MAP 3rd Grade Math Test: Free Practice, Scores & Prep Tips
Welcome to your complete practice guide for the MAP Math test for 3rd grade.
Below you’ll find everything you need to help your child prepare and score high in the MAP math section, including free practice questions, valuable prep tips, and more.
So if you’d like to maximize your child’s MAP math score, you’ll love this guide.
Let’s dive in!
What’s on This Page
What Is on the 3rd Grade MAP Math Test?
The 3rd Grade MAP Math Test assesses your child’s understanding of key math concepts. The test is computer-administered, adaptive to your child’s responses, and untimed, and it helps educators track your child’s progress throughout the year.
Check our detailed guide for more valuable MAP 3rd Grade test information.
Focus Areas for 3rd Grade MAP Math
The MAP math test for 3rd grade includes 40-43 questions covering the following subjects:
- Operations and Algebraic Thinking:
- Solving word problems using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Finding patterns and understanding relationships between numbers.
- Numbers and Operations in Base Ten:
- Mastering place value (ones, tens, hundreds).
- Comparing and ordering larger numbers.
- Rounding numbers.
- Numbers and Operations – Fractions:
- Recognizing and representing fractions (like 1/2 or 1/4).
- Comparing simple fractions.
- Measurement and Data:
- Telling time to the nearest minute.
- Measuring length, weight, and volume using standard units (like inches, pounds, liters).
- Reading and interpreting simple graphs and charts.
- Geometry:
- Identifying and classifying shapes by their properties (triangles, squares, circles, etc.).
- Understanding basic concepts of lines and angles.
Why Preparation Matters
While the MAP Growth test isn’t about getting a perfect score, preparing for it has several benefits for your 3rd grader:
- Reduces Anxiety: Practice helps familiarize your child with the test format and the types of questions they might encounter. This reduces test-day nerves and lets them focus on performing their best.
- Identifies Strengths and Weaknesses: Practice tests and exercises can help pinpoint areas where your child excels and areas where they might need a little extra help.
- Builds Confidence: Seeing their improvement through practice boosts your child’s confidence and makes them feel more comfortable with mathematical concepts.
Take a Free MAP Math 3rd Grade 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
Which point is located at the origin of the graph?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
E. E
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (C).
The origin is the point at which the x-axis and the y-axis join. It has the coordinates (0,0), which means it has traveled 0 units along the horizontal axis (the x-axis) and 0 units along the vertical axis (y-axis). This is at point C on the graph.
The coordinates of a point tell you how far the point has traveled along the x-axis and then how far it has traveled up (parallel to the y-axis) from the original point, the origin.
Sample Question #2
Yesterday, there was a discount at a local pizzeria. You could buy a pizza slice for half of its regular price. If the regular price of a pizza slice is $0.86, how much did a slice of pizza cost after the discount?
A. $0.43
B. $0.44
C. $0.46
D. $0.48
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (A).
To solve this problem and find the price of a pizza slice after the discount, you need to divide the regular price of a pizza slice by 2, as it is mentioned in the question that the price of a pizza slice after the discount was half of its regular price:
0.86 ÷ 2 = (0.80 + 0.06) ÷ 2 = 0.40 + 0.03 = $0.43
So, the correct answer is (A).
Moderate Questions
Sample Question #1
Daniel’s father’s age is 48, which is four times greater than Daniel’s age. What age will Daniel be next year?
A. 9
B. 10
C. 12
D. 13
E. 14
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (D).
To solve this problem, first find Daniel’s age. Daniel’s father’s age is four times greater than Daniel’s age. Therefore, to find Daniel’s age, divide his father’s age by 4:
48 ÷ 4 = 12. Daniel’s age is 12, and next year he will be one year older, meaning he will be 13 years old.
Therefore, the correct answer is (D).
Sample Question #2
Which arrow is pointing towards the corner (vertex) of the cube?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (C).
A cube has 6 faces, 12 edges, and 8 corners (vertices).
The face is a flat side. An edge is the straight line around the face, and it joins two corners and a corner is where three of the edges meet.
Consider the answer choices:
Answer (A) is pointing to a face.
Answer (B) is pointing to an edge.
Answer (C) is pointing to a corner (vertex).
Answer (D) is pointing to another face.
Therefore, the correct answer is (C).
