Third Grade Math: Preparing for the TAKS Test

The Third Grade TAKS Test at a Glance

Third graders who attend a Texas public school will be required to take the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test each year. The mathematics portion of this test is aligned to third grade state standards, which include skills in numerical reasoning, algebraic thinking, geometry, measurement, statistics and mathematical processes.

Numerical Reasoning

At the third grade level, your student needs to use his or her knowledge of place values to read, write and compare whole numbers. Your child's place value knowledge will also help him or her round whole numbers to the nearest ten or hundred. In addition, it's important that your third grader knows all of the multiplication facts through the twelves and can solve multiplication problems containing a 2-digit number and a 1-digit number.

Be sure that your child can accurately add and subtract to solve problems and can also determine the value of a given set of coins and bills. He or she should also be able to use fractions to describe equal parts of a whole and calculate the answers to division problems using models.

Algebraic Thinking

In this focus area, your third grade student should be able to use a given pattern to solve a problem. In addition, he or she should be able to describe a pattern or a relationship using the information provided on a chart, table or list. Your child must also be able to extend the information given in a table by representing it in a different format, such as a graph.

Geometry

Your student should know how to recognize lines of symmetry and congruent geometric figures. At this grade level, your child will also identify and classify 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional geometric shapes and plot numbers and fractional amounts on a number line.

Measurement

As your child learns about measurement, he or she will need to accurately compare the characteristics of area, volume, length and mass. At the third grade level, it's also important that your child can accurately measure these characteristics using standard units. In addition, your child should be able to calculate perimeter, measure a temperature in Fahrenheit and read and write time.

Statistics

Within this focus area, your child should be able to use a set of data to solve a problem. Often, this will require your third grader to collect, organize, display and interpret data. Your child will also learn to describe an event as 'less likely,' 'more likely' or 'equally likely' to occur based on the information shown in a bar graph or pictograph.