Top 10 5th Grade PARCC Math Practice Questions
TL;DR: PARCC has been retired for years, but the Common Core standards behind it now drive NJSLA, MCAP, IAR, and most state tests your child might face. These 10 PARCC-style questions still prep your fifth grader cleanly for whatever your state’s current test is called. Work through them together and you will get an honest read on where your child stands, plus a feel for the kinds of questions modern Common Core tests keep returning to.
Key takeaways:
- PARCC was retired by 2019; New Jersey uses NJSLA, Maryland uses MCAP, Illinois uses IAR, DC uses CAPE.
- Successor tests still use Common Core, so PARCC-style practice transfers directly.
- Most have a two-part structure: non-calculator section plus calculator section (no calc for grade 5).
- Mix of selected response, equation builder, drag-and-drop, and constructed response.
- Spring testing windows (March-May) with math sections split over two days.
1- A bag contains \(65\) cards numbered from \(1\) to \(65\). \(13\) of the cards are white and the rest are blue. If a card is drawn at random, what is the probability that the card is white?
A. \(\frac{1}{5}\)
B. \(\frac{1}{4}\)
C. \(\frac{1}{3}\)
D. \(\frac{1}{2}\)
2- Which of the following is equivalent to \(\frac{3}{11}\)?
A. \(11 \div 3\)
B. \(3 \div 11\)
C. \(3 \times 11\)
D. \(11 – 3\)
3- What value of \(A\) makes the equation \(A+20=40\) true?
A. \(20\)
B. \(40\)
C. \(60\)
D. \(2\)
4- A car drives at a constant speed of \(50\) miles per hour. How many hours does it take to drive \(425\) miles?
A. \(7\)
B. \(7.5\)
C. \(8\)
D. \(8.5\)
5- \(50\) is what percent of \(40\)?
A. \(80\%\)
B. \(100\%\)
C. \(125\%\)
D. \(150\%\)
6- The perimeter of a trapezoid is \(52\) cm. Its parallel sides (bases) are \(12\) cm and \(14\) cm, and one of its non-parallel sides is \(18\) cm. What is the area of the trapezoid in \(cm^2\)? ______
7- The area of a circle is \(64 \pi\). What is the circumference of the circle?
A. \(8 π\)
B. \(16 π\)
C. \(32 π\)
D. \(64 π\)
8- A rope weighs 800 grams per meter of length. What is the weight in kilograms of 12.2 meters of this rope? (1 kilograms = 1000 grams)
A. 0.0976
B. 0.976
C. 9.76
D. 9760
9- Solve.
\(\frac{1}{2} + \frac{4}{5} – \frac{3}{10} =?\)
A. \(\frac{9}{10}\)
B. \(\frac{2}{10}\)
C. 1
D. 2
10- How many \(\frac{1}{4}\) cup servings are in a package of cheese that contains \(6 \frac{1}{2}\) cups altogether?_________
Best 5th Grade PARCC Math Prep Resource for 2026
Answers:
1- A
There are 65 cards in the bag and 13 of them are white. Then, 13 out of 65 cards are white. You can write this as: \(\frac{13}{65}\).
To simplify this fraction, divide both numerator and denominator by 13. Then:
\(\frac{13}{65}=\frac{1}{5}\)
2- B
\(\frac{3}{11}\) means 3 is divided by 11. The fraction line simply means division or \(÷\). Therefore, we can write \(\frac{3}{11}\) as \(3 ÷ 11\).
3- A
Plugin 20 for A in the equations. Only option A works.
\(A+20=40\)
\(20+20=40\)
4- D
50 miles: 1 hour
425 miles: \(425 ÷ 50 = 8.5\) hours
5- C
Use percent formula:
\(part =\frac{percent}{100}× whole\)
\(50=\frac{percent}{100}× 40⇒ 50 = \frac{percent ×40}{100}⇒ 50 = \frac{percent ×4}{10}\)
multiply both sides by 10.
500 = percent \(×4\), divide both sides by 4.
