School Improvement in Maryland

Sample Assessments: Each sample assessment item gives an idea of how an assessment item on the MSA might be presented. The items appropriately measure the content of the VSC and may be formatted similarly to those appearing on the MSA; however, these are sample items only and have not appeared on any MSA form.

Standard 1.0 Knowledge of Algebra, Patterns, and Functions

Topic B. Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities

Indicator 2. Identify, write, solve, and apply equations and inequalities

Objective b. Determine the unknown in a linear equation

Assessment limit: Use one or two operations (+, -, ×) and the unknown only once with whole numbers (0 – 500), fractions with denominators as factors of 100 (0 – 50), or decimals with no more than three decimal places (0 – 100)
Note: Highlighted assessment limits will be tested in the no calculator section of MSA.

Selected Response Item
Note: This problem is solved without a calculator.

Look at the equation below.

What value for m makes this equation correct?


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/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_math_7_002.xml

Correct Answer:
C