Free Year 3 NAPLAN Reading Practice — NSW

NSW Year 3 students sit their first NAPLAN reading test in March. The test includes short narrative, informative and persuasive passages with comprehension questions. In NSW, NAPLAN results are used by selective high schools as part of their admissions process — making early preparation particularly important. Skillo uses original Australian passages that mirror the real test.

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What’s tested in Year 3 NAPLAN Reading

  • ✓Literal comprehension — finding information stated directly in the text
  • ✓Inference — working out meaning from clues in the text
  • ✓Vocabulary in context — understanding word meanings from surrounding text
  • ✓Text structure — identifying how a text is organised
  • ✓Author purpose — understanding why a text was written

Sample questions

Question 1 — Easy

Koalas sleep for up to 20 hours a day. They spend most of their waking time eating eucalyptus leaves. Eucalyptus leaves are tough and not very nutritious, so koalas need to eat a lot of them. Why do koalas eat so many eucalyptus leaves?

A) Because eucalyptus leaves are the only food koalas can reach in the trees
B) Because koalas share their leaves with other animals in the forest
C) Because the leaves are tough and not very nutritious, so koalas need a lot of them
D) Because koalas only eat when the weather is warm and dry

Answer: Option C is correct — The passage directly states that eucalyptus leaves are not very nutritious, which is why koalas need to eat a lot of them.

Question 2 — Medium

The old man had lived in his small house for fifty years. When the council told him it would be knocked down to build a road, he sat at his kitchen table for a long time without eating his lunch. What does the old man's behaviour MOST suggest?

A) He is too busy to eat and is planning what to do next
B) He is very upset about losing his home and does not know what to do
C) He is relieved because he has been wanting to move for a long time
D) He is angry at the council and is planning how to argue against the decision

Answer: Option B is correct — Sitting at the kitchen table for a long time without eating after receiving the news shows the old man is deeply affected by what he has heard. Losing his home of fifty years is a profound loss, and his stillness reflects that.

Question 3 — Hard

YEAR 3 SCHOOL FAIR Date: Friday, Week 10 Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm All students welcome! No food or drink from outside the school. No pets on school grounds. Parents must sign in at the front office. What is NOT allowed at the school fair?

A) Parents attending the fair
B) Students bringing their friends
C) Bringing a pet to the fair
D) Buying food at the fair

Answer: Option C is correct — The notice clearly states 'No pets on school grounds.' Parents are allowed (they must sign in), and buying food at the fair is not prohibited — only outside food is banned.

How to use Skillo for Year 3 Reading

  1. Select Year 3 and Reading on the home screen
  2. Read each passage carefully before answering
  3. Use Quick Practice for a short session or Full Test for the complete experience
  4. Review explanations after each session to understand where marks were lost

Skillo is free, requires no email or account details, and is built for Australian students across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and all states. Every question is mapped to the Australian Curriculum v9.0.

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