Free printable CAASPP practice test for Grade 3

English Language Arts

Circle the letter of the best answer, or two letters where a question asks for two. No time limit.

1. Playing for Leo

   Mei had practiced her piano piece every day for a month. She could play it with her eyes closed. But on the morning of the spring recital, her hands felt like two cold fish.

   "What if I forget the notes?" she asked Grandpa as they drove to the music school. "What if everyone stares at me?"

   Grandpa smiled at her in the mirror. "When I was a boy, I sang in a choir," he said. "Before every concert, my knees shook like jelly. Then my teacher told me a secret. Don't sing for the whole room. Pick one person, and sing just for them."

   Mei thought about that. She looked at her little brother, Leo, who was kicking his feet in his car seat. Leo loved her piece. He called it "the butterfly song," because the notes went up and down like wings.

   At the music school, the hall was full of folding chairs and grown-ups holding programs. Mei's stomach did a flip. Six students played before her. Each time the clapping started, her heart beat faster.

   Then Mrs. Alvarez called her name.

   Mei walked to the piano and sat down. She did not look at the rows of faces. Instead, she found Leo in the third row, sitting on Grandpa's lap. He waved at her with both hands.

   Mei smiled. She put her fingers on the keys and played the butterfly song for Leo. She played it the way she did at home, when he danced around the living room. The notes went up and down, up and down.

   When she finished, the room filled with clapping. Mei had almost forgotten anyone else was there.

   Afterward, Leo ran to her and wrapped his arms around her legs. "You played my song!" he shouted.

   "I did," said Mei. She looked up at Grandpa, and he winked.

   1.

   What is the central message of this story?

   1. AOnly grown-ups can play music well.
   2. BPracticing every day is not important.
   3. CLittle brothers should sit quietly at concerts.
   4. DThinking about someone you care about can help you be brave.
2. 2.

   Which TWO details show that Mei was nervous before she played? Choose two answers.

   1. AEach time the clapping started, her heart beat faster.
   2. BShe could play her piece with her eyes closed.
   3. CShe found Leo in the third row.
   4. DHer hands felt like two cold fish.
   5. EShe played the song the way she did at home.
3. 3.

   Grandpa says his knees "shook like jelly." What does he mean?

   1. AHe had hurt his knees at the concert.
   2. BHis knees were very cold.
   3. CHis knees shook because he was nervous.
   4. DHe was dancing to the music.
4. 4.

   In the story, what does the word "programs" mean in "grown-ups holding programs"?

   1. Aplans for saving money
   2. Bshows on television
   3. Cpapers that list what will happen at an event
   4. Dgames played on a computer

5. Read this aloud to your child.

   Field Trip to Bayside Aquarium

   Room 8 Field Trip: Bayside Aquarium
   April 24

   Dear Families,

   Our class will visit the Bayside Aquarium as part of our unit on ocean animals. Please read the schedule below and return the permission slip by April 20.

   Schedule
   8:45 a.m. Bus leaves school
   9:30 a.m. Shark and ray tunnel
   10:30 a.m. Touch pool with sea stars and crabs
   11:30 a.m. Lunch in the picnic area
   12:15 p.m. Penguin feeding show
   1:15 p.m. Bus leaves the aquarium
   2:00 p.m. Arrive back at school

   What to Bring
   a packed lunch with a drink
   a jacket (the tunnel is chilly!)
   comfortable walking shoes

   We still need two parent helpers. If you can join us, please write your name on the permission slip.

   Thank you!
   Ms. Hughes

   5.

   What is the main purpose of this talk?

   1. ATo teach students facts about sharks and rays
   2. BTo invite families to a penguin show at school
   3. CTo tell families about the field trip and ask for the permission slip
   4. DTo sell tickets to the aquarium

6. Read this aloud to your child.

   Why We Have Day and Night

   Every morning, the sun seems to rise in the east. Every evening, it seems to sink in the west. But the sun is not really moving across our sky. Earth is the one that is moving.

   Earth spins all the way around, like a merry-go-round, about once every 24 hours. As it spins, one half of Earth faces the sun. On that side, it is daytime. The other half faces away from the sun, toward dark space. On that side, it is nighttime.

   As Earth keeps turning, your part of the world slowly turns toward the sun. That is when you see a sunrise. Later, your part of the world turns away from the sun, and you see a sunset. So when it is daytime where you live, it is nighttime for people on the other side of the planet.

   6.

   In the talk, what does the word "sink" mean in "it seems to sink in the west"?

   1. Ato grow bigger
   2. Bto go down slowly
   3. Cto float on top of water
   4. Dto jump up quickly
7. 7.

   The blue whale is the ______ animal on Earth.

   Which word or words best complete the sentence?

   1. Abigger
   2. Bmost biggest
   3. Cbig
   4. Dbiggest
8. 8.

   Last Saturday, the kids ______ a fort out of blankets.

   Which word best completes the sentence?

   1. Abuild
   2. Bbuilding
   3. Cbuilded
   4. Dbuilt
9. 9.

   Jada is writing a story about a day at the county fair.

   Which sentence adds a detail about what Jada felt at the county fair?

   1. AThe lemonade was sweet and a little bit sour.
   2. BBright red and yellow lights blinked on the Ferris wheel.
   3. CThe sticky cotton candy stuck to Jada's fingers.
   4. DThe air smelled like popcorn and buttered corn.
10. 10.

    Which sentence uses commas correctly?

    1. AMy baby brother was born on June, 2 2023.
    2. BMy baby brother was born on June 2, 2023.
    3. CMy baby brother was born on June, 2, 2023.
    4. DMy baby brother was born on June 2 2023.