Difficult Questions
Sample Question #1
Below is a price list:
Emily bought one journal, one notebook, one reading book, and two pencil sharpeners. How much did Emily pay for her purchase?
A. $33
B. $34
C. $35
D. $36
E. $37.5
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (C).
To solve this problem, sum up the prices of the items Emily bought. One journal cost $4, one notebook cost $2, one reading book cost $28, and two pencil sharpeners cost $0.50 each, so two pencil sharpeners cost $0.50 + $0.50 = $1.
Now, sum the prices:
$4 + $2 + $28 + $1 = 28 + 7 = $35.
Therefore, the correct answer is (C).
Sample Question #2
A motorcyclist is traveling at a constant speed of 40 miles an hour. How far will he travel in two and a half hours?
A. 16 miles
B. 60 miles
C. 80 miles
D. 100 miles
Correct Answer & Explanation:
The correct answer is (D).
The speed of the motorcyclist is 40 miles per hour. If he is traveling for two and a half hours, then split this time period up into two hours and half an hour.
In two hours, he would cover double the distance than in an hour, so 40 × 2 = 80 miles.
In half an hour, he would cover half the distance than in an hour, so 40 ÷ 2 = 20 miles.
So, in two and a half hours, he would cover 80 miles plus the 20 miles, which is 100 miles.
Therefore, the correct answer is (D).
Understand the 3rd Grade MAP Math Scores
RIT Scores
- What it is: The RIT score (Rasch Unit) is a numerical value indicating your child’s current achievement level in math. It’s not a percentage, but a scale that stays consistent across grade levels.
- What it means: Higher RIT scores mean your child demonstrated a stronger grasp of the tested skills. Scores can range from around 140 to 300+. Progress is seen when the RIT score increases between testing periods.
RIT Percentiles
- What it is: Percentiles compare your child’s score to those of other students who took the same test at the same grade level. For instance, a 60th percentile means your child scored higher than 60% of the students tested.
- What it means: Percentiles help provide context regarding where your child stands compared to the national average in terms of math skills.
What Is a Good MAP Score for 3rd Grade Math?
A good MAP score for 3rd-grade math varies depending on the time of year. Generally, scores falling above the 50th percentile are considered above grade level. Remember, the MAP test focuses on growth, so seeing an increase in the RIT score over time is the most important indicator of progress.
Higher/Median/Lower Achievement
- What it is: These terms are often used within MAP Reports to give a quick snapshot of student performance:
- Higher Achievement: Indicates strong and above-average skills in the subject.
- Median Achievement: Demonstrates average skill level, on target with the grade level expectation.
- Lower Achievement: Suggests potential for extra support to reinforce and build foundational skills.
See the table below for specific RIT scores and percentiles for 3rd Grade Math (based on this official PDF):
| Percentile | Mathematics (RIT Score) | |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Achievement | 95 84 69 | 211 202 195 |
| Median | 50 | 188 |
| Lower Achievement | 31 16 5 | 182 175 166 |
Important Note: The MAP test is just one indicator of your child’s progress. Consult your child’s teacher for a more comprehensive view of their performance and discuss what the scores mean in context.
Improve your child’s MAP Math scores with 6 MAP 3rd Grade Math practice tests & enrichment questions.
9 Effective Strategies to Help Your Child Prepare
- Take Practice Tests: Practice tests familiarize your child with the test format and question types.
- Make Math a Daily Routine: Count everyday objects, involve your child in simple measurements during cooking, or include them in calculating change during errands.
- Incorporate Math Games: Educational games and apps make math fun and interactive, solidifying concepts while building their enthusiasm.
- Use Concrete Manipulatives: Blocks, beads, or even pieces of candy can help visualize and understand abstract math concepts.
- Practice with Word Problems: Help them break down word problems, identify keywords, and translate them into mathematical operations.
- Encourage Explanations: Ask “how” and “why” questions to ensure your child understands the process, not just memorizing answers.
- Utilize Online Resources: Many reputable websites offer free games, practice problems, and tutorials aligned with MAP test areas.
- Foster a Positive Mindset: Praise effort and improvement rather than focusing solely on right or wrong answers. Reassure them that math takes practice.
- Communicate with the Teacher: Your child’s teacher is the best resource for personalized tips and strategies tailored to their needs.