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What 6th graders learn, and a free quiz

Sixth grade is when math starts turning into algebra. Kids meet ratios, negative numbers and their first equations, read for theme and evidence, study cells, weather and Earth’s layers, and travel back to the first civilizations.

By the StudyWiz teamUpdated October 22, 2026How we write our pages

Try a free 6th grade quiz

Five questions from across the year: two in math and one each in science, English and social studies. Answers are checked right on this page.

  1. MathRatios and rates

    Question 1: A pack of 6 juice boxes costs $4.20. What is the price of one juice box?

  2. MathAbsolute value

    Question 2: Which number is farthest from 0 on a number line?

  3. ScienceParts of a cell

    Question 3: Which part of a plant cell captures energy from sunlight?

  4. EnglishFigurative language

    Question 4: “The stars danced across the night sky.” What kind of figurative language is this?

  5. Social studiesAncient Egypt

    Question 5: Which river did farming in ancient Egypt depend on?

Pick an answer for each question to see your score. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

Every 6th grade topic in StudyWiz

96 topics across four subjects. In StudyWiz, each one is a level with its own 5-question quizzes.

Math

Grouped by the Common Core math domains for grade 6. The codes in parentheses are the ones teachers and worksheets use.

Ratios and proportional relationships (6.RP)

  • Ratios and rates
  • Ratio tables and double number lines
  • Unit rates and percents

The number system (6.NS)

  • Dividing fractions
  • Multi-digit division
  • Decimal operations
  • GCF and LCM
  • Negative numbers
  • Absolute value
  • The coordinate plane

Expressions and equations (6.EE)

  • Exponents and order of operations
  • Writing expressions
  • Equivalent expressions
  • One-step equations
  • Inequalities
  • Dependent and independent variables

Geometry (6.G)

  • Area of polygons
  • Polygons on the coordinate plane
  • Surface area and nets
  • Volume of prisms

Statistics and probability (6.SP)

  • Statistical questions
  • Mean, median and mode
  • Range and mean absolute deviation
  • Dot plots
  • Box plots and histograms

Science

Middle school science standards (NGSS) cover grades 6 to 8 as one band, so schools put these topics in different orders. This is the order StudyWiz uses.

Science and engineering skills

  • The scientific method
  • Measuring with the metric system
  • Engineering design

Life science

  • Cells and organisms
  • Parts of a cell
  • Body systems
  • The nervous system and senses
  • Bacteria, viruses and fungi
  • Classifying living things
  • Plants and photosynthesis
  • Ecosystems and food webs

Physical science

  • Properties of matter
  • States of matter
  • Heat and thermal energy
  • Energy

Earth and space science

  • The water cycle
  • Weather and climate
  • Air masses and fronts
  • Ocean currents and climate
  • Earth’s layers
  • Rocks and minerals
  • The rock cycle
  • Weathering and erosion
  • The solar system
  • Moon phases and eclipses

English language arts

Based on the Common Core reading, language and writing standards for grade 6.

Reading

  • Main idea and summary
  • Theme
  • Character and plot
  • Setting and mood
  • Point of view
  • Figurative language
  • Citing text evidence
  • Making inferences
  • Text structure
  • Fact and opinion
  • Claims and arguments
  • Comparing texts

Vocabulary

  • Vocabulary in context
  • Greek and Latin roots
  • Prefixes and suffixes

Grammar and conventions

  • Parts of speech
  • Pronouns
  • Sentence structure
  • Commas and punctuation
  • Subject-verb agreement
  • Commonly confused words

Writing

  • Paragraph structure
  • Writing a thesis
  • Narrative writing

Social studies

Social studies topics vary by state. StudyWiz follows a common US order: the ancient world in 6th grade, the medieval and early modern world in 7th, and US history and civics in 8th.

Geography

  • Maps and globes
  • Latitude and longitude
  • Landforms and bodies of water
  • World geography and maps
  • Climate regions of the world
  • Population and migration

History: the ancient world

  • Early humans and the Stone Age
  • Ancient civilizations
  • Mesopotamia
  • Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Israel
  • Ancient India
  • Ancient China
  • Ancient Greece
  • Ancient Rome
  • The kingdom of Kush
  • Early civilizations of the Americas
  • Trade and the Silk Road
  • World cultures

Civics

  • Types of government
  • Rights and responsibilities of citizens

Economics

  • Economics basics

How StudyWiz helps in 6th grade

Each topic above is a level on your kid’s quest map. Five quick questions earn up to three stars, every answer comes with an explanation, and quizzes come in three levels: warm-up, on level and challenge.

When the problem is tonight’s homework, your kid can type the question or snap a photo of the page, and Wiz walks through it one step at a time with a hint before each step. See how hints work.

Tips for parents of 6th graders

  • Ratios are everywhere: recipes, sports stats and prices. Asking “which size is the better deal?” at the store is real practice.
  • Negative numbers can feel strange at first. A thermometer below zero or money owed makes them concrete.
  • Ask your kid to teach you one thing they learned today. Explaining an idea is one of the best ways to remember it.

Keep reading

Try Wiz with tonight’s homework

Free to start, no card needed. Each kid gets 3 homework questions, 5 practice quizzes and 1 writing review a day on the free plan.

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