Every Ontario student writing EQAO has access to a built-in EQAO formula sheet during the math section — but what’s actually on it depends on the grade, and most parents (and students) don’t realise how much that matters. The Grade 9 formula sheet contains the most comprehensive set of formulas, including the slope formula, surface area and volume formulas, and interest calculations. The Grade 6 reference sheet is much lighter, with basic measurement conversions and simple area formulas. Grade 3 doesn’t have a formula sheet at all — students use manipulatives and reference cards instead. This guide walks through exactly what’s on each EQAO formula sheet, what’s missing (and why students need to know it from memory), and how to use the sheet effectively without leaning on it as a crutch. If you’re preparing for the Grade 9 assessment specifically, our EQAO Grade 9 complete guide covers the wider picture.
What is the EQAO formula sheet?
The EQAO formula sheet is a built-in reference that students can access throughout the math section of the EQAO assessment. It’s not something students bring with them or have to memorise — it’s part of the EQAO computer-based platform, available with one click during the test.
The sheet exists because EQAO isn’t trying to test memorisation. It’s trying to test whether students can apply formulas correctly to solve problems. Knowing that the area of a circle is πr² is less important than knowing when to use that formula and how to substitute the right values. The formula sheet handles the first part; the student has to handle the second.
Why parents misunderstand the formula sheet
Many parents assume the formula sheet means “students don’t need to memorise anything.” That’s wrong, and it’s costing students marks. Here’s why:
The formula sheet tells you what each formula is. It doesn’t tell you when to use it. A student who has to look up “area of a triangle” on the formula sheet wastes 20 seconds — and over 90 minutes of testing, that adds up to 6 or 7 minutes that could have been spent on hard questions.
The formula sheet also doesn’t include everything. Some of the most important math concepts — integer rules, fraction operations, the rules for parallel and perpendicular lines, basic probability — are not on the sheet and have to be known by memory.
The right framing: the formula sheet is a safety net for momentary blanks, not a primary working tool. Students should aim to need it less and less as preparation progresses.
EQAO Grade 9 formula sheet — what’s actually on it
The Grade 9 EQAO formula sheet is the most comprehensive of the three. It covers the formulas most heavily tested in the MTH1W curriculum.
Linear relationships and slope
The slope-related formulas appear at the top of the sheet because they’re the most-tested topic on Grade 9 EQAO. The sheet includes:
| Formula | What it does |
|---|---|
| m = (y₂ − y₁) / (x₂ − x₁) | Finds slope between two points |
| y − y₁ = m(x − x₁) | Point-slope form of a line |
| y = mx + b | Slope-intercept form of a line |
What’s NOT on the sheet (you have to know these):
- The relationship between parallel slopes (m₁ = m₂)
- The relationship between perpendicular slopes (m₁ × m₂ = −1)
- How to graph from an equation
- How to find the equation from a graph
For a complete walkthrough of these formulas including the perpendicular slope relationships, see our point slope formula guide for Grade 9 math.
Pythagorean theorem
The Grade 9 sheet includes:
| Formula | What it does |
|---|---|
| a² + b² = c² | Pythagorean theorem for right triangles |
What’s NOT on the sheet:
- Which side is the hypotenuse (c) and how to identify it
- That this only works for right triangles
- How to recognise when a problem needs the Pythagorean theorem
Area formulas (2D shapes)
The Grade 9 sheet includes area formulas for common shapes:
| Shape | Formula |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | A = lw |
| Triangle | A = ½ × b × h |
| Trapezoid | A = ½ × (a + b) × h |
| Circle | A = πr² |
| Parallelogram | A = bh |
What’s NOT on the sheet:
- The circumference of a circle (C = 2πr) — wait, this IS on most versions. Verify with the current sheet
- Which measurement is the base vs the height (especially confusing for triangles and trapezoids)
- How to find the area of composite shapes (you have to break them up yourself)
Surface area and volume formulas (3D solids)
This is where the Grade 9 sheet really matters. The formulas listed include:
| Solid | Surface area | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangular prism | SA = 2(lw + lh + wh) | V = lwh |
| Cylinder | SA = 2πr² + 2πrh | V = πr²h |
| Cone | SA = πr² + πrl | V = ⅓πr²h |
| Sphere | SA = 4πr² | V = (4/3)πr³ |
| Pyramid (square base) | (varies) | V = ⅓bh |
The cylinder formulas are particularly heavily tested. For a deep dive on cylinder calculations including worked EQAO-style examples, see our area and surface area of a cylinder guide.
