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 5.0 Knowledge of Probability

Topic B. Theoretical Probability

Indicator 1. Identify the probability of one simple event

Objective a. Describe the probability of an event using words

Assessment limit: Use probability terms of more (or most) likely, less (or least) likely, or equally likely

Selected Response Item

Diane and Charlie are playing a game with a spinner. The spinner is shown below.

What can be said about the spinner?

  1. All of the colors are equally likely.
  2. Red is more likely than yellow.
  3. Yellow is more likely than red.
  4. Red is more likely than blue.
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_math_3_009.xml

Correct Answer:
A

Selected Response Item

Joe tossed a penny and it lands on 'heads.' Which statement is correct about his next coin toss?

  1. The penny is more likely to land 'heads.'
  2. The penny is equally likely to land 'heads' or 'tails.'
  3. The penny is more likely to land 'tails.'
  4. The penny must land on 'tails.'
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_math_3_010.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

Which spinner below has been divided so that each number has an equally likely chance?


  1.  

  2.  

  3.  
/share/assessment_items/xml/items/msa_math_3_014.xml

Correct Answer:
D
Resources for Objective 5.B.1.a:
Clarifications | Thinking Skills | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS |