Year 3 NAPLAN Numeracy: Practice Questions with Worked Solutions
Year 3 NAPLAN Numeracy is the first NAPLAN most children sit. It checks everyday number sense — counting, money, time, simple fractions and patterns. Below are six exam-style questions with clear worked solutions.
What Year 3 Numeracy is like
- Around 36 questions, with no calculator.
- Mostly multiple choice, with a few type-in answers.
- Covers number, money, time, measurement, shapes and simple data.
- Questions are short — the challenge is reading carefully, not hard arithmetic.
Try each question first, then open the solution.
6 practice questions
A box holds 6 eggs. How many eggs are in 4 full boxes?
- A.10
- B.18
- C.24
- D.46
Answer & worked solution
Answer: C) 24
4 boxes of 6 eggs each: 4 × 6 = 24.
Mia has $5.00. She buys a book for $2.60. How much change does she get?
- A.$2.40
- B.$2.60
- C.$3.40
- D.$3.60
Answer & worked solution
Answer: A) $2.40
$5.00 − $2.60 = $2.40.
A cartoon starts at 3:15 pm and runs for 30 minutes. What time does it finish?
- A.3:30 pm
- B.3:45 pm
- C.4:15 pm
- D.4:45 pm
Answer & worked solution
Answer: B) 3:45 pm
30 minutes after 3:15 is 3:45 pm.
What fraction of this grid is shaded?
- A.1/4
- B.1/3
- C.1/2
- D.3/4
Answer & worked solution
Answer: C) 1/2
4 of the 8 squares are shaded. Four out of eight is one half.
Look at the pattern: 2, 5, 8, 11, … What number comes next?
- A.12
- B.13
- C.14
- D.15
Answer & worked solution
Answer: C) 14
Each number goes up by 3, so 11 + 3 = 14.
There are 12 red apples and 9 green apples in a basket. 5 apples are eaten. How many are left?
- A.11
- B.16
- C.21
- D.26
Answer & worked solution
Answer: B) 16
First add: 12 + 9 = 21 apples. Then take away 5: 21 − 5 = 16.
Quick tips for parents
- Read the question aloud together — most Year 3 slips are reading slips, not maths slips.
- Practise money and time with real coins and a real clock.
- Keep sessions short and encouraging — 10 focused minutes beats an hour of frustration.
Related: Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9 Numeracy questions, or the NAPLAN explained guide.
Want hundreds more like these, each explained step by step? Try PrepPath Year 3 Numeracy practice — free, with an AI Tutor for the tricky ones.
PrepPath is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with ACARA or the NSW Department of Education. This guide is general information only — always check the official ACARA (nap.edu.au) or NSW Department of Education websites for current dates and rules.