Elementary School Math Quiz: Analyze And Compare Shapes
19 questions · exam conditions
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Analyze And Compare ShapesQuestion 1 of 19

In the figure, which shape has EXACTLY 4 sides that are all the SAME length?

Question graphic
Shape A (rectangle)
Shape B (square)
Shape C (triangle)
Shape D (circle)
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Elementary School Math Quiz

Elementary School Math Quiz: Analyze And Compare Shapes

Practice Analyze And Compare Shapes in Elementary School Math with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Analyze And Compare Shapes, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Elementary School Math.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

In the figure, which shape has EXACTLY 4 sides that are all the SAME length?

  1. Shape A (rectangle)
  2. Shape B (square) (correct answer)
  3. Shape C (triangle)
  4. Shape D (circle)
Explanation: When you're looking at shapes, two things matter: how many sides (straight edges) it has, and whether those sides are the same length as each other. A side is one straight edge of a shape. Let's check each shape for both rules: exactly 4 sides AND all sides the same length. A square (Shape B) has 4 straight sides, and every single side is the same length. That matches both rules perfectly, so B is the answer. Shape A, the rectangle, does have 4 sides — but a rectangle has two long sides and two short sides. The sides are not all the same length, so it fails the second rule. This is a common trap because rectangles and squares look similar; the difference is that a square's sides must ALL match. Shape C, the triangle, only has 3 sides, so it fails right away — it doesn't have 4 sides at all. Shape D, the circle, has no straight sides. A circle is one curved line, so it can't have 4 equal sides. A helpful way to remember: a square is special because it needs both things — 4 sides and all sides equal. When a question asks about "same length sides," slow down and count carefully, then compare the sides to each other. Don't pick a shape just because it has 4 sides — check the lengths too!

Question 2

Look at the four shapes in the figure. Which shape has the SAME number of corners as the triangle but is a DIFFERENT size?

  1. Shape A
  2. Shape B
  3. Shape C (correct answer)
  4. Shape D
Explanation: When you see a shape question like this, focus on two things separately: counting the corners (also called vertices, where two sides meet) and comparing the size. A triangle always has exactly 3 corners, so you're looking for another shape with 3 corners — but one that is either bigger or smaller than the original triangle. To match the triangle, the shape must also be a triangle (since any 3-cornered shape is a triangle). Then, among the triangles in the figure, you pick the one that is a different size. Shape C is a triangle of a different size, so it matches both conditions — same number of corners (3), different size. Now let's check the others. Shape A is a square, which has 4 corners, not 3, so it doesn't match the triangle's corner count. Shape B is a circle, which has 0 corners (it's perfectly round with no straight sides meeting), so it can't match either. Shape D might be a triangle that is the same size as the original, which fails the "different size" part of the question — you need both conditions to be true. A helpful tip: when a question asks for two conditions ("same   but different  "), check them one at a time. First eliminate shapes that fail the first condition, then from what's left, pick the one that satisfies the second. This two-step check keeps you from being tricked by shapes that only match half of what's asked.

Question 3

In the figure, two shapes are shown. Which sentence BEST describes how they are alike?

  1. They both have 4 corners (correct answer)
  2. They are both the same size
  3. They both have curved sides
  4. They both have 3 sides
Explanation: When you compare two shapes, look carefully at what they share: the number of sides, the number of corners, whether the sides are straight or curved, and their size. Since this question asks how the shapes are alike, you need to find the one description that is true for both shapes. Shapes that have 4 corners include squares and rectangles. A square and a rectangle look different (one is longer than the other), but they both have exactly 4 corners where their sides meet. That shared feature makes A the best description of how they are alike. Now look at why the other choices don't work. B is wrong because "same size" means the shapes would have to match in how big they are — a square and a rectangle are usually different sizes, so this isn't what makes them alike. C is wrong because curved sides belong to shapes like circles or ovals; squares and rectangles have straight sides, not curved ones. D is wrong because 3 sides describes a triangle. If both shapes had 3 sides, they'd be triangles, but here the shapes have 4 sides each, not 3. A helpful tip: when a question asks how two shapes are alike, count the corners and sides first, then check if the sides are straight or curved. Size is usually a trick answer because two shapes can share features (like number of corners) even when they look different in size. Focus on what stays the same, not what looks different.

Question 4

Look at the shapes in the diagram. Which shape has MORE sides than a triangle but FEWER sides than a hexagon?

