Trivia night is one of the easiest ways to bring a room together. It works for a classroom review game, a family game night, or a full-blown trivia party with teams and prizes.

Below you’ll find 150+ high school trivia questions and answers, sorted into four rounds: science and math, history and government, literature and English, and geography and pop culture. Every question is numbered, every answer is right there, and every fact is checked, so you can just read, play, and enjoy.

Science and Math High School Trivia Questions

This round covers biology, chemistry, physics, and algebra, the core subjects tested in nearly every high school science and math class. Start here to warm up the room.

1. What is the chemical symbol for gold? Au
2. What planet is known as the Red Planet? Mars
3. What gas do plants absorb from the atmosphere during photosynthesis? Carbon dioxide
4. What is the powerhouse of the cell? Mitochondria
5. What is the boiling point of water in Fahrenheit? 212°F
6. What is the value of pi rounded to two decimal places? 3.14
7. What is the chemical formula for water? H2O
8. What force pulls objects toward the center of the Earth? Gravity
9. How many bones are in the adult human body? 206
10. What is the largest organ in the human body? Skin
11. What is the SI unit of force? Newton
12. What type of triangle has three equal sides? Equilateral
13. What is the only even prime number? 2
14. What is the chemical symbol for sodium? Na
15. What organ pumps blood throughout the body? The heart
16. What is the process by which plants make their own food called? Photosynthesis
17. What is the square root of 144? 12
18. What is the chemical symbol for potassium? K
19. What is the smallest planet in our solar system? Mercury
20. What is the hardest natural substance on Earth? Diamond
21. What is the freezing point of water in Celsius? 0°C
22. What blood type is known as the universal donor? O-negative
23. What is the study of living organisms called? Biology
24. What organelle lets plant cells carry out photosynthesis? Chloroplast
25. What is the chemical symbol for iron? Fe
26. What is 7 x 8? 56
27. What is the value of x in the equation 2x + 4 = 12? x = 4
28. What is the process of a liquid turning into a gas called? Evaporation
29. What is the closest star to Earth? The Sun
30. What unit measures electrical current? Ampere
31. What is the chemical symbol for oxygen? O
32. What theorem finds the length of a side of a right triangle? The Pythagorean theorem
33. What is the derivative of x²? 2x
34. What galaxy is Earth located in? The Milky Way
35. What is the pH of pure water? 7
36. What is the most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere? Nitrogen
37. What is the medical term for the study of the heart? Cardiology
38. What is the approximate speed of light, in miles per second? About 186,000 miles per second, a figure NASA uses as the constant for nearly all space distance measurements.

Must Visit: 160+ Ultimate Summer Trivia Questions to Test Your Knowledge

History and Government High School Trivia Questions

This round of high school trivia questions moves through American history, world history, and basic civics, the material tested on most U.S. government finals.

