In many scenarios, testing can be just as important for the parents as it is for the student. This is especially the case for homeschooling families. It is important to test a child because it will optimize their learning. Testing is important to the parent because they want to best understand what their child is doing well, in addition to what areas they are struggling with. There are many reasons to test a child academically, but in general, these tests are used to keep track of the concepts students understand compared to the concepts their grade level understands. MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive test that measures what a student knows currently, as well as what they are ready to learn next, regardless of their grade.
How Should I Prepare?
One of the most common questions parents ask about MAP Growth is how they can prepare their child for testing. Informing your child of the test’s structure is a good place to start. MAP Growth is a computer adaptive test, rather than a traditional paper test. The MAP Growth test adapts to the student’s performance levels as they answer questions. After the student answers the first question, the test will provide another question based on how they answered the previous one. If a student gets the first question right, then the second question will be harder. If a student gets the first question wrong, then the second question will be easier. The test continues in this pattern to ensure the child does not get discouraged by multiple questions that are too difficult and doesn’t disengage due to questions that are too easy.
Preparing your child for the MAP test is easy because there really aren’t any preparations necessary. When it comes to preparing your child, the best thing you can do is make sure they are well-rested and fed before the test. This will ensure that the child can concentrate and focus on the questions. Having a designated place where your child can take the test is also important. Being in a quiet room with no distractions is best, so a room in your house or local library is the best option. The MAP test is an accurate way to gauge where your child is at in their learning, so there is minimal preparation necessary.
How Often Should My Child Test?
Most schools will administer the MAP Growth test to students at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year. Testing is different for homeschooling families because how often you test depends on your preferences, as well as your state requirements. If you are homeschooling, it is important to research testing requirements because each state has a different set of requirements. How often you test your child is up to you, but it is recommended to test at least once a year. Testing regularly allows you to analyze and track your child’s academic growth. Testing regularly also ensures that your child understands the material you are teaching them by gauging what they are ready to learn.
Testing more than once a year is also something to consider. This way, you can measure your child’s growth, as well as the areas that need attention. This will keep your child engaged in their learning, as well, since they are building on areas that need more attention.
What Subjects Are Tested?
The NWEA MAP Growth Test is available to test students in reading, language, math, and science. There are several levels of MAP Testing available for homeschoolers. MAP Growth K-2, MAP Growth 2-5, and MAP Growth 6+ are all available to homeschoolers. MAP Growth adapts and can be used for grades K-12. MAP Growth is online and untimed, so it provides an accurate assessment of your child’s growth. After completing the MAP assessment, you will receive a detailed score report to aid in your understanding of how your child is doing with the material. MAP Growth is designed to test a student differently than a standardized test. The MAP Growth assessment will tell you what your child is ready to learn, which will help optimize your child’s learning.
What Is on the Score Report?
It is very common for parents to wonder how their child might benefit from taking the MAP Growth test. The answer to that is simply that the child will receive an education that is more tailored to their academic needs because it will be clearer where a child might be struggling. The MAP Growth assessment gives parents a score report with a lot of helpful information that aids in better understanding their child’s performance.
On the score report, you will see various sections of data, including RIT Score, RIT range, percentile rank, typical of, and Lexile range. RIT score is the student’s overall score on the test. Next to that is the RIT range, which is an estimate of where the student may fall should they test again relatively soon. Following that data is the percentile rank, which is the percentage of students in the national norms group for a specific test season, grade, and subject. The “typical of” section represents the grade level and session that the 50th percentile of the national norms group equal to that student’s score. The Lexile range helps identify reading material appropriate for the child. The MAP Growth assessment also includes a section on the score report for learning goals. This clearly maps out what your child is doing well and what skills they may need to develop more.
How Long Is the Test?
Another common question parents ask about MAP Growth is whether their child must complete the test within a specific amount of time. This comes from many parents wondering if their child will have enough time to accurately answer each question. The MAP Growth test is untimed so that each child can spend as much time as necessary on each question, ensuring they receive the most accurate score possible. In general, children tend to spend approximately 45 minutes completing each subject. Since the MAP Growth test is untimed, children can spend as much or as little time necessary.
What Is Needed for the MAP Growth Test?
All you need for your child to take the MAP Growth test is an electronic device, such as a computer. Your child can also take the MAP Growth test on an iPad if they are more comfortable with that device. A proctor will email you useful information leading up to the test to ensure you and your child are well prepared before the assessment begins. The MAP Growth test is designed to assess what your child already knows and what they are ready to learn. There are not necessarily ways to prepare for the test, so there is no need for your child to worry before testing. The most important thing is that the student is well-rested before the test so they can perform to the best of their ability.
Homeschool Boss makes homeschool testing easy by offering high-quality testing at home. We are proud to offer MAP Growth by NWEA as a testing option for homeschool families. MAP Growth is an award-winning assessment that’s currently taken by one in five U.S. school children. MAP Growth is an adaptive test that is untimed, which provides an accurate assessment of your child’s academic ability. Homeschool Boss provides families with homeschool testing resources that make testing convenient so they can optimize their child’s learning with no added stress.