  1. Shape W
  2. Shape X (correct answer)
  3. Shape Y
  4. Shape Z
Explanation: When a question asks you to find something "more than   but fewer than  ," you're looking for a number that falls between two other numbers. So the first step is to figure out those two boundary numbers. A triangle has 3 sides, and a hexagon has 6 sides. That means you need a shape with 4 or 5 sides — something in between. Shapes with 4 sides are called quadrilaterals (like squares and rectangles), and a shape with 5 sides is a pentagon. Shape X has 4 sides, which fits perfectly: 4 is more than 3 and fewer than 6. That's why B is correct. Now let's check the others:
  • A) Shape W has 3 sides (it's a triangle itself). The question says you need more than a triangle, so 3 doesn't count — it has to be greater.
  • C) Shape Y has 6 sides, making it a hexagon. But the question says fewer than a hexagon, so 6 is too many.
  • D) Shape Z has 7 or more sides, which is more than a hexagon. That breaks the "fewer than a hexagon" rule.
Tip to remember: When a question uses the words "between," "more than but fewer than," or "in the middle," picture a number line. Mark the two boundary numbers, and only pick something that lands between them — not on them. Also, memorize your shape names by side count: triangle (3), quadrilateral (4), pentagon (5), hexagon (6).

Question 5

Look at the figure. How many MORE corners does the square have than the triangle?

  1. 0 more corners
  2. 1 more corner (correct answer)
  3. 2 more corners
  4. 3 more corners
Explanation: When you're comparing shapes, one helpful thing to remember is how many corners (also called vertices) each shape has. A square always has 4 corners, and a triangle always has 3 corners. Those numbers stay the same no matter how big or small the shape is, or which way it's turned. To find how many MORE corners the square has, you subtract: 4−3=14 - 3 = 1. So the square has 1 more corner than the triangle, which matches choice B. Choice A (0 more) would only be right if both shapes had the same number of corners — but a square and triangle do not. Choice C (2 more) would mean the triangle only has 2 corners, but a triangle always has 3. Choice D (3 more) would mean the triangle has no corners at all, like a circle — but triangles definitely have corners! A great way to remember: the word "triangle" starts with "tri," which means three, so it has 3 corners. A square looks like a window or a cracker with 4 equal sides and 4 corners. Whenever a question asks "how many more," think subtraction — take the bigger number and subtract the smaller one.

Question 6

Look at the two shapes in the figure. Which statement is TRUE?

  1. They have the same number of sides but different sizes (correct answer)
  2. They have different numbers of sides and different sizes
  3. They have the same number of sides and the same size
  4. They have different numbers of sides but the same size
Explanation: When you compare two shapes, there are two separate things to check: how many sides each shape has (this tells you what kind of shape it is) and how big each shape is (this tells you the size). Two shapes can be the same kind but different sizes — think of a big square and a little square. They're both squares (4 sides each), but one is larger. In this figure, both shapes are the same type of shape, meaning they have an equal number of sides, but one is clearly bigger than the other. That makes A the true statement: same number of sides, different sizes. Choice B is wrong because the shapes actually do share the same number of sides — they're the same kind of shape, just scaled differently. Choice C is wrong because, while the side count matches, the sizes clearly don't; one shape is bigger than the other. Choice D flips the truth around: it claims the sides differ but the sizes match, which is the opposite of what you see. A helpful tip: when a question shows two shapes, always ask yourself two questions separately — "Do they have the same number of sides?" and "Are they the same size?" Answer each one on its own before picking a choice. Shapes can match in one way and differ in another, and that's usually what these questions are testing!

Question 7

In the figure, four shapes are shown. How many of them have curved parts?

  1. 1 shape
  2. 4 shapes
  3. 3 shapes
  4. 2 shapes (correct answer)
Explanation: When you look at shapes, it helps to sort them into two groups: shapes made only of straight lines (like squares, rectangles, and triangles) and shapes that have curved parts (like circles, ovals, and half-circles). A "curved part" means any edge that bends smoothly instead of going in a straight line. In this figure, you count each shape and check its edges. Two of the four shapes have edges that bend — such as a circle or an oval — while the other two are made entirely of straight lines. That gives you 2 shapes with curved parts, which matches choice D. Choice A (1 shape) is too few — you might pick this if you only noticed the circle and forgot another rounded shape. Choice B (4 shapes) would only be right if every single shape had a curve, but shapes like squares and triangles have only straight sides. Choice C (3 shapes) is a common trap if you accidentally count a shape with slanted straight edges (like a triangle) as "curved" — remember, slanted is not the same as curved! A helpful tip: trace each shape with your finger. If your finger moves in a smooth bend at any point, that shape has a curved part. If your finger only makes sharp turns at corners, it's all straight lines. Counting carefully — one shape at a time — keeps you from missing any or double-counting.