What’s NOT on the sheet:
- The slant height (l) for cones — students have to find this themselves using the Pythagorean theorem
- How to distinguish open from closed solids (an open cylinder doesn’t include both circular bases)
- When to subtract pieces for composite solids
Financial literacy formulas
The Grade 9 financial literacy strand is new since 2021, and EQAO includes the relevant formulas:
| Formula | What it does |
|---|---|
| I = Prt | Simple interest |
| A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt) | Compound interest |
What’s NOT on the sheet:
- That r is the annual interest rate (not monthly), expressed as a decimal
- How to convert percentages to decimals before plugging in
- How to figure out which formula a word problem needs
What’s deliberately NOT on the Grade 9 formula sheet
The sheet does not include:
- Integer rules. Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing positive and negative numbers. Students need to know these from memory — our adding and subtracting integers guide covers them in detail.
- Fraction operations. Adding fractions with different denominators, multiplying fractions, converting between fractions and decimals.
- Order of operations (BEDMAS / PEMDAS).
- Quadratic formula. Not tested in Grade 9, but students sometimes panic looking for it.
- Trigonometry. Sine, cosine, tangent ratios are not tested at the Grade 9 level.
- The relationship between parallel and perpendicular slopes.
- Statistical definitions. Mean, median, mode, range — all need to be known by memory.
- Basic probability rules.
This list matters because it’s where most lost marks come from. Students lean on the formula sheet for what’s on it, then get caught short on questions that test what isn’t.
EQAO Grade 6 reference sheet — lighter, simpler
The Grade 6 EQAO doesn’t use a full “formula sheet” in the same way Grade 9 does. Instead, Grade 6 students have access to a reference card with basic measurement conversions and a few simple formulas.
What’s typically on the Grade 6 reference sheet
The exact contents vary year to year, but the Grade 6 sheet generally includes:
- Measurement conversions: metric units (mm to cm to m to km), time conversions (seconds to minutes to hours), and basic Imperial-metric conversions
- Place value chart showing how numbers are structured up to millions
- Basic area formulas: rectangle (A = lw), triangle (A = ½ × b × h)
- Basic perimeter formulas
- Common shape references: 2D shapes and 3D solids with names
What’s NOT on the Grade 6 sheet
Grade 6 students have to know from memory:
- All number operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division with multi-digit numbers)
- Fraction operations (especially adding/subtracting fractions with different denominators)
- Decimal operations
- Percentages and ratios
- Mean, median, mode, range
- Basic probability concepts
- Multiplication tables
This is a heavier memory load than Grade 9 because the Grade 6 reference sheet is lighter. Students should not assume the sheet will rescue them — at Grade 6, fluency in core arithmetic matters more than for any other EQAO grade.
For the full picture of Grade 6 EQAO including how the reference sheet fits into the broader assessment, see our EQAO Grade 6 complete guide.
EQAO Grade 3 reference materials
The Grade 3 EQAO doesn’t use a formula sheet at all in the traditional sense. The math expectations at Grade 3 don’t involve formulas — students work with addition, subtraction, basic multiplication and division, simple fractions, time, and money. There are no formulas in the way Grade 9 students think of formulas.
What Grade 3 students have access to during the math section:
- A place value chart showing ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands
- Reference images of basic 2D shapes (triangle, rectangle, hexagon) and 3D solids (cube, cylinder, cone)
- Manipulative tools (either physical kits provided by the school, or on-screen virtual manipulatives)
- An on-screen calculator for some sections, depending on the question
What Grade 3 students need to know from memory:
- Number facts (addition and subtraction up to 18)
- Times tables (typically up to 10 × 10 by end of Grade 3)
- Basic time-telling (analog and digital clocks)
- Coin and bill values
For the full Grade 3 EQAO breakdown including what’s tested in math and language, see our EQAO Grade 3 complete guide.
