Preparing for the TAKS Test: 7th Grade Math Objectives

What Are the Math Objectives in 7th Grade?

The items on the TAKS test will be directly aligned with the 7th grade math standards that are adopted by the state of Texas. Along with reviewing the math skills for this grade level, you will also want to make sure that your child can communicate using appropriate math language and symbols. It is equally important that your child is capable of understanding a given problem, making a math plan, effectively carrying out the plan and determining if a solution is reasonable. Regardless of the type of math problem your child is presented with, he or she should be able to choose an appropriate strategy to solve a problem.

Geometry and Spatial Reasoning

This focus area requires your child to classify quadrilaterals, triangles and 3-dimensional figures, such as cones, prisms, cylinders and pyramids. It is also essential that your child can sketch a variety of 3-dimensional figures and use angle measurements to classify a pair of angles as complementary or supplementary. Your student must be able to identify points on a coordinate plane and then graph the translation and reflection of the points.

Probability and Statistics

At the 7th grade level, your student will learn to determine the probability of an event. Your child should also be able to take a set of data and represent it appropriately in a graph, chart or table. Once the data has been displayed, be sure your 7th grader can make inferences about the data and describe it using mean, median and mode.

Measurement

The measurement focus area requires that your 7th grader can estimate the measurement of an object's length, the area of a polygon and the volume of a cylinder and a prism. Your child should also know how to solve real-world problems that involve actually measuring length, area and volume.

Number, Operation, and Quantitative Reasoning

To prepare for the TAKS test, have your child practice converting numbers between decimals, fractions, percents and whole numbers. Your student will also be expected to solve problems that have him or her adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing and then checking the answer to determine its reasonableness. Your child should be able to represent fractions, decimals, squares and square roots using words, numerals, pictures and models. Be sure that when given an expression or equation, your child is able to simplify it using exponents and order of operations. Lastly, 7th graders must be able to use division to determine the ratio and unit rate of a proportional relationship, like speed or density.

Patterns, Relationships, and Algebraic Thinking

In this focus area, your child will need to know how to estimate and solve problems containing proportions and percent. Your student should understand formulas related to converting units within the same system, as well as formulas to determine perimeter, volume, area and circumference. Your child must also be able to solve equations and use appropriate symbols and words to describe the relationship between terms in a math sequence.