MAP 3rd Grade Language Arts Test: Free Practice, Scores & Prep Tips
Welcome to your complete practice guide for the MAP Language Arts test for 3rd grade (also named Language Usage test).
This comprehensive guide offers everything you need to support your child’s success, including an overview of the test, realistic practice questions, and actionable study tips.
Get ready to boost their confidence, improve their language skills, and empower them to achieve their best score.
Let’s get started!
What Is on the MAP Language Usage Test for 3rd Grade?
The MAP Language Usage test for 3rd grade is a computer-administered adaptive, and untimed test that measures a student’s understanding of common core standards in language arts. The test covers a variety of topics, including language mechanics, vocabulary, syntax, and writing.
Check our detailed guide for more valuable MAP 3rd Grade test information.
Focus Areas for 3rd Grade MAP Test ELA
The Language Usage section of the MAP Growth Test grade includes 40 to 43 questions. It checks how well students understand the rules and use of the English language. Here’s a breakdown of the key areas:
Language Mechanics
- Punctuation: Understanding when and how to use periods, commas, exclamation points, question marks, and quotation marks.
- Capitalization: Knowing when to use capital letters for the beginning of sentences, proper nouns (names of people, places, or things), and titles.
- Spelling: The ability to write words correctly.
Parts of Speech
- Nouns: Words that name people, places, things, or ideas.
- Verbs: Words that show action or a state of being.
- Adjectives: Words that describe nouns.
- Adverbs: Words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (tell how, when, where, or to what extent).
Usage (Syntax)
- Sentence Structure: How to form complete sentences with a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a predicate (what the subject does or is).
- Word Order: Understanding the correct order of words in a sentence for it to make sense.
- Agreement: Making sure all the parts of a sentence match, like singular verbs with singular subjects.
Writing Process
- Planning: Brainstorming ideas, deciding on a main point, and organizing thoughts before starting to write.
- Drafting: Getting the initial ideas down on paper (or computer).
- Revising: Making changes to improve content, clarity, and organization.
- Editing: Checking for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors.
Improve your child’s language skills with 6 MAP Language Arts practice tests for 3rd Grade.
Take a Free MAP 3rd Grade Language Arts Practice Test
The sample test below is divided into easy, moderate, and difficult questions so that you can identify where your child struggles more and estimate their level.
Easy Questions
Sample Question #1
Read the sentence.
I _____ the ball very far, but my dog still managed to fetch it.
Which word correctly completes the sentence?
A. throwed
B. through
C. threw
D. thrown
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (C).
The word that correctly completes the sentence is “threw.” The verb “threw” is the past simple tense form of the verb “throw.” The verb “throw” is an irregular verb in the past tense.
This means it does not follow a rule and you must remember the past-tense form of this verb. The sentence itself is in the past simple tense (the verb “managed” tells you that), so the verb “throw” should be in the past simple tense form.
Sample Question #2
Which of the sentences is written in future tense?
A. Jose and his mother are watching a movie.
B. The movie premiered only two days ago.
C. Chris will buy popcorn and nachos at the movie theater.
D. Jordan managed to buy the last tickets for the movie.
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (C).
The future tense describes something that is going to happen. To use a verb in future tense, add will before the base form of the verb.
The only answer with a sentence written in future tense is answer (C).
Answer (A) is incorrect as this sentence is written in the present tense (“are watching”).
Answers (B) and (D) are incorrect as these sentences are written in the past tense (“premiered”, “managed”).
Moderate Questions
Sample Question #1
Louis decided to write a biography on the life of George Washington.
What is the best way to represent the data he collected?
A. a timeline
B. a line graph
C. a pie chart
D. a pictograph
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (A).
A biography is the life story of a person written by someone else. Usually, a biography contains a chronological order of events in the person’s life. The best way to represent this kind of data is with a timeline, which is a line that shows the time and order in which events happened. Therefore, the correct answer is (A).
