The Golden Horseshoe Test is taken by all West Virginia eighth graders, whether they attend public, private or homeschool. This page gives you free practice sets on West Virginia history, geography, government, economy, culture and state symbols. It also has worked explanations for sample questions and the key dates for the online multiple choice test and the written essay test, taken from the West Virginia Department of Education.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Online Multiple Choice Test) | 50 multiple-choice questions[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Time limit (Online Multiple Choice Test) | 40–45 minutes[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score | No passing score (county competition, minimum 2 winners per county)[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery | Online at school (WebTop); homeschoolers test at a local public school[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Eligibility | All WV eighth graders (public, private, and homeschool students)[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Next exam date (Make-up Multiple Choice Test) | March 23–25, 2027[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Next exam date (Written Essay Test) | February 23, 2027[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Late registration deadline (Written essay submission) | February 26, 2027[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (Braille test request) | January 4, 2027[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (Non-public and homeschool students) | February 1, 2027[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Registration opens (Non-public and homeschool students) | December 1, 2026 – February 1, 2027[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Testing window (Online Multiple Choice Test) | March 9–23, 2027[1] | West Virginia Department of Education · Oct 27, 2026 |
According to West Virginia Department of Education, “The online test is a 50 multiple choice question test that can be completed in 40-45 minutes.”[1]
The Golden Horseshoe Test is a West Virginia studies competition for eighth graders, run by the West Virginia Department of Education. All eighth-grade students must take it, including public, private and homeschool students. It is a competition, but it also meets the state's social studies testing requirement.
How it is delivered. The main part is the Golden Horseshoe Online Multiple Choice Test, given at school through WebTop. It has 50 multiple-choice questions and can be finished in 40–45 minutes. The online window is March 9–23, 2027, and make-up testing runs March 23–25, 2027. Schools are asked to test student usernames and passwords by January 31, 2027. Homeschool students take the test at a local public school. A separate Written Essay Test is given statewide on February 23, 2027.
How winners are chosen. There is no passing score. Students compete within their county. The number of winners depends on population, and every county gets at least 2 winners.
Registration. Counties and schools may register non-public and homeschool students from December 1, 2026 to February 1, 2027. Braille test requests are due by January 4, 2027. Rules and dates can change, so check the West Virginia Department of Education Golden Horseshoe test information page and your school or county office.
Prepare for the GH - Golden Horseshoe exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: Which agricultural product is West Virginia most known for?
Answer: C. Apples
Explanation:
Apples is correct. West Virginia is best known for apple growing, especially in the Eastern Panhandle, where the climate and soil suit orchards. The Golden Delicious apple was first found in West Virginia and is the state fruit, which is why apples come up so often in state studies.
Wheat and corn are grown in the state, but neither one is the farm product West Virginia is known for. Tobacco is more closely tied to neighboring states such as Kentucky and Virginia.
Rule to remember: when a question asks what a state is "most known for," pick the product tied to its symbols and identity, not just any crop grown there.
Question: What are the official state colors of West Virginia?
Answer: A. Old Gold and Blue
Explanation:
Old Gold and Blue is correct. These are West Virginia's official state colors. You also see them on West Virginia University teams, which makes them easy to remember.
Red and Blue are national flag colors, not the state colors. Green and Gold might make you think of the state's forests, but they are not the official pair. Blue and White leaves out the gold, which is the key part of the answer.
Rule to remember: state symbol questions often use answer choices that sound reasonable. Learn the exact official name, here "Old Gold" and not just "gold," and connect it to something familiar like WVU colors.
Question: Who was the first governor of West Virginia?
Answer: A. Arthur I. Boreman
Explanation:
Arthur I. Boreman is correct. He was the first governor of West Virginia and took office the day the state joined the Union during the Civil War.
Francis H. Pierpont is the most common trap. He led the Restored Government of Virginia, which sided with the Union, but he was not governor of the new state of West Virginia. Henry D. Hatfield and John J. Jacob were real West Virginia governors, but both served later.
Rule to remember: keep the Restored Government of Virginia separate from the state of West Virginia. Many statehood questions test whether you can tell these apart.
Start with the official test information page from the West Virginia Department of Education. Write down your test window, the essay date, and any registration deadline that applies to you. Ask your teacher when your school will test in WebTop, and make sure your username and password work before test day.
Next, take the GH practice test without notes to see where you stand. Then work through the topic sets, starting with the ones where you missed the most. Most students should begin with West Virginia History, Geography and State Government. After that, move on to Local Government, Economy, Natural Resources, Famous People, Culture and Arts, Sports and Recreation and State Symbols and Emblems.
Read every explanation, including for questions you got right. Keep a short list of names, places and symbols you mix up, and review it often. Use your class materials to practise for the written essay. Before your test window, retake the full practice test with a timer so the real pace feels normal.
All West Virginia eighth graders take it, including public, private and homeschool students. The West Virginia Department of Education says all eighth-grade students must take the test. It is a competition, but it also meets the state's social studies testing requirement, so it is not optional for eighth graders.
The online multiple choice test has 50 questions and can be finished in 40–45 minutes. It is given at school through WebTop during the test window, March 9–23, 2027. There is also a separate Written Essay Test, given statewide on February 23, 2027.
There is no set passing score. Students compete against others in their own county. The number of winners in each county depends on population, and every county gets at least 2 winners. Larger counties have more winners. Since there is no cutoff, the goal is to score as high as you can.
Counties and schools may register non-public and homeschool students from December 1, 2026 to February 1, 2027, using the Golden Horseshoe Registration form. Homeschool students take the online test at a local public school. Contact your county school office early to set up a testing location.
A make-up multiple choice test is given March 23–25, 2027. Braille test requests are due by January 4, 2027. For either one, talk to your school or county office well ahead of time, and check the West Virginia Department of Education test information page for current details.
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