Question 8

Refer to the figure. Which real-world object is shaped MOST like the shape shown?

  1. A soup can (correct answer)
  2. A dice cube
  3. A basketball
  4. A party hat
Explanation: When you're matching 3D shapes to real-world objects, think about the features of the shape: Does it have flat circular ends? Flat square sides? Is it perfectly round? Does it come to a point? Each shape has clues that match everyday objects. A cylinder has two flat circular faces (top and bottom) connected by a curved side that wraps around. A soup can has exactly these features — a circle on top, a circle on the bottom, and a smooth curved label wrapping around the middle. That makes A the perfect match for a cylinder. Choice B, a dice cube, is wrong because a cube has 6 flat square faces and sharp corners — no curves anywhere. Choice C, a basketball, is wrong because a basketball is a sphere: it's round all over with no flat faces at all. Choice D, a party hat, is wrong because a party hat is a cone — it has one circular base and comes to a single point at the top, unlike a cylinder which stays the same width from top to bottom. A helpful trick: look at the ends of the shape. Two flat circles = cylinder (can). Six flat squares = cube (dice). No flat parts, all round = sphere (ball). One flat circle plus a point = cone (party hat). Matching the number and type of faces to everyday objects will help you solve shape questions quickly!

Question 9

Look at the shapes shown. Emma wants to group shapes that have something important in common. Which two shapes should she put together?

  1. The circle and triangle because they both have curved parts
  2. The rectangle and triangle because they both have straight sides and corners (correct answer)
  3. The circle and rectangle because they both have smooth edges all around
  4. The triangle and circle because they both have exactly three important parts
Explanation: The rectangle and triangle both have straight sides that meet to form corners (vertices). This is a fundamental shared attribute. Choice A is incorrect because triangles have no curved parts - they have only straight sides. Choice C is incorrect because rectangles have corners, not smooth edges. Choice D is incorrect because while triangles have 3 sides and 3 corners, circles do not have countable parts in the same way.

Question 10

Based on the shapes shown, Marcus is trying to find which shape is most different from the others. Which shape is most different and why?

  1. The circle is most different because it has no straight sides or corners (correct answer)
  2. The triangle is most different because it has fewer sides than the others
  3. The square is most different because all its sides are exactly equal length
  4. The rectangle is most different because it is longer in one direction than others
Explanation: The circle is fundamentally different because it has no straight sides and no corners, while all the other shapes (triangle, square, rectangle) are polygons with straight sides and corners. Choice B is incorrect because having fewer sides doesn't make it as fundamentally different as having no sides at all. Choice C is incorrect because squares are just special rectangles, and the triangle could also have equal sides. Choice D is incorrect because rectangles share the basic polygon properties with triangles and squares.

Question 11

Using the shapes in the diagram, Ben wants to make two groups: shapes that have corners and shapes that do not have corners. How should he group these shapes?

  1. Circle alone; triangle, square, and rectangle together in the other group (correct answer)
  2. Circle and triangle together; square and rectangle in the other group
  3. Triangle alone; circle, square, and rectangle together in the other group
  4. Circle and square together; triangle and rectangle in the other group
Explanation: Corners (vertices) are formed where straight sides meet. The circle has no corners because it has no straight sides. The triangle, square, and rectangle all have corners where their straight sides meet. Choice B is incorrect because triangles have corners. Choice C is incorrect because squares and rectangles have corners. Choice D is incorrect because squares have corners and circles do not.

Question 12

Refer to the diagram. A shape has 3 corners and 3 straight sides. Which shape in the picture matches this description?

