How to Pass the NWEA 8th Grade MAP Test in 2024
Updated November 5, 2024
- What Is the NWEA 8th Grade MAP Test?
- What Is the Purpose of the 8th Grade MAP Tests?
- Is the 8th Grade MAP Test Adaptive?
- When Do You Take the 8th Grade MAP Test?
- Are There Different Types of 8th Grade MAP Tests?
- What Does the 8th grade MAP Test Cover?
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- How to Pass the 8th Grade MAP Test in 2024
- Preparing for MAP Math for 8th Grade
- Preparing for MAP Reading for 8th Grade
- Preparing for Map Language Usage for 8th Grade
- MAP Test Practice Tips: 8th Grade
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- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
What Is the NWEA 8th Grade MAP Test?
The 8th Grade Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) test is the 8th grade level of the overall NWEA K-12 academic assessment.
The assessment was created by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a non-profit research organization.
This measurement of academic achievement has become the most widely used academic assessment, covering over 9,500 schools in more than 145 countries.
The method of assessment has proven to be the most effective way of assessing a student’s individual talents and proficiencies. As such, students who pass it have a significantly higher chance of succeeding in their academic careers.
What Is the Purpose of the 8th Grade MAP Tests?
The 8th grade MAP test allows teachers, parents and administrators to deeply understand children’s academic growth.
With a sound understanding of the student’s academic progress, teachers and parents can effectively tailor the learning experience to best suit the child.
Is the 8th Grade MAP Test Adaptive?
Each 8th grade MAP test is computerized and specifically tailored to the individual and their current academic level.
The tests are adaptive. This means that, for every question on the test that the student answers correctly, the following question will increase in difficulty.
Likewise, for every question that the student answers incorrectly, the following question will decrease in difficulty.
This method ensures that the individual has a fair opportunity to showcase their strengths and weaknesses according to the assessment growth average rather than the current grade average.
When Do You Take the 8th Grade MAP Test?
There are three tests for every grade.
The first two tests are taken within the first week of the school semester; these tests will assess the student’s level of reading and mathematics.
The third test is a shorter version of the assessment and is taken in the middle of the academic year.
The MAP 8th grade tests are not timed. However, it generally takes about an hour for each student to complete.
Are There Different Types of 8th Grade MAP Tests?
There are three types of 8th Grade MAP tests:
- Screening test – This is given at the beginning of the student’s academic development. It is designed to test the student’s initial set of skills.
- Skills checklist – This assesses the student’s affinity for particular subjects before and after they learn them.
- Growth assessment – This assesses the student’s academic ability based on the scores of the previous growth, checklist and screening tests.
In grade 8, students take the MAP Growth assessment. By this time, they will have already taken numerous Growth assessments.
The administrators will measure the 8th grade MAP test results against the results of the student’s previous MAP tests, thereby indicating the child’s overall academic growth.
What Does the 8th grade MAP Test Cover?
The 8th grade MAP test covers three sections in total:
- Mathematics – 40–43 mathematic questions
- Language Usage – 50–53 grammar and writing questions
- Reading – 40–43 questions regarding literature comprehension and informal texts
Some schools are adding a science section to the MAP tests. Although the information on this section is limited, parents should also prepare children for a science component.
All sections of the MAP test align with the American Common Core standards.
Understanding what to expect within sectors of the MAP tests will allow students to identify where they expect their strengths and weaknesses to appear.
8th Grade Mathematics
Number Sense
Students will exercise their ability to explore numbers in various ways, visualizing and identifying them in a variety of contexts.
- Arithmetic
- Identifying mathematical concepts
- Number ordering
- Number comparison
Algebra
- Understanding algebraic concepts
- Examining functions
- Solving algebraic equations
- Simplifying algebraic expressions
- Identifying algebraic patterns
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Measurement
- Identifying units of measurement
- Applying calculation to units of measurement
- Geometric calculation
- Understanding geometric formulas
Statistics and Probability
- Analyzing data
- Interpreting graphs
- Using calculations to determine probabilities
Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving
- Identifying complex problems
- Applying decomposition and abstraction methods to complex problems
8th Grade Mathematics Sample Question
A store has an end of year sale where all items are discounted by 20%.
