3rd Grade Reading Check-Up

Sixteen questions that show where your child is with the big 3rd grade reading skills: reading longer words, working out word meanings, and understanding both a story and a nonfiction passage. Your child reads on their own. It takes about 15 minutes.

Before you start

This check-up covers what most children can do by the end of 3rd grade. Early in the year, lower scores in word meanings and nonfiction are expected.

The check-up

A. Word parts RF.3.3a, RF.3.3b, RF.3.3c

1. What does preheat mean?
2. What does misread mean?
3. Which word means without fear?
4. How many syllables are in remember?

B. Word meanings L.3.4a, L.3.5a, L.3.5c

5. The puppy was drenched after running through the rain. What does drenched mean?
6. Which word is the strongest way to say hungry?
7. In Turn on the light, what does light mean?
8. It's raining cats and dogs means it is…

C. Reading a story RL.3.1, RL.3.2, RL.3.3

The Lost Lunch

Maya opened her backpack at lunchtime and froze. Her lunch box was gone. She remembered setting it on the bench while she tied her shoe at the bus stop. Her stomach growled loudly. Across the table, Leo noticed her empty hands. Without a word, he broke his sandwich in half and slid one piece toward her. "You'd do the same for me," he said with a shrug. The next morning, Maya's dad drove past the bus stop. Her lunch box was still on the bench, and her apple had been nibbled by a squirrel. That day, Maya packed two cookies instead of one.

9. Where did Maya leave her lunch box?
10. Which word best describes Leo?
11. What happened to Maya's apple?
12. Why did Maya pack two cookies?

D. Reading nonfiction RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3

How Bees Make Honey

Honeybees work hard to make honey. First, worker bees fly from flower to flower and sip a sweet liquid called nectar. They store it in a special honey stomach. Back at the hive, they pass the nectar to other bees, who chew it and add things from their bodies that change it. Next, the bees spread the nectar into wax cells and fan it with their wings. The fanning dries the nectar until it turns thick and sticky. Finally, the bees seal each cell with a wax cap. The honey is food for the whole hive during winter, when there are no flowers.

13. What is the passage mostly about?
14. What do bees collect from flowers?
15. What happens right after the bees fan the nectar?
16. Why do bees make honey?

What the check-up covers

Each section matches part of the Common Core 3rd grade English Language Arts standards, which most US states use: foundational skills, language, literature and informational text.

What to practice next

The results show a practice link for every section your child found hard. Here they all are in one place:

Practice one area at a time, about 10 minutes a day, and take the check-up again in three or four weeks. See the full year on the 3rd grade skills page.

Other grades

If this check-up was very easy or very hard, try the grade above or below.

Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade All check-ups

Last reviewed: November 11, 2026

Questions parents ask

What should a 3rd grader be able to read by the end of the year?

Most can read multisyllable words with common prefixes and suffixes, work out new words from context, and read chapter books and short nonfiction on their own, explaining the main idea and why characters act as they do.

My child reads fluently but missed the passage questions. Why?

Reading smoothly and understanding are separate skills. After reading, ask your child to tell you the main idea in one sentence and to explain one thing a character did and why.

My child got a low score. Should I worry?

One check-up is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. Practice one area at a time and check again in a month. If reading is still a struggle, talk to your child's teacher.

Is anything saved or sent anywhere?

No. The answers are scored in your browser and disappear when you leave the page.