In the coming weeks, children in grades 3-8 will participate in MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. MAP is an assessment produced by Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and is the largest standardized assessment of its type in the US. It is done on a computer and each test adapts to the student’s previous answers, so if they answer a question correctly, a more challenging question is presented. If they answer incorrectly, a simpler question follows.
MAP is a standardized test and is only one of many different types of assessment that we use to determine student learning progress. Children do not all learn in the same way, so any standardized assessment needs to be viewed only in conjunction with a range of other learning data. We get the most accurate picture of a student’s progress by using a variety of learning evidence including everyday ongoing assessments, learning conversations with students, ongoing formative assessment (assessment that helps us design more appropriate subsequent learning experiences) and short quizzes.
MAP also measures your child’s achievement level compared to other students who have taken this test, and measures academic growth over time in the areas of mathematics and reading. However, the student sample is drawn from US public and private schools, not international schools. The test does not cover all academic skills, nor does it cover such areas as physical, artistic, or interpersonal skills. Parents will gain a more complete picture of student performance by looking at this test alongside a variety of classroom work samples and other assessments over a period of time.
For further information, please visit the website www.nwea.org
