Elementary School Math Quiz: Name Shapes
20 questions · exam conditions
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Name ShapesQuestion 1 of 20

Refer to the figure. What shape is shown?

Question graphic
Cube
Square
Rectangle
Cylinder
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Elementary School Math Quiz

Elementary School Math Quiz: Name Shapes

Practice Name 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 Name 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

Refer to the figure. What shape is shown?

  1. Cube (correct answer)
  2. Square
  3. Rectangle
  4. Cylinder
Explanation: When you're asked to identify a shape, look carefully at how many faces (flat sides) it has, whether it's flat or solid (3D), and whether the sides are straight or curved. Shapes like squares and rectangles are flat — you can draw them on paper. Shapes like cubes and cylinders are solid — they have depth and you can hold them. A cube is a solid shape with 6 square faces, all the same size. If the figure shows a box-like shape where you can see more than one side at once (like the front, top, and side), that's a clue it's 3D. Since all the faces are equal squares, the shape is a cube, making A correct. B (Square) is wrong because a square is flat with only one face and 4 straight sides — it has no depth. A cube is made of squares, but it isn't one itself. C (Rectangle) is also flat, and its sides aren't all equal — it has 2 long sides and 2 short sides, so it doesn't match. D (Cylinder) is wrong because a cylinder has curved sides and two circular ends, like a can of soup — no flat square faces at all. A helpful tip: when deciding between a flat shape and a solid shape, ask yourself, "Could I pick this up and hold it, or could I only draw it?" Cubes, cylinders, and spheres are shapes you can hold. Squares, rectangles, and circles are shapes you draw.

Question 2

The figure shows a shape. What is its name?

  1. Circle (correct answer)
  2. Oval
  3. Square
  4. Hexagon
Explanation: When you're asked to name a shape, look carefully at its edges. Shapes fall into two big families: those with straight sides and corners (like squares, triangles, and hexagons) and those with curved edges (like circles and ovals). Counting corners and checking if the outline curves smoothly is the fastest way to identify a shape. A circle is a perfectly round shape with no corners and no straight sides — every point on its edge is the same distance from the center. If the shape in the figure looks perfectly round like a ball or a wheel, it's a circle, making A the right choice. Choice B, oval, is also curved but stretched out — think of an egg shape. It's longer in one direction than the other, so it wouldn't look perfectly round. Choice C, square, has 4 equal straight sides and 4 corners, which a round shape doesn't have. Choice D, hexagon, has 6 straight sides and 6 corners — again, no curves at all. A helpful tip: when identifying shapes, first ask "Does it have corners?" If yes, count the sides to pick between square, hexagon, triangle, etc. If no, decide if it's perfectly round (circle) or stretched (oval). This two-step check works for almost every shape question you'll see.

Question 3

Look at the shape in the figure. What shape is it?

  1. Cube
  2. Sphere
  3. Cylinder
  4. Cone (correct answer)
Explanation: When you see a 3D shape question, look carefully at its features: Does it have flat sides or curved surfaces? Does it come to a point? Is it round all over? Each 3D shape has special clues that help you name it. A cone has a flat, circular bottom (called the base) and a curved side that comes up to a single point at the top, like an ice cream cone or a party hat. If the shape in the picture has that pointy top and round bottom, it's a cone — so D is correct. Now let's look at why the others don't fit. A) Cube is wrong because a cube has 6 flat square faces and no curves or points — think of a dice or a block. B) Sphere is wrong because a sphere is perfectly round all over like a ball, with no flat parts and no point. C) Cylinder is wrong because a cylinder has two flat circle ends (top and bottom) with a curved side in between, like a can of soup — it doesn't come to a point. A helpful memory trick: match each shape to a real-life object. Cube → dice, Sphere → ball, Cylinder → soup can, Cone → ice cream cone or birthday hat. If the shape has one point on top and one circle on the bottom, it's always a cone!

Question 4

Look at the shape in the picture. Which name is correct?

  1. Square
  2. Circle
  3. Rectangle (correct answer)
  4. Oval
Explanation: When you see a shape question, look carefully at two things: the number of sides and whether the sides are straight or curved. Shapes with straight sides and corners are called polygons, while shapes with curved edges (like circles and ovals) have no corners at all. A rectangle has 4 straight sides and 4 square corners, but unlike a square, its sides are not all the same length — it has two longer sides and two shorter sides. If the shape in the picture is longer than it is tall (or taller than it is wide) with four corners, that's a rectangle, making C correct. Choice A, square, is wrong because a square must have all 4 sides exactly the same length. A rectangle looks stretched out; a square looks even on every side. Choice B, circle, is wrong because a circle is perfectly round with no sides and no corners — a rectangle has both. Choice D, oval, is also wrong because an oval is a stretched circle, still curved with no corners, like an egg shape. A helpful way to remember: squares are "even," rectangles are "stretched," circles are "round," and ovals are "egg-shaped." Count the corners first — if you see 4 corners, it's a square or rectangle. Then check the sides: all equal means square, two long and two short means rectangle.

