MAP Scores

Everything you wanted to know about MAP scores, but were afraid to ask.

What is a RIT Score?

A RIT (Rasch Unit) score is the result of a MAP test and measures student achievement and student growth. It is an equal-interval score, like feet and inches, so scores can be added together to calculate accurate class or school averages. Visit the NWEA website to learn more about RIT scores.

How are the goal area scores used?

Students who take MAP tests receive an overall RIT score, which reflects their instructional level in either mathematics or reading, and also goal area scores, which reflects their instructional level for specific areas of mathematics (such as geometry, algebra, statistics, etc.) and reading (such as determining meaning of words, analyzing text, comprehension, etc.) Teachers use the goal area scores to provide targeted instruction for individual students or groups of students.

What is a Lexile Score?

A Lexile score provides information as to either a student’s reading ability or to how difficult a text is to read. A student gets a Lexile score from MAP tests or other reading test or program.

How are Lexile Scores used?

The Lexile score or score range is used to identify reading materials that are appropriate for that students based on their current reading skills.

What is a student’s RIT to Reading Range score?

NWEA-MAP recently updated their reports to use the term “RIT to Reading Range” rather than Lexile score range. The RIT to Reading Range scores can be used in the same manner as Lexile scores.

What are Norms?

Test norms are used help determine a student’s relative standing to those of his or her peers. For MAP tests, the RIT score is of little value unless it is compared to a reference point. Since NWEA conducts regular national norms studies for the MAP tests, most often a RIT score is used to determine whether a student is below, at or above grade level using the test norms.

How do teachers use the MAP data?

The MAP test results can be used to determine a student’s current instructional level and to measure students’ growth over the course of the school year. There are many uses of the MAP results and teachers often use the MAP data to develop individual student growth goals and to differentiate instruction for his or her classes.
MAP scores can also be used to predict the students’ performance on the WKCE test, an important assessment for measuring Adequate Yearly Progress for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.