MAP Test Reading

The NWEA MAP Growth Reading test is a computerized, adaptive test which maps a student's academic growth and proficiency in reading. The test is adaptive, meaning the questions' difficulty level changes according to the student's previous answers. This ensures that the test is uniquely tailored to each student to show his or her individual academic progress.

The Reading section of the MAP test has three different versions that are meant for each grade group – K-2, 2-5, and 6-12. The K-2 Reading test is made up of 43 questions in total and can take students 15-30 minutes to complete. The 2-5 and 6-12 Reading tests are made up of 40-43 questions and can take students 45-60 minutes to complete. The main difference between the K-2 Reading test and the 2-5 Reading test is that the K-2 Reading test is accessible for children who are too young to actively read, meaning the questions are read aloud to them as they are taking the test. The volume icon above the sample questions indicates that the questions would be read aloud to the student.

Questions in the K-2 Reading test mostly focus on phonological awareness, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, grammar, informational text, and vocabulary. Questions in the 2-5 and 6-12 Reading test mostly focus on literary texts, drawing conclusions, informational texts, vocabulary, summarization, and context clues.

Summary Table

Reading Topics for K-2 grades

Foundational Skills

Phonics and Word Recognition

Language and Writing

Literature and Informational Text

Vocabulary Use and Functions

Reading Topics for 2-5 grades and for 6-12

Literary Text

Informational Text

RIT Ranges

The following table details the different RIT ranges by grade category for the Reading section:

Free Sample MAP Reading Questions for Kindergarten

Sample 1

• Topic: Print Concepts
• Sub-topic: Letter recognition
• RIT range: <155

Match the lowercase letters to the uppercase letters.

__ t __ i __ f __ a

T     F     I     A

Sample 2

• Topic: Literature: Key Ideas, Craft, Structure
• Sub-topic: Story elements
• RIT range: <155

Alice loves to watch a movie each weekend. She sits on the couch with her friends, and they all choose together which movie to watch. Sometimes they will watch a TV show instead. Her dad makes popcorn for all of them to share. The family dog also likes to sleep on Alice's lap while they all watch the movie.

Which picture shows where the story is probably taking place?

Free Sample MAP Reading Questions for 1^st Grade

Sample 3

• Topic: Print Concepts
• Sub-topic: Word recognition
• RIT range: <155

Circle the word 🧀 in the sentence.

The mouse ate chee‎se.

Sample 4

• Topic: Literature: Key Ideas, Craft, Structure
• Sub-topic: Comprehension strategies
• RIT range: <155

Click on all the things that are food.

Free Sample MAP Reading Questions for 2^nd Grade

Sample 5

• Topic: Capitalize, Spell, Punctuate
• Sub-topic: Spelling
• RIT range: 155-171

After I ate dinner yesterday, I decided to wash the dishes before taking a shower. I was scrubbing the plate when I dropped it accidently into the sink. Luckily, it didn't brake and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Which word is spelled incorrectly?

1. Relief
2. Brake
3. Shower
4. Scrubbing

Sample 6

• Topic: Informational Text: Key Ideas, Details, Craft, Structure
• Sub-topic: Read-alone informational texts
• RIT range: 155-171

Kelly and Michael are best friends. They went to the movie theater to watch a movie together. Kelly wanted to watch a comedy movie, but Michael wanted to watch an action movie. When they arrived at the theater, they couldn't agree on what to watch. They decided to ask the box office clerk which movie he recommends. The box office clerk said "You're both in luck, a new movie just came out that's an action-comedy. I watched it when it premiered, and I enjoyed it a lot." So, Kelly and Michael decided to watch the movie that the clerk recommended to them.

How was Kelly and Michael's problem resolved?

1. They each went to see a different movie.
2. They decided not to watch a movie and do something else instead.
3. They decided to watch an action movie and then afterwards a comedy movie.
4. The clerk recommended a movie 

Free Sample MAP Reading Questions for 3^rd Grade

Sample 7

• Topic: Informational Text: Key Ideas, Details, Craft, Structure
• Sub-topic: Read-alone informational texts
• RIT range: 172-186

Some people think that dolphins are fish. Dolphins have fins. Fish also have fins. Dolphins live in the water. Fish also live in the water. Fish have scales, but dolphins don't.

Choose the sentence that tells how dolphins are different from fish.

Sample 8

• Topic: Writing: Purposes: Plan, Develop, Edit
• Sub-topic: Sequence
• RIT range: 172-186

It's very easy to make tomato sauce. First, add some olive oil to a saucepan and turn on the heat. Then, add some minced garlic and one full can of crushed tomatoes. Afterwards, add salt, pepper, and dried basil. Mix the sauce and let it cook for a few minutes.

