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Free OLSAT practice test — Grade 3

10 original OLSAT-style questions for Grade 3, with answers and full explanations. No signup needed.

These free OLSAT-style questions cover both the verbal and nonverbal halves of the test — following directions, analogies, classification, and figural reasoning.

The OLSAT rewards children who know the formats: many items (like 'following directions') trip up smart first-timers purely on unfamiliarity.

Question 1Sentence Completion
Choose the word or words that best complete the sentence. The ______ puppy ______ into the pile of leaves.
  1. Aplayful .. jumped
  2. Bsick .. ran
  3. Ctiny .. flew
  4. Dsleepy .. jumped
  5. Eplayful .. slept
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

A playful puppy jumps into leaves. A sleepy puppy would not jump.

Question 2Verbal Analogies
Complete the analogy: BIRD is to NEST as HORSE is to ___
  1. Ahive
  2. Bstable
  3. Ccolony
  4. Dkennel
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

The relationship is "animal to its home." bird → nest, so horse → stable.

Question 3Verbal Classification
Four of the words below go together in some way. Choose the word that does NOT belong with the others. oven mug cup plate bowl
  1. Aoven
  2. Bmug
  3. Ccup
  4. Dplate
  5. Ebowl
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Four of the five words are alike: they are dishes you eat or drink from. oven does not fit that group.

Question 4Figural Classification

Four of the figures below are alike in one way. Which figure does NOT belong with the others?

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

Four of the five figures share one property: all figures are small. B is the one that does not belong (repeats an exemplar's shape but breaks the shared property).

Question 5Figural Analogies

Look at how the first figure changes into the second. Which answer changes the bottom figure the same way?

?
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C

In the top row, the figure doubles. Applying the same change to the bottom figure gives C. The others each make a specific mistake: A a look-alike that doesn't follow the rule; B the bottom figure with no rule applied; D right change, wrong figure shape; E applies a different rule than the top row shows.

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Question 6Pattern Matrix

Look at how the first figure changes into the second. Which answer changes the bottom figure the same way?

?
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

In the top row, the figure's fill darkens one step. Applying the same change to the bottom figure gives D. The others each make a specific mistake: A right change, wrong figure shape; B the bottom figure with no rule applied; C applies a different rule than the top row shows; E applies the change twice.

Question 7Figural Series

The figures change the same way each step. Which figure comes next?

?
  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D
  5. E
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Each step, the figure alternates big and small. Continuing one more step gives D. The others: A does not continue the series; B jumps two steps ahead; C the right figure with the wrong fill; E the right step on the wrong shape.

Question 8Number Series
What number comes next? 32, 26, 20, 14, ___
  1. A10
  2. B8
  3. C7
  4. D9
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B

The pattern subtracts 6 each time. 14 − 6 = 8.

Question 9Numeric Inference
Each group of numbers follows the same rule. Work out the rule from the first two groups, then find the number that replaces the question mark. 2, 4, 6 4, 6, 10 5, ?, 12
  1. A7
  2. B4
  3. C5
  4. D9
  5. E6
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

In every group the third number is the sum of the first two (the second is 2 more than the first). Applying the same rule to the last group gives 7: A.

Question 10Number Matrix
The numbers in the box are arranged according to a rule. Find the rule, then choose the number that belongs in the empty space. 5 2 -1 6 3 ? 7 4 1
  1. A0
  2. B3
  3. C-3
  4. D-1
  5. E1
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A

Across each row the numbers change by -3, and down each column they change by 1. The empty space must fit both its row and its column, which gives 0: A.

OLSAT FAQ

What does OLSAT stand for?

Otis-Lennon School Ability Test — it measures verbal and nonverbal reasoning for gifted and accelerated placement.

What's a qualifying OLSAT score?

Most gifted programs look for a School Ability Index in the 95th+ percentile; NYC G&T historically required 90+ for district and 97+ for citywide programs.

More free OLSAT practice

KindergartenGrade 1Grade 2Grade 4Grade 5Grade 6Grade 7Grade 8🖨️ Printable Grade 3 pack (PDF) →Parent's guide to the OLSAT →

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