NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth Tests

What is NWEA MAP Growth?  

MAP Growth assessments were first introduced to students in grades K-8 during the 2019-2020 school year.  MAP, or Measure of Academic Progress, is a computerized adaptive test that helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child’s academic growth.  

When will my students be tested and how often? 

During the first few weeks of school, students will participate in three MAP Growth assessments in reading, math, and science.  When taking the MAP Growth test, the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers the previous questions.  As the student answers correctly, questions become more difficult.  If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier.  Although the tests are not timed, it usually takes students about 45 mins-1 hour to complete each test.  Students will take the Map Growth tests again mid-year and at the end of the school year.   

Do all students in the same grade take the same test? 

No.  This assessment is designed to target students’ academic performance in math, reading, and science.  These tests are tailored to an individual’s current achievement level.  This gives each student a fair opportunity to show what he or she knows and can do.  Because the computer adjusts the difficulty of the questions as the test progresses, each student takes a unique test.   

What are the MAP Growth test results used for? 

Map is used to measure a student’s progress or growth in school.  The testing information is important to teachers because it indicates a student’s strengths and needs in different subject areas.  Teachers can use the information to help guide their instruction and interventions.   

If you have ever used a growth chart in your home to show how much your child has grown from one year to the next, it will help you understand the scale MAP Growth uses to measure your child’s academic progress.  The measurement system is called the RIT scale (Rasch unIT), and is an equal interval scale much like feet and inches on a yardstick.  The scale is used to chart your child’s academic growth from year to year.