3rd Grade Word Problems: 10 Printable + Answers (PDF)

Examples from this activity, with answers

These questions come from the activity above. You can read them and work on paper before playing. Read the instruction and choices first, then look at the answer.

5 boxes of 6 stars. 5 × 6 =
Choices : 29 / 30 / 31
Answer : 30
5 boxes of 7 stars. 5 × 7 =
Choices : 34 / 35 / 36
Answer : 35
Astro has 182 points, he earns 204 more. 182 + 204 =
Choices : 385 / 386 / 387
Answer : 386

Helping your child think it through

Ask your child to explain their choice. For a calculation, use objects, a drawing or a written operation; for a word, read the complete sentence again. If they are unsure, work through one question together before continuing. Stars show successful answers, not a school assessment.

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10 printable 3rd grade word problems, with answers

Ten problems that get gradually harder, starring Astro and friends. Your child reads the story, chooses the operation and writes the answer with its unit. The PDF has the problems with space to work, then a detailed answer key.

Astro has 250 points. He wins 175 more. How many points does he have now?
The rocket must travel 300 km. It has already flown 145 km. How many kilometers are left?
Astro packs 5 boxes of 6 stars. How many stars did he pack?
48 stars are shared equally among 8 planets. How many stars does each planet get?
A spaceship carries 7 crates of 25 bolts. How many bolts does it carry?
Astro has 1,000 points. He spends 350 on a new antenna. How many points does he have left?
The space station has 3 towers with 12 floors each. How many floors are there altogether?
Astro buys 3 batteries for $4 each. He pays with a $20 bill. How much change does he get?
One mission day lasts 24 hours. How many hours do 3 mission days last?
63 astronauts board shuttles with 9 seats each. Every shuttle is full. How many shuttles are needed?

📥 Download the PDF: 10 problems + answers

Show the answers

250 + 175 = 425: Astro has 425 points.
300 − 145 = 155: 155 km are left.
5 × 6 = 30: He packed 30 stars.
48 ÷ 8 = 6: Each planet gets 6 stars.
7 × 25 = 175: It carries 175 bolts.
1,000 − 350 = 650: He has 650 points left.
3 × 12 = 36: There are 36 floors.
3 × 4 = 12, then 20 − 12 = 8: He gets $8 in change.
3 × 24 = 72: 3 days last 72 hours.
63 ÷ 9 = 7: 7 shuttles are needed.

The 4-step method

Read the problem twice: once to understand the story, once to spot the numbers.
Find the question: underline it: are we looking for how many altogether, how many are left, how many each?
Choose the operation: by drawing the situation: circles for objects, an arrow for what comes or goes.
Calculate and check: then answer with a full sentence and the unit, for example: “155 km are left.”

What children practise at ages 8–9

At ages 8–9, children use all four operations with numbers up to 10,000. They solve two-step problems and measurement problems (money, time, length). Division comes in through sharing and grouping: how many parts, how many in each part.

Filoumi tipAsk for a full answer sentence with the unit (“155 km are left.”): it is what teachers expect, and it makes your child reread the question.

Parents' questions

How can I help my child (CE2, ages 8–9) when they get stuck on a word problem?

Ask them to retell the story in their own words, then draw it (circles for objects, an arrow for what leaves). If they are still stuck, swap the numbers for smaller ones: the method becomes clear, and they just redo the calculation with the real numbers.

How many word problems should my child do each day?

Two or three problems, 10 to 15 minutes, are enough. Regular practice matters more than quantity: a few minutes every day beat an hour on Sunday.

What is a two-step word problem?

A problem where you first need an in-between result that the question does not ask for. Example: 3 batteries at $4 paid with a $20 bill; first work out the price ($12), then the change ($8). At ages 8–9, this kind of problem becomes routine.

Printable word problems for other ages

All CE2 exercises