Grade 3 English Language Arts

Paper-Based Practice Test Answer Key

This document contains the answers to all items on the grade 3 ELA Paper-Based Practice Test, as well as alignment and scoring
information. Refer to the ELA Practice Test Guidance for information on how to incorporate the practice tests into instruction, as
well as a scoring activity.

Although the actual test contains only three sessions and two tasks—a Research Simulation Task (RST) AND a Literary Analysis
Task (LAT) OR a Narrative Writing Task (NWT)—the practice test includes four sessions and all three tasks so students can address
Writing standards 1, 2, and 3. See the Grade 3 ELA Assessment Guide for more information about the test’s design.

Session Sequence Item Type Key Alignment

PART A: C
1 EBSR RL.3.4, L.3.4, RL.3.1
PART B: A
PART A: D
2 EBSR RL.3.2, RL.3.1
PART B: A
PART A: C
3 EBSR RL.3.3, RL.3.1
PART B: A
1 PART A: A
4 EBSR RL.3.4, L.3.4, RL.3.1
Literary Analysis Task PART B: A
PART A: B
5 EBSR RL.3.2, RL.3.1
PART B: D
PART A: B
6 EBSR RL.3.2, RL.3.1
PART B: D
See Scoring Table and Rubric
7 PCR RL.3.7, RL.3.1; W.3.2; L.3.1, L.3.2
Sample Student Responses
 PART A: B
8 MS RI.3.4, RI.3.1
PART B: A, F
PART A: C
9 EBSR RI.3.2, RI.3.1
PART B: B
PART A: C
10 MS RI.3.5, RI.3.1
PART B: A, E
2
PART A: C
Research Simulation Task 11 MS RI.3.4, L.3.4, RI.3.1
PART B: B, E
12 MS C, F RI.3.3, RI.3.1
PART A: B
13 EBSR RI.3.2, RI.3.1
PART B: D
See Scoring Table and Rubric
14 PCR RI.3.3, RI.3.1; W.3.2; L.3.1, L.3.2
Sample Student Responses
PART A: B
15 EBSR RL.3.4, L.3.5, RL.3.1
PART B: C
PART A: A
16 MS RL.3.3, RL.3.1
3 PART B: B, C
Narrative Writing Task PART A: D
17 EBSR RL.3.3, RL.3.1
PART B: B
PART A: B
18 EBSR RL.3.2, RL.3.1
PART B: D
19 PCR See Scoring Table and Rubric W.3.3; L.3.1, L.3.2
PART A: C
20 EBSR RL.3.4, L.3.4, RL.3.1
PART B: B
PART A: D
21 MS RL.3.3, RL.3.1
3 PART B: D, E
Reading Passage Set PART A: A
22 EBSR RL.3.2, RL.3.1
PART B: D
PART A: B
23 EBSR RL.3.3, RL.3.1
PART B: A
 PART A: B
24 EBSR RL.3.3, RL3.2, RL.3.1
PART B: D
PART A: B
25 EBSR RL.3.3, RL.3.1
PART B: A
PART A: C
26 EBSR RL.3.3, RL.3.2, RL.3.1
PART B: D
PART A: B
4 27 EBSR RL.3.2, RL.3.1
PART B: C
Reading Literary and
PART A: C
Informational Texts 28 EBSR RI.3.7, RI.3.1
PART B: D
PART A: C
29 EBSR RI.3.2, RI.3.1
PART B: B
PART A: C
30 MS RI.3.8, RI.3.1
PART B: C, D
PART A: D
31 MS RI.3.2, RI.3.1
PART B: D, F
 Item Type Description Scoring Information
Evidence-  Two-part item  Worth up to two points (2, 1, or 0)
Based  Part A measures reading comprehension  Full credit (2 points): both parts correct
Selected  Part B asks for evidence to support part A  Partial credit (1 point): Part A is correct; Part B is not correct
Response  No credit (0 points): only Part B is correct or neither part is correct
(EBSR)
Multiple-  Requires more than one answer (required  Worth up to two points (2, 1, or 0)
Select (MS) number of correct answers in boldface in  Full credit (2 points): All answers correct
question)  Partial credit (1 point): for one-part MS item, 1 of 2 answers is
 Can have one part (e.g., asks student to correct or for an EBSR with MS in Part A, 1 of 2 answers in Part A is
select two summary details) or two parts correct OR both answers are correct in part A, but Part B is
(e.g., Part A asks students to choose two incorrect
themes; Part B asks for evidence for themes)  No credit (0 points): Both parts are incorrect OR only Part B is
correct
Prose  Requires student to show understanding of LAT/RST: Worth up to 15 points
Constructed text(s) by writing a multi-paragraph  Reading Comprehension and Written Expression dimension: score
Response response point of 3, 2, 1, 0; holistic score is multiplied by 4 to provide total
(PCR)  Addresses more than one text depending on dimension score
the task (LAT: 2 texts; RST: 2 texts)  Knowledge of Language and Conventions dimension (3, 2, 1, 0)
 Requires evidence from texts
 Measures Reading Comprehension and NWT: Worth up to 12 points
Written Expression, and Knowledge of  Written Expression dimension: score point of 3, 2, 1, 0; holistic
Language and Conventions (LAT and RST); score is multiplied by 3 to provide total dimension score
measures Written Expression and  Knowledge of Language and Conventions dimension (3, 2, 1, 0)
Knowledge of Language and Conventions
(NWT)
 Scoring of Grade 3 PCRs
Task Dimensions Points by Dimension Total Points Rubric
Reading Comprehension and Written 12 points
Literary Analysis Expression* (4 times holistic score) 15 LAT/RST Rubric
Conventions 3 points
Reading Comprehension and Written 12 points
Research Simulation Expression* (4 times holistic score) 15 LAT/RST Rubric
Conventions 3 points
9 points
Written Expression
Narrative Writing (3 times holistic score) 12 NWT Rubric
Conventions 3 points

