Frequently Asked Questions
What is a MAP Test?
Unlike paper and pencil tests, where all students are asked the same questions and spend a fixed amount of time taking the test, MAP Growth is a computer adaptive test—which means every student gets a unique set of test questions based on responses to previous questions. As the student answers correctly, the questions get harder. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions get easier. By the end of the test, most students will answer about half the questions correctly. The purpose of the MAP assessment is to determine what the student knows and is ready to learn next. The MAP assessment is given to students 3 times per year at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year.
What is a RIT Score?
A RIT score (short for Rasch Unit) is an estimation of a student's instructional level and also measures student progress or growth in school. A RIT score can be thought of in terms of a ruler to measure growth.
How Do I Know if my Child is on Grade Level?
RIT scores are used to track your child’s progress over a period of time. The scores are not meant to be used as a tool of comparison between students, nor are the scores used as an indication of course achievement or grade level correlation. MAP scoring is a means of representing your child’s academic skill set. The charts referenced below show student norms for each grade level in Reading and Math at the beginning, middle, and end of the year scoring at the 50% percentile.
What does the Lexile Level Mean?
The Lexile® Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to measuring a student's reading ability and the text complexity of reading materials. When used together, they can help a reader choose a book or other reading material that is at an appropriate level. The scale is like a thermometer, except rather than measuring temperature, it measures a text's complexity and a reader's skill level.
How Do Lexile Measures Relate to Grade Levels?
Using Lexile, your child can be matched with reading materials specific to their reading level. A research study was conducted using national samples for Lexile ranges for each grade level and can be found in the chart below. Please note the scores shown for each grade level range from the 50th percentile to the 90th percentile for each grade. For additional information, please visit the Lexile website.