39. Who was the first President of the United States? George Washington
40. In what year did the U.S. declare independence? 1776
41. How many amendments are in the Bill of Rights? Ten
42. How many branches of the U.S. government are there? Three
43. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson
44. What war was fought between the North and South in the U.S. from 1861 to 1865? The Civil War
45. What founding document begins with “We the People”? The U.S. Constitution
46. Who was the U.S. president for most of World War II? Franklin D. Roosevelt
47. In what year did World War II end? 1945
48. What ancient civilization built the pyramids at Giza? The ancient Egyptians
49. What wall dividing East and West Berlin fell in 1989? The Berlin Wall
50. Which two nations were the primary rivals during the Cold War? The United States and the Soviet Union
51. What 1803 land deal roughly doubled the size of the United States? The Louisiana Purchase
52. Who is known as the “Father of the Constitution”? James Madison
53. What ship famously sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg? The Titanic
54. Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States? The 13th Amendment
55. What year did World War I begin? 1914
56. What English document, signed in 1215, limited the power of the king? The Magna Carta
57. What movement, led by Martin Luther King Jr., fought for racial equality in the 1950s and ’60s? The Civil Rights Movement
58. Who was the first man to walk on the moon? Neil Armstrong
59. In what year did the stock market crash that triggered the Great Depression? 1929
60. What ancient Greek city-state is considered the birthplace of democracy? Athens
61. What ship carried the Pilgrims to America in 1620? The Mayflower
62. How many original colonies were there in America? 13
63. What president is depicted on the one-dollar bill? George Washington
64. What was the period of rebuilding in the South after the Civil War called? Reconstruction
65. Who was the British prime minister during most of World War II? Winston Churchill
66. What treaty officially ended World War I? The Treaty of Versailles
67. Which chamber of Congress has more members, the House or the Senate? The House of Representatives
68. How many senators represent each state? Two
69. What event on December 7, 1941, brought the U.S. into World War II? The attack on Pearl Harbor, according to History.com, which calls it a defining turning point for U.S. foreign policy.
70. Who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln? John Wilkes Booth
71. What decade is associated with the disco era and platform shoes? The 1970s
72. What 1969 event was one of the largest music festivals of its era, held in New York? Woodstock
73. What was the first permanent English colony in America, founded in 1607? Jamestown
74. Which Founding Father served as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury? Alexander Hamilton
75. What system of government gives citizens the power to vote for their leaders? Democracy
76. What ancient wars were fought between Rome and Carthage, including the one where Hannibal crossed the Alps? The Punic Wars

Literature and English High School Trivia Questions

This round pulls from the reading lists and grammar rules taught in most English and language arts classes. It’s a good round for teens who love books and word games.

77. Who wrote “Romeo and Juliet”? William Shakespeare
78. In what Harper Lee novel does Atticus Finch defend Tom Robinson? “To Kill a Mockingbird”
79. Who wrote “1984”? George Orwell
80. What figure of speech compares two things using “like” or “as”? A simile
81. What is a 14-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme called? A sonnet
82. Who wrote “Pride and Prejudice”? Jane Austen
83. In “The Great Gatsby,” who is Jay Gatsby’s love interest? Daisy Buchanan
84. What literary device gives human traits to non-human things? Personification
85. Who is credited as the author of “The Odyssey” and “The Iliad”? Homer
86. What term describes a word that means the opposite of another word? An antonym
87. In “Macbeth,” which king does Macbeth murder? King Duncan
88. Who wrote “Frankenstein”? Mary Shelley
89. What part of speech describes a noun, such as “blue” or “tall”? An adjective
90. Which novel begins with the line “Call me Ishmael”? “Moby-Dick”
91. What term describes a story told from the “I” point of view? First person
92. Who wrote “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”? Mark Twain
93. What literary term describes a word that imitates a sound, like “buzz”? Onomatopoeia
94. In “The Catcher in the Rye,” what is the name of the main character? Holden Caulfield
95. What is the main setting of William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”? A deserted island
96. What term describes the repetition of consonant sounds at the start of words? Alliteration
97. Who wrote the play “A Streetcar Named Desire”? Tennessee Williams
98. What novel features a dystopian society ruled by “Big Brother”? “1984”
99. What term describes the underlying message or lesson of a story? Theme
100. Who is the author of “The Scarlet Letter”? Nathaniel Hawthorne
101. What punctuation mark shows possession? An apostrophe
102. What is a group of lines in a poem called? A stanza
103. Who wrote “Of Mice and Men”? John Steinbeck
104. What term describes the turning point in a story’s plot? The climax
105. Which Shakespeare play features the characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern? “Hamlet”
106. What term describes a word or phrase that means the same as another word? A synonym
107. What is the past tense of the verb “to go”? Went
108. Who wrote “Brave New World”? Aldous Huxley
109. What genre of literature includes stories with witches, dragons, or magic? Fantasy
110. What term describes a short story that teaches a moral, often using animals as characters? A fable
111. In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” who narrates the story? Scout Finch
112. What term describes a comparison between two unlike things that does NOT use “like” or “as”? A metaphor
113. Which Mary Shelley novel, published in 1818, is often called one of the first science fiction stories? “Frankenstein”

Geography and Pop Culture High School Trivia Questions

The final round mixes world geography with the sports, music, and streaming trivia that teens actually talk about. It’s a light, easy way to close out game night.