Question 5

In the diagram, which shape is the hexagon?

  1. Shape 1
  2. Shape 2
  3. Shape 3 (correct answer)
  4. Shape 4
Explanation: When you're identifying shapes, the key is to count the sides carefully. Each shape has a special name based on how many straight sides it has: a triangle has 3, a square or rectangle has 4, a pentagon has 5, and a hexagon has 6 sides. Remember "hex" means six — like a honeycomb cell! To find the hexagon, you look at each shape in the diagram and count its sides. The shape with exactly 6 straight sides is the hexagon, which in this diagram is Shape 3, making C the correct choice. Here's why the other options don't work: A) Shape 1 has a different number of sides (typically a triangle with 3 sides in these diagrams), so it can't be a hexagon. B) Shape 2 has 4 sides, making it a square or rectangle — not a hexagon. D) Shape 4 has 5 sides, which makes it a pentagon, one side short of a hexagon. It's easy to mix up pentagons and hexagons, so always pause and count! A helpful tip: link the shape names to things you already know. "Hexagon" sounds like "hex," and you can picture a honeycomb (bees build hexagons!) or a snowflake, which also has 6 sides. When a question shows several shapes, always slow down and touch or point to each side as you count — this helps you avoid missing one or counting the same side twice.

Question 6

Look at the shape in the picture. What is its name?

  1. Rectangle
  2. Square (correct answer)
  3. Triangle
  4. Hexagon
Explanation: When you're identifying shapes, the trick is to count two things: the number of sides and whether those sides are all the same length. Each shape has its own "fingerprint" based on these features. A square has exactly 4 sides, and all 4 sides are the same length. It also has 4 corners that look like the corner of a book. If the picture shows a shape like that, it's a square, making B the right choice. Now let's look at why the others don't fit. Choice A, rectangle, also has 4 sides, but a rectangle has two long sides and two short sides — they aren't all equal. So if the shape looks "stretched out," it's a rectangle, not a square. Choice C, triangle, has only 3 sides and 3 corners, so it can't match a 4-sided shape. Choice D, hexagon, has 6 sides — that's a lot more sides, like the shape of a honeycomb cell or a stop sign outline. A helpful memory tip: count the sides first, then check if they look equal.
  • 3 sides → triangle
  • 4 equal sides → square
  • 4 sides, two long + two short → rectangle
  • 6 sides → hexagon
Practicing this "count and compare" habit will help you tell shapes apart quickly, even when they're turned sideways or drawn in different sizes.

Question 7

Refer to the figure. What shape is shown?

  1. Square
  2. Rectangle
  3. Triangle (correct answer)
  4. Circle
Explanation: When you see a shape question, look carefully at the sides and corners. Count how many straight sides the shape has, and check whether it's closed and rounded or made of straight lines. Each basic shape has its own "fingerprint":
  • A triangle has exactly 3 straight sides and 3 corners (vertices).
  • A square has 4 equal sides and 4 corners.
  • A rectangle has 4 sides with opposite sides equal, and 4 corners.
  • A circle has no sides and no corners — it's perfectly round.
Since the figure shown has 3 straight sides meeting at 3 points, it matches the fingerprint of a triangle, making C the right choice. Now let's look at why the others don't fit. A (Square) is wrong because a square would need 4 equal straight sides, but the figure only has 3. B (Rectangle) is wrong for the same reason — a rectangle also needs 4 sides, with longer sides and shorter sides, which doesn't match. D (Circle) is wrong because a circle is smooth and round all the way around, with no straight edges or pointy corners like the figure has. A helpful tip: when identifying shapes, always count the sides and corners first. Three = triangle, four equal = square, four with long/short pairs = rectangle, and zero sides = circle. Practicing this "counting trick" with everyday objects (like pizza slices for triangles or clocks for circles) helps you spot shapes quickly and correctly.

Question 8

Look at the shape in the figure. What is it called?

