Grade 3 Science SOL Practice Test — Set 4 of 6
Set 4 of 6 — 50 more free Grade 3 Science SOL practice questions from official VDOE released tests.
1. When water evaporates, it changes into a —
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Answer: H — gas
2. A shadow is caused by —
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Answer: A — light being blocked by an object
3. A cactus has thick skin that feels like wax. This type of skin is important because it —
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Answer: F — helps to save water
4. Which of these objects is a type of screw?
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Answer: D — Jar lid
5. Smelts are fish that lay their eggs in sand on beaches. When the eggs hatch, the babies know to go to the water. This is an example of —
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Answer: F — instinct
6. Why is it easier to grow plants in topsoil than in subsoil?
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Answer: D — Topsoil has more humus.
7. Which of these would be best to use to report the temperature of a liquid?
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Answer: F — Degrees Celsius
8. A plant diagram shows roots below the soil, a stem above ground, leaves attached to the stem, and a flower at the top. The part of the plant that takes water from the soil is the —
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Answer: D — root
9. A turtle uses its shell for —
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Answer: F — defense
10. A car, a tree, a grain of sugar, and a drop of ink are alike because they are all made of —
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Answer: C — smaller parts
11. Even on the coldest winter days, there is some heat in the air. Almost all of the heat in the air comes from —
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Answer: H — the sun
12. Which living thing produces its own food?
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Answer: J — Dandelion plant
13. Soil is needed by plants because it gives the plants —
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Answer: A — nutrients
14. Two pictures show the same animals at different times. Between the times Picture 1 and Picture 2 were taken, which animal moved the most distance?
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Answer: G — The calf
15. A food chain shows plants eaten by mice, mice eaten by snakes, and snakes eaten by owls. What will likely happen if all of the mice leave the area?
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Answer: C — Snakes will not have enough food.
16. About how long does each season last?
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Answer: H — 3 months
17. Which of these properties will change when a rock is broken?
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Answer: G — Its shape
18. Which direction is a compass needle attracted to?
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Answer: A — North
19. Animals are grouped as follows: • Group 1: Animals with fur that eat meat • Group 2: Animals with fur that eat plants • Group 3: Animals without fur that eat meat • Group 4: Animals without fur that eat plants A tiger has fur and eats meat. A tiger belongs in which of the above groups?
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Answer: F — Group 1
20. What units would you use to measure the length of a pencil?
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Answer: C — Centimeters
21. Which of these is MOST likely the hardest to bend?
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Answer: D — Wooden board
22. Which of these lists has only products that come from plants?
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Answer: A — Paper, spices, and fibers
23. On a baseball field, the bases are arranged so that first base, second base, third base, and home base form four equal sides with right angles when connected in order. Which shape is MOST like the one made by connecting the bases?
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Answer: B — Square
24. Tony is studying ladybugs in a garden. Which of these would BEST help Tony count the spots on a ladybug?
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Answer: D — Magnifying glass
25. What causes fewer plants to grow on the rocky side of a river?
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Answer: B — There is not enough soil.
26. Which would help conserve water?
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Answer: A — Turn off water while brushing teeth
27. Which of these is needed in all stages of a butterfly’s life cycle?
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Answer: J — Air
28. How are a tree and grass alike?
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Answer: B — Both have roots.
29. Which of these most likely has the GREATEST mass?
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Answer: D — Horse
30. A plant is observed to have a thin stem, green leaves, and red blossoms. What type of plant is MOST likely described?
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Answer: A — A flowering plant
31. The BEST way to make a shadow on a living room wall is to —
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Answer: D — stand between a light and the wall
32. Which of these is a nonliving part of a forest?
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Answer: B — Soil
33. A sand dune is a hill of sand formed in dry areas. Which of these causes sand dunes to form?
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Answer: A — Winds blowing
34. A balance scale shows a bottle balanced by masses totaling 103 grams. What is the mass of the bottle?
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Answer: C — 103 grams
35. Which kind of work is made easier by the wheels of a wagon?
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Answer: A — Pulling a heavy load
36. Both hurricanes and tornadoes always —
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Answer: C — have high winds
37. Four pictures show stages in a plant’s growth. Picture 3 shows flowers on the plant. In picture 4, what will take the place of the flowers?
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Answer: B — Fruit
38. Students count their pets and find there are seven cats, nine dogs, and three fish. Which graph correctly shows this information?
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Answer: A — Graph with dogs = 9, cats = 7, fish = 3
39. From what source does almost all heat energy on Earth come?
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Answer: C — The Sun
40. Which of these tells something about how an apple looks?
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Answer: D — It is smooth.
41. A metal rod is struck and starts to vibrate. Which of these could happen next?
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Answer: D — The metal rod produces sound.
42. Food Chain Around a Stream Sun → Water Plant → Mayfly Nymph → Trout → Osprey Based on this food chain, which of these is a carnivore?
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Answer: D — Osprey
43. Which job is done in Virginia only during the fall season?
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Answer: A — Picking apples
44. Which of these senses lets Dora know when a skunk has been close to her house?
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Answer: C — Smell
45. A puddle of water on a concrete driveway disappears after a few hours on a sunny day. Where does the water go as it disappears?
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Answer: A — It goes into the air.
46. Camouflage MOST helps an animal with which life need?
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Answer: G — Hiding from predators
47. Which of these activities makes the MOST air pollution?
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Answer: C — Burning trash bags
48. Which of these BEST describes the way a feather feels?
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Answer: B — Soft
49. A jar lid has spiral ridges that wrap around a cylinder and tighten when turned. What kind of simple machine is a jar lid?
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Answer: C — Screw
50. Which of these is the BEST sign that the fall season has begun?
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Answer: J — Leaves changing color on trees
Grade 3 Science SOL practice test — FAQ
Are these Grade 3 Science SOL practice questions free?
Yes — this Grade 3 Science SOL practice test is completely free with no signup. Answer each question to check it instantly, or open "Show answer" to review.
How many Grade 3 Science SOL practice questions are there?
Across all sets, there are 267 Grade 3 Science practice questions drawn from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests. This set has 50.
Are these real Virginia SOL questions?
The questions are adapted from official VDOE released SOL tests for Grade 3 Science. SOL Prep is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.
Practice items adapted from Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests. Practice items are provided for study purposes and are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Virginia Department of Education.