The original price of a shirt is $30. The original price of a pair of jeans is $40.
During the end of year sale, how much will both items cost?
a) $50
b) $14
c) $62
d) $56
e) $54
8th Grade Language Usage
Parts of Speech
Students will show their ability to identify the different parts of speech:
- Nouns
- Verbs
- Adjectives
- Adverbs
- Prepositions
- Pronouns
- Conjunctions
- Interjections
Grammar and Sentence Structure
Students will show their understanding of English grammar as well as their ability to create correct sentence structures.
Writing Process
Students will be assessed on their ability to research and plan their writing. They will also show their ability to revise and edit their writing after planning.
Writing Mechanics
Students will show their understanding of the technical aspects of writing:
- Punctuation
- Spelling
- Capitalization
- Abbreviations
8th Grade Language Usage Sample Question
People wear hats for many reasons, including to express themselves, protection from the sun, wearing a uniform, and as part of their religion. Different cultures have a variety of traditions of hat-wearing, including countless styles for both men and women. Do you like to wear hats?
Choose the best revision of the first sentence
a) People wear hats for many reasons, including to express themselves, to protect themselves from the sun, and practicing their religion.
b) People wear hats for many reasons, including self-expression, protection from the sun, and to practice their religion.
c) People wear hats for many reasons, including expressing themselves, protecting themselves from the sun, and to practice their religion.
d) People wear hats for many reasons, including self-expression, protection from the sun, and religious practice.
8th Grade Reading
Reading Comprehension
Students will be assessed on their ability to comprehend the meanings of words and sentences through various literary contexts.
They will show the ability to identify antecedents, inferences, idioms and other literary devices as well as grasp the overall meaning of a piece of writing.
Literary Concepts
Students will demonstrate their ability to identify themes and ideas within literary works. They will also show how they can draw their own conclusions based on the extracts they read.
Information Comprehension
Students show their ability to grasp information from informational texts. After reading, students will infer and analyze the information they have gained.
8th Grade Reading Sample Question
Ever since I was a little child, it has always been important to me to keep my environment as clean and tidy as possible. I clean meticulously every day and always receive compliments on my spotless house.
Based on the context, what is the meaning of the word 'meticulously'?
a) Unwillingly
b) Happily
c) In a hurried manner
d) With attention to detail
Practice NWEA 8th Grade MAP Test
How to Pass the 8th Grade MAP Test in 2024
Students will have a significantly higher chance of succeeding in the MAP tests when parents and teachers commit to preparation.
There are plenty of ways to ensure a student’s success in the MAP assessments. Firstly, it is important to consider the variables outside of the student’s academic environment.
Step 1. Mitigate Stress
If you are a parent, you must provide a comfortable environment for your child to study and rest.
Students perform significantly worse during exams when they are under any amount of stress. Therefore, a healthy environment is paramount to their academic success.
Step 2. Have Parent/Teacher Meetings
Parents can meet with teachers to discuss the student’s current academic performance.
Parents and teachers can make the necessary adjustments to the student’s learning experience to ensure their success by discussing their strengths and weaknesses.
Step 3. Rest
The student must receive adequate rest during the assessment period.
Consistent rest throughout the learning and testing period will boost the student’s chances of overall academic success.
Step 4. Try to Maintain a Healthy Diet
A student must receive a consistently healthy diet. Studies show that diet directly affects your overall cognitive ability.
A healthy diet will ensure that the student will maintain focus and energy during their learning and assessment period.
Step 5. Use Practice Resources
There are resources available online that students can use to prepare for the official NWEA 8th Grade MAP assessments.
Students and parents can download free versions of the MAP tests to know what to expect during the assessment period.
The practice tests are not adaptive like the official MAP tests. So, the difficulties of the practice tests will remain the same as students progress. Therefore, it should not indicate how the student will do during the official assessment.
Preparing for MAP Math for 8th Grade
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Encourage the student to play board games and puzzles such as chess and sudoku. The student will learn to solve problems dynamically and systematically.
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Find opportunities for the student to perform mental arithmetic. Impromptu challenges can be a fun, enriching way to improve the student’s mathematical ability.
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Teach the student about money. Money is a great incentive for students to further their understanding of applied mathematics.