  1. Triangle (correct answer)
  2. Square
  3. Rectangle
  4. Trapezoid
Explanation: When you're identifying shapes, the trick is to count the sides and corners (also called vertices). Each shape has its own special number:
  • A shape with 3 sides and 3 corners is a triangle.
  • A shape with 4 equal sides is a square.
  • A shape with 4 sides where opposite sides are equal (but not all four) is a rectangle.
  • A shape with 4 sides where only one pair is parallel is a trapezoid.
Since the figure shown has exactly 3 straight sides and 3 pointy corners, it fits the rule for a triangle, making A the right choice. Now let's look at why the other choices don't fit. B (Square) is wrong because a square needs 4 sides that are all the same length — one more side than our shape has. C (Rectangle) is also wrong because a rectangle needs 4 sides too, with two long sides and two short sides. D (Trapezoid) is wrong for the same reason: it has 4 sides, not 3. A helpful memory trick: the word "tri" means three — just like a tricycle has three wheels, a triangle has three sides! Whenever you see a shape question, count the sides first. If you get 3, it's always a triangle. If you get 4, then you need to look closer to decide between square, rectangle, or trapezoid.

Question 9

In the diagram, which shape is a circle?

  1. Shape W
  2. Shape X
  3. Shape Y
  4. Shape Z (correct answer)
Explanation: When you're identifying shapes, the key is to look at the edges and corners. A circle is special because it has no corners and no straight sides — it's one smooth, curved line that goes all the way around, like a wheel, a coin, or the sun. In this diagram, Shape Z is the one drawn as a perfectly round, smooth curve with no edges or points. That matches the definition of a circle, which is why D is correct. Now let's look at why the others don't fit. Shape W (A) has four equal straight sides and four corners — that makes it a square, not a circle. Shape X (B) has three straight sides and three corners, which makes it a triangle. Shape Y (C) has four straight sides too, but it's longer than it is tall, so it's a rectangle. None of these shapes have the smooth, curved outline that defines a circle. A helpful trick to remember: ask yourself, "Could this shape roll?" A circle can roll smoothly because it has no corners to stop it. Squares, rectangles, and triangles all have flat sides and pointy corners, so they can't roll — they tip over. When you see a shape question, count the corners first: zero corners means circle. This quick check will help you spot circles right away on shape-identification questions.

Question 10

In the picture, which shape is a rectangle?

  1. Shape A
  2. Shape B (correct answer)
  3. Shape C
  4. Shape D
Explanation: When you're asked to identify a rectangle, remember what makes a rectangle special: it has 4 straight sides, 4 square corners (right angles), and its opposite sides are the same length. This usually means two longer sides and two shorter sides, though a square is also a special kind of rectangle. Looking at the shapes, Shape B has four straight sides with square corners, and the top and bottom are equal while the left and right sides are equal — that matches the definition of a rectangle perfectly, making B the correct choice. Shape A is a circle (or a round shape) — it has no sides and no corners at all, so it can't be a rectangle. Shape C is a triangle, which only has 3 sides and 3 corners, not the 4 that a rectangle needs. Shape D is likely another non-rectangle figure such as an oval or a shape without four right angles, so it doesn't fit the rule either. A helpful tip: when hunting for a rectangle, count the corners first! If you don't see exactly 4 square corners, it's not a rectangle. Think of everyday rectangles like a door, a book, or a TV screen — they all have that same "long box" shape as Shape B.

Question 11

Look at the shapes in the picture. Which one is a triangle?

  1. Shape 1
  2. Shape 2
  3. Shape 3 (correct answer)
  4. Shape 4
Explanation: When you're identifying shapes, the most important thing to remember is to count the sides and corners. Each shape has its own special number! A triangle is a shape with exactly 3 straight sides and 3 corners (also called vertices). The word "tri" means three — think of a tricycle with 3 wheels! Since Shape 3 is the one with 3 straight sides and 3 pointy corners, it fits the definition of a triangle perfectly, making C the right choice. Let's look at why the other shapes don't work:
  • A) Shape 1 is a circle. A circle is round with no sides and no corners at all, so it can't be a triangle.
  • B) Shape 2 is a square. A square has 4 equal sides and 4 corners — that's one too many to be a triangle.
  • D) Shape 4 is a rectangle. Like the square, it has 4 sides and 4 corners, so it doesn't match a triangle either.
Study tip: When you see a shape question, point to each corner and count out loud: "1, 2, 3..." If you land on 3, it's a triangle! Remember these shape numbers: circle = 0 corners, triangle = 3, square/rectangle = 4. Practicing this counting trick will help you spot any shape quickly!

Question 12

Examine the shapes shown. If you need to find all the squares, which description helps you identify them correctly?

  1. Look for shapes with four corners that are very small
  2. Look for shapes with four equal sides and four right angles (correct answer)
  3. Look for shapes that are positioned pointing straight up
  4. Look for shapes that are colored differently from other shapes
Explanation: A square is defined as having 4 equal sides and 4 right angles (90-degree corners). Size, orientation, and color do not determine if a shape is a square. A square rotated to look like a diamond is still a square, and squares can be any size or color.

Question 13

Based on the figure shown, what shape is created when you trace around the outside edge?

