NWEA MAP Test Prep Methods for Success
Kids love to play games on your laptop or tablet, so you can feel confident letting your child practice as much as he or she likes using the interactive questions we offer in Digital Tutor (all interactive learning games available on our site are included with any TestingMom.com membership).
3 Tips to Make NWEA MAP Test Practice Fun
- Purchase several jigsaw puzzles and make a family habit of completing them together. Younger kids can start with puzzles that have larger pieces and are quick to assemble, then work their way up to the harder ones. Let your child choose the theme, character or colors so he or she stays engaged in the task and doesn’t get bored.
- To build strong listening and focusing skills, show your child how to put on their “listening ears” and point to your mouth as you speak. Grab your own ears and say, “Do you have your listening ears on?” Then, point to your mouth as you speak. This helps your child pay attention to what you’re saying and avoid getting distracted.
- Plan field trips that offer language-rich experiences where you and your child can explore together. Whether it’s going to the museum to look at sculptures and paintings or a zoo visit to compare different types of animals, getting out of the house and exposing your child to a variety of intellectually stimulating environments can provide a wealth of benefits that will improve his or her performance on a traditional intelligence test, such as: expanding vocabulary and reading comprehension, using visual-spatial reasoning, patterning, sequencing and ordering skills as well as making analogies (i.e., “How are zebras and gazelles alike? What makes them different? Which animals can live in or out of the water?”). Finding activities that will stimulate your child’s mind shouldn’t be too hard in your area!
MAP Test Prep Tips for Reading, Language, Math and Science Sections
Reading
- Practice Active Reading: Active reading involves fully engaging with the text. 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. Also, try to understand the context in which words are used.
- Understand Main Ideas and Details: Be able to identify the main idea and supporting details in a passage. Practice by reading various types of texts and summarizing them.
Language Usage
- Grammar Practice: Brush up on your grammar rules. Understand the correct usage of punctuation, verbs, nouns, adjectives, and other parts of speech.
- Sentence Structure: Understanding sentence structure is crucial. Practice identifying the subject, verb, and object in a sentence. Be aware of sentence fragments and run-on sentences.
- Spelling: Practice spelling and learn commonly misspelled words. Spelling apps and flashcards can be useful tools.
Math
- Master Basic Concepts: The MAP Math test covers a range of concepts from basic arithmetic to more complex topics like geometry and algebra. Make sure you have a solid understanding of basic mathematical concepts and operations.
- Practice Problem Solving: Problem-solving is a key skill tested in the MAP Math test. Practice word problems and puzzles to improve your problem-solving abilities.
- Show Your Work: Even though this is a computer-based test, it’s a good habit to use scratch paper to solve problems. It helps to avoid mistakes and makes it easier to review your work.
Science
- Understand Scientific Method: The scientific method is a key part of the Science test. Understand its steps and how to apply them in an experimental scenario.
- Know Basic Concepts: Review basic scientific concepts, such as the structure of cells, the process of photosynthesis, the laws of physics, etc.
- Interpret Data: Many questions will involve charts, diagrams, or graphs. Practice interpreting these types of visual data.
Here are MAP Test Prep Tips for Parents
Here are things parents can do to help their child prep for the MAP test:
Kindergarten MAP Test Prep for Parents
- Read to your child daily: At this stage, children are still developing basic reading skills. Reading to them will help enhance their vocabulary, comprehension, and interest in reading.
- Engage in number activities: Simple counting activities and number games can help your child improve their mathematical understanding.
- Familiarize them with technology: Since the MAP test is computerized, it’s important for your child to feel comfortable using a computer and mouse.
1st to 2nd Grade MAP Test Prep for Parents
- Encourage independent reading: Help your child find books they enjoy and encourage them to read on their own. This helps improve reading comprehension and vocabulary.
- Practice basic math problems: Use flashcards or apps to practice addition, subtraction, and simple multiplication.
- Introduce keyboard skills: If your child isn’t yet familiar with typing, now is a good time to start teaching them.
3rd to 5th Grade MAP Test Prep for Parents
- Promote complex reading: Encourage your child to read longer, more complex books. Discuss the books with them to check their understanding.