Sample Question #2
Which of the words is spelled correctly?
A. Atmoshper
B. Jurnal
C. Anonymous
D. Toolip
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (C).
The only word that is spelled correctly is “anonymous.” Therefore, the correct answer is (C).
Answer (A) is incorrect as the word “atmospher” should be atmosphere.
Answer (B) is incorrect as the word “jurnal” should be journal.
Answer (D) is incorrect as the word “toolip” should be tulip.
Difficult Questions
Sample Question #1
Read the sentences.
I think that French is _____ than English. However, some will say that French is _____ to learn than English.
Which adjectives correctly complete the sentences?
A. difficult, easier
B. more difficult, easy
C. more difficult, easier
D. more difficult, easiest
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (C).
Some adjectives are used to compare people, places, animals, or things. These adjectives are called comparative adjectives. Comparative adjectives compare one person or thing with another, enabling you to say whether a person or thing has more or less of a certain quality.
If a two-syllable adjective ends with a “y” (like easy), then change the “y” to “i” and add -er.
An adjective with three syllables or more (like difficult) is preceded by the word more.
The comparative adjectives that correctly complete the sentences are “more difficult” and “easier.” Therefore, the correct answer is (C).
Sample Question #2
Read the sentence.
You are writing an essay on the basic practice techniques in becoming a better baseball player.
Who is the audience it should be written for?
A. Professional baseball players
B. Beginning basketball players
C. People who do not play baseball
D. Beginning baseball players.
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (D).
It is important to consider the audience you are writing for when you choose a topic for an essay. The topic you are writing about should be appropriate for the audience who reads your essay. In this question, the topic is practicing basic techniques for becoming a better baseball player.
The audience for this topic should be players who know little about the game or players who are new to the game. It should not be professional players who already know and have mastered the basic techniques of baseball, nor people who do not play baseball at all.
Therefore, the correct answer is (D).
9 Essential Tips to Help Your 3rd Grader Ace the MAP Language Arts Test
- Make Reading a Daily Ritual: Set aside 20-30 minutes for dedicated reading time daily. Let your child pick books on topics they find interesting. After reading, ask questions like, “Who was your favorite character and why?” or “Can you retell what happened in the story?”
- Use Practice Tests Strategically: Take MAP practice questions online. After taking a test, go over incorrect answers together. Explain the question type and why the correct answer is right, helping them develop the thinking behind the answer.
- Play Word Games: Here’s a simple one to start: pick a letter and challenge each other to think of as many words starting with that letter as possible within a minute. Make it sillier by focusing on specific categories like animals, foods, or things you find at the beach.
- Write and Talk it Out: Provide regular prompts for writing: “Imagine you found a treasure map, describe what’s on it” or “If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?” Engage in conversations using new vocabulary words – maybe pick a “word of the day” to use throughout the day.
- Find the Fun in Grammar: Don’t make grammar feel like a chore! Look for age-appropriate online games, cartoons, or songs that make learning grammar rules entertaining. Examples for educational games and apps: Mad Libs, Khan Academy Kids.
- Explain the “Why” of Language: If your child writes “the dog runned away”, instead of just saying “it’s ran”, explain, “We use ‘ran’ when something already happened in the past. Since the dog is running now, we say ‘the dog runs away'”.
- Explore Different Writing Styles: Suggest they write a short story inspired by their favorite character. Help them write a persuasive letter asking for something they want (a later bedtime, a new toy) with reasons why. Offer to be the editor-in-chief of their very own family newspaper!
- Focus on Accuracy, Not Just Speed: Help them read questions carefully and underline key words. Encourage rereading their written work, asking, “Does this sentence make sense? Are my words in the right order?”
- Create a Positive Study Space Choose a desk or table in a quiet room. Provide pencils, highlighters, colorful sticky notes – making the space visually engaging helps with focus. Encourage breaks as needed to avoid burnout.