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Encourage the student to interpret graphs from a topic that interests them—providing a statistic on a topic that the student enjoys will be a great way to learn how to read and interpret graphical representations.
Preparing for MAP Reading for 8th Grade
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Encourage the student to read books for fun. Recreational reading will provide the student with an improved vocabulary and better reading comprehension.
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Encourage the student to play word-related games and puzzles like Scrabble and word searches.
Preparing for Map Language Usage for 8th Grade
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Provide the student with a discussion-rich environment. Allowing the student to exercise their vocabulary and overall conversational ability will improve their grasp of the language.
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Encourage the student to write journals or partake in creative writing. Recreational writing will automatically improve the student’s ability to formulate sentences and organize their thoughts.
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Encourage the student to write personal letters to friends and family members.
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Allow the student to practice recall and retention by reading a piece of text and recalling key information immediately afterward.
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Improve the student’s vocabulary by selecting a word of the day to use throughout the day.
MAP Test Practice Tips: 8th Grade
Preparing for the 8th Grade MAP test requires focused practice and effective study strategies.
Here are some tips to help your child practice effectively:
Understand the Test Format
Ensure they are familiarize with the structure and format of the 8th Grade MAP test.
Understand the types of questions, the number of sections and the time allotted for each section.
Help your child plan practice sessions and how to manage their time effectively during the actual test.
Review Grade-Level Content
Review the content and skills covered in the 8th-grade curriculum. This includes math, reading, language usage, and possibly science.
Use textbooks, study guides, and online resources to reinforce your child's understanding of key concepts and skills.
Utilize Official Resources
The NWEA website offers official resources and sample questions for the MAP test.
Take advantage of these resources to help you and your child get a sense of the test's content and format.
Work through the sample questions and use them as a basis for your practice.
Practice Regularly
Create a study schedule with your child and set aside regular practice sessions dedicated to each subject.
Practice a variety of questions to improve your child's familiarity with different question types and to reinforce your understanding of key concepts.
Consistent practice will help your child to build confidence and improve their performance.
Analyze Your Mistakes
When practicing, carefully review the incorrect questions or those your child struggled with.
Help them understand why they made the mistake and identify any gaps in their knowledge or skills.
Use this information to focus their future study efforts and address areas that need improvement.
Time Yourself
Help your child to time themselves to simulate test conditions.
This will help them become comfortable with the time constraints and develop strategies for managing their time effectively during the actual test.
Aim to complete each section within the recommended time limit.
Seek Additional Resources
Explore supplemental resources such as study guides, workbooks or online educational platforms that offer 8th-grade MAP test preparation materials.
These resources can provide additional practice opportunities and further explanations of key concepts.
Review Test-Taking Strategies
Familiarize yourself and your child with test-taking strategies specific to the MAP test. Learn techniques such as process of elimination, educated guessing and effective time management.
These strategies can help yout child approach questions more efficiently and improve their overall performance.
Seek Teacher Guidance
Consult with their teachers or subject-specific educators for guidance on areas to focus on and additional resources that can support your child's preparation for the 8th Grade MAP test.
They can provide insights into the test content and offer personalized advice based on your individual needs.
Stay Positive and Manage Stress
Test preparation can be stressful, but it's important to maintain a positive mindset.
Take breaks when needed, engage in stress-reducing activities and remind your child that the test is an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average 8th grader should look to achieve 225 on the mathematics section, 216 on language usage and 218 on reading.
The MAP test is an examination of where the student needs to improve, so they don't have to achieve the best results.
What is more important is that weaknesses are highlighted so the student and teachers know where to concentrate on.
Final Thoughts
It is important to understand that the main objective of the NWEA 8th gradde MAP assessments is to judge the student’s growth.
Parents and teachers should use the MAP tests results to observe where the student is along their academic process. However, the MAP test results should not be used to judge the student’s current performance amongst their fellow students.
Academia is a stressful period in a young person’s life, and they should receive the best learning experience possible during their academic career.
The NWEA intends to ensure that each student can perform to the best of their abilities. Every student is given the opportunity to showcase their strengths and talents—this is made possible with effective growth assessments.
If you consistently follow the tips in this article, the chances of the student’s success in the official MAP assessments will increase dramatically.
