Testing Tips for MAP Growth (2024)

During testing, refer to these common tips:

  • Student Sign-In Tips
  • Test Question Issues
  • Test Engagement and Rapid Guessing

Also included are instructions for Continuing Suspended Tests and using Proctor Shortcut Keys.

For the main steps, see Proctor Quick Start.

Testing Tips for MAP Growth (1) Print Resources:Testing Tips for MAP Growth

Student Directions Script

To all students, say:

Give your best effort on this test. It is a chance to show how much you know. Your teacher can use the test to help determine the areas they can help you with the most. This is not a timed test, so it’s important to take your time to understand each question before answering. Some questions will be easy, and others will be more difficult. It’s okay not to know all of the answers. If you are not sure how to answer a question, then ask yourself which answers are definitely wrong, and choose from the other answers. Read every question and try your best.

Before you finish a question, you may change your mind and pick a different answer. But, once you move to the next question, your answer is locked, and you cannot go back to the question you have already answered.

I’m here to help if there is a problem with the test. If something is missing or if the test tells you to slow down, then raise your hand.

If testing grade 2+ math, say:

On some (but not all) test questions, a calculator tool appears at the top. You can click the calculator picture to open an on-screen calculator that helps you answer the question.

If you are not sure about a word in a question, raise your hand for help. I can pronounce the word for you, but I cannot tell you what the word means or explain any math symbols.

If testing grade 2+ reading or language usage, say:

If a reading passage is too long to fit on the screen, use the scroll bar on the right side of the passage to scroll down and display the rest of the passage and questions about it.

Sometimes a passage appears again and again, but look carefully, because you will see different questions for the same passage.

Student Sign-In Tips

For standard sign-in instructions, see Student Sign-in.

Student missing from Sign In

–or–

Student can't re‑join

The student's status must be Awaiting Student in order to appear. On your Proctor console, select an action depending on the Status:

  • Confirmed: Choose Select Action >Do Not Confirm (you will confirm again later)
  • Testing: Choose Select Action >Suspend
    • Once suspended, choose Select Action >Test Again
  • Suspended: Choose Select Action >Test Again

Ask the student to log in again, and then confirm as usual.

Wrong test assigned—how do I switch tests?

  1. Select the student and click Select Action.
  2. If the status is To Be Confirmed, choose Do Not Confirm.

    —or—

  3. If the status is Testing, choose either Suspend or Terminate:

    Use Suspend if the student might need to take the test later this term.

    Use Terminate if you know the student will not need the test later this term. Caution: Terminate removes all responses and potentially blocks students from joining that test for the rest of the term.

  4. Click Select Action > Test Again.

  5. When the status changes to Awaiting Student, assign the correct test.
  6. Have the student sign in again.

If screen resolution is incorrect

The minimum required screen resolution is 1024x728, with the browser set to full screen and no zoom. Change the device display settings and, if needed, the browser display.

If “Students are Ineligible to Test” appears

Because of district settings, you cannot test the students (usually because the test was restricted to Once Per Term). Consult your school leaders, who can make any needed adjustments to test restrictions.

If “Action Needed to Continue”
appears

The options you have include:

  • Resume Test: Continues a suspended test.
  • Start Test Over: Starts the test over from the first question and terminates the original test, discarding any answers given. Use caution because it could also block the student from testing if the test has the Once Per Term restriction.

  • Do Not Confirm: Terminates the original test and restricts the student from taking the test again this term.
  • Cancel: Will close this prompt and you still cannot confirm the student for testing.

Test Question Issues

Testing is slow

Testing Tips for MAP Growth (2)

On the student testing device, select Reset. On desktops, you can also use the keyboard command:

F5 (Win) or Command+R (Mac)

Question appears blank (white screen)

–or–

“Please raise your hand” appears

  1. On your Proctor console, with a student selected, choose Select Action >Suspend.
  2. On the student testing device, close the testing browser.

    PC or Mac:

    Select the X at top

    iPad:

    Use the Home button

    Chromebook:

    Select the X or Shift+Alt+K

  3. On your Proctor console, select the student again and choose Select Action >Test Again.
  4. On the student testing device, restart the testing browser and join the test again. The test continues where the student left it.

Need to skip a broken question

  1. On the Proctor console, with the student selected, choose Select Action > Pause.
  2. Select the student again and then choose Select Action > Resume.
  3. After the student chooses Resume, a new question appears.

