The Best MCAS Prep Books for Grades 3-8 of 2024

If you are wondering how to pass the Math MCAS, ELA MCAS, or Science MCAS, this post will help you with the book choice. We reviewed the best MCAS prep books for grades 3-8. Most books are specially written to cover the skills needed to pass the Massachusetts state test.

If you don’t know much about MCAS, let us briefly explain it to you. MCAS, abbreviated from the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, is a standardized state test used to evaluate the educational system in public schools. MCAS tests are mandatory for every student in public schools in grades 3-8, 10-11. Subjects assessed by MCAS are Math and English Language Arts in each of the mentioned grade, and science for grades 5, 8, 10,11.

Make sure to take a look at a few tips that will help you pass this annual testing.

Last update: 2024-04-26

Top MCAS Prep Books for 3rd Grade

English Language and Grammar Skill Builder, Grade 3 by Lumos Learning

This book will enhance third-graders’ English Language skills and grammar and prepare them for MCAS testing. Over 150000 students improve their results using this workbook.

Why Choose this Book:

• The book uses practice questions and detailed explanations for each answer to get you ready for the test.
• With this book’s purchase, you get online activities, apps, and instructional videos. These supplements offer hundreds of additional practice questions.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• Parents can review their kids’ performance with a special app.
• The book is self-paced unless used at school with a teacher. After completion, you receive instant personalized feedback.

Last update: 2024-04-26

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MASSACHUSETTS TEST PREP MCAS Practice Book Mathematics Grade 3 by Test Master Press Massachusetts

This prep book is designed to cover all math skills that 3rd-graders need to pass the MCAS test.

It is updated according to the Next-Generation MCAS requirements.

Why Choose this Book:

• It will prepare you for all types of questions and tasks that you can find on the real test, including questions with multiple answers, short answers, and open answers.
• Each answer is explained in-depth and identifies your missing math skills.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• The book includes ten MCAS practice tests for grade 3 math: two short ones to familiarize you with testing, and eight one-hour-long sets.
• The longer test sets reduce anxiety over the upcoming test allowing you to know what to expect.

Last update: 2024-04-26

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Recommended MCAS Prep Books for 4th Grade

MCAS Math Workbook for Grade 4 by Michael Smith, Reza Nazari

MCAS Math Workbook for Grade 4 covers all topics that you need to know to pass the MCAS math test successfully.

The exercises and MCAS math prep worksheets will improve your knowledge of arithmetic, fundamental math, geometry, algebra, probability, and more.

Why Choose this Book:

• The tasks are fun, interactive, and easy to follow. They are designed to build confidence and overcome anxiety.
• More than 2000 math questions and two full-length MCAS math practice tests for grade 4 are included in the workbook.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• The tasks are conveniently divided into sections by the topics. You can easily navigate between the issues you are struggling with.
• The workbook prepares you for all new types of math questions. All questions are answered and explained.

Last update: 2024-04-26

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MASSACHUSETTS TEST PREP English Language Arts Reading Workbook Grade 4 by Test Master Press Massachusetts

The book’s purpose is to develop your reading skills and, at the same time, prepare you for the Next-Generation MCAS ELA Grade 4 test.

Why Choose this Book:

• The book includes 48 texts and questions to them that improve reading and English language skills.
• The texts are diverse are include literary, informational, and paired passages.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• The texts and questions are structured into 20-minute study sessions. Short practices will easily fit into your schedule and are low-stress.
• The questions require different answer types from a choice of a correct variant to essay answers.

Last update: 2024-04-26

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The Best MCAS Prep Books for 5th Grade

6 Full-Length MCAS Grade 5 Math Practice Tests by Michael Smith, Reza Nazari

The best way to know your math skills, identify weak spots, and get ready for the test, is to practice with simulation tests. This book provides six practice tests that are much like real MCAS assessment.

Why Choose this Book:

• The tests in this book are almost identical to the real test in format, length, question types, and difficulty level.
• Detailed answers and real test simulation will improve your confidence, knowledge foundation, and testing skills.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• The book is written by the MCAS Math best experts and instructors.
• The content of the tests is completely aligned with the MCAS evaluation.

Last update: 2024-04-26

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Differentiated Lessons and Assessments: Science, Grade 5 by Julia Mcmeans

This book features many activities, fun ways of presenting science information, and necessary assessments for positive MCAS Science test results.

Why Choose this Book:

• The eight units cover cells, the human body, space, Earth and the Solar System, properties of matter, chemical changes in matter, forces and motion, and energy.
• The tasks and information are very engaging and exciting. Each unit suggests science-related projects and activities.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• It offers vocabulary crossword puzzles, multiple-choice, graphic, true-false, matching, and sentence-completion assessments after each unit with answer keys at the end of the book.
• The book reviews main concepts in a precise way, providing just enough information you will need for the MCAS test.

Last update: 2024-04-27

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The Number-One MCAS Prep Books for 6th Grade

Expressions & Equations and Geometry Skill Builder, Grade 6 by Lumos Learning

Six-grade math can get very complicated, and you can make it easier by focusing on one concept or issue at a time. This workbook offers geometry, equations, and expressions practice questions.

