Question 1

What is the Nova Scotia Grade 3 LM3 Assessment?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

When and how is the LM3 assessment administered?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

Do French Immersion students take the full LM3 assessment?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

How are LM3 assessment results scored and reported?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

Is the Grade 3 LM3 a pass/fail test?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

What mathematical skills are evaluated on the Grade 3 assessment?

Accepted Answer

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).

Question 7

What reading and writing skills are tested on the literacy component?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

How can families and teachers prepare students for the LM3?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

Is this practice bank the same as the official LM3 assessment?

Accepted Answer

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.

100+ Free NS LM3 Practice Questions

Nova Scotia Assessment: Literacy and Mathematics in Grade 3

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