- Introduce advanced math problems: Start working with your child on multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals.
- Practice test-taking strategies: Teach your child strategies like process of elimination, time management, and reading questions carefully.
6th to 8th Grade MAP Test Prep for Parents
- Encourage wide reading: At this stage, it’s important for your child to read a wide variety of texts, including non-fiction, poetry, and newspapers.
- Work on complex math problems: Your child should be working on more complex math problems, including pre-algebra and geometry.
- Focus on test-taking strategies: Continue working on test-taking strategies and consider introducing stress management techniques.
Here are some general tips for parents that apply to all grade levels:
- Ensure a good night’s sleep: Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep before the test. This helps ensure they are alert and ready to focus.
- Provide a healthy breakfast: A healthy, balanced breakfast can give your child the energy they need to concentrate during the test.
- Positive reinforcement: Encourage your child to do their best but don’t put too much pressure on them. Let them know that this test is just one measure of their abilities and does not define them.
- Regular study routine: Establish a regular study routine to ensure that your child is constantly learning and reviewing material.
Here are MAP Test Prep Tips for Teachers
Kindergarten MAP Test Prep for Teachers
- Introduce technology: Since the MAP test is taken on a computer, it’s important to introduce students to basic computer skills, like using a mouse or trackpad.
- Focus on foundational skills: Spend time on the fundamentals of reading and math. Ensure students are familiar with letters and sounds, basic number concepts, and simple problem-solving.
- Familiarize students with the test format: Help your students understand what a test is and how it works. You can use simple quizzes or exercises in the classroom to help them get used to the idea.
1st to 2nd Grade MAP Test Prep for Teachers
- Encourage independent reading: Foster a love of reading by providing a variety of books at appropriate reading levels. Encourage students to read on their own and in pairs.
- Practice basic math problems: Provide plenty of opportunities for students to practice addition and subtraction, and introduce the concepts of multiplication and division.
- Continue computer literacy: Continue teaching students about computer usage, introducing basic typing skills and teaching them how to navigate a test on the computer.
3rd to 5th Grade MAP Test Prep for Teachers
- Promote complex reading: Encourage students to read more complex texts, and engage them in discussions about what they’ve read to check comprehension.
- Introduce advanced math problems: Introduce and practice multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals. Use a variety of teaching strategies to ensure all students understand.
- Teach test-taking strategies: Introduce strategies like process of elimination, reading questions carefully, and time management. Give students practice with these strategies.
6th to 8th Grade MAP Test Prep for Teachers
- Encourage wide reading: Foster a love of diverse reading materials. Introduce different genres, non-fiction texts, and more complex narratives to broaden students’ understanding and vocabulary.
- Teach complex math problems: Focus on more complex math concepts, including pre-algebra and geometry. Provide plenty of practice problems and make sure all students understand the material.
- Focus on test-taking strategies: Continue to reinforce test-taking strategies and introduce new ones as appropriate. Provide opportunities for students to practice these strategies.
For all grade levels, here are some general tips for teachers:
- Use MAP resources: NWEA, the organization that creates the MAP test, provides many resources for teachers. These include a detailed breakdown of the skills assessed at each RIT band, which can be very helpful for planning instruction.
- Create a positive testing environment: Make sure students feel comfortable and prepared. Talk about the test in positive terms, and ensure students understand that it’s designed to help them learn, not to make them feel bad.
- Review results with students: Once the test is done, review the results with your students. Help them understand what their scores mean and how they can improve.
- Differentiate instruction: Use the results of the MAP test to differentiate your instruction. If you notice a group of students is struggling with a particular concept, spend some extra time on it.
- Practice, practice, practice: The more familiar students are with the format of the MAP test and the types of questions they’ll be asked, the more comfortable they’ll feel on test day. Use practice tests and questions to help students get used to the test.
Remember, the MAP test is designed to measure student growth, so it’s normal for students to find some questions challenging. The aim is to identify areas for individual learning and growth, not to achieve a perfect score.
MAP Test Preparation Workbooks
Testing Mom does provide printable worksheets for the MAP test after you sign-up as a Fast Track member. Currently, Testing Mom doesn’t provide any physical workbooks to prepare for the MAP test.