114. What is the largest ocean on Earth? The Pacific Ocean
115. What is the smallest country in the world by area? Vatican City
116. What is the longest river in South America? The Amazon River
117. What is the capital of France? Paris
118. Which desert is the largest hot desert in the world? The Sahara Desert
119. What imaginary line divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres? The equator
120. What is the tallest mountain in the world? Mount Everest
121. What is the capital city of Canada? Ottawa
122. Which continent is the Sahara Desert located on? Africa
123. What is the largest country in the world by land area? Russia
124. Which U.S. state is known as the “Sunshine State”? Florida
125. What mountain range marks part of the boundary between Europe and Asia? The Ural Mountains
126. What canal connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas? The Suez Canal
127. What is the smallest continent by land area? Australia
128. Which country is shaped like a boot? Italy
129. What is the capital of Japan? Tokyo
130. Which U.S. state is the only one that borders just one other state? Maine
131. How many players from one team are on the field at the start of a soccer match? Eleven
132. Which sport is played at Wimbledon? Tennis
133. In basketball, how many points is a free throw worth? One
134. Which country hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics? Brazil
135. What video game company created the character Mario? Nintendo
136. Who is known as the “King of Pop”? Michael Jackson
137. What streaming service produced the show “Stranger Things”? Netflix
138. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, what is Iron Man’s real name? Tony Stark
139. What is the name of the wizarding school in the Harry Potter series? Hogwarts
140. Which social media platform is known for short-form videos and a musical-note logo? TikTok
141. What sport uses a puck instead of a ball? Ice hockey
142. Which country is famous for inventing pizza? Italy
143. What is the name of the fictional African nation in “Black Panther”? Wakanda
144. How many strings does a standard guitar have? Six
145. What was the first feature-length animated film released by Disney? “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
146. Which country is home to the Great Barrier Reef? Australia, a reef system so large that National Geographic notes it can be seen from space.
147. How many rings make up the Olympic symbol? Five
148. What musical instrument has 88 keys? The piano
149. What is the capital of Australia? Canberra
150. Which U.S. state is known as the “Lone Star State”? Texas
151. What is the most spoken language in the world by number of native speakers? Mandarin Chinese
152. Which country gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States? France
153. What is the smallest U.S. state by area? Rhode Island

FAQs

How many high school trivia questions are in this list?

This list has 153 high school trivia questions and answers, split into four round, science and math, history and government, literature and English, and geography and pop culture.

What makes a good high school trivia question?

A good high school trivia question mixes subjects and difficulty levels. Easy questions keep everyone engaged, while a few harder ones give strong students or trivia buffs a chance to shine.

How do I run a high school trivia game night?

Split the group into small teams, read one question at a time, and give each team 15 to 30 seconds to write down an answer. Reveal the correct answer, tally points, and move to the next question. The team with the most points at the end wins.

Are these trivia questions suitable for middle schoolers too?

Many of the easier science, geography, and pop culture questions work fine for middle schoolers. The literature, government, and advanced math questions, though, are written for a high school reading and skill level.

Can I print or share this trivia list for free?

Yes. This list of 150+ high school trivia questions and answers is free to copy, print, or share for classrooms, tutoring sessions, trivia nights, or family game night.

Conclusion

Trivia night doesn’t need fancy equipment or a big budget, just a good list of questions and a room ready to play. Pick a round, grab a scorekeeper, and let the high school trivia questions above carry the rest of the night.

William Vicky

William Vicky is the lead writer and trivia curator at Trivia Questioners, with a passion for uncovering fascinating facts across history, science, pop culture, and general knowledge. He loves crafting questions that challenge and delight readers of all ages.