How to use the EQAO formula sheet effectively
The formula sheet is a tool, not a crutch. Using it well requires preparation.
During practice tests
Treat the formula sheet as a safety net, not a study aid. Specifically:
Try every problem without looking at the sheet first. If you genuinely can’t recall the formula, then look. If you can recall it but just want to double-check, force yourself to write it from memory first.
Track how often you use it. During practice, count the number of times you opened the formula sheet. The goal is to need it less and less as preparation progresses. If you’re still opening it on every problem two weeks before the test, you’re not actually learning the formulas — you’re just looking them up faster.
Pay attention to what’s NOT there. When you’re stuck on a problem and the formula sheet doesn’t help, that’s a signal. The problem is testing something that isn’t on the sheet — usually a conceptual application, a definition, or a rule (like parallel/perpendicular slopes). Those are the things to drill.
On test day
The on-screen formula sheet on the real EQAO is just a click away — there’s no time penalty for opening it. But there’s a focus penalty. Every time you open the sheet, you break your concentration and have to re-orient to the problem. Students who reach for the sheet on every problem score worse than students who use it only when stuck.
A practical rule: open the formula sheet at most three times during the entire math section. If you find yourself needing it more, your preparation hasn’t been deep enough — and the test isn’t the time to learn.
For the highest scorers (Level 4)
Students aiming for Level 4 — the top tier — almost never open the formula sheet during the real assessment. Not because they’re proud, but because they’ve internalised the formulas to the point that looking them up would be slower than just writing them down. That fluency comes from genuine practice, not from rote memorisation.
If your child is aiming at Level 4, the goal isn’t “memorise the formula sheet.” The goal is to use formulas so often during practice that they become as automatic as 7 × 8 = 56.
Common mistakes when using the formula sheet
After working with thousands of Ontario students preparing for EQAO, the same handful of formula-sheet mistakes come up repeatedly.
Plugging values into the wrong variable. The most common error. A student knows the cylinder volume formula is V = πr²h, opens the sheet to confirm, then plugs the diameter in for r. Reading the formula doesn’t help if you don’t understand what each letter represents.
Using a formula that’s on the sheet for a problem that needs something else. Surface area vs lateral surface area is the classic example. The sheet might list “total surface area of a cylinder” but the question asks for just the curved side. Students grab the formula on the sheet and use it anyway, losing marks.
Forgetting that some formulas need adjusting for the context. A pyramid’s surface area depends on the shape of its base — square, rectangular, triangular. The sheet might give a generic formula that the student needs to adapt. Many don’t.
Looking up something that isn’t on the sheet. Wasting test time scrolling through the sheet looking for “the perpendicular slope formula” (which isn’t there) instead of recalling m₁ × m₂ = −1 from memory.
Treating the sheet as comprehensive. Assuming “if it’s on the sheet, I’ll need it; if it’s not on the sheet, I won’t need it.” False. EQAO tests plenty of concepts that don’t appear as formulas — definitions, rules, applications — and students who only studied what’s on the sheet get caught short.
What to memorise before EQAO (Grade 9)
Even though the formula sheet covers a lot, several things should be locked into memory before test day so you don’t waste time opening the sheet for them:
The slope of a line formula. m = (y₂ − y₁) / (x₂ − x₁). The most-tested concept on Grade 9 EQAO. Looking this up costs time.
The relationship between perpendicular slopes. m₁ × m₂ = −1. Not on the sheet, comes up regularly.
Area of a rectangle, triangle, and circle. Fast to memorise, fast to apply. Looking these up wastes time.
Volume of a cylinder. V = πr²h. Most-tested 3D solid on Grade 9 EQAO.
Simple interest. I = Prt. New financial literacy strand, frequently tested.
Integer rules. All four (adding two positives, adding two negatives, adding mixed signs, subtracting). Not on the sheet, used in nearly every algebra question.
Order of operations (BEDMAS). Not on the sheet, used everywhere.
