NWEA MAP Growth Fundamentals 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a 'growth index' value of +3 indicate on a MAP Growth report?
- The student grew 3 grade levels in one year
- The student grew 3 RIT points more than expected based on norms (Correct answer)
- The student scored in the top 3% of the nation
- The student completed the test 3 minutes faster than average
Correct answer: The student grew 3 RIT points more than expected based on norms
A positive growth index means the student's actual growth exceeded the expected conditional growth by that number of RIT points.
Question 2: Which stakeholder group primarily uses the MAP Growth District Summary Report?
- Individual students reviewing their own scores
- District and school leaders monitoring overall program performance (Correct answer)
- Parents selecting extracurricular activities
- College admissions officers evaluating applications
Correct answer: District and school leaders monitoring overall program performance
The District Summary Report aggregates data across schools and grades, making it most useful for district-level administrators tracking systemic trends.
Question 3: How does MAP Growth support English Language Learners (ELLs) during testing?
- ELLs are automatically exempt from all MAP Growth testing
- Translated directions and accommodations such as extended time may be provided (Correct answer)
- ELL scores are excluded from school-level reports
- ELLs receive a separate norming group by default
Correct answer: Translated directions and accommodations such as extended time may be provided
NWEA provides translated test directions and supports standard accommodations for ELL students to ensure equitable access to the assessment.
Question 4: What is the 'DesCartes: A Continuum of Learning' resource and how does it relate to MAP Growth?
- A national curriculum adopted by all MAP Growth users
- A learning continuum that describes what students at each RIT level typically know and can do (Correct answer)
- A separate NWEA assessment for advanced learners
- A parent communication tool for sharing report cards
Correct answer: A learning continuum that describes what students at each RIT level typically know and can do
DesCartes links RIT score ranges to descriptions of student knowledge and skills, helping teachers identify instructional targets aligned to MAP Growth scores.
Question 5: When comparing fall-to-spring MAP Growth results, which factor most directly affects whether growth appears typical or atypical?
- The student's classroom temperature during testing
- The student's starting RIT score and grade level (conditional growth norms) (Correct answer)
- The number of days the student was absent
- The color scheme of the report interface
Correct answer: The student's starting RIT score and grade level (conditional growth norms)
Conditional growth norms account for the fact that students at different starting points and grade levels are expected to grow at different rates.
Question 6: A principal wants to identify which teachers have students showing the highest growth compared to similar students nationally. Which MAP Growth report is most appropriate?
- Individual Student Profile Report
- Class Growth Summary Report (Correct answer)
- District Norms Comparison Report
- Student Goal-Setting Report
Correct answer: Class Growth Summary Report
The Class Growth Summary Report compares class-level growth to expected growth norms, allowing principals to see which classrooms are exceeding expectations.
Question 7: MAP Growth scores are typically reported within how many days after a student completes the assessment?
- 30 days
- 7–10 business days
- Immediately upon test completion (Correct answer)
- At the end of the school year only
Correct answer: Immediately upon test completion
Because MAP Growth is computer-adaptive and machine-scored, RIT scores and reports are available to educators immediately after a student finishes the test.
NWEA MAP Growth Fundamentals 5
What does a 'growth index' value of +3 indicate on a MAP Growth report?