100+ Free DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 Practice Questions
Prepare for the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessments of Progress in Education (DC CAPE) 2.0 English Language Arts/Literacy — Grade 3 exam with instant access — no signup required.
Loading practice questions...
Explore More K-12 State Assessments
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
More From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
Key Facts: DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 Exam
Grade 3
Official DC CAPE 2.0 tested grade/course (OSSE FAQ Q4)
osse.dc.gov CAPE 2.0 FAQ
Free
No student exam fee for standard school administration
OSSE Assessments policy
SY 2026–27
First DC CAPE 2.0 administration (spring 2027)
OSSE CAPE 2.0 page / FAQ
OSSE
State education agency administering DC CAPE 2.0
osse.dc.gov
Pearson
Administration platforms ADAM / TestNav; science content vendor
OSSE CAPE 2.0 FAQ Q3
CCSS ELA
Content standards alignment
OSSE CAPE 2.0 FAQ Q5
4 levels
Performance levels; Level 3 = met expectations
OSSE CAPE 2.0 page
Untimed
Official tests designed as untimed with estimated session lengths
OSSE System Overview Feb 2026
DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 is DC's free OSSE CAPE 2.0 statewide ela summative for Grade 3 (first admin spring 2027); practice here is English MCQ study only.
Sample DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the story. Lila's kite snagged on a high oak branch. She tugged once, then sat in the grass. Her little brother, Max, brought a long stick and a gentle smile. Together they nudged the string free. The kite sailed again, and Lila hugged Max hard. What is the central message of this story?
2Read the passage. When the school play began, Jordan's hands shook so hard he almost dropped his script. The lights felt hot. Then he saw his grandma wave from the second row. He took a deep breath and said his first line loud and clear. How does Jordan most likely feel at the start of the play?
3Read the story. Every afternoon, Mr. Chen watered the community garden. One dry week, the hose broke. He filled buckets at the fountain and carried them across the yard. The tomato plants still grew red and plump. What character trait best describes Mr. Chen?
4Read the passage. Nora wanted the shiny red sneakers in the store window. She emptied her piggy bank and counted only eight dollars. For three weeks she walked dogs and stacked newspapers. On Saturday she returned to the store with enough money and a proud smile. What is the main problem Nora faces?
5Read the story. On the first day of camp, Sam sat alone under a pine tree. By lunch, he had taught three kids a card game. By sunset, they were planning a treasure hunt together. How does Sam change in this story?
6Read the passage. The old lighthouse stood on the rocky cliff. Waves crashed below, and gulls circled the white tower. Inside, Maya climbed the spiral stairs. At the top, a golden beam swept across the dark sea, warning ships of the stones. Which detail best helps you picture the setting?
7Read the story. "I finished the puzzle first!" shouted Theo. "You peeked at the picture on the box," said Asha quietly. Theo's cheeks turned pink. He slid the last piece toward Asha. "You should put this one in," he said. What does Theo's action at the end most show?
8Read the passage. In the fable, a tiny ant carried crumbs all summer while a grasshopper sang. When winter came, the ant had food. The grasshopper was cold and hungry and asked for help. The ant shared a little and said, "Next summer, prepare early." What lesson does this fable teach?
9Read the story. Rain hammered the tent roof. Priya zipped her sleeping bag to her chin. Her friend whispered, "Is that thunder?" Priya grinned. "It's just the sky drumming for us," she said, and they both laughed. What is the mood of this scene?
10Read the passage. Detective Owl noticed the missing pie tin on the windowsill. Crumbs led across the porch. In the garden, a raccoon sat with sticky paws and a guilty look. "Case closed," hooted Owl. Which event happens first?
About the DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 Exam
District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessments of Progress in Education (DC CAPE) 2.0 English Language Arts/Literacy — Grade 3 is the District of Columbia's grade/course-level DC CAPE 2.0 statewide summative assessment administered by OSSE beginning SY 2026–27 (first operational window spring 2027). ELA and mathematics content is provided through the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium against the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), with grades 3–8 using Smarter Balanced summative adjusted blueprints and high school courses using DC end-of-course blueprints. Students test on Pearson TestNav (ADAM management). Official forms mix selected-response, technology-enabled, and constructed-response/performance tasks. OpenExamPrep free practice is an English-language four-option MCQ study adaptation aligned to public OSSE/Smarter Balanced/NGSS frameworks—not official secure items, not a full TE/CR/PT simulation, and not a substitute for classroom instruction or the official assessment.
Assessment
Question count not published by the exam provider
Time Limit
About 2 hours 45 minutes estimated total for most students (CAT ~45 minutes + performance task ~2 hours); tests are untimed (OSSE DC CAPE 2.0 System Overview, Feb 2026).
