Contents

What is EQAO Testing? . . . . . . . 2 Reading Selections

More Instructional Strategies . . .
Student Tips for Taking Tests . . .
More Student Tips . . . . . . . . .
Language Tests
Language Test 1 . . . . . . . . . . .
Language Test 2 . . . . . . . . . . .
Language Test 3 . . . . . . . . . . .
Language Test 4 . . . . . . . . . . .
Language Test 5 . . . . . . . . . . .
Writing Prompts
Student Writing Tips . . . . . . . . 19
Writing Prompt 1 . . . . . . . . . . 20
Writing Prompt 2 . . . . . . . . . . 22
Writing Prompt 3 . . . . . . . . . . 24
Writing Prompt 4 . . . . . . . . . . 26
Writing Prompt 5 . . . . . . . . . . 28
Writing Prompt 6 . . . . . . . . . 30
Writing Prompt 7 . . . . . . . . . . 32
Writing Prompt 8 . . . . . . . . . . 34
Writing Prompt 9 . . . . . . . . . 36
Writing Prompt 10 . . . . . . . . . 38
Writing Prompt 11 . . . . . . . . . 40
Writing Prompt 12 . . . . . . . . . . 42
3 Reading Comprehension Tips . . . 44
4 Text Features . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
5 Open-response Question Tips . . 46
A Birthday Surprise . . . . . . . . 47
A Present for Mom . . . . . . . . . 51
6 A Staycation . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
8 Dad’s New Job . . . . . . . . . . . 60
11 Earthworms . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
14 Grey Squirrels . . . . . . . . . . . 70
17 Hot-air Balloons . . . . . . . . . . 75
Jane Goodall . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Leatherback Turtles . . . . . . . . 84
Our New Park . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Pioneer Farming . . . . . . . . . . 94
Smoke Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Traffic Lights . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Why Are Trees Important? . . . . 106
You Need Sleep . . . . . . . . . . 110
Answers
Language Tests . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Reading Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Grade 3 Language Ready
Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

What is EQAO? EQAO is an acronym for the “Education Quality and Accountability
Office.” Each year in Ontario, EQAO administers Reading, Writing, and Mathematics
tests to grade 3, 6, 9, and 10 students. Tests are based on The Ontario Curriculum and
are developed, reviewed, and scored by teachers in Ontario.

EQAO Test Ready! Language Skills Grade 3 © Chalkboard Publishing Inc 1

What is EQAO testing?
Language Assessment Language Assessment
Classroom EQAO
Informs the teacher about individual Informs the public about individual
students’ achievements. students’ achievements.

Results are used to directly and Results are used by the school
immediately have an impact on board, the school, and/or teachers to
students’ growth and development. improve programs to benefit students
in subsequent classes.

Provides assessment over time Provides a “snapshot” of a student’s

concerning students’ achievement, understanding at one point in time
and should include diagnostic, at the end of grade 3 or grade 6.
formative, and summative measures.

Assessments marked objectively and

Marking is more subjective. Teachers
consistently by trained assessors who
are allowed to consider all available
are monitored and provided with a
information about the student.
scoring guide.

Assessments are prepared and Assessments are created and scored

marked by teachers who know in a central location where markers do
their students. not know students personally.

Students required to show their

Wide variety of teaching supports are understanding individually on the
often used to aid students who have same tasks and under the same
special needs. conditions. (Some supports allowed
for students with special needs.)

Assessment results from Assessment results are compared

the classroom are not compared across the province.
across the province.

2 EQAO Test Ready! Language Skills Grade 3 © Chalkboard Publishing Inc

More Instructional Strategies

How to find the Scoring Guides and Previous

EQAO Open-response Questions
1. Visit the website www.eqao.com.
2. Select: English or French
3. Select: Educator > Grade 3, Primary Division
4. Select: Examples of the Assessment and Scoring Materials
5. Select: Student Assessment Booklets and Scoring Guides
6. Select a year (at the lower-right, below Examples from Other Years)
7. Under Assessment Booklets, the Reading Booklet gives you the reading
text and the Language Answers Booklet gives you blank test questions.
The Scoring Guides give you the multiple-choice answers, plus
exemplars for each open-response question.
8. Scroll down until you find the question that suits your purpose.

Or, go to: http://www.eqao.com/en/assessments/primary-division/

Pages/example-assessment-materials-2015.aspx

How Scoring Guides Can Be Used in the

Classroom
1. Post the exemplars in your classroom and have students decide
the level of their work, based on the exemplars. Don’t forget
to have a discussion with students about how to advance their
responses to the next level.
2. Show exemplars with an overhead projector and have a class
discussion about each level. Students should learn what is
required to achieve the next level.
3. Remove the level assigned to each answer and have students
try to determine whether the work is a level 1, 2, 3, or 4. Discuss
their thinking.

EQAO Test Ready! Language Skills Grade 3 © Chalkboard Publishing Inc 3

Student Tips for Taking Tests
Here are some tips to help you when you have to write a test.

1. Get enough sleep the night before the test.

Your brain works best when you are not tired. It is harder to remember
things when you are sleepy.

2. Don’t sleep late the day of the test.

You don’t want to start the day by rushing to get to school. Rushing can
make you feel more nervous.