  1. A triangle because it has three pointed corners
  2. A rectangle because it has four straight sides and corners (correct answer)
  3. A circle because it has curved parts around the edges
  4. A square because all the sides look the same length
Explanation: Tracing the outer edge reveals 4 straight sides meeting at 4 right angles, which defines a rectangle. While there may be shapes inside, the overall outline has 4 sides and 4 corners with right angles. The presence of curved parts inside doesn't change the outer shape, and the sides are not all equal length, so it's not a square.

Question 14

Look at the collection of shapes shown. How many different shape names are represented in this collection?

  1. There are three different shape names represented here
  2. There are four different shape names represented here (correct answer)
  3. There are five different shape names represented here
  4. There are six different shape names represented here
Explanation: Looking at the basic shape types, there are 4 different shape names: circles (round, no corners), triangles (3 sides, 3 corners), rectangles (4 sides, 4 right angles, not all sides equal), and squares (4 equal sides, 4 right angles). Even though squares are a special type of rectangle, in kindergarten we count them as different shape names.

Question 15

Use the figure to answer this question. Which shapes are circles even though they appear in different places?

  1. Only the shapes in the top row are circles
  2. Only the shapes that are exactly the same size are circles
  3. All the round shapes without corners are circles (correct answer)
  4. Only the shapes that are perfectly centered are circles
Explanation: Circles are defined by being round with no corners or straight edges. Position (top/bottom), size (big/small), and location (centered/off-center) do not change what makes a circle. All round shapes without corners are circles regardless of where they appear or how big they are.

Question 16

Emma drew three shapes. Two of them are rectangles. Based on the shapes shown, which statement is correct?

  1. Only the tall thin shape is a rectangle
  2. The square and the wide shape are both rectangles (correct answer)
  3. Only the wide flat shape is a rectangle
  4. The triangle and square are both rectangles
Explanation: A rectangle is any shape with 4 sides and 4 right angles. A square is a special type of rectangle where all sides are equal. Both the square and the wide flat shape have 4 sides and 4 right angles, making them both rectangles. The triangle has only 3 sides, so it cannot be a rectangle.

Question 17

Look at the figure. Count all the circles, including the ones that are different sizes or turned in different ways.

  1. There are exactly two circles in the picture
  2. There are exactly three circles in the picture
  3. There are exactly four circles in the picture (correct answer)
  4. There are exactly five circles in the picture
Explanation: A circle is round with no corners or straight edges. Size and position don't change what makes a circle. Counting all the circular shapes regardless of their size gives us 4 circles total. Some may be small, some large, but they all have the same circular shape.

Question 18

Based on the figure, which statement about naming shapes is true?

  1. The biggest shape must be called by a different name
  2. Shapes pointing down have different names than shapes pointing up
  3. Two shapes can have the same name even if they look different (correct answer)
  4. Shapes that touch each other must have the same name
Explanation: Shapes are named based on their geometric properties (number of sides, angles), not their size, orientation, or position. Two triangles can look very different due to size or rotation but are both still triangles. Size, direction, and position don't change a shape's name.

Question 19

Look at the shapes. Which shape is NOT a rectangle?

  1. The shape that is much longer than it is wide
  2. The shape that has all sides the same length
  3. The shape that has three sides and three corners (correct answer)
  4. The shape that is turned sideways like a diamond
Explanation: A rectangle must have 4 sides and 4 right angles. The shape with three sides and three corners is a triangle, not a rectangle. All the other choices describe rectangles: long rectangles are still rectangles, squares are rectangles with equal sides, and rectangles rotated to look like diamonds are still rectangles.

Question 20

Look at the shape in the figure. What is this shape called?

  1. Circle
  2. Sphere
  3. Oval (correct answer)
  4. Cylinder
Explanation: When you're identifying shapes, look carefully at how they're built. Ask yourself: is it flat (2D) or solid (3D)? Is it perfectly round, or stretched out? An oval is a flat, closed shape that looks like a circle that has been gently squished or stretched — think of an egg shape. That matches the figure here, making C the right choice. Now let's look at why the others don't fit. A (Circle) is also a flat shape, but a circle is perfectly round — every point on its edge is the same distance from the center. The shape in the picture is longer in one direction than the other, so it can't be a circle. B (Sphere) is a 3D solid, like a ball or a globe. The figure is flat, not solid, so "sphere" doesn't work. D (Cylinder) is also a 3D solid — think of a can of soup or a paper towel roll, with two circular ends and a curved side. That's very different from a flat, egg-like shape. A helpful tip: separate your shape words into two groups in your mind. Flat shapes (2D) include circle, oval, square, and triangle. Solid shapes (3D) include sphere, cube, cylinder, and cone. If the picture looks flat like a drawing on paper, pick from the 2D group. If it looks like something you could hold in your hand, pick from the 3D group.