Why Choose this Book:

• Expressions & Equations and Geometry Skill Builder, Grade 6 provides hundreds of questions, online resources, explanations to each answer, and parent/teacher portal.
• Many students find geometry complicated, especially later in middle and high school. This book will prepare you for the test and set up a stable foundation for your future math classes.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• It is one of three volumes by Lumos Learning designed for improving 6th-graders’ math skills. The other two are Statistics and Probability and Ratios and Number System.
• The book combines fundamental and challenging math problems that students of all levels will benefit from.

Last update: 2024-04-26

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Next Generation MCAS English Language Arts Literacy Grade 6 by Lumos Learning

Lumos designed this prep book to meet all MCAS standards and cover all skills you will need on the test.

Why Choose this Book:

• The workbook improves reading and language skills and gives advice on better test performance.
• With the book, you will get online MCAS preparation materials.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• It includes benefits for teachers, like access to teaching materials, and parents, like reports on kids’ performance.
• This workbook offers access to two realistic Grade 6 ELA MCAS online practice tests.

Last update: 2024-04-27

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Popular MCAS Prep Books for 7th Grade

MCAS English Language Arts, Grade 7 by Editors of REA

MCAS English Language Arts, Grade 7 is an excellent prep choice for your upcoming test. The tasks and lessons are designed specifically for this test and cover all parts of it, including language, literature, and composition.

Why Choose this Book:

• The lessons are interactive and smart. Graphics and color icons highlight key concepts and questions. Tutorials improve specific knowledge needed on the MCAS test.
• The tips and testing strategies for students and parents are written particularly for the MCAS testing.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• The book begins with a pretest that allows you to evaluate your skills and know what will be on the real test.
• The full-length practice test at the end will create a real-life test experience and help you review your skills after the book completion.

Last update: 2024-04-26

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MCAS 7 Math Test Preparation and Study Guide by Michael Smith and Reza Nazari

MCAS 7 Math Test Preparation and Study Guide is designed to help you find and fill in all your weak spots before your MCAS Math Grade 7 test.

Why Choose this Book:

• The book features over 2000 math questions and two full-length practice tests.
• The topics are conveniently structured into sections, which means you can easily navigate and find most needed exercises.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• This prep is the only one you will really need. But if you want even more practice questions, the authors offer three other grade 7 test books.
• The tasks and the information are provided by the MCAS Math experts.

Last update: 2024-04-27

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The Best MCAS Prep Books for 8th Grade

Cracking the MCAS Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering by Lisa Elmore

This book is beneficial even to students with straight A’s in science. It teaches how to take a test and what you need to know.

Why Choose this Book:

• This guide doesn’t teach everything in the grade 7 Science curriculum, just what you will need on the test.
• The book ends with two simulated MCAS tests with each solution explained.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• Cracking the MCAS Grade 8 Science and Technology/Engineering teaches strategies that help find the right answer even when you don’t know it. Strategies include a two-pass system, aggressive guessing, and process of elimination.
• You will learn what the most common MCAS Science Grade 8 test traps are and where other students tend to make mistakes.

Last update: 2024-04-27

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Roadmap to the MCAS Grade 8 Math by Princeton Review

The content of the book is based on Massachusetts standards and MCAS. Everything you need to know is in this guide.

Why Choose this Book:

• The detailed lessons are structured into 39 sections, including scientific notation, fractions, ratios, proportions, algebraic equations, area, probability, how to answer questions, and much more.
• Two full-length simulated tests will familiarize you with the test’s structure and various question types.

What Makes this MCAS Prep Books Unique:

• It has proven its ability to improve students’ test results over the years.
• The strategies included in the book will turn what you already know and what you will learn from this book into a positive test result.

Last update: 2024-04-27

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How to Choose the Best MCAS Prep Books for Grade 3-8 for You

Since MCAS is a statewide test, there aren’t too many choices to pick from. But we have a few things to help you decide what book works best for you.

1. Take a free MCAS practice test to find weak areas in your knowledge and testing skills.
2. Depending on the result, try to find a prep book that covers most needed information. Don’t necessarily buy MCAS prep books. Check out other general books that will help you fill in your weak spots.
3. Try to pick books with online resources such as apps, online activities, instructional videos, etc.
4. Check whether the book has test tips and strategies.
5. Choose new books over used ones. The used books usually have the right answers marked and, in most cases, won’t give you access to online supplements.
6. Instead of buying a book, take an online MCAS prep course, where all materials are provided.

Prep books are great, but there are other things you can do to get the highest result on MCAS tests.

You can use summer reading books to set a better foundation for your whole year of studying.

Choose a learning technique that is the most useful for you. If you learn more from practicing questions, solve as many of them as you can. If you memorize mostly from reading, read the information a few times.

Sometimes you may not know the answer. Some strategies help pick the right answer even if you have no idea what it is. These strategies are much less effective though than learning!

Wrapping Things Up: The Best MCAS Prep Books for Grades 3-8

Putting everything together, in this guide we reviewed the following:

Last update: 2024-04-26

Any of the books reviewed in this post will be a great help. Pick the one you need and apply some effort to complete it before your MCAS testing. Try to complete at least one full-length simulated test to understand what will happen on the real assessment.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Start preparing as soon as you can, one short study session at a time.

MCAS tests sound scary, but remember that hundreds of students have passed them so you will easily pass as well. But make sure to study and practice different types of questions as much as you can.

If you found this helpful, you’ll love our other texbook reviews here.