MAP Test 1st Grade Math: Free Practice, Scores Overview & Tips
Welcome to your complete preparation guide for the MAP Math Test for 1st Grade.
Below, you’ll find everything you need to maximize your child’s math score potential, including free practice questions, valuable information, and solving tips.
So if you’d like to help your child prepare effectively and enhance their chances of scoring high, you’ll love this guide.
Let’s dive right in!
What’s on This Page
What Is on the Math MAP Test for 1st Grade?
The Math MAP Test for 1st Grade, part of the MAP Growth Math K-2 (Early Learners), is an untimed exam designed to assess your child’s mathematical understanding. With around 43 questions, the test adapts to your child’s responses, adjusting its difficulty based on their correct or incorrect answers.
Check our detailed guide to get more valuable information about the MAP 1st Grade test.
Areas Covered on the MAP Math First Grade Test
Geometry
Your child will need to reason with shapes and understand their attributes. This includes recognizing different shapes and understanding their characteristics.
Measurement and Data
This area involves representing and interpreting data. Your child may also encounter problems related to measurement, requiring them to solve problems involving length, area, time, temperature, and other measures.
Number and Operations
Under this category, your child will delve into number and operations, including understanding place value, counting, and cardinality. They may encounter questions related to number operations, both in base ten and fractions.
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
This section covers properties of operations and problem-solving through algebraic thinking. Your child will represent and solve problems using basic algebraic concepts.
Types of Questions on the MAP Math Test for First Grade
- Computation and Problem Solving:
- Type of Questions: Calculations with basic operations, applying properties of computation to solve mathematical word problems.
- Example: “If there are 11 apples and you eat 2, how many apples are left?”
- Number Sense:
- Type of Questions: Identifying, counting, comparing, and ordering numbers.
- Example: “Which number comes after 34?”
- Measurement:
- Type of Questions: Understanding concepts of length, area, time, temperature, etc.
- Example: “Which is longer, the pencil or the crayon?”
- Geometry:
- Type of Questions: Identifying and classifying 2-D and 3-D figures, understanding symmetry and congruence.
- Example: “Find a shape that looks like a square.”
- Statistics and Probability:
- Type of Questions: Interpreting simple graphs, and determining the likelihood of simple events.
- Example: “How many students prefer apples in the class?”
- Algebra:
- Type of Questions: Applying concepts such as equivalence, patterns, series, and properties and relationships of operations.
- Example: “Which shape completes the pattern: square, circle, square, ___?”
Nurturing Your Child’s Understanding
Helping your little one grasp these concepts might be a bit tricky at 1st Grade. Our recommendation is to bring in some hands-on elements to make things easier for your child. Try counting together using fingers or using everyday items like pencils or marbles to make numbers more real for them. When explaining geometric shapes, connect them to familiar objects to make the learning experience more relatable for your child.
Take a Free MAP Math Practice Test for Grade 1
The sample test below is divided into easy, moderate, and difficult questions so that you can estimate your child’s level.
Easy Questions
Sample Question #1
What is the answer to the following problem?
6 + 4 = __
A. 6
B. 7
C. 8
D. 9
E. 10
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is E.
This is an addition exercise, in which you have to add 4 to 6. You can use your fingers to help you count.
Sample Question #2
Which of the following groups shows the fewest objects?
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is A.
The group with the fewest items is the group with the smallest number of items.
Count the items in each group, and see that group A has 2 items, group B has 5 items, group C has 3 items and group D has 4 items.
2 is the smallest number, and therefore group A has the fewest items.
Moderate Questions
Sample Question #1
Which sentence about triangles is true?
A. A triangle has 3 sides and 3 corners.
B. A triangle has 4 sides and 4 corners.
C. A triangle has 3 sides and 4 corners.
D. A triangle has 4 sides and 3 corners.
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is A.
A triangle has 3 sides and 3 corners.
Answer B is incorrect, it describes a quadrangle (which is every shape with 4 sides and 4 corners, like a rectangle and a square).
Answers C and D are incorrect and also impossible because the number of sides must be the same as the number of corners.
Sample Question #2
Which of the following shapes has the greatest number of sides?
A. Circle
B. Rectangle
C. Square
D. Pentagon
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is D.
A circle does not have sides at all, a rectangle and a square both have four sides, and a pentagon has five sides.
Therefore, the pentagon has the greatest number of sides.
Difficult Questions
Sample Question #1
Ten children were asked how old they were. These are their ages:
5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10
What is the age that appears most often in the age list?
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8
E. 9
F. 10
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is D.
The age that appears most often in the ages list is 8, which appears 3 times.
All the other ages appear only once or twice.
Sample Question #2
What is the answer to the following problem?
36
+
51
__
A. 87
B. 77
C. 96
D. 64
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is A.
This is an addition exercise written in a vertical format, in which you have to add one column at a time, from right to left.
First the right column:
6 + 1 = 7
Now, write 7 at the bottom of the column.
Now the left column:
3 + 5 = 8
Now, write 8 at the bottom of the column.
After solving each column, you can see that you have formed the number 87.
Get 7 additional MAP 1st Grade Math practice tests to improve your child’s problem-solving abilities.
Understand the MAP Math Scores for 1st Grade
How MAP Scores are Calculated
MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) scores are determined through a sophisticated algorithm that adapts to your child’s responses. These scores are expressed as RIT (Rasch Unit) scores, a measurement scale that tracks academic growth over time. Percentiles are used to compare your child’s performance to that of their peers nationally.
Decoding RIT Scores
- High Achievement: RIT scores above the 90th percentile indicate that your child is performing exceptionally well, showcasing a strong grasp of grade-level material.
- Median Achievement: RIT scores falling within the 40th to 60th percentile suggest a solid, average performance. Your child is meeting the expected standards for their grade.
- Lower Achievement: RIT scores below the 30th percentile may indicate areas where your child could benefit from additional support. It’s an opportunity to identify and address specific learning needs.
See the table below for specific RIT scores and percentiles for 1st Grade (based on this official PDF):
| Percentile | Mathematics (RIT Score) | |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Achievement | 95 84 69 | 181 172 166 |
| Median | 50 | 160 |
| Lower Achievement | 31 16 5 | 154 148 140 |
Understanding MAP scores allows you to celebrate your child’s successes, identify areas for improvement, and actively participate in their educational journey. Remember, every child learns at their own pace, and these scores serve as a valuable tool to tailor support and encouragement to their unique needs.