SSAT Upper Level Quiz: Rate And Unit Word Problems
6 questions · exam conditions
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Rate And Unit Word ProblemsQuestion 1 of 6

Two cyclists start from the same point and travel in opposite directions. Cyclist A travels at 15 mph and Cyclist B travels at 18 mph. After how many minutes will they be exactly 11 miles apart?

18 minutes separation time
20 minutes separation time
22 minutes separation time
24 minutes separation time
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SSAT Upper Level Quiz

SSAT Upper Level Quiz: Rate And Unit Word Problems

Practice Rate And Unit Word Problems in SSAT Upper Level 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 Rate And Unit Word Problems, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for SSAT Upper Level.

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

Two cyclists start from the same point and travel in opposite directions. Cyclist A travels at 15 mph and Cyclist B travels at 18 mph. After how many minutes will they be exactly 11 miles apart?

  1. 18 minutes separation time
  2. 20 minutes separation time (correct answer)
  3. 22 minutes separation time
  4. 24 minutes separation time
Explanation: Combined rate of separation: 15 + 18 = 33 mph. Time to be 11 miles apart: 11 ÷ 33 = 1/3 hour = 20 minutes.

Question 2

A recipe calls for ingredients to be mixed at a rate of 2 cups per 3 minutes. If a chef mixes for 15 minutes but takes a 2-minute break after every 5 minutes of mixing, what is the total amount mixed?

  1. 8 cups total amount mixed
  2. 9 cups total amount mixed
  3. 10 cups total amount mixed (correct answer)
  4. 12 cups total amount mixed
Explanation: The chef mixes for 5 minutes, breaks for 2 minutes, mixes for 5 more minutes, breaks for 2 minutes, then mixes for 5 final minutes. Total mixing time: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 minutes (the breaks don't count toward mixing). Rate: 2 cups per 3 minutes = 2/3 cups per minute. Amount mixed: 15 × (2/3) = 10 cups.

Question 3

A factory produces widgets at a rate of 150 widgets per hour. Due to a machine malfunction, the production rate decreases by 20% for 3 hours, then returns to normal. If the factory operates for 8 hours total, how many widgets are produced?

  1. 1080 widgets
  2. 1140 widgets (correct answer)
  3. 1200 widgets
  4. 960 widgets
Explanation: Normal rate: 150 widgets/hour. Reduced rate: 150 × 0.8 = 120 widgets/hour. Production for 3 hours at reduced rate: 3 × 120 = 360 widgets. Production for remaining 5 hours at normal rate: 5 × 150 = 750 widgets. Total: 360 + 750 = 1140 widgets.

Question 4

A assembly line produces 240 units per hour. After 2 hours of operation, a quality control check takes 30 minutes, during which production stops. The line then resumes at 90% efficiency. If the total production target is 1560 units, how many total hours (including the quality control time) are needed?

  1. 6.5 total hours needed
  2. 7.0 total hours needed
  3. 7.5 total hours needed (correct answer)
  4. 8.0 total hours needed
Explanation: Units produced in first 2 hours: 240 × 2 = 480 units. Remaining units needed: 1560 - 480 = 1080 units. Production rate after check: 240 × 0.9 = 216 units/hour. Time for remaining units: 1080 ÷ 216 = 5 hours. Total time: 2 hours + 0.5 hours (check) + 5 hours = 7.5 hours.

Question 5

A water tank is being filled by two pipes simultaneously. Pipe A fills the tank at 12 gallons per minute, while Pipe B fills it at 8 gallons per minute. After 15 minutes, Pipe A is shut off and only Pipe B continues filling. If the total time to fill the 400-gallon tank is 25 minutes, how many gallons were in the tank initially?

  1. 20 gallons initially present (correct answer)
  2. 40 gallons initially present
  3. 60 gallons initially present
  4. 80 gallons initially present
Explanation: Combined rate for first 15 minutes: 12 + 8 = 20 gal/min. Water added in first 15 minutes: 15 × 20 = 300 gallons. Water added in last 10 minutes (Pipe B only): 10 × 8 = 80 gallons. Total water added: 300 + 80 = 380 gallons. Initial amount: 400 - 380 = 20 gallons.

Question 6

A car travels 180 miles in 3 hours. For the first hour, it travels at 50 mph. For the remaining distance, it maintains a constant speed. What is this constant speed for the last two hours?

  1. 65 miles per hour constant speed (correct answer)
  2. 70 miles per hour constant speed
  3. 75 miles per hour constant speed
  4. 60 miles per hour constant speed
Explanation: Distance in first hour: 50 × 1 = 50 miles. Remaining distance: 180 - 50 = 130 miles. Time for remaining distance: 3 - 1 = 2 hours. Speed for last two hours: 130 ÷ 2 = 65 mph.