3. Pay attention to instructions.

Listen carefully to instructions your teacher gives you about writing the
test. Carefully read any instructions that are on the test.

4. Read each test question carefully.

Make sure you answer the question that is asked. Read the question
carefully and think about it before you answer.

5. Be relaxed.

If you are feeling nervous during the test, take some slow deep breaths.
You think better when you are relaxed.

6. Check your answers.

If you finish the test early, go back and check your answers.

4 EQAO Test Ready! Language Skills Grade 3 © Chalkboard Publishing Inc

More Student Tips

Steps for Answering Open-response Questions

1. Take time to read the question carefully. Underline key words.

2. Restate/Use part of the question in your answer
3. Answer the question.
4. S
 upport your answer by using specific details and relevant information
from the reading selection.
5. Read your final response. Does it answer the question?

Steps for Answering Multiple-choice Questions

1. Carefully read each question and underline key words.

2. Read all choices before choosing your answer.
3. Answer any questions you are sure of first.
4. I f you are unsure of an answer, eliminate any wrong choices before
guessing.

Legibility of Your Answers

1. Write only on the lined space provided.

2. Print neatly to make your answers easy to read.
3. Think about the size of your printing so you have enough space to write
your answer.
4. Take your time! Don’t leave any blanks.

EQAO Test Ready! Language Skills Grade 3 © Chalkboard Publishing Inc 5

Language Test 1
1. Choose the sentence that is written correctly.

a) Do you think it will rain today? asked Jade.

b) Do you think it will rain today? asked “Jade.”
c) “Do you think it will rain today?” asked Jade.
d) “Do you think it will rain today? asked Jade.”

2. Choose the sentence that does not belong in the following paragraph.

(1) Tom collects seashells.

(2) He finds many seashells at the beach.
(3) The waves push seashells onto the sand.
(4) The ocean has big waves on windy days.

a) sentence 1
b) sentence 2
c) sentence 3
d) sentence 4

3. Choose the best order to make a paragraph with the following sentences.

(1) I helped him make a list of food we needed.

(2) I helped Dad put away the food when we got home.
(3) Dad said, “Let’s go shopping today.”
(4) We filled our shopping cart with food at the store.

a) 1, 2, 3, 4
b) 3, 4, 1, 2
c) 3, 1, 4, 2
d) 3, 4, 2, 1

6 EQAO Test Ready! Language Skills Grade 3 © Chalkboard Publishing Inc

 Language Test 1

4. Choose the best way to join the following sentences.

The woman dropped some coins.

The woman bent over.
The woman picked them up.

a) The woman dropped some coins, so she reached down and picked
them up.
b) The woman dropped some coins, so she reached down after she
picked them up.
c) The woman dropped some coins, because she reached down and
picked them up.
d) The woman dropped some coins, and she reached down since she
picked them up.

5. Choose the best opening sentence for the following paragraph.

__________________________ Some people use a computer to

send photos to friends. Other people use a computer to find information.
Many people use computers to play games or write stories.

a) Computers can play music.

b) Computers help people do many different things.
c) It is fun to play games on a computer.
d) It is easy to find information on a computer.

6. Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

Roberto went to Emily’s house to see her new puppy.

“______ puppy is so cute!” Roberto told Emily.

a) His
b) Her
c) Your
d) Their

EQAO Test Ready! Language Skills Grade 3 © Chalkboard Publishing Inc 7

Language Test 2
1. Choose the sentence that is written correctly.

a) Niko put his library, book, hat and baseball glove on the shelf.
b) Niko put his library book, hat, and baseball glove on the shelf.
c) Niko put his library book, hat and baseball, glove on the shelf.
d) Niko put his library book, hat and, baseball glove on the shelf.

2. Choose the best opening sentence for the following paragraph.

_________________________ Fruits and vegetables are good

for you. They give your body vitamins. Your body needs vitamins to grow.
Eating fruits and vegetables every day helps you stay healthy.

a) I feel sick when I eat too much candy.

b) Farmers grow fruits and vegetables.
c) It is important to eat healthy foods.
d) Many fruits grow on trees.

3. Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

“Bernie’s and Sarah’s coats are on the floor,” said Dad.

“Please ask them to hang _____ coats in the closet,” said Mom.

a) her
b) your
c) his
d) their

8 EQAO Test Ready! Language Skills Grade 3 © Chalkboard Publishing Inc

 Language Test 2

4. Choose the sentence that does not belong in the following paragraph.

(1) Maria loves to sing.

(2) She sings along with songs on the radio.
(3) Maria does not like listening to the news.
(4) She listens carefully to learn the words of new songs.

a) sentence 1
b) sentence 2
c) sentence 3
d) sentence 4

5. Choose the best order to make a paragraph with the following sentences.

(1) We sang songs about animals on our way back to school.

(2) I got to feed some of the farm animals.
(3) We rode to the farm in a big yellow bus.
(4) Our class went to visit a farm last week.

a) 3, 4, 2, 1
b) 4, 3, 2, 1
c) 2, 3, 1, 4
d) 1, 2, 4, 3

EQAO Test Ready! Language Skills Grade 3 © Chalkboard Publishing Inc 9

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