1. Add olive oil to a saucepan.
2. Turn on the heat.
3. Add minced garlic.
4. _________________
5. Add salt, pepper, and dried basil.
6. Mix and let cook for a few minutes.

Choose the sentence that completes the list of steps.

1. Mix every two minutes.
2. Add seasoning and herbs.
3. Add one can of crushed tomato.
4. Turn up the heat.

Free Sample MAP Reading Questions for 4^th Grade

Sample 9

• Topic: Analyze Central Idea, Concepts, and Events; Summarize
• Sub-topic: Text analysis
• RIT range: 187-197

Michelle Kwan was an American figure skater who won two Olympic medals. She is known for her expressiveness while skating and is regarded as one of the best figure skaters of all time. One of her trademark moves was called a Y-spin which she performed on both feet. She is quoted as saying that "skating is in [her] heart, not [her] head."

She was born in Torrance, California and was the youngest of three. Both her parents immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong, so she spoke Cantonese and English at home. She retired from figure skating in 2006.

Which of the following details is not included in the passage?

1. What Michelle Kwan's signature move was
2. Where Michelle Kwan was born
3. Where Michelle Kwan learned to skate
4. What languages Michelle Kwan speaks

Sample 10

• Topic: Informational Text: Key Ideas, Details, Craft, Structure
• Sub-topic: Reading comprehension
• RIT range: 187-197

Blue jays

Blue jays are birds that are native to North America. They are small and very common in the wild. They are mostly found in eastern and central United States and some parts of Canada.

Appearance

Their feathers are a purple-blue color, and they have a crest on their head. Their underside is white in color, and they have black lines across their neck and along their eyes. Their wings and tails are a lighter blue color with black lines.

Diet

Blue jays typically eat corn, grains, and seeds. They particularly like eating peanuts. They also eat fruits and berries.

Vocalizations

Blue jays can make many different sounds and can even learn to mimic humans. They also have the ability to imitate hawks with such accuracy that it is often very difficult to tell if the sound is a real hawk or a blue jay.

Under which heading can information on what blue jays eat be found?

1. Diet
2. Appearance
3. Blue jays
4. Vocalizations

Free Sample MAP Reading Questions for 5^th Grade

Sample 11

• Topic: Analyze Central Idea, Concepts, and Events; Summarize
• Sub-topic: Main idea
• RIT range: 198-204

Mice are omnivorous, meaning they can eat other animals as well as plants, so they can eat certain insects. They usually prefer to eat fruits, grains, and seeds. It is a common misconception that mice love to eat cheese.

What is the main topic of the paragraph?

1. Mice don't eat cheese
2. Mice make good pets
3. The diet of mice
4. Proper care for pet mice

Sample 12

• Topic: Analyze Central Idea, Concepts, and Events; Summarize Informational Text: Key Ideas, Details, Craft, Structure
• Sub-topic: Supporting details
• RIT range: 205-210

Janet and Ben went to the mall. Janet tried on a shirt. "It looks nice on you," said Ben, but Janet disagreed and decided to look for something else. Ben was looking for a new pair of pants. He tried on several pairs but didn't like any of them enough. He put the pants back on the shelf. Janet found a dress that she liked so she bought it.

Which of the following do Janet and Ben have in common in the story? Choose two answers.

1. They want to buy new clothes.
2. They think the shirt looks nice on Janet.
3. They tried on clothes.
4. They bought new clothes.

Sample 13

• Topic: Vocabulary
• Sub-topic: Definition
• RIT range: 205-210

What is the correct definition of generosity?

1. The quality of being a genius.
2. The quality of kindly giving to others.
3. The act of complimenting someone.
4. The quality of helping others.

Free Sample MAP Reading Questions for 6^th Grade

Sample 14

• Topic: Vocabulary
• Sub-topic: Similes and metaphors
• RIT range: 205-210

What is the meaning of the metaphor in the following sentence?

Her eyes were a deep ocean.

1. Her eyes were closed.
2. She was snorkeling in the ocean.
3. Her eyes were a dark blue color.
4. She was crying.

Sample 15

• Topic: Vocabulary
• Sub-topic: Synonyms
• RIT range: 205-210

Exercise is an essential part of staying fit and healthy. Without exercise, our bodies become weaker as we get older, and we can get tired very easily. That's why experts recommend exercising often.

Choose the word that has the same meaning as the word essential.

1. wonderful
2. recommended
3. sole
4. important

Free Sample MAP Reading Questions for 7^th Grade

Sample 16

• Topic: Vocabulary
• Sub-topic: Antonyms
• RIT range: 211-214

Choose the word that is an antonym of the word exaggerate?