Report a broken question

  1. On your Proctor console, obtain the Proctor PIN (upper right).

  2. On the student testing device, select:Ctrl+Shift+P (or Ctrl+Shift+L).
  3. In the window that appears, enter the PIN code.
  4. Describe the problem you're having with the test question.
    Note:You do not need to include the test name or question number.

  5. Select Resume Test.
    The MAPsystem sends the report to NWEA to be addressed (a “problem item report”), and the test resumes with the next question.

Test Engagement and Rapid Guessing

This feature applies to most MAP Growth and Screening tests, but not to Skills Checklist tests. For a complete overview, see the Student Test Engagement community site.

Proctor role in test engagement

By helping students stay engaged with their test, you help ensure the assessment will better represent the areas you can help with the most. Before testing, clarify with students the purpose of MAP Growth and the importance of taking time on every test question. During testing, check the rapid-guessing alerts on the Proctor console.

A rapid guess means the student answered well below the average response time measured by NWEA for each test question. The response is so fast that the student could not have viewed the question completely.

Rapid guessing is not connected to total test duration. A student can finish quickly but still answer within the average time per question, and so not trigger the rapid-guessing alert.

Demo of rapid guessing:

First pause—
what to do

Testing Tips for MAP Growth (3)

When a student rapid-guesses multiple times, the test automatically pauses, and an alert soon appears on the Proctor console. The best way to help students reengage will vary for each student:

  1. For convenience, obtain or memorize the Proctor PIN for this testing session.
  2. Approach quietly and encourage the student to take the time to think of the best answer for every question.

    Avoid helping the student answer the test questions.

  3. When the student is ready, enter the PIN on the student’s testing device—the test resumes with the next question.

  4. Or, for multiple students, use controls on your console (select the alert box, select names, and choose Resume).

Repeated alerts—
what to do

If a student continues to rapid-guess multiple times, the test will pause again. Short tests like Screening have a total of 2 pauses and longer tests like MAP Growth have a total of 3 pauses, with the final pause at the rapid‑guessing threshold (30% of questions possible on the test). Follow these best practices:

  • As soon as possible, decide whether to continue the student’s test another day, when the student is able to reengage. If so, then Suspend the test.

    Testing Tips for MAP Growth (4)

  • Before ending the testing session, select Download Session Progress to keep track of the student’s rapid guesses:

  • For excessive rapid guessing, discuss with school leaders whether to start the test over (a retest).

  • When you continue testing or if you retest, select Find Students to Test, open the Test History Search tab, and use the applicable search filters:

    Testing Tips for MAP Growth (5)

  • If a student reached the rapid-guessing threshold and if your leaders agreed to retest, then choose Start Test Over at the confirmation prompt. Otherwise, choose Resume.

    Note:Do not expect to see last question number or rapid-guessing count listed with the student.

See also How to Retest Students within a Term.

Continuing Suspended Tests

Note: Students should continue tests within 14 days, although the maximum is 28 days.

Continue same day, same session

  1. With the testing session still open, select the students with Suspended status.
  2. Choose Select Action and select Test Again.

Continue another day, same session

If you know most of the same students in your testing session will return, you could save the session and reopen it later. Under Manage Testing Sessions, select the session you saved and then Test Now.

The Status for everyone will be Awaiting Student, meaning they can now sign in to the session. The session password will be new while the session name will remain the same. When prompted, select Resume Test and then Submit.

Continue another day, new make-up session

In a new make-up session, you can include a mix of students, those who need to finish testing and those who have not yet tested.

  1. Under Manage Test Sessions, select Find Students to Test.

  2. Open the Test History Search tab.

  3. Select School, Test, and other search filters.

  4. Choose Search and then, from the pop-up list, choose Add Students.

    To help find students, you can sort by the Test Event Start Date column.

  5. Important: Select students and choose Assign Test and, if needed, Assign Accommodations.

    Even though you searched by test, the text is not automatically assigned to the student.

  6. Select Test Now.

    Note:The status will change to Awaiting Student for everyone, meaning they can now sign into the session. The question numbers will also be blank.

