Kangaroo-Style Math Practice, Grades 3-4, Set 1

About this practice set

Six original contest-style math problems for grades 3-4 with answer choices A to E, worth 3, 4 and 5 points, plus an answer key that explains every solution. Topics: counting, logic, money, numbers, patterns, working backwards. The problems are written for grades 3 and 4, the level where contest tricks start to matter. After checking answers, try to explain each solution in your own words.

On this sheet

two are worth 3 points, the next two 4 points and the last two 5 points. Aria buys 5 books that cost $9 each and pays with a $50 bill. How much change does Aria get? I think of a number. I add 4, then multiply the result by 4, and get 60. What was my number? Using each of the digits 7, 0 and 8 exactly once, what is the biggest 3-digit number you can make? At a party, 6 friends meet.

Tips for using it

• Say the number out loud each time you trace it.
• Trace the big number with a finger first, then color it in your favorite color.
• Count the pictures twice: once by pointing, once by coloring a dot on each one.
• Read every problem twice: contest questions often hide the key detail in one word.

Printing tips

Download the PDF and print at 100% (or “fit to page” on A4). Page 1 is the practice set and page 2 is the answer key with the answers in red; print just page 1 if you want to keep the answers for checking. The PNG shows page 1 only. Free for personal, family and classroom use.