If a student can do these without opening the sheet, the rest of the formula sheet becomes a true safety net rather than a crutch.
Where to find the official EQAO formula sheet
The current Grade 9 EQAO formula sheet is built into the EQAO computer-based platform and shown during the practice test as well as the real assessment. To preview it before test day:
Visit eqao.com and access the free official Grade 9 sample test. The formula sheet button is in the test interface — clicking it opens the same reference your child will have on test day.
EQAO also publishes the formula sheet as a separate PDF on its resources page, which is useful for printing and studying. For Grade 6, the reference sheet is also published separately. For Grade 3, the manipulative tools and reference materials are demonstrated in the sample test rather than provided as a separate document.
If you can’t find the formula sheet on eqao.com directly, contact your child’s school — math teachers typically have a printed copy and can share it with you.
Frequently asked questions
What is on the EQAO formula sheet?
The Grade 9 EQAO formula sheet includes the slope formula, point-slope and slope-intercept forms of a line, the Pythagorean theorem, area formulas for common 2D shapes (rectangle, triangle, trapezoid, circle, parallelogram), surface area and volume formulas for cylinders, cones, spheres, and prisms, and simple and compound interest formulas. The Grade 6 reference sheet is much lighter, with measurement conversions and basic area formulas. Grade 3 doesn’t have a formula sheet in the traditional sense.
Is the EQAO formula sheet provided on the test?
Yes. Students access the formula sheet through the EQAO computer-based platform throughout the math section. There’s no need to print or bring one — it’s built into the testing interface.
Does the EQAO Grade 9 formula sheet include the quadratic formula?
No. The quadratic formula is not tested in Grade 9 (it’s a Grade 10 and 11 topic), so it doesn’t appear on the Grade 9 formula sheet.
Are trig ratios on the EQAO Grade 9 formula sheet?
No. Trigonometric ratios (sin, cos, tan) are not tested at the Grade 9 level, so they’re not on the formula sheet. Trig is introduced in Grade 10 and tested heavily in Grade 11 and 12.
What’s NOT on the EQAO Grade 9 formula sheet that I need to know?
Integer rules, fraction operations, order of operations (BEDMAS), the parallel and perpendicular slope relationships, definitions of mean/median/mode/range, basic probability rules, and how to recognise when a particular formula applies. These need to be known from memory.
Can my child memorise the formula sheet before the test?
Yes, and they should — at least the most-used parts. Memorising key formulas like slope, area of a circle, volume of a cylinder, and simple interest means your child doesn’t waste time looking them up, which adds up to several extra minutes over a 90-minute math section.
Is the EQAO Grade 6 formula sheet the same as Grade 9?
No, the Grade 6 reference sheet is much lighter. It includes measurement conversions and basic area/perimeter formulas but doesn’t include the slope formulas, surface area and volume formulas for 3D solids, or interest formulas that appear on the Grade 9 sheet.
Does Grade 3 EQAO have a formula sheet?
Not in the way Grade 9 does. Grade 3 students have access to a place value chart, reference images of basic shapes, manipulative tools, and an on-screen calculator for some sections — but no formula sheet in the traditional sense, because Grade 3 math doesn’t involve formulas in that sense.
How do I get a copy of the EQAO formula sheet?
The formula sheet is built into the official EQAO practice test on eqao.com — you can preview it through the test interface. EQAO also publishes it as a separate PDF on its resources page. If you can’t find it online, your child’s math teacher will have a printed copy.
Should my child practise with the formula sheet visible during practice tests?
For the first practice test, yes — they should know what the sheet looks like and where things are. For subsequent practice, encourage them to do problems without the sheet first, then check the sheet only when genuinely stuck. The goal is to need the sheet less over time.
How often will my child actually need the formula sheet during the real EQAO?
Well-prepared students rarely need it more than 2–3 times during a 90-minute math section. Students who reach Level 4 almost never open it. Students who open it on every problem are typically scoring Level 1 or 2 — not because the sheet hurts them, but because excessive reliance signals they haven’t internalised the formulas.
About Think Academy Canada
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