Give this before the unit. It doesn't test the new standard (8.G.A.1, transformations). It checks the grade 4, 6 and 7 skills that standard builds on, so you can see who is ready and what to review first. It isn't meant to be graded. The answer key, with what each part tells you and how to reteach it, prints on its own page after it.

Pre-Assessment: Getting Ready for Transformations

Grade 8 · Checks earlier skills: 6.NS.C.6, 6.NS.C.8, 7.NS.A.1, 4.G.A.3, 4.MD.C.5

Name

Date

Part A: Points on a grid 6.NS.C.8

1. Write the coordinates of each corner of the triangle.

A( ) B( ) C( )

2. Plot and label P(−3, 2), Q(2, −4) and R(0, −1).

How sure do you feel? Not yet A little I've got it

Part B: Opposites 6.NS.C.6

3. The opposite of 4 is . The opposite of −7 is .

4. Points (3, 2) and (3, −2) are the same except for one sign. Which axis are they mirror images across?

the -axis

5. Points (−5, 1) and (5, 1) are mirror images across which axis?

the -axis

How sure do you feel? Not yet A little I've got it

Part C: Adding and subtracting integers 7.NS.A.1

6. −3 + 5 =

7. 2 + (−6) =

8. −4 − 3 =

9. An elevator is on floor 2. It goes up 5 floors. Which floor now?

How sure do you feel? Not yet A little I've got it

Part D: Symmetry and turns 4.G.A.3, 4.MD.C.5

10. Draw the line of symmetry on the butterfly. What happens if you fold along it?

11. A Ferris wheel car makes a quarter turn. How many degrees is that? A half turn?

quarter ° half °

12. Which way do a clock's hands move: clockwise or counterclockwise? Draw an arrow.

How sure do you feel? Not yet A little I've got it

Answer Key: Pre-Assessment

Getting Ready for Transformations · for the teacher

A(1, 1), B(4, 1), C(1, 4)
P is 3 left, 2 up; Q is 2 right, 4 down; R is on the y-axis, 1 down.
−4; 7
the x-axis (only the y-coordinate changed sign)
the y-axis (only the x-coordinate changed sign)
2
−4
−7
floor 7
A vertical line down the middle of the body; the two halves match exactly (one wing lands on the other).
quarter turn 90°, half turn 180°
clockwise

What each part tells you

Part	Why it matters for this unit	If many students miss it
A: Points	Every transformation is done point by point on the grid.	Play Battle on the Coordinate Plane first.
B: Opposites	Reflections over an axis just change one coordinate to its opposite. #4 and #5 are reflections already.	Fold a coordinate grid along each axis and see which points land on each other.
C: Integers	Translations add to the coordinates: (x + 3, y − 5).	A number-line warm-up: "start at −3, move 5 right."
D: Symmetry and turns	Reflections are folds; rotations are turns of 90°, 180° or 270°, clockwise or counterclockwise.	Turn a sheet of paper a quarter turn at a time on the desk, with a dot to follow.

Reading the results: students who get #4 and #5 already understand reflections over the axes; move them quickly to rotations. Compare the “How sure do you feel?” circles with the answers: a student who circles “I've got it” but misses the part is worth a quick conversation.