Prepare for the NWEA MAP Reading Test

• About the NWEA MAP Reading Section
• MAP Reading Questions
  • Informational Text
  • Foundational Skills and Vocabulary
  • Literature 
• NWEA MAP Reading Standards
  • Standard RIT Scores for Reading from the 2011 Academic Year
• Prepare for the NWEA MAP Reading Test

About the NWEA MAP Reading Section

The MAP Reading section is part of the three main MAP tests offered to students in grades K–12. Like all other sections of the test, the MAP Reading Test is an untimed computer adaptive achievement test. This means that questions either increase or decrease in difficulty, depending on the student's previous answers.

NWEA’s reading section of the MAP Test is used by educators to track growth throughout students' school years. Results give students an idea of where they rank nationally, as well as a view of their own personal progress. Preparing for the MAP Reading Test ensures more accurate results.

MAP Reading Questions

The NWEA MAP Reading Test is comprised of 42 questions that are based on the following three components:

Informational Text

Questions in the informational text component ask students to read a few passages within a limited time and demonstrate their reading comprehension abilities. The following questions are examples of question types that may appear in the informational text section:

• Identify the main subject in a sentence
• Identify whether a given statement is true or false
• Sequence a chain of events correctly
• Identify the purpose of a given structure within the passage

*The order of the example questions above is demonstrative of the increasing level of difficulty in the section, as students answer previous questions correctly.

Foundational Skills and Vocabulary

The foundational skills and vocabulary section includes questions focusing on phonics, word recognition, and word relationships. Easier questions may ask students to identify syllables, or simply match a word to the appropriate antonym or synonym. More advanced questions may focus on more complex versions of these tasks.

Literature

The literature section of the NWEA MAP Reading Test is similar to the informational text section in that both assess reading comprehension. However, the literature component of the test requires students to identify literary elements within the passages, such as those listed below:

• Character identification
• Author's purpose
• Identifying key elements within the plot

NWEA MAP Reading Standards

NWEA MAP Reading Test scores are given using a RIT scale. RIT scores are designed to track individual student progress. The NWEA MAP Test is meant to be taken by students at various points throughout the academic calendar. This means that if a student scores a RIT score of 181 on the MAP Reading Test, his or her goal should be to surpass that score next time. 

Standard RIT Scores for Reading from the 2020 Academic Year

Prepare for the NWEA MAP Reading Test

Preparation is key to ensuring that your child receives the grade he or she deserves. Our MAP Practice Packs are designed to zero-in on every section of the test, providing ample opportunities for your child to learn and progress. Each practice pack comes not only with full-length MAP tests, but with tests and quizzes dedicated to specific sections, including the MAP Reading Test.

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