NWEA MAP Growth Test for 6th Grade Online Preparation: Free Practice Questions & Helpful Tips – 2025 Study Guide

G&T Tests Preparation

What Is the 6th Grade MAP Growth Test?

The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth Test is a standardized exam given to students in grades K through 12. This test is different than any other standardized tests your child will take because it is computer adaptive and will get progressively more difficult as the student answers questions correctly.

Fortunately for your child, they have been taking this test three times per year since kindergarten, so they will likely know what to expect. Still, it is important to continue practicing and studying for the exam as the questions this year will be more difficult than last year.

 

What Are the MAP Growth Test Sections?

Like the 5th grade MAP Growth Test, the 6th Grade MAP test will be untimed and consist of three sections: Reading, Math, and Language Use. Additionally, some schools will ask them to take a science test that covers topics such as life, space, Earth, and physical sciences.

Reading

The NWEA MAP Reading Test will consist of 40 to 43 multiple-choice questions. Students at this age are learning more about moving beyond what is written on the page and understanding more of the meaning and context behind what is written.

Your student can expect to answer questions in the following topic areas.

  • Word Meaning and Vocabulary Knowledge: Students will need to show they understand the meaning of words through the surrounding context, recognize the structure behind them, and spot the hidden relationship between the words.
  • Informational Texts: These questions will ask about the purpose or argument of a text, and students will need to consider subjectivity and perspective.
  • Literature: Your child must analyze various texts to identify the key themes and structures.

Math

The MAP Math Test has between 47 and 53 multiple-choice questions. 6th graders are learning about various topics, including geometryreading and interpreting data, and algebra.

Your child can expect to encounter questions on the following topics during the 6th Grade MAP Math Test:

  • Numbers and Operations: Students must work with multi-digit whole numbers, decimals, and fractions to perform mixed mathematical operations.
  • Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Students must communicate ideas through numerical expressions and models, identify patterns in a numerical series, and use the four fundamental operations and their properties.
  • Geometry: The questions in this topic area will include using graphs to solve problems, reasoning through geometric concepts, and identifying, using, and classifying the properties of three-dimensional figures to solve questions.
  • Measurement and Data: These questions will cover concepts such as length, perimeter, area, angles, and volume to solve measurement problems. Students will also need to understand how data is represented and be able to analyze and interpret it.

Language Use

The NWEA Language Use Test consists of between 50 and 53 questions. 6th graders are learning more about researching for their writing and using different parts of speech. Your child can expect to see questions in the following topic areas:

  • Writing: Students will need to show they understand how to research, revise, develop, and write.
  • Understand and Edit Mechanics: Students must demonstrate correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
  • Grammar and Usage: Your child will need to understand how to use various grammar conventions.

 

How to Read the MAP Growth Test Scores?

The MAP Growth Test uses the Rasch unIT (RIT) scale as a standardized way to track student progress.. This tool is a simple way for teachers to identify if students are struggling in any subject area and for parents to ensure their children are on track.

Because the test is computerized, the score report will be available immediately upon completion. The score report will have two sections for each subject, the graph, and the table. The chart will show your child’s progress in that section, the average score for other students your child’s age, how the average student progresses in that subject, and your child’s predicted progress. The table shows their RIT score, growth from the previous test, and expected growth.

The below table shows the average RIT scores for 6th grade students.

MAP Test Section Average Fall Score Average Winter Score Average Spring Score
Reading 210 214 215
Math 215 220 223
Language Use 209 213 214

 

 

MAP Growth Test Tips for 6th Graders

Here are a few tips for your student to help them do as well as they can on the 6th Grade MAP Test:

  • Study your parts of speech. Parts of speech can be difficult to memorize. Try using flashcards or practice quizzes to ensure you remember each detail.
  • Practice math problems at home. Students in 6th grade are being introduced to more complicated algebra and geometry problems, and the only way to get better is to practice.
  • Read books at home. Reading different texts is the best way to learn new vocabulary and better understand different perspectives. Have fun reading at home throughout the year to practice your reading skills for the MAP Test.

 

How to Prepare for the MAP Growth Assessment?

The MAP Growth test is a computer-adaptive exam that measures a student’s personal growth and learning. The best way to prepare for the exam is to practice it throughout the year using online resources such as practice tests and study guides.