Passing Score
DC CAPE 2.0 reports four performance levels for ELA, math, and science; Level 3 indicates the student met grade-level (or course-level) expectations (OSSE CAPE 2.0 page). After the first 2026–27 administration, OSSE will conduct a summer 2027 standard-setting event for high school ELA and math end-of-course assessments and redesigned science assessments before cut scores are finalized for those forms (OSSE CAPE 2.0 FAQ, Dec 2025).
Exam Fee
Free for District of Columbia public and public charter school students; DC CAPE 2.0 is the required statewide summative assessment administered through LEAs at no student exam fee (OSSE Assessments Participation & Performance Policy; OSSE CAPE 2.0 materials). (District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE); ELA and math content from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium; science content and ADAM/TestNav administration platforms via Pearson)
DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 Exam Content Outline
Reading — Literary Text
Literary passages: central ideas, key details, word meanings, reasoning and evidence, text structures, and language use (Smarter Balanced ELA adjusted blueprint Claim 1 Literary).
Reading — Informational Text
Informational passages: central ideas, key details, word meanings, reasoning and evidence, text structures/features, and language use (Smarter Balanced ELA adjusted blueprint Claim 1 Informational).
Writing
Organization/purpose, evidence/elaboration, and conventions via revise/edit CAT items and a full-write performance task scored on three traits (Smarter Balanced ELA adjusted blueprint Claim 2).
Listening
Listen/interpret targets: understand and analyze spoken information (Smarter Balanced ELA adjusted blueprint Claim 3). Local practice adapts listening skills with short read-aloud transcripts.
Research
Interpret/integrate information, analyze sources, and use evidence (Smarter Balanced ELA adjusted blueprint Claim 4).
How to Pass the DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: DC CAPE 2.0 reports four performance levels for ELA, math, and science; Level 3 indicates the student met grade-level (or course-level) expectations (OSSE CAPE 2.0 page). After the first 2026–27 administration, OSSE will conduct a summer 2027 standard-setting event for high school ELA and math end-of-course assessments and redesigned science assessments before cut scores are finalized for those forms (OSSE CAPE 2.0 FAQ, Dec 2025).
- Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
- Time limit: About 2 hours 45 minutes estimated total for most students (CAT ~45 minutes + performance task ~2 hours); tests are untimed (OSSE DC CAPE 2.0 System Overview, Feb 2026).
- Exam fee: Free for District of Columbia public and public charter school students; DC CAPE 2.0 is the required statewide summative assessment administered through LEAs at no student exam fee (OSSE Assessments Participation & Performance Policy; OSSE CAPE 2.0 materials).
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 assessment?
DC CAPE 2.0 ELA Grade 3 is part of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessments of Progress in Education (DC CAPE) 2.0 general statewide assessment system administered by OSSE beginning in school year 2026–27 (first spring 2027 administration). It measures student progress relative to DC educational standards (Common Core State Standards).
Is DC CAPE 2.0 free for students?
Yes. DC CAPE 2.0 is the District’s required statewide summative assessment for eligible public and public charter school students and is administered through LEAs without a student exam fee.
How long is the official test?
About 2 hours 45 minutes estimated total for most students (CAT ~45 minutes + performance task ~2 hours); tests are untimed (OSSE DC CAPE 2.0 System Overview, Feb 2026).
What item types appear on the official assessment?
Official ELA/math forms include computer-adaptive selected-response and technology-enabled items plus performance tasks (including full-write tasks in ELA). OpenExamPrep provides English four-option MCQ study adaptations only—not an official-format simulation.
How are results reported?
DC CAPE 2.0 reports four performance levels for ELA, math, and science; Level 3 indicates the student met grade-level (or course-level) expectations (OSSE CAPE 2.0 page). After the first 2026–27 administration, OSSE will conduct a summer 2027 standard-setting event for high school ELA and math end-of-course assessments and redesigned science assessments before cut scores are finalized for those forms (OSSE CAPE 2.0 FAQ, Dec 2025).
Are these practice questions official OSSE or Smarter Balanced items?
No. These free practice questions are original study aids aligned to DC standards and publicly described CAPE 2.0 / Smarter Balanced / NGSS frameworks. They are not secure official items and do not replace OSSE/Pearson practice resources, classroom instruction, or the official spring assessment.
Does this bank replace constructed-response or performance tasks?
No. Official DC CAPE 2.0 includes performance tasks and (for science) constructed-response items. This bank adapts the underlying knowledge and judgment into multiple-choice study items only.