Standardized Testing...

NWEA Assessments

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) are a series of tests developed by Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), that measure a student’s general knowledge in reading, language usage, math, and science. At Schutz American School, MAPs are taken in grades 3 through 9 three times during the school year.

What are Measures of Academic Progress Used For?

They measure your student’s progress or growth in school. MAP is somewhat of a growth chart.
It measures the student’s growth in reading, language usage, math skills and science concepts.

How do the tests measure growth in learning?

The Measures of Academic Progress use scores to measure growth in reading, language usage, math and science. Scores depend on two things: how many questions are answered correctly and the difficulty of each question.

What do the tests cover?

Each Measure of Academic Progress is made up of parts, which are called goals. Here are some goals similar to what the student will take on a test.

Reading

• Word Meaning
• Literal Comprehension
• Inferential Comprehension
• Evaluative Comprehension

Language Usage

• Writing Process
• Grammar and Usage
• Punctuation and Capitalization

Mathematics

• Estimation and Computation
• Number Sense
• Geometry and Spatial Sense
• Measurement
• Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
• Patterns, Functions, and Algebra
• Problem Solving

Science

• General Science Concepts
• General Science Processes

After the tests are taken, the results may show that certain goal areas need more attention than others.

Do all students take the same test?

Yes and no. All students take a computerized reading, language usage, math and science test. Although every test has questions covering the same goal areas, not every test has the same questions, and the test questions vary in difficulty.

In a computerized adaptive test, the difficulty of the test is adjusted to the student’s performance so each student sees different test questions. The difficulty of each question is based on how well the student has answered the questions up to that point. As the student answers correctly, the question become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier.

How important are the tests to students and to teachers?

These tests are important because they keep track of progress or growth in the basic skills. They let teachers know where students’ strengths are and if help is needed in any specific areas. MAP is just one look at how students are doing. Teachers already routinely assign projects and tasks, administer other tests, discuss student work, and report grades. These are all very important ways of looking at student progress.

Can a student prepare for MAP?

The best thing your student can do to prepare for testing is to work hard in school everyday. Regular attendance, good nutrition, and adequate rest are also important components for successful test performance.

Useful Websites for Students and Parents

Mathematics
AAA Math--Math practice and activities
Cool Math--Interactive math games
AplusMath--A+ MAth
The Math Forum: Ask Dr. Math--Ask Dr. Math
Math League Help Topics--Math League help topics
That Quiz--Math Quiz Activities

Language Arts/Reading
Merriam-Webster Dictionary--Merriam-Webster Word Game of the Day
Vocabulary--Free Word Puzzles and Activities
Super Kids--Vocabulary builders
The Lexile Framework--Lexile Framework
Kidsreads--Book reviews, games, authors, and more

General Help Sites
FunBrain--Great site for Kids
edHelper--Help for all subjects

For more information regarding MAP Assessments, visit NWEA's Official Web Site.

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