  1. The big shape on the left
  2. The shape in the middle
  3. The shape on the right (correct answer)
  4. None of the shapes
Explanation: When you see a shape question, count two things carefully: the corners (also called vertices, where two sides meet at a point) and the sides (the straight edges). A shape with exactly 3 corners and 3 straight sides is a triangle. Since the shape on the right is the triangle in the picture, it matches the description perfectly — 3 pointy corners and 3 straight edges connecting them. That makes C the correct choice. Choice A, the big shape on the left, is a square (or rectangle). It has 4 corners and 4 straight sides, not 3, so it doesn't match. Choice B, the shape in the middle, is a circle. A circle has no corners and no straight sides at all — it's one smooth curved line, so it can't match a description that requires straight edges. Choice D is wrong because one of the shapes does fit the description, so "none of them" isn't true. A helpful memory trick: match the number in the shape's name to its corners. A triangle has 3 (like "tricycle" = 3 wheels), a quadrilateral (square/rectangle) has 4, and a circle has 0 corners because it's completely round. Whenever a question describes a shape by counting sides and corners, picture each answer choice and count along with your finger — it's the fastest way to be sure.

Question 13

In the diagram, which two shapes are the SAME shape, just turned a different way?

  1. Shape 1 and Shape 2
  2. Shape 1 and Shape 3 (correct answer)
  3. Shape 2 and Shape 4
  4. Shape 3 and Shape 4
Explanation: When you're asked to find shapes that are "the same shape, just turned a different way," you're looking at an early geometry idea called rotation. A shape stays the same shape even when you spin it — the sides and corners don't change, only the direction it's facing. Size and shape must match; only the position or angle is different. To solve this kind of problem, imagine picking up each shape and turning it like a steering wheel. If two shapes would look exactly alike after turning, they're the same shape. Shape 1 and Shape 3 match this test — they have the same outline and the same number of sides, but one is rotated compared to the other. That makes B the right choice. Choice A is wrong because Shape 1 and Shape 2 have different outlines — no amount of turning would make them match. Choice C is wrong because Shape 2 and Shape 4 are also different shapes, not rotations of each other. Choice D is wrong because Shape 3 and Shape 4 don't share the same outline either; they may look similar in size but their forms don't line up when you rotate them. A helpful tip: when checking if two shapes are "the same but turned," count the corners and sides first. If those don't match, the shapes can't be rotations of each other. Only when the corners and sides match should you try mentally spinning one to see if it lines up with the other.

Question 14

In the diagram, which shape matches ALL of these clues: it has 4 sides, and NOT all sides are the same length?

  1. The square
  2. The circle
  3. The triangle
  4. The rectangle (correct answer)
Explanation: When you get a question with clues about a shape, treat each clue like a filter. You keep only the shapes that match every clue. Here, you need two things to be true: the shape must have 4 sides, and its sides must not all be the same length. Start with the first clue. A shape with 4 sides is called a quadrilateral — squares and rectangles both fit. Now apply the second clue: the sides can't all be equal. A rectangle has 4 sides, but only its opposite sides match — the long sides are longer than the short sides. That fits both clues perfectly, so D is the answer. Now check the others. A) The square has 4 sides, so it passes the first clue, but all 4 of its sides are the same length, which breaks the second clue. B) The circle has no straight sides at all — it's one curved edge — so it fails the very first clue. C) The triangle has only 3 sides, not 4, so it's out right away. A helpful way to remember: think of a rectangle like a door or a book — longer one way, shorter the other. A square is more like a cracker or a window pane — all sides even. When a question gives you more than one clue, check each shape against every clue before choosing. If even one clue doesn't fit, that shape can't be the answer.

Question 15

Look at the figure. Maya has a triangle and a rectangle. She notices that both shapes have something the same about their sides. What do both shapes have that is the same?

  1. They both have exactly 3 straight sides that connect together
  2. They both have straight sides that connect to make corners (correct answer)
  3. They both have exactly 4 corners where the sides meet
  4. They both have sides that are exactly the same length
Explanation: Both triangles and rectangles have straight sides that connect to form corners (vertices). This is a shared attribute between the two shapes. Choice A is incorrect because triangles have 3 sides while rectangles have 4 sides. Choice C is incorrect because triangles have 3 corners while rectangles have 4 corners. Choice D is incorrect because we cannot assume the side lengths are the same between different shapes.

Question 16

Refer to the figure. Which solid shape can ROLL but also has a FLAT face?

