Last reviewed: 28 October 2026
This Grade 3 Mathematics revision guide takes you through every topic in the current curriculum design with a short example for each, so you can check what your child knows in a few minutes. Grade 3 maths, called Mathematical Activities, has three strands: Numbers, Measurement and Geometry. Most of the year goes to numbers up to 1,000 and the four operations, so start there, then move on to measurement and shapes.
Updated October 2026.
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What Grade 3 Mathematics Revision Covers
The KICD Grade 3 Mathematical Activities design (revised 2024, listed on the KICD curriculum designs page) has 14 sub-strands:
| Strand | Sub-strands (suggested lessons) |
|---|---|
| Numbers | Number concept (8), Whole numbers (20), Addition (25), Subtraction (20), Multiplication (10), Division (8), Fractions (10) |
| Measurement | Length (6), Mass (6), Capacity (8), Time (10), Money (10) |
| Geometry | Position and direction (5), Shapes (4) |
Grade 3 ends lower primary with the Kenya Early Years Assessment (KEYA). Pulse Kenya reported that KNEC’s 2026 school-based assessment schedule listed Mathematics and English Activities for the Grade 3 written assessment. Our Grade 3 assessment guide for parents explains how it works.
Numbers: The Biggest Part of Grade 3 Maths
Number concept
Ordinal numbers: 1st, 2nd, 3rd up to 20th. Example: “Who came 5th in the race?” Write it as 5th and as “fifth”.
Whole numbers up to 1,000
Count in ones, tens and hundreds, read and write numbers to 1,000, and know place value. Example: in 472, the 4 stands for 4 hundreds.
Addition
Add a 3-digit number to a 2-digit or 3-digit number, with and without regrouping, with sums not exceeding 1,000. Example: 356 + 128 = 484 (6 + 8 = 14, carry 1 ten).
Subtraction
Subtract up to 3-digit numbers, with and without regrouping, and find missing numbers. Example: 642 − 315 = 327.
Multiplication
See multiplication as repeated addition, multiply single-digit numbers and multiply by 10. Example: 4 × 5 = 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20; 7 × 10 = 70.
Division
See division as sharing or repeated subtraction, and divide a 2-digit number by a single digit or by 10 without a remainder. Example: 36 ÷ 4 = 9; 80 ÷ 10 = 8.
Fractions
Recognise a half, a quarter and an eighth of a whole and of a group. Example: fold a chapati-shaped paper circle in half, then in half again to show quarters.
Measurement
Measurement is where Grade 3 Mathematics revision becomes practical: use a tape, a scale, bottles, a clock and real coins.
- Length: measure, add and subtract in metres; estimate lengths up to 10 metres.
- Mass: measure, add and subtract in kilograms; a 1 kg packet of sugar is a handy reference.
- Capacity: measure, add and subtract in litres using bottles and jugs.
- Time: minutes, telling time with “past” and “to” on analogue and digital clocks, and adding or subtracting hours and minutes without conversion. Example: 2 hours 15 minutes + 1 hour 30 minutes = 3 hours 45 minutes.
- Money: identify Kenyan notes and coins, add and subtract money and buy items up to KSh 1,000. Example: a KSh 50 note pays for a KSh 35 item; the change is KSh 15.
Geometry
Position and direction: move along a straight line and turn right or left. Shapes: identify shapes and draw or model combined shapes. Point out circles, rectangles and triangles in your home and on the way to school.
A 3-Week Grade 3 Mathematics Revision Plan
- Week 1: number concept, whole numbers to 1,000 and addition.
- Week 2: subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions.
- Week 3: measurement, money, time and shapes.
Keep Grade 3 Mathematics revision sessions to 15 or 20 minutes. Play shop with real coins, cook together to practise capacity and mass, and ask “what time will it be in 30 minutes?” Children who explain their thinking aloud remember far more than those who only fill worksheets.
Get Ready for Grade 4 Maths
CBC Guides does not yet have Grade 3 quizzes, so use this guide and everyday games at home this holiday.
Grade 3 learners move into Grade 4 in January, where multiplication, division and fractions grow quickly. Strong Grade 3 learners can preview the free Grade 4 CBC Challenge, and our Grade 4 Mathematics revision guide shows what is coming.
When your child starts Grade 4, a Day Pass for KSh 20 or a Monthly Pass for KSh 500 opens every Grade 4 revision paper with worked answers. For a gentle times-tables head start, see multiplication and division for Grades 4 and 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics are in Grade 3 Mathematics?
Numbers (number concept, whole numbers to 1,000, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions), Measurement (length, mass, capacity, time and money) and Geometry (position and direction, shapes).
Up to what number do Grade 3 learners count?
The Grade 3 design works with whole numbers up to 1,000, including place value of hundreds, tens and ones.
Is Grade 3 Mathematics assessed by KNEC?
Yes, through the school-based Kenya Early Years Assessment. Pulse Kenya reported that the 2026 Grade 3 written assessment covered Mathematics and English Activities.
What fractions do Grade 3 learners study?
A half, a quarter and an eighth, both as part of a whole and as part of a group.
How long should Grade 3 Mathematics revision take each day?
About 15 to 20 minutes of practice and games is enough at this age. Short daily practice works better than long weekend sessions.
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