*When scoring the Reading Comprehension and Written Expression dimension, the holistic score (3, 2, 1, 0) is determined, based on which score
point best describes that response. That holistic score is multiplied by 4. This means that if a student receives a 2 for Reading Comprehension
and Written Expression, the student will receive a score of 8 for this dimension. This score is then added to the Conventions score to provide the
total score for the RST and the LAT.
 Grade 3 Literary Analysis Task (LAT) and Research Simulation Task (RST) Scoring Rubric

Construct
Score Point 3 Score Point 2 Score Point 1 Score Point 0
Measured
The student response The student response The student response The student response
 demonstrates full comprehension  demonstrates comprehension by  demonstrates limited  does not demonstrate
by providing an accurate providing a mostly accurate comprehension; comprehension;
explanation/description/comparison; explanation/description/comparison;

 addresses the prompt and provides  addresses the prompt and provides  addresses the prompt and provides  is undeveloped and/or
effective development of the topic some development of the topic that minimal development of the topic inappropriate to the task, purpose,
that is consistently appropriate is generally appropriate to the task, that is limited in its and audience;
Reading
to the task, purpose, and audience; purpose, and audience; appropriateness to the task,
Comprehension purpose, and audience;
and
Written  uses clear reasoning supported by  uses reasoning and relevant  uses limited reasoning and text-  includes little to no text-based
Expression relevant text-based evidence in text-based evidence in the based evidence; evidence;
the development of the topic; development of the topic;

 is effectively organized with clear  is organized with mostly clear and  demonstrates limited organization  lacks organization and coherence;
and coherent writing; coherent writing; and coherence;

 uses language effectively to clarify  uses language in a way that is  uses language to express ideas  does not use language to express
ideas. mostly effective to clarify ideas. with limited clarity. ideas with clarity.

The student response demonstrates The student response demonstrates The student response demonstrates The student response does not
Knowledge full command of the conventions of some command of the conventions of limited command of the conventions of demonstrate command of
of standard English at an appropriate standard English at an appropriate level standard English at an appropriate level the conventions of standard English
Language level of complexity. There may be a of complexity. There may be errors in of complexity. There may be errors in at the appropriate level of complexity.
and few minor errors in mechanics, mechanics, grammar, and usage that mechanics, grammar, and usage that Frequent and varied errors in
Conventions grammar, and usage, but meaning is occasionally impede understanding, often impede understanding. mechanics, grammar, and usage
clear. but the meaning is generally clear. impede understanding.
 Grade 3 Narrative Writing Task (NWT) Scoring Rubric

Construct
Score Point 3 Score Point 2 Score Point 1 Score Point 0
Measured
The student response The student response The student response The student response
 is effectively developed with  is developed with some narrative  is minimally developed with few  is undeveloped and/or inappropriate
narrative elements and is elements and is generally appropriate narrative elements and is limited to the task;
consistently appropriate to the task; to the task; in its appropriateness to the task;
Written
Expression  is effectively organized with clear  is organized with mostly coherent  demonstrates limited organization  lacks organization and coherence;
and coherent writing; writing; and coherence;

 uses language effectively to clarify  uses language in a way that is mostly  uses language to express ideas with  does not use language to express
ideas. effective to clarify ideas. limited clarity. ideas with clarity.

The student response demonstrates full The student response demonstrates some The student response demonstrates The student response does not
Knowledge command of the conventions of standard command of the conventions of standard limited command of the conventions of demonstrate command of the
of English at an appropriate level of English at an appropriate level of standard English at an appropriate level of conventions of standard English at the
Language complexity. There may be a few minor complexity. There may be errors in complexity. There may be errors in appropriate level of complexity. Frequent
and errors in mechanics, grammar, and usage, mechanics, grammar, and usage that mechanics, grammar, and usage that and varied errors in mechanics, grammar,
Conventions but meaning is clear. occasionally impede understanding, but often impede understanding. and usage impede understanding.
the meaning is generally clear.

NOTES:
 The reading dimension is not scored for elicited narrative stories.
 Per the Louisiana Student Standards, narrative elements in grades 3-5 may include establishing a situation; organizing a logical event sequence; describing scenes,
objects, or people; developing characters’ personalities; and using dialogue as appropriate.
 The elements of organization to be assessed are expressed in the grade-level standards W1-W3.