Questions and Answers about MAP

What are MAP tests used for?

MAP tests measure your child's progress or growth in school. Just like you may chart your child’s physical 

growth, MAP tests help to chart your child’s academic growth. MAP tests tell you how much your child has grown academically from one test to the next in reading, language usage, and math skills.

How do the tests measure growth?

MAP performance is measured by the number of question answered correctly and the difficulty of each question.

What do the tests cover?

MAP test cover three areas - reading, language usage, and math. A closer look within each of these areas shows you specifically what is being measured:

• Reading - word meaning, literal comprehension, inferential comprehension, and evaluative comprehension; 
• Language Usage - writing process, grammar and usage, and punctuation and capitalization; and
• Math - estimation and computation; number sense; geometry and spatial sense; measurement; data analysis, statistics and probability; patterns, functions, and algebra, and problem solving.

Do all students take the same tests?

All students take MAP tests in the same areas of reading, language usage, and math test, but since the tests self-adjust to the student’s ability level, each test in customized to each student.

How important are the MAP tests?

MAP tests are important because they keep track of academic growth. Results help to identify a student’s areas of strengths and areas where they need more attention. MAP is one tool to monitor how a student is doing and is used in combination with class work, other tests, and assigned projects.

Can your child prepare for MAP?

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

For more information, visit Horry County Schools' Assessment Center or the website of the Northwest Evaluation Association at www.nwea.org.