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Connecticut State Assessments · Grade 3 · Smarter Balanced ELA

Connecticut Grade 3 Smarter Balanced ELA Practice Test

Build Grade 3 reading, vocabulary, grammar, writing, research, and evidence skills with five focused 10-question practice sets.

Connecticut Grade 3 Smarter Balanced ELA practice sets

This Grade 3 Connecticut Smarter Balanced ELA Practice Test page provides five short practice sets with 10 original multiple-choice questions each. The sets cover literary reading, informational reading, vocabulary, language, writing, research, and evidence.

Skills covered

  • Main idea, story lessons, inferences, plot problems, figurative language, character evidence, setting, and symbols
  • Informational main idea, supporting details, author purpose, text structure, vocabulary, headings, summaries, diagrams, and facts
  • Synonyms, antonyms, plural nouns, subject-verb agreement, commas, verb tense, pronouns, adjectives, and complete sentences
  • Writing introductions, supporting sentences, transitions, sentence combining, capitalization, conclusions, precise details, sequence, and opinions
  • Research sources, search terms, claims, notes, source integration, paired texts, focused questions, evidence, and paraphrasing

How to use this page

Complete one 10-question set at a time. Return to the passage, underline useful clues, and explain why the best answer is supported by the text.

This is supplemental State Test Practice, State Assessment Practice, and Standardized Test Practice. It does not replace current Connecticut State Department of Education guidance, official Smarter Balanced materials, accommodations, or testing policies.

For the Connecticut assessment hub, visit Connecticut State Assessments.

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5. Test

Connecticut Grade 3 ELA Practice Questions

A 10-question Connecticut Grade 3 Smarter Balanced ELA practice set on research and evidence, with answers and explanations.

Read each task carefully, choose one answer, and review the explanation after responding.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

A student wants to learn which birds visit a school garden. Which source would be most useful?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A bird guide with pictures and habitat information.

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: A bird guide can help identify birds and explain where they live.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

A bird guide can help identify birds and explain where they live.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

Which search phrase would best find information about how plants grow?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is plant growth needs sunlight water and soil.

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: The phrase includes the topic and the information the student needs.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

The phrase includes the topic and the information the student needs.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

A student claims that shade helps keep a playground cool. Which evidence is strongest?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is A thermometer showed the shaded area was cooler than the sunny area..

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: A temperature measurement directly tests the claim about shade.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

A temperature measurement directly tests the claim about shade.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

Which note is most useful for a report about frogs?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Frogs begin life as tadpoles and later grow legs..

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: The first note records an important fact about frog life cycles.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

The first note records an important fact about frog life cycles.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

Which sentence correctly uses information from a source?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A nature guide explains that frogs need moist places to live..

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: The sentence names the source and clearly states the information.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

The sentence names the source and clearly states the information.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

Two sources describe a school garden. One says students grow vegetables. The other says students measure plant growth. What do both sources show?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Students learn through activities in the garden..

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: Both sources show that the garden is used for student learning.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

Both sources show that the garden is used for student learning.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

Which statement is a fact that could be checked in a book?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is A monarch butterfly has orange and black wings..

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: The wing colors can be checked with an observation or reference source.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

The wing colors can be checked with an observation or reference source.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

A student is researching local weather. Which question is most focused?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is How much rain did our town receive last April?.

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: The first question names a place, time, and measurable weather topic.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

The first question names a place, time, and measurable weather topic.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Which detail would best support a report that recycling reduces waste?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The school collected 200 fewer kilograms of trash after starting a recycling program..

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: The measured change in trash directly supports the report claim.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

The measured change in trash directly supports the report claim.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

A student reads a paragraph and writes the same idea using different words. What is this called?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Paraphrasing.

  1. Read carefully: Look for the story detail, text clue, word meaning, or writing goal that the task asks about.
  2. Use the text: Paraphrasing means restating information in new words while keeping the meaning.
  3. Check the choice: Choose the answer that is best supported by the passage or the sentence.

Paraphrasing means restating information in new words while keeping the meaning.

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Frequently asked questions about Connecticut Grade 3 ELA Practice

Which Grade 3 ELA skills are covered?

The page covers literary and informational reading, vocabulary, language, writing, research, and evidence skills.

How many questions are included?

There are five practice sets with 10 questions each, for 50 questions in total. Each set can be completed separately.

Are these official Smarter Balanced questions?

No. These are original supplemental practice questions. Check the latest Connecticut State Department of Education and Smarter Balanced information for official materials, accommodations, and policies.