March 2026 Contest — Grade 3
The March 2026 North Star contest paper for Grade 3 has 12 questions and a 45-minute limit. Two sample questions with worked solutions are below, and you can take the whole paper online for free — no account, no sign-up.
- Grade
- Grade 3
- Questions
- 12
- Time limit
- 45 minutes
- Contest
- March 2026
- Subject
- Mathematics
- School year
- 2025-26
Before you start
- The timer starts when you press Start and runs for 45 minutes.
- Answer the 12 questions in any order; each is multiple choice.
- Your answers are marked as you go. Nothing is saved to an account, so finish in one sitting.
Sample questions
The first and last questions from this paper, with their worked solutions.
Question 1 — Logical Reasoning & Problem Solving
Steve writes a single digit number in each circle such that the sum of the digits in any two connected circles is equal to the sum of any other connected pair. If two of the numbers are shown in the image, what is the number in the circle X?
- A.2
- B.3
- C.4
- D.5
- E.6
Show the worked solution
Step 1 — Read the image:
There are four circles arranged in a square shape.
The top-left circle is empty.
The top-right circle contains the number 5.
The bottom-right circle contains the number 5.
The bottom-left circle contains the letter X.
There are lines connecting the circles along the sides of the square:
Top-left circle is connected to the top-right circle.
Top-right circle is connected to the bottom-right circle.
Bottom-right circle is connected to the bottom-left circle (X).
Bottom-left circle (X) is connected to the top-left circle.
Step 2 — Solve:
We are told that the sum of the numbers in any two connected circles is the same.
Let's find the sum of the two connected circles on the right side: the top-right circle (5) and the bottom-right circle (5).
5 + 5 = 10
Since this sum is 10, the sum of any other connected pair of circles must also be 10.
Now, let's look at the bottom-right circle (5) and the bottom-left circle (X). They are connected, so their sum must be 10:
5 + X = 10
To find X, we subtract 5 from 10:
10 - 5 = 5
So, the number in circle X is 5.
Let's double-check: if the top-left circle is also 5, then the sum of the top-left (5) and top-right (5) is 10, and the sum of the top-left (5) and bottom-left (5) is also 10. This works perfectly.
Step 3 — Select:
The number in circle X is 5, which corresponds to option D.
The answer is D
Question 12 — Geometry & Measurement
A number is drawn using small identical squares as shown in the top. Which option shows the mirror image of the number at the top if a mirror was placed to the right of the number?
- A.A
- B.B
- C.C
- D.D
- E.E
Show the worked solution
To find the mirror image of the number "202" when a mirror is placed to its right, we can follow these simple steps:
Step 1 — Read the image:
The number at the top is 202.
It consists of three digits: a 2 on the left, a 0 in the middle, and a 2 on the right.
Step 2 — Solve:
When a mirror is placed to the right of a number, two things happen:
1. The order of the digits is reversed: The rightmost digit becomes the leftmost digit, and the leftmost digit becomes the rightmost digit. Since the original number is "202", the order of the digits in the mirror image will still be: first digit, middle digit, last digit.
2. Each individual digit is flipped horizontally (left-to-right):
\* The middle digit 0 is symmetric, so its mirror image looks exactly the same.
\* The digit 2 is not symmetric. When we flip it horizontally, the top-right curve moves to the top-left, and the bottom-left curve moves to the bottom-right. This flipped "2" looks like the letter "S" or the number "5".
Putting this together, the mirror image of "202" must show:
A flipped "2" (looks like "5") on the left.
A normal "0" in the middle.
A flipped "2" (looks like "5") on the right.
Step 3 — Select:
Looking at the options, Option A shows exactly this pattern: a flipped "2", a "0", and another flipped "2".
The answer is A
Take the whole paper
All 12 questions, 45 minutes, marked as you go. No account needed.