3rd Grade SBAC Math Practice Test Questions
TL;DR: Got a third grader prepping for SBAC Math? These free practice questions are matched to Smarter Balanced content standards and cover what the test leans on hardest at this level: multiplication, fractions, area, place value, and the multi-step performance task that trips up a lot of third graders. Work through them with your child, talk through the reasoning, and you will spot which topics still deserve a little more time.
Quick answer: An SBAC grade 3 math practice test lets your child try the kinds of questions on the spring Smarter Balanced test: multiplication and division, place value, fractions on number lines and models, and word problems. Work through the 10 questions below by hand, since no calculator is offered at grade 3, then check each answer and redo any you missed.
Key takeaways:
- SBAC (Smarter Balanced) is used in CA, CT, DE, HI, ID, MI, NV, OR, SD, WA, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Grade 3 Math SBAC has a computer-adaptive section plus a performance task, about 40-45 items total.
- No calculator at grade 3 – the calculator tool turns on at grade 6.
- Items include multiple choice, multi-select, drag-and-drop, equation editor, and the open-ended performance task.
- SBAC is fully Common Core-aligned, so any CCSS prep transfers directly.
Getting ready for SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) math in grade 3? The 10 questions below are written for 3rd graders and cover multiplication and division, fractions, area and perimeter, and word problems. Each question has a worked solution, and the numbers differ from the other grade 3 sets on this site, so you can practice with fresh problems.
These are original practice questions aligned to grade 3 math skills, not official released test items. Use them to find the topics you need to review before test day.
10 practice questions for 3rd Grade SBAC Math
Answer one question at a time. Press Submit to see right away whether you were correct, along with the worked solution. Your score appears after the last question, with a list of the ones to review.
\(108 ÷ 9 = 12\)
\(A = 44 – (21 + 9)\)
\(A = 14\)
\(A = 72 ÷ 8\)
\(A= 9 \)
Quiz complete
Need more practice? Mastering Grade 3 Math covers Grade 3 math step by step, with practice problems and answers. Look inside · $16.99
Best 3rd Grade SBAC Math Prep Resource for 2027
Answers and explanations
Every worked solution opens in the quiz box as soon as you submit that question, so you can compare your method with the solution while it is fresh. Press Try again on the last screen to work through the set a second time.
Looking for the best resource to help you succeed on the 3rd Grade SBAC Math test?
The Best Books to Ace the 3rd Grade SBAC Math Test
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For a workbook your child can use alongside these practice questions, Mastering Grade 3 Math covers every Common Core grade 3 standard - perfect for SBAC. For the multi-step word problems on the performance task, see Mastering Grade 3 Math Word Problems.
How the Grade 3 Smarter Balanced Math Test Is Built
The spring test has two parts. The first part is computer adaptive. If your child answers well, the next questions get a little harder. If they struggle, the questions ease off. That is why two classmates rarely see the same set.
The second part is a performance task. It is a short set of connected questions built around one real-life situation, and your child explains or shows work along the way. Smarter Balanced posts a sample grade 3 task called Going Green, with a scoring guide, so you can see what a full task looks like.
Two free official tools are worth using before test day:
- The practice test. It has about 30 questions and runs in the same software as the real test. Each state has its own link, and no login is needed.
- The training test. It has six questions for grades 3 to 5. Its main job is to teach the tools, like dragging answers or typing a number.
A good order is: our 10 questions first to find weak spots, a few days of practice on those skills, then the official practice test as a dress rehearsal.
Turning a Missed Question Into Home Practice
| If your child missed... | Practice this at home |
|---|---|
| The number line question (Q8) | Count by 1s, 2s and 5s along a drawn line and name the marks between labeled numbers. |
| The sticker sharing question (Q9) | Act out equal groups with coins or beans, then write the matching division and multiplication facts. |
| The fraction model questions (Q7 and Q10) | Fold paper strips into halves, fourths and eighths and compare the shaded parts. |
| The meals word problem (Q5) | Ask small "how many in a week" questions using real family routines. |
Keep sessions short, about 15 minutes, and finish with a question your child can get right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free SBAC math practice test for 3rd grade?
Yes. Smarter Balanced offers a free online practice test for grade 3 math, and the 10 questions here give extra practice in the same style. Have your child work each one by hand, since no calculator is offered at grade 3. On a question like 108 stickers shared among 9 friends, ask them to explain why 108 ÷ 9 = 12 before moving on.
Is addition and subtraction on the 3rd grade SBAC math test?
Yes. Third graders are expected to add and subtract within 1,000 using place value, such as 452 + 379 = 831 or 600 − 247 = 353. On the SBAC these skills often show up inside word problems and the performance task rather than as bare sums, so practice regrouping in short everyday stories about money, pages read or classroom supplies.
Are 3rd grade SBAC math questions multiple choice?
Some are, but not all. The grade 3 SBAC mixes multiple choice with multi-select items, drag-and-drop, typed number answers and a performance task where students show their reasoning. Practicing a few questions where your child writes the answer instead of picking it builds the habit of checking work, which matters most on the items with no choices to lean on.
What is the difference between the SBAC practice test and the training test?
The practice test is close to the real grade 3 math test in format, with roughly 30 questions, while the training test is much shorter and mainly teaches the on-screen tools. A sensible order for a third grader is the training test first, so dragging, selecting and typing feel easy, then the practice test to see which math topics need more review.
Related EffortlessMath Lessons
If a topic on this page feels rusty, these short lessons go deeper:
- How to multiply and divide
- How to add and subtract multi-digit numbers
- How to compare fractions
- How to find the area of a rectangle
- How to solve word problems
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