🇦🇺 🇦🇺 Australia · Year 3
Free Year 3 NAPLAN practice test
Find out in 12 minutes. Free.
This free Year 3 NAPLAN practice check takes about 12 minutes. Your child answers 20 NAPLAN-style questions in numeracy and language conventions that get easier or harder as they go, and you get a report of what they are ready for and what to work on, matched to the Australian Curriculum (v9.0). It is not an official NAPLAN test.
- Free and no sign-up to start
- Matched to your curriculum
- Made by teachers at 70+ Success Tutoring centres in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada and India
What Year 3 children learn in maths
In Year 3, children sit their first NAPLAN in March. Numeracy covers numbers to 10,000, the early times tables, simple fractions, time and shapes; language conventions covers common spelling patterns, capital letters, full stops, question marks and verb tenses.
What the Year 3 check looks at
Number and operations
Numeracy: place value, adding and subtracting, and mental strategies.
- Place value to 10,000s
- Round to the nearest 10 or 100
- 1,000 more or less
- Partition four-digit numbers
- Add three-digit numbers
- Subtract three-digit numbers
- Estimate sums
- Word problems to 1,000
Curriculum: Australian Curriculum AC9M3N01
Try at home: Ask your child to explain how they worked out a sum in their head. NAPLAN rewards flexible strategies, not just one method.
Multiplying, dividing and fractions
Numeracy: times tables, division, fractions and decimals.
- Multiplication facts for 3s, 4s, 5s and 10s
- Division facts
- Multiplication word problems
- Missing factor
- Unit fractions and their multiples
- Fractions on a number line
- Simple equivalent fractions
- Unit fraction of a quantity
Curriculum: Australian Curriculum AC9M3A03
Try at home: Practise a few times tables facts each day and connect each one to a division fact and a fraction (a quarter of 20 is 20 ÷ 4).
Measurement and space
Numeracy: time, length, area, shapes and angles.
- Time to the minute
- Elapsed time
- Perimeter of a rectangle
- Right angles
Curriculum: Australian Curriculum AC9M3M04
Try at home: Measure things around the house together and read analogue clocks, timetables and maps.
Spelling
Language conventions: spelling common and tricky words, and the rules for adding prefixes and suffixes.
- Choose the correct spelling
- Spot the misspelt word
- Plurals and suffixes
- Prefixes, roots and word parts
Try at home: Learn a few tricky words a week with look, say, cover, write, check, and talk about the pattern in each one.
Grammar and punctuation
Language conventions: sentences, word types, verbs, apostrophes, quotation marks and commas.
- Sound-alike words (1)
- Sound-alike words (2)
- Punctuation (1)
- Punctuation (2)
- Grammar (1)
- Grammar (2)
Try at home: When your child writes, ask them to read it aloud and fix one punctuation mark or verb each time.
Try some Year 3 questions
These are the kind of questions in the check. Every check has fresh numbers, so your child will not have seen them before.
Number and operations
What is the value of the 8 in 15,893?
- 80
- 8
- 8,000
- 800
Show the answer
800. The 8 is in the hundreds place, so it is worth 800.
Multiplying, dividing and fractions
4 × 9 = ?
Show the answer
36. 4 × 9 = 36.
Measurement and space
What time does the clock show?
- 3:20
- 3:45
- 4:15
- 3:15
Show the answer
3:15. Count the minutes on from 12 to the long hand: 15. The time is 3:15.
How it works
- Your child answers 20 NAPLAN-style questions: 12 in numeracy and 8 in language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation). Questions get easier or harder as they go.
- See how they’re going. On track, a little behind, or needs support, for their year level.
- Get the full report. Strengths and gaps in 5 areas, emailed to you, plus a free assessment at your nearest Success Tutoring centre if you’d like one.
Questions parents ask
When is NAPLAN?
NAPLAN runs in March each year for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, online in most schools. Check your school’s dates, as each state sets its own window.
What does this practice check cover?
Two of the four NAPLAN domains: numeracy, and language conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation). For reading, try our free Reading Check. Writing is assessed by a teacher at a free assessment.
Is this an official NAPLAN test?
No. It is a free NAPLAN-style check written by Success Tutoring, with original questions. NAPLAN is run by ACARA, which is not involved in this check.
How are NAPLAN results reported?
Since 2023, results are reported in four proficiency levels for each domain: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs additional support. Our report uses its own On track, A little behind and Needs support.
How can my child prepare for NAPLAN?
Steady practice of the skills behind the test beats cramming past papers. Short daily practice of number facts, spelling patterns and punctuation, plus regular reading, makes the biggest difference.
Is it free?
Yes. The check and the full report are free, and there is no sign-up to start.