  7. While confirming students, choose Resume Test when prompted.

Proctor Shortcut Keys

If you encounter problems during MAP Growth testing, such as a problematic question, try these keyboard commands:

Action

PC

Mac®

Chromebook

Refresh the screen

F5

F5 or Command+R
orFn+F5

No command

Interrupt at student computer

Ctrl+Shift+P orCtrl+Shift+L

Close the lockdown browser

Click X (top right) after clicking Done*

Click X (top right) after clicking Done*

Shift+Alt+K

Check the Windows lockdown browser version

Ctrl+Alt+V

No command

Testing Tips for MAP Growth (2024)

FAQs

How to prepare for the MAP growth test? ›

Highlight important points, underline key words, take notes, and summarize paragraphs. This will help you understand and remember what you've read. Develop Vocabulary: Many questions on the MAP Reading test revolve around vocabulary. Use flashcards, apps, or websites to learn new words.

How do I check my MAP growth? ›

Access all MAP Growth assessment results from View Reports > MAP Growth. The report choices that appear depend on the MAP role assigned to you.

How to prepare a child for MAP testing? ›

Tip #10: What can you do to help your child have a good testing experience?
  1. Be aware of the test schedule. ...
  2. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and a good night's sleep. ...
  3. Make sure your child eats a good breakfast at home or at school. ...
  4. Be on time for school, and be at school every day during testing.

How can I improve my MAP test score? ›

Review Concepts: Work with your child to review key concepts in math, reading and other subjects as applicable. This should be a review, not a crash course on all topics. Practice Tests: Take advantage of online resources that offer MAP test practice. NWEA itself offers practice tests.

What is a good score on the MAP growth test? ›

Although it is possible to score as high as 265 or more on the reading test and 285 or more on the math test, 240 (reading) and 250 (math) are typical top scores.

What percentile is the average MAP test? ›

What do MAP Score Percentiles Mean? A score in the 50th percentile is considered “average” – meaning it is right in the middle of where students in that specific grade score during that time of the year.

What is a gifted MAP score? ›

A gifted map score is a test score that falls within the “gifted” range on a map test scoring chart. This score indicates that an individual has achieved a high level of performance on the standardized map test, demonstrating advanced skills and knowledge in various areas.

Does MAP testing affect your grade? ›

MAP tests are independent of students' grades and are adapted to each student's level based on the answers they provide on the test itself.

How long does it take for MAP growth scores to update? ›

MAP Growth assessments are scored automatically by the MAP Growth system, and MAP Growth results are available 24 hours after a student completes a test.

Do parents get results of MAP testing? ›

Most schools will provide your student's Family Report, which contains information and scores from your student's most recent and past MAP Growth tests. We encourage you to visit the Supporting Your Learner section of our Family Toolkit and talk to your teacher about how they are using MAP Growth.

How long should MAP testing take? ›

Although the tests are not timed, it usually takes students about one hour to complete each MAP test. MAP for Primary Grades tests take from 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

What are the three features of a MAP children need to know? ›

Some common features of maps include scale, symbols, and grids. All maps are scale models of reality. A map's scale indicates the relationship between the distances on the map and the actual distances on Earth.

How to prepare for map growth? ›

For the reading portion of the test

By reading new materials, a child learns new words that might appear on a test. Read aloud to your child, too, even when your child can read independently. Research shows that this is the most important activity families can do to increase a child's chance of reading success.

How to ace your map test? ›

Practice how to read and interpret bar graphs, pictographs, dot plots, and how to compare a table with a graph. While understanding mathematical definitions and graphs is a necessary step in passing your test, there are other theories that have a second hidden method to them.

How can I make my map better? ›

A good map establishes a visual hierarchy that ensures that the most important elements are at the top of this hierarchy and the least important are at the bottom. Typically, the top elements should consist of the main map body, the title (if this is a standalone map) and a legend (when appropriate).

How to study a MAP for a test? ›

It's most beneficial to study a map for a short period, and then find a way to self-test a few times—by inserting the names and/or objects (like rivers, mountain ranges, states, or countries)—until it's easy to fill out an entire blank map.

What parents need to know about MAP testing? ›

MAP tests are interim tests. This means they may be given periodically during the year. MAP is based on the same standards as the summative tests so they measure similar content. Teachers receive immediate results with MAP that show what students know and what they are ready to learn.

How long does the MAP growth test take? ›

How long is MAP Growth? Most students take around 45 to 55 minutes to complete a MAP Growth test. However, MAP Growth is not timed, and students may take as much time as they need to complete it.

Does MAP test get harder? ›

Being a computerized adaptive test, the MAP test is different from other standardized tests, as its algorithm is tailored towards the individual student. If they get a question correct, the following question gets harder. Conversely, an incorrect response yields an easier question.

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