Practice tests are great tools because there are free ones online that you can use to rehearse taking the exam. This will give you a better idea of what to expect on the test and allow you to practice answering questions similar to what you see on the exam. Study guides are also great resources because they will give tips on what material to study and how to approach different questions.

Students who take the time to prepare for the exams throughout the year will steadily increase their scores each semester.

6th Grade MAP Test Example Questions:

Figurative Language Example Question

Which sentence best describes the meaning of the following metaphor? She is a shining star.

  1. She always wears bright colors.
  2. She wears light-up clothes.
  3. She is outstanding at what she does.
  4. She is hot-headed.

 

Literature Example Question

Jill and John have a card game competition with their family every Sunday. This week, the siblings are playing the game of Hearts with their parents. Their family is very competitive, and Jill and John’s dad always has a prize for the winning player. This week, the prize is a carton of ice cream.

In the game of Hearts, there is a play called Shooting the Moon. It is when a single player takes all the points on the board and consequently takes no points and gives every other player points instead. Since the goal of Hearts is to take as few points as possible, this is an excellent play. However, it isn’t easy to pull off.

Jill noticed that John was not upset when he took points early in the game. This was a sign that he was trying to Shoot the Moon! She feared she would be unable to stop him; however, her father took a  card at the last minute, ruining John’s plan. In the end, Jill won the game and got her favorite carton of ice cream.

How does the word “feared” in the last paragraph help the reader better understand the meaning of the passage?

  1. It conveys how Jill was afraid of her brother John.
  2. It conveys how competitive the family is and how Jill wanted to win the ice cream.
  3. It conveys how seriously Jill and John’s parents take the game of Hearts.
  4. It conveys how Hearts is a difficult game to play.

 

Operations Example Question

Macy read 2 books per month for the first 6 months of the year and 3 books per month for the remaining 6 months of the year. On average, how many books did Macy read per month?

  1. 2
  2. 3
  3. 3
  4. 5

 

Geometry Example Question

Charlie wants to buy a new play area for his little sister. He can either buy a rectangular area that measures 4 m by 9 m or a square area that measures 6 m by 6 m. Charlie figures they are both the same and therefore buys the cheaper option. Which property does he use to say the play areas are the same?

  1. They have the same volume.
  2. They have the same perimeter.
  3. They have the same area.
  4. They have the same shape.

 

Algebra Example Question

Solve for y in the following equation:

3y + 6 = 18

  1. 3
  2. 4
  3. 5
  4. 6

 

Grammar Example Question

Choose the word that best fills in the blank.

The children are going to ____ favorite movie theater this weekend.

  1. their
  2. there
  3. they’re
  4. theyre

 

Sentence Type Example Question

What is the simple subject of the following sentence?

The hungry dog ran to his food bowl.

  1. Hungry
  2. Dog
  3. Food
  4. Bowl

 

 

 

Explained Answers

  1. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which you apply a word of phrase to an object where it can not be taken literally. She is a shining star most closely means she is very good at what she does. The correct answer is C.
  2. The passage is about a competitive family who is playing a card game. In the last paragraph, the author uses the word “feared” to describe Jill’s feelings toward losing to John. She is afraid to lose the game because she is competitive like her family and because she wants to win the prize of ice cream. Therefore, the correct answer is B.
  3. First you have to determine how many books Macy read throughout the entire 12 months of the year. She read 2 x 6 = 12 in the first 6 months, and 3 x 6 = 18 for the remaining 6 months. Therefore, she read 12 + 18 = 30 books in the yea and an average of 30 ÷ 12 = 2.5 books per month. The correct answer is B.
  4. The play area is a 2D shape, so they do not have volume. Because one is a square and the other is a rectangle, they are not the same shape. The perimeter of the 4 x 9 area is 26 m and the 6 x 6 area is 24 m. However, the areas of each shape are the same. 4 x 9 = 36 and 6 x 6 = 36. Therefore, the correct answer is C.
  5. You’ll first need to subtract 6 from each side to get 3y = 12. Then, divide by 3 to isolate the y and you’ll get y = 4. The correct answer is B.
  6. The word “their” means belonging to them. In this sentence, “their” fits best because the favorite movie theater belongs to the children. The correct answer is A.
  7. The simple subject of a sentence is the subject of the verb. It is the main noun of the sentence. In this case, the main noun of the sentence is dog. The correct answer is D.