A good 50 states quiz should test more than whether a child can recite names alphabetically. The most useful questions connect names to locations, regions, capitals and memorable facts.

Quick 20-question 50 states quiz

  1. Which state is shaped like a peninsula and lies between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico?
  2. Which state is the largest by area?
  3. Which state contains the Grand Canyon?
  4. Which state is made entirely of islands?
  5. Which state is directly north of California on the Pacific Coast?
  6. Which state is directly north of Oregon?
  7. Which state contains most of Yellowstone National Park?
  8. Which state has Austin as its capital?
  9. Which state has Albany as its capital?
  10. Which state has Sacramento as its capital?
  11. Which state is home to Mount Rushmore?
  12. Which state is divided into an Upper and Lower Peninsula?
  13. Which state includes Philadelphia and Pittsburgh?
  14. Which state is home to Boston?
  15. Which state lies immediately west of Colorado?
  16. Which two states are not part of the contiguous United States?
  17. Name three New England states.
  18. Name three states on the Pacific Coast.
  19. Name one state that borders the Great Lakes.
  20. Name one state that borders Mexico.

Answers

  1. Florida
  2. Alaska
  3. Arizona
  4. Hawaii
  5. Oregon
  6. Washington
  7. Wyoming
  8. Texas
  9. New York
  10. California
  11. South Dakota
  12. Michigan
  13. Pennsylvania
  14. Massachusetts
  15. Utah
  16. Alaska and Hawaii
  17. Any three of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
  18. California, Oregon, Washington
  19. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania or New York
  20. California, Arizona, New Mexico or Texas

Use a map, not only questions

Verbal quizzes are useful, but blank-map practice reveals whether a child can actually locate a state. Our free 50 States Map Quiz includes a numbered U.S. map and answer key.

Make the quiz harder in stages

Start with distinctive states and major landmarks. Then add regions, capitals and neighboring states.

A progression might look like this:

  • Level 1: identify ten anchor states;
  • Level 2: identify states within one region;
  • Level 3: identify all fifty states;
  • Level 4: add capitals;
  • Level 5: add abbreviations and facts.
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A fun fact and quiz book for kids ages 8-12. All 50 states across 8 regions, plus 80 quiz questions with answer keys. Free Family Trivia Night Pack included.

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Turn wrong answers into the next lesson

A missed question is useful data. If a child confuses Vermont and New Hampshire, review those two together. If several Mountain West states are mixed up, spend the next session on that region instead of repeating the whole country.

For the regional structure, see 50 States by Region.

Add reverse questions

Do not always ask “What is the capital of Ohio?” Also ask “Columbus is the capital of which state?” Reverse recall prevents the learner from memorizing only one direction.

Keep quizzes short

Ten to twenty questions at a time is enough for routine practice. A full fifty-state test is useful occasionally, but short quizzes make it easier to practice frequently.

For a step-by-step study method before testing, see How to Memorize the 50 States and Capitals.