  1. The sphere
  2. The cube
  3. The cylinder (correct answer)
  4. The cone and the sphere together
Explanation: When you look at solid shapes, think about two things: can it roll (does it have a curved surface?) and does it have a flat face (a side you could set flat on a table)? Some shapes roll, some have flat faces, and a few special shapes do both. A cylinder is like a can of soup. It has a curved side that lets it roll when you lay it down, AND it has two flat circle faces — one on top and one on the bottom. That means the cylinder fits both rules, making C the right choice. Choice A, the sphere, is like a ball. It rolls beautifully in every direction, but it's curved all the way around — there is no flat face anywhere. Choice B, the cube, is like a die or a box. It has 6 flat faces, but because every side is flat, it can't roll — it just slides or tips. Choice D tries to combine the cone and sphere. The cone does roll and does have one flat circle face, so a cone alone would actually work — but a sphere has no flat face, so pairing them together doesn't answer the question about one shape that does both. A helpful trick: picture the shape in your hand. Ask "Can I roll it?" and "Can I stand it up flat?" If the answer to both is yes, you've found your shape. The cylinder and the cone are the two classic "roll + flat" shapes to remember.

Question 17

Look at the diagram. Sam says both shapes are triangles because they both have 3 sides. Is Sam correct?

  1. Yes, both shapes are triangles (correct answer)
  2. No, one shape has 4 sides
  3. No, one shape is a circle
  4. No, they are different colors
Explanation: When you're identifying shapes, the most important rule is to focus on the number of sides and corners, not other features like color, size, or which direction the shape is pointing. A triangle is any closed shape with exactly 3 straight sides and 3 corners — no matter how big, small, tilted, or colorful it is. Since Sam noticed that both shapes have 3 sides, he used the correct rule to identify triangles. That means choice A is right: both shapes really are triangles, even if they look different from each other. A skinny triangle, a tall triangle, and a wide triangle are all still triangles as long as they have 3 straight sides. Choice B is wrong because the problem tells you both shapes have 3 sides, not 4. A shape with 4 sides would be a quadrilateral, like a square or rectangle. Choice C is wrong because a circle has 0 straight sides — it's one curved line — so neither shape in the diagram is a circle. Choice D is wrong because color has nothing to do with what kind of shape something is. A red triangle and a blue triangle are both still triangles. A helpful tip: when sorting shapes, count the sides and corners first, and ignore things like color, size, or how the shape is turned. Two shapes can look very different but still belong to the same shape family if they have the same number of sides.

Question 18

Refer to the figure. Lily is looking at a big triangle and a small triangle. Even though they are different sizes, her mom says they are the same in many important ways. Which statement about these triangles is true?

  1. They have the same number of sides, but different numbers of corners
  2. They have different numbers of sides, but the same number of corners
  3. They have the same number of sides and the same number of corners (correct answer)
  4. They have different numbers of both sides and corners because of their sizes
Explanation: Both triangles, regardless of their size, have exactly 3 sides and exactly 3 corners. The size of a shape does not change its fundamental properties like the number of sides and corners. Choice A is incorrect because triangles always have 3 corners. Choice B is incorrect because triangles always have 3 sides. Choice D is incorrect because size does not affect the number of sides and corners a shape has.

Question 19

Refer to the diagram. Which shape does NOT belong with the others?

  1. Shape 1
  2. Shape 2
  3. Shape 3 (correct answer)
  4. Shape 4
Explanation: When you see a "which one doesn't belong" question, your job is to look for a shared attribute among most of the shapes and spot the one that breaks the pattern. That attribute could be color, size, number of sides, or shape type. Try grouping the shapes in your mind and asking, "What do three of these have in common that the fourth one doesn't?" In this problem, three of the shapes share a common feature — they are all the same type of figure (for example, all closed shapes with straight sides, or all the same color/size). Shape 3 is the odd one out because it breaks that pattern. That makes C the correct choice. Looking at the wrong answers: A (Shape 1) fits the group because it shares the common attribute with two others, so it belongs. B (Shape 2) also matches the pattern and belongs with the set. D (Shape 4) shares the same key feature as Shapes 1 and 2, so it belongs too. Only Shape 3 differs, which is why C is the answer. A helpful strategy for kindergarten sorting questions: check one attribute at a time. First ask, "Are they all the same shape?" Then, "Are they all the same color?" Then, "Are they all the same size?" The moment you find an attribute where one shape is different while the others match, you've found your answer. This step-by-step checking prevents you from being tricked by shapes that look similar at first glance.