Free Practice Questions for NS LM3
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Key Facts: NS LM3 Exam
4 Days
Assessment Duration
NS EECD PLANS guidelines specify four daily morning assessment sessions in May.
Level 3
Provincial Expectation
Performance Level 3 indicates that a Grade 3 student meets Nova Scotia provincial curriculum expectations.
Math Only
French Immersion Track
Grade 3 French Immersion students write only the Mathématiques component of the LM3 assessment.
1000
Place Value Upper Limit
Nova Scotia Grade 3 mathematics curriculum outcomes expect number concepts up to 1000.
4 Levels
Performance Scale
Student achievement is categorized into four performance levels without numerical grades or pass/fail marks.
May Window
Administration Window
The annual provincial assessment window takes place during May across Nova Scotia public elementary schools.
Diagnostic
Assessment Purpose
Results provide diagnostic feedback to teachers, parents, and school boards to support future instruction.
No Cost
Public Assessment
Fully funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for all eligible public school students.
A free Nova Scotia Grade 3 provincial literacy and mathematics assessment written over four May mornings, reported on performance levels 1–4. This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation, not an official form or writing-task substitute.
Sample NS LM3 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the NS LM3 exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1What number is made of 4 hundreds, 7 tens, and 2 ones?
2In the number 835, which digit is in the tens place?
3Which of the following numbers is greater than 648?
4What is the standard form of 500 + 60 + 9?
5What is 45 + 30?
6Solve: 342 + 215 = ___
7Solve: 678 - 234 = ___
8Liam has 12 apples. He gives 1/2 of his apples to his sister. How many apples does he give to his sister?
9Solve: 458 + 267 = ___
10Solve: 524 - 187 = ___
About the NS LM3 Exam
The Nova Scotia Assessment: Literacy and Mathematics in Grade 3 (LM3) is administered by Student Assessment and Evaluation (PLANS) at the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. It evaluates end-of-Grade-3 curriculum expectations in reading, writing, and mathematics over four mornings in May (May 11–26, 2026). Reading uses selected-response items across narrative, information, poetry/song, and visual genres; writing includes one narrative and one informational constructed-response task; mathematics is selected-response across Number, Patterns and Relations, Measurement, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. French Immersion students write only the Mathématiques component because formal English Language Arts begins at the start of Grade 3. There is no fee and no pass/fail cut score; results use performance levels 1–4 (Level 3 meets provincial expectation). This OpenExamPrep bank is an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation for literacy and numeracy knowledge — it does not reproduce secure items or replace official writing tasks.
Exam sponsor: Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (PLANS). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Four morning sessions: Literacy (reading selected-response + narrative and informational writing tasks) then Mathematics (selected-response across Number, Patterns and Relations, Measurement, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability). French Immersion students write Mathématiques only.
Time Limit
Four morning sessions in the May 11–26, 2026 window
Passing Score
Performance Levels 1-4 (Level 3 meets expectation)
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Number
Place value to 1000, addition and subtraction, unit fractions (N13), and number sense from end-of-Grade-3 outcomes (multiplication/division Unit 11–12 topics are excluded from the spring LM3 math window).
Patterns & Relations
Repeating and increasing patterns, equality concepts, and simple number sentences.
Measurement & Geometry
Length, perimeter, time/calendar, 2D shapes, and 3D solids aligned to Grade 3 Measurement and Geometry outcomes.
Statistics & Probability
Collecting, displaying, and interpreting data with tallies, tables, pictographs, and bar graphs (3SP01–3SP02).
Reading Comprehension
Literal, non-literal, and analysis questions on narrative, information, poetry/song, and visual texts.
Text Structures, Language & Writing Knowledge
Text features/visuals, conventions, and writing-structure knowledge practised as MCQs (official writing remains constructed-response narrative and informational tasks).
Preparing for the NS LM3 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Performance Levels 1-4 (Level 3 meets expectation)
- Assessment: Four morning sessions: Literacy (reading selected-response + narrative and informational writing tasks) then Mathematics (selected-response across Number, Patterns and Relations, Measurement, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability). French Immersion students write Mathématiques only.
- Time limit: Four morning sessions in the May 11–26, 2026 window
- Exam / certification fees: No fee — publicly funded provincial assessment. Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
NS LM3: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nova Scotia Grade 3 LM3 Assessment?
The Nova Scotia Assessment: Literacy and Mathematics in Grade 3 (LM3) is a provincial evaluation administered by the Program Services Division (PLANS) of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. It assesses student learning against Nova Scotia curriculum outcomes in reading, writing, and mathematics at the end of Grade 3.
When and how is the LM3 assessment administered?
For 2025–2026, LM3 is scheduled May 11–26, 2026 over four morning sessions (Literacy then Mathematics). Students complete selected-response reading and math items plus constructed-response writing tasks in class. Schools choose mornings within the window and complete only one section per day.
Do French Immersion students take the full LM3 assessment?
French Immersion Grade 3 students write only the Mathématiques component. They do not write the English literacy (reading and writing) portion because they begin formal English Language Arts instruction at the beginning of Grade 3, so a full English literacy assessment would be inappropriate.
How are LM3 assessment results scored and reported?
Results are reported according to four provincial performance levels: Level 1 (Not yet meeting expectations), Level 2 (Approaching expectations), Level 3 (Meeting provincial expectations), and Level 4 (Exceeding expectations). Individual student reports are sent to parents and guardians, and school-level data guides instructional planning.
Is the Grade 3 LM3 a pass/fail test?
No, the LM3 is not a high-stakes pass/fail test and does not determine student promotion to Grade 4. It serves as a diagnostic tool to help teachers, schools, and school regions identify strengths and areas needing support in foundational literacy and numeracy.
What mathematical skills are evaluated on the Grade 3 assessment?
The mathematics component evaluates number sense (place value to 1000, addition/subtraction, introductory multiplication/division, unit fractions), patterns and relations (repeating/increasing patterns and number sentences), measurement (length in cm/m, perimeter, time, calendar), and geometry (2D shapes and 3D solids).
What reading and writing skills are tested on the literacy component?
The literacy component assesses reading comprehension across fiction and non-fiction texts (retrieving facts, making inferences, identifying main ideas, analyzing character motives) as well as language conventions (spelling, punctuation, sentence structure) and short writing prompts.
How can families and teachers prepare students for the LM3?
Preparation is integrated into regular classroom instruction throughout the school year. Families can support learning by reading together daily, discussing story details, practicing mental math strategies, and completing practice items to build test familiarity and confidence.
Is this practice bank the same as the official LM3 assessment?
No. OpenExamPrep publishes an English-language multiple-choice study adaptation for curriculum-aligned practice. The official LM3 also includes constructed-response writing tasks and secure items that are not reproduced here.