1. explain
2. excite
3. address
4. understate

Sample 17

• Topic: Vocabulary
• Sub-topic: Context clues
• RIT range: 211-214

The children in the playground were playing together as their parents sat on the benches surrounding the playground. They were playing an intense game of hide-and-seek. They ran energetically and cheered excitedly. Their boisterous nature made all the parents laugh. When they got tired of running around, their parents took them to get ice cream.

Select the phrase that helps the reader understand the meaning of the word boisterous.

Free Sample MAP Reading Questions for 8^th Grade

Sample 18

• Topic: Vocabulary
• Sub-topic: Context clues
• RIT range: 215-218

Jane arrived at the old cottage in the countryside. She was charmed by how quaint it was, it seemed to be seemingly frozen in time. The windows of the cottage were tinted slightly and there were potted flowers around the entrance.

Based on the sentences in the passage, what is the meaning of the word quaint?

1. Large
2. Old-fashioned
3. Beautiful
4. Dirty

Sample 19

• Topic: Vocabulary
• Sub-topic: Similes and metaphors
• RIT range: 215-218

Which of the following sentences includes a simile?

1. The rain on her window was a lullaby that soothed her.
2. I laughed as I played with my dog in the backyard.
3. I did not like the food that was served at the event.
4. My hands were shaking like leaves when I checked my score.

Sample 20

• Topic: Vocabulary
• Sub-topic: Figurative language
• RIT range: 219+

Carrie arrived home just as her mother was baking a pie. The smell of the pie in the oven wafted through the air and tickled her nose, causing her stomach to growl in impatience.

Which literary device is used in the second sentence?

1. Simile
2. Alliteration
3. Personification
4. Symbolism

For more comprehensive and explained material, choose our complete preparation specifically tailored to your child's grade level.

Lexile®/Lexile range

The Lexile scores and ranges are the result of a collaboration between NWEA Research and MetaMetrics (the developers of the Lexile), which have jointly developed the algorithm for this measure. The Lexile score is based on the RIT score data generated for each student completing the MAP Growth Reading Assessment.

The Lexile Scale starts at -400 or BR400 (Beginning Reader). The smaller the number following the BR, the higher the reading level (in contrast to the remainder of the Lexile Range). Thus, a child with a Lexile measure of BR250 will have a higher level than a child with a Lexile measure of BR350.

The Lexile measure is used to assess the students' reading level, which, among other purposes, makes it possible to assign appropriate readings to their reading level. In fact, each book has a corresponding Lexile measure. This way, each student can know if his or her level corresponds to the reading material he or she wants or needs to read.

The range includes books that are suitable for each student; the lower range corresponds to books that the child or teenager can read on their own, while the upper range corresponds to books that will benefit their education.

The Lexile Score is included in some of the test reports, including the Student Progress Report and the Student Profile. 

The chart for converting RIT scores to Lexile range can be found here.

Books examples and their corresponding Lexile Score:

The following table displays the Lexile score by grade and the percentiles for the last 10 years.

Tips and Tricks

• Encourage your child to play spelling games and puzzles such as Scrabble and crosswords. This will strengthen your child's ability to spell and broaden their vocabulary.
• Encourage your child to read as much as they can – books, magazines, articles, and everything in between. Alternatively, if your child is too young to read, read aloud to them. This will help them read at a quicker pace.
• Get them well acquainted with the library and encourage them to seek out topics that interest them.
• If you are the student taking the MAP Test, remember that you cannot go back after answering a question and validating your answer. Please take your time to answer correctly and read the instructions thoroughly to avoid any misunderstandings.
• For the MAP Reading Test, it is especially important to remember the capitalization rules and to pay extra attention to proper names and headings. To help you remember the terminology, reviewing common examples and definitions of affix, prefix, suffix, root, synonym and antonym and others is a great idea. It is also essential to review the definitions and differences between various types of texts such as biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, fiction, book reviews, etc.
• Remember, the best advice we can give you is to practice! You can now get our online training package and give your children a complete preparation.

2020 Reading Median RIT Score by Grade

What Is the Difference Between MAP Growth Reading and MAP Reading Fluency?

The MAP Growth Reading Test and the MAP Reading Fluency Test are two different assessments. The first is part of the MAP Growth series and has all the features of the MAP Growth series. The second is a stand-alone test, given to Pre-K through 5th grade. It measures children's basic reading skills, with an emphasis on oral fluency - the students read aloud through a microphone, allowing teachers to analyze their performance in terms of correct words per minute, comprehension, accuracy and more. MAP Reading Fluency takes 20 minutes.

How to Practice for the MAP Reading Test?

We offer MAP Reading training tests for each grade level that can help your child prepare for the questions type which can be found in this test. Each simulation is tailored to be as similar as possible to a real MAP Reading test and can give your child an idea of what to expect. Help your children reach the 95^th percentile by choosing one of our packs.