Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Kindergarten Achievement testing - Help!

New here! I am writing because I'm in a bit of a panic over achievement testing for my DD5, who was identified as gifted via the WPPSI-III (FSIQ 142/99.7 percentile). Our school system requires scores in the 95th percentile on achievement testing in addition to the cognitive test. They will administer MAP, but alternative achievement tests are accepted "on appeal."

I really have no frame of reference for what 95th percentile looks like for a kindergartner on the MAP or any other achievement test, nor do I have a clue how accurate the MAP test is for evaluating gifted children and/or kindergartners. My questions are thus:

1. What reading level and math skills correspond to 95th percentile for a kindergartner? Either MAP specifically, or any other achievement tests.
2. Is the MAP test an accurate measure, or should I schedule a private assessment to be ensure that DD is evaluated appropriately?
3. If another test would be more appropriate, which one should I ask for?

Any insight into question 1 would be most valuable. I know precisely how my daughter performs in reading and math, but have no basis for correlating her performance with others in her grade. She is ahead, of course, but 95th percentile ahead? I just don't know.

Welcome! I'm in the wrong country to have any direct experience of MAP, but it is often discussed here so let me give you a few links until people who know more wake up...

Couple of possibly useful threads, where you'll find links to too many charts etc. for me to scrutinise (maybe someone will come along and tell you the most useful ones!)
MAP test score for reading going down
MAP tests

(Btw, google is a much easier way to find threads here than the site's own search buttong. E.g. if you google something like
MAP percentile kindergarten reading site:davidsongifted.org
and vary the terms a bit, you find loads of threads. You do have to page past the ones which are about maps, unless someone knows a way to make a google search case-sensitive!)

I found a reference to 170 being 99th percentile for K for reading, in some thread somewhere, but I've lost it now...

Here is one chart converting MAP RIT scores to lexile levels - if your DD is reading actual books for which you can find a lexile level, that'll give you a very rough idea of the MAP score to expect. (But it seems Kers are not normally expected to have made it onto the lexile scale - don't know about 95th percentile ones.)

Here is a spreadsheet from NWEA which looks as though it *ought* to be useful, though I couldn't get it to tell me anything about students below 1st grade or about reading...

Here is a page of games etc. to do with reading, organised by MAP scores. If the ones in the category 171-180 seem at or below your DD's level, maybe you're safe? Difficult for me to say! Here is the corresponding thing for maths.

Hope some of that helps!

I can help I think.. My son is in kinder.. for fall map reading he scored a 167 which is the 98th percentile. His guided reading level is an 'e'. He has read fly guy books independently (outside of school) with fluency and very little assistance). He was not an early reader like many here as he was just over 5 when we realized he could read. He will be 6 next month. His math MAP was a 190 which is somewhere around the 90th percentile for 2nd grade.. I am not much help here as I have no clue what 90th percentile for kinder would be at this point. The new norms are not out.

This links may help as well..if you scroll down you will see the bands for math and reading.. click on them. They are files and will show you what the child should be working on when they have that score

http://pickens.schoolfusion.us/modu...ssionid=d5c063ad6821ad350b68d4e3a9696aec

Wow! Thank both of you so much! The links are fantastic ColinsMum - so much great information.

Frannieandjsmom: Thanks for the specifics on the reading MAP. My daughter's reading level is in a similar range - an H-ish G, I suppose. If she continues to progress, her Winter reading MAP scores may be above 95%.

Would you mind sharing what your son's math skills were at the time of the test? DD has good conceptual understanding (coins, logic, patterns, graph interpretation) but very few memorized math facts. Her single digit addition is strong and fast, but not automatic, and her subtraction and (very simple) multiplication abilities are limited to word problems only.

I guess what I mean is that she can "figure out" a subtraction problem or easy multiplication/division problems if she's given some context (e.g., 3 groups of 3 girls arrive at the playground; 8 hamsters are split into 4 groups, etc.), but she cannot look at a problem like 7-5= or 3x4= and just know the answer. She doesn't even "just know" the answers with addition, but adds quickly enough in her head that I haven't been concerned about it.

If those are the types of things that are on the MAP math test . . . I just don't know. I'm having a huge internal debate on whether to get flashcards for quick math memorization before the test. On one hand, I feel it may be detrimental because she learns so deeply when she learns contextually rather than by rote. On the other hand, I feel it may be detrimental for her to sit out from the gifted program for a year while she memorizes her math facts the slow way. Especially since math, conceptually, seems to be one of her strengths.

I'm going in circles, obviously. Terrified of making the wrong decision here.

MAP tests are untimed so quickness isnt a factor. When he took the test in the spring (he was tested to see if he could early entry to first... reading wasnt high enough) he still added and subtracted using fingers .. he still does sometimes. Now he has most down pat though. I dont think there is much word problems but again.. I am not 100% sure.

He can add and subtract with carrying and borrowing. He multiplies single digit. He can do some division. To show him division I used m & m's 9 / 3 .. we regrouped the nine into 3 groups.. now it is mental math for him. He is pretty much doing mental math now for 2 digit addition as well. He is a whiz with money and time. He also knows fractions and a little about decimals (thanks to clocks and money on these)
He is much quicker than my second grader.. their math MAP was 6 points different. Last year it was a problem for her, this year she is excited that he is so close to her. She thinks it is because she 'taught' him everything . Not sure how she will feel when he flies past her.

As for reading... I would think a g or h is over the 95th percentile.. ds is an e and he is 98th percentile. From what you are saying, I don't think your dd will have a problem with attaining the 95th percentile in both. My ds needed 90th percentile in last spring MAP as a prek (compared to the current kinder now first graders) to have skipped kinder.. he just missed reading.

keep us updated and good luck!

I don't think you have to worry. My DS scored well above the 95th percentile on the Fall MAPs when he was in K. He has similar FSIQ numbers as your DS when he was tested on the WISC at 7. He did not do quick math facts - still is not that fast- but could (can) do lots of math in his head. I just asked him and he said they speak the question and he remembers most of them being word problems. I think the key is to let her know to take her time and that she may see her classmates finish well before her - if she likes tests at all, she will likely enjoy the MAP - my DS says it is lots of fun. My DS has always done well on the MAP and has done the WJ III and they seem to be consistent so I think it is a fairly accurate reflection of his abilities. I would not worry about the outside testing at this point - see how she does and if you don't think the MAP scores truly demonstrate her achievement, you can get further testing after.

Good luck.