. Find its circumference and area. Use π ≈ 3.14.
12. Two angles are supplementary. One angle measures 118°. What is the other angle?
13. A park is shaped like a semicircle attached to a rectangle. The rectangle is 20 m wide and 15 m tall. The semicircle sits on top of the rectangle with the same width. What is the total area of the park? Use π ≈ 3.14.
Probability and Statistics
14. A bag contains 4 red marbles, 6 blue marbles, and 10 green marbles. If one marble is drawn at random, what is the probability of drawing a blue marble?
15. In a class survey of 25 students, 15 said they prefer math to reading. If the school has 400 students total, about how many would you predict prefer math to reading?
Answer Key
- 420 miles. (240 ÷ 4 = 60 mph; 60 × 7 = 420)
- Yes, proportional. Equation: y = 8x. Cost for 5 hours = $40.
- 85 miles. (3.4 × 25 = 85)
- $59.50. (85 × 0.30 = $25.50 discount; $85 − $25.50 = $59.50)
- 88%. (44 ÷ 50 = 0.88 = 88%)
- $67.20. ($56 × 0.20 = $11.20 tip; $56 + $11.20 = $67.20)
- 40%. (($28 − $20) ÷ $20 = 0.40 = 40%)
- 145 + 6w = 253; w = 18. She deposits $18 per week.
- n + 13 < 30; n < 17. The largest whole number is 16.
- 2n + 3 = 17; n = 7.
- Radius = 5 cm. C = 2 × 3.14 × 5 = 31.4 cm. A = 3.14 × 5² = 78.5 cm².
- 62°. (180° − 118° = 62°)
- Rectangle area = 20 × 15 = 300 m². Semicircle radius = 10 m. Semicircle area = ½ × 3.14 × 10² = 157 m². Total = 457 m².
- 6/20 = 3/10 = 0.30 or 30%.
- 240 students. (15/25 = 0.60; 0.60 × 400 = 240)
Strategies for Tackling Word Problems
Beyond knowing the math, students who do well on STAAR word problems tend to use a consistent approach:
- Read the last sentence first. This tells you what the question is actually asking. Then read the full problem with that goal in mind.
- Identify what type of problem it is. Is this a percent? A proportion? An equation setup? Naming the type helps you recall the right strategy.
- Write down the setup before calculating. Even when mental math would work, writing the equation or proportion builds in a check against careless errors.
- Check the units and the reasonableness of the answer. A speed of 600 miles per minute is a signal to go back. A 30% discount that results in a higher price is a sign that something went wrong.
ViewMath Texas STAAR Grade 7 Math Books
We’ve designed the ViewMath Grade 7 Texas STAAR series specifically for TEKS-aligned practice, and we think they’re among the most useful books available for Grade 7 prep. Every question in the series is written to reflect the style and depth of actual STAAR questions — not just basic skill practice.
The Texas STAAR Grade 7 Math in 30 Days guide is a great fit for students who want structured daily coverage with built-in review. For students who want to simulate the full test experience, the 10 Texas STAAR Grade 7 Math Practice Tests is the deepest resource in the series. The Texas STAAR Grade 7 Math Made Easy is designed for students who need more accessible explanations before they’re ready to tackle full test questions.
All books are available as instant PDF downloads. Browse the full collection at viewmath.com/books/grade-7-math/grade-7-math-texas-staar-teks/.