125 = percent
6- 104
First, find the missing side of the trapezoid. The perimeter of the trapezoid below is 52. Therefore, the missing side of the trapezoid (its height) is: \(52-12-18-14=52-44=8\)
Area of a trapezoid: \(A = \frac{1}{2} h (b_{1} + b_{2}) = \frac{1}{2} (8) (12 + 14) = 104\)
7- B
Use area and circumference of a circle formula.
Area of a circle = \(πr^2 ⇒ 64π = πr^2 ⇒ r= 8\)
Circumference of a circle = \(2πr ⇒ C = 2×8×π ⇒ C =16π\)
8- C
1 meter of the rope = 800 grams 12.2 meter of the rope = \(12.2 × 800 =9,760 \)grams = 9.76 kilograms
9- C
\(\frac{1}{2} + \frac{4}{5} – \frac{3}{10} = \frac{(5×1)+(2×4)-(1×3)}{10} =\frac{10}{10}=1\)
10- 26
To solve this problem, divide \(6\frac{1}{2}\) by \(\frac{1}{4}\).
\(6\frac{1}{2}÷\frac{1}{4}=\frac{13}{2}÷\frac{1}{4}=\frac{13}{2}×\frac{4}{1}=26\)
Looking for the best resource to help you succeed on the 5th Grade PARCC Math test?
The Best Books to Ace the 5th Grade PARCC Math Test
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Since most former PARCC states have moved to their own assessments, the Mastering Grade 5 Math still covers the same Common Core-aligned standards with worked examples. For extra word-problem practice, see Mastering Grade 5 Math Word Problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wait – is PARCC still given?
No – PARCC was retired in nearly every state by 2019. New Jersey replaced it with NJSLA, Maryland uses MCAP, Illinois uses IAR, the District of Columbia uses DC CAPE, and so on. The Common Core standards PARCC was built on are still alive, so PARCC practice questions are excellent prep for the successor tests, which use the same standards.
What’s on the 5 grade PARCC Math test?
Grade 5 PARCC Math (and its successors) cover multi-digit operations with whole numbers and decimals, fractions with unlike denominators, volume, the coordinate plane, and multi-step word problems, aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Items are grouped into Major Content, Additional and Supporting Content, and Mathematical Reasoning and Modeling.
Which test should my child actually take if PARCC is gone?
It depends on your state. New Jersey: NJSLA. Maryland: MCAP. Illinois: IAR. Massachusetts: MCAS. Colorado: CMAS. New Mexico: NM-MSSA. DC: DC CAPE. All of them use Common Core-aligned content, so the practice questions on this page still match what your child will see.
How are the successor tests structured?
Most use a two-part structure (similar to the old PARCC): a non-calculator section testing fluency and concepts, and a second section with constructed-response items where your child shows work. Total testing time is usually 2-3 hours split across two days.
Is a calculator allowed?
No – calculators aren’t allowed on grade 5 math for any of the PARCC successor tests. Your child needs solid recall of multiplication facts and basic operations. A formula reference sheet is sometimes provided at grade 5 for volume.
What question types appear?
Multiple choice, multi-select, drag-and-drop, equation builder, short response (1-2 points), and at least one extended response per math test. Constructed-response items count for roughly a third of the total score.
How is the test scored?
The successor tests report performance levels (typically four or five). Most label the grade-level target as “Met” or “Proficient.” The exact cut score varies by state and year, but most are calibrated so 30-40% of students reach Proficient at grade 4.
When is the test given?
Spring testing window, usually March through May depending on the state. Your district sets the exact dates. Math is typically given over two non-consecutive school days.
How should we study?
Three habits help most: (1) 15-20 minutes of focused practice four or five days a week, (2) one timed practice test a couple of weeks out so your fifth grader gets used to the pacing, and (3) reviewing every missed item together to find real gaps.
Where can my child get more practice for our state’s test?
EffortlessMath has grade-5 practice for many state-specific successors to PARCC – NJSLA, MCAP, IAR, MCAS, CMAS, and more. The Related Lessons section below links to step-by-step explanations of the same Common Core skills any of those tests measure.
Related EffortlessMath Lessons
If a topic on this page feels rusty, these short lessons go deeper:
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