Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Looking for Information on MAP test scores ...

Just learned yesterday that my child will be required to take MAP test in May as part of admissions process for selective enrollment public HS.

Bit of background: my child (7th) attends a private school that goes through 8th. Many kids at the school apply to the selective enrollment public HS as they are among the top in the state. The admissions process considers the following three items: (1) national percentile rankings on standardized tests from 7th grade; (2) final grades from 7th grade; and (3) entrance exam given in 8th grade. Children at public schools and private schools often took different standardized tests in 7th grade (my child's school gives ITBS), yet all were accepted for consideration.

New this year -- public schools have switched to MAP testing for the standardized test portion as the test previously used for these children no longer provides a national percentage ranking. Public school children have been taking MAP tests at schools for past few years, but this is first time those scores have been made part of selective enrollment process.

Just yesterday, we were told that the public school will no longer accept other standardized test scores for admissions criteria #1 and all children (public and private school) in 7th grade wanting to apply will be required to take MAP. Private school children will be required to take test on 2 Saturdays in May at a public school location TBD.

My child's school does not yet offer MAP testing so my child has never taken it. He historically has done very well on ITBS and based on how scores counted in prior years, looked to be on track for admission to one of the selective enrollment. BUT, with change to a test that he has never taken and at an unfamiliar location, I am looking for information on what to expect.

Can anyone comment on how their child has done on MAP relative to other standardized tests, and particularly how the national percentile rankings have compared? Any other information on what to expect or how to prepare a child for the test would also be welcomed.

Thanks in advance --

I do not have an older child. FWIW, though, my DD8 thought the grade-level "reading" ITBS was "easy" compared to the MAP "reading" exam. The big difference, from what I understand, is that the MAP test is computer adaptive and it appears that she answered questions on MAP that may have been "above grade level," as compared with ITBS. So her perception was that MAP can get more difficult than ITBS. When your child answers a certain # of questions correctly on MAP, the questions "adapt" and can get more difficult (or easier if answered wrong). She scored 99% national percentile on both, but was able to hit a pretty high RIT score on MAP (higher RIT than she needed to get 99% in her grade, so this probably explains her perception of the test).

In the fall MAP, my eight year old scored in reading at the 98% level for a 3rd grader, and in math at 99% for a 5th grader. Those match well to 130 in WIAT reading and 160 in WIAT math from a year ago.

It's a computerized test that probes a wide range knowledge in topics. My son enjoys taking it; I wouldn't sweat a lack of familiarity.

eta: translated standard scores: 130 is 97.7% and 160 is 99.997%

Since they have never taken the test before, I would guess that the benchmark would be set very low (though I don't know this for sure). So I would warn your kids that they should not blow off the easy questions in the beginning -- questions will get harder based on how many questions they answer correctly.

As others have said, it is a computer-based test. It should take as long as it takes -- some kids will take longer to finish (many times because they keep answering questions correctly).

You've received great information from previous posters.

I'll just add one thing, and that is a tip for parents to check a test's website.

You may already have explored the MAP test website (NWEA.org), and may have read their articles about sharing test results, using score ranges, utilizing three pieces of data (triangulation) to make placement decisions etc. The downloadable RIT score charts also provide interesting background information.

The website provides a page of resources for Parents and Students (link- http://www.nwea.org/resources-parents-and-students) and a page about assessments (link- http://www.nwea.org/products-services/assessments). Information is freely available to the public and accessible to all.

You may wish to follow the links and find the demonstration of how the test works and what a test-taker will experience while interacting with the test. Navigation on the website to get to the assessment demonstration went something like this, there may be other paths as well:
products & services
assessments
MAP for Primary Grades
Testing Details
Watch a demo