The MAP Growth is a standardized test that measures students’ academic achievement and growth over time. The test is designed to monitor student progress and to identify academic strengths and weaknesses so that instruction can be tailored to each child’s unique learning needs. The MAP Growth is part of a suite of educational tools that includes an early reading screening measure (MAP Reading Fluency), and learning and instructional resources.
Watch our video to learn more about Mercer Publishing’s NWEA Map Growth Assessment.
The MAP Growth measures academic achievement in reading, language usage, mathematics, and science.
Both the MAP Growth Assessment and the Iowa Assessments are designed to assess student performance in relation to the Common Core State Standards. Therefore, the content covered by the two tests is basically the same. Both tests include multiple choice items so practice on these types of items and on the content included in Mercers’ Iowa Assessment practice tests can be beneficial in preparing students for success. The practice tests can also help identify skill areas in which students require additional instruction or practice before attempting the MAP Growth assessment. Here is a list of subject areas for the Iowa Test.
Our Iowa Practice Tests begin at grade 3, because we believe that at grade levels K-2 it is more beneficial to focus on building cognitive skills rather than memorizing or learning specific concepts in reading or mathematics. Cognitive skills are focused on logic based questions using words, shapes and pictures. Early development and stimulation of cognitive skills has been shown to dramatically improve the speed at which assessment skills can be learned. A link to our cognitive practice tests can be found here: (CogAT). We also highly recommend students read or are read to for at least 30 minutes a day. Developing early reading habits and practice is quite possibly the best determinant of future reading success.
For a more in-depth description of the Iowa Assessments exam, utilize our Frequently Asked Questions page to answer any questions you may still have or visit our Sample Questions page to see the types of questions in each section of the test.
The NWEA MAP Suite includes two tools in addition to the MAP Growth. The MAP Fluency is a brief, early literacy, group screening measure for use in pre-kindergarten to Grade 5 classrooms. It assesses oral reading fluency, literal comprehension, and foundational skills. The MAP Accelerator is designed for use in grades 3 to 8. It uses information gained from the MAP Growth assessment to provide differentiated math lessons, instructional videos, and practice problems designed to meet a child’s unique needs.
The MAP Growth is available to students in grades K-12. However, only reading and mathematics are assessed in grades K-2.
The term computer adaptive indicates that for each student the test provides a unique testing experience with items selected specifically to match a student’s academic achievement level. As a student works through the test, the computer algorithm selects additional items based on the student’s success or failure with previous items. Correct answers lead to harder items and incorrect answers are followed by easier items. This approach can shorten the testing time for some students.
Computer skills are very helpful to students taking the MAP Growth. Because the test is given online, students benefit from practice in keyboarding and responding to test items using the computer.
The test is norm-referenced and yields standard scores (an RIT score) and percentiles that indicate if a child is performing at, below, or above their expected level. Student-level, class-level, and school- and district-level reports are available.
The MAP Growth is intended to provide data-driven insights that inform instructional decision making. Because the test is computerized, MAP Growth results are available shortly after the test is administered. These results are used by educators to monitor students’ progress toward learning goals, and adapt instruction to meet student needs. They provide teachers with actionable evidence to help inform instructional strategies regardless of how far students are above or below grade level. Parents and students use test results to help understand academic strengths and learning needs and to monitor growth over time.
The MAP Growth Assessment exam covers the following 10 subject areas: Reading, Written Expression, Mathmatics-Concepts and Estimation, Science, Social Studies, Vocabulary, Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, and Mathmatics-Computation. At grades 3 and below two additional sections, Word Analysis and Listening, are also included in the exam.
For a more in-depth description of the Iowa Assessments, utilize our Frequently Asked Questions page to answer any questions you may still have.
In the Reading Section, students are given a passage to read followed by several multiple choice questions about the passage. The student must read the passage then answer each related question by selecting the response choice that best answers the question.
Lucy was no ordinary girl. She had been born with a special gift, a gift other people considered to be unusual. When she was only 3 years old her parents noticed she had a special way with animals. She loved animals and the animals that she came into contact with were especially attracted to Lucy.
Choices:
In the Written Expression Section, students are tested on their writing skills, including - sentence structure, grammar and usage, verb tense, and punctuation.
There are two types of items in this section. The first type of item is similar to those included in the Reading Section. Students are given a passage to read followed by several questions about the passage. In the Written Expression Section, the passage contains numbers to identify sentences and underlined portions to identify words or short phrases within the passage. Students should select the response choice that best answers the question.
Sample item (Type 1):
q My brother’s name is Jason. w He is 5 years old. e Jason likes to pretend he is a super hero. r He keeps a red cloak and a black mask under his bed. At any time, he might run to his room, scramble under his bed and grab them. t The next thing you know, Jason dressed like a super hero, dashing around the house in his shiny outfit, pretending he can fly!
Sample item (Type 2):
The second type of item in this section asks students to find the mistake in a brief passage or sentence. If the passage contains no errors, the student selects (No mistakes).
In the Mathematics-Concepts and Estimation Section students are given math problems that test their understanding of numbers and math concepts. Some questions include a picture or diagram that students must use to answer the question.
Sample question:
Choices:
In the Science Section, each question is designed to test a student’s understanding of science. Students must choose the best answer for each question.
Sample item:
Choices:
In the Social Studies section, students are tested on their knowledge of social studies. The Social Studies section is divided into 4 sections, Civics/Government, Geography, History, and Economics.
Sample item:
In the Vocabulary Section, students are tested on their word knowledge. Each item has a short phrase with one word underlined. Students must determine which of the available response options has the same or almost the same meaning as the underlined word.
Sample item:
In the Spelling Section, students must look for words that are not spelled correctly. Each item has four words and an option that says (No mistakes). If any of the first four words is misspelled, the student should mark the letter that corresponds to that word on the answer sheet. If none of the words are misspelled then the student should select the option that says (No mistakes).
Sample item:
In the Capitalization Section, students are given a short passage or sentence and asked to determine if there are any mistakes in capitalization. If the student finds an error in capitalization, they mark the letter that corresponds to the line that has the capitalization error on the answer sheet. If the passage has no capitalization errors then the student should select the letter that corresponds to the line that says (No mistakes).
Sample item:
In the Punctuation Section, students look at a short passage and determine if there are any mistakes in punctuation. If the student finds an error in punctuation, they mark the letter that corresponds to the line that has the punctuation error on the answer sheet. If the passage has no punctuation errors then the student should select the letter that corresponds to the line that says (No mistakes).
Sample item:
In the Computation Section, students are given math problems that test their ability to solve equations. Each list of response options includes an answer choice that says “N”, which means the correct answer is not given.
Sample item:
Choices:
In the Word Analysis Section, students are given part of a word and a picture. Students are asked to choose the answer that correctly completes the word.
Sample question:
Choices:
In the Listening Section, an adult reads the stories and the questions aloud to the student. Items are designed to test a student’s listening skills. After listening to the story and the related question, the student must select the picture that best answers the question.
Sample item (read by adult):
Jimmy loved to run races. He competed in many cross-country races and at the age of only 9 he won his first gold medal in a 5 mile race. His parents were proud of Jimmy, not just for winning, but for having such a passion for his sport.
MAP Growth® is a registered trademark of Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). was not involved in the production of, nor endorses, this practice test.