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MAP Test for Kindergarten and 1st Grade: Parent Guide
The MAP® (Measures of Academic Progress) test is widely used to track student growth and achievement from early learning through high school. For Kindergarten and 1st-grade students, the MAP test provides a detailed picture of your child’s developing skills in math, reading, and more. Here’s everything parents need to know about the MAP tests for young learners.
Types of MAP Tests for Kindergarten and 1st Grade
There are three main versions of the MAP test for early learners. Depending on your child’s school and classroom needs, they may take one or more of the following:
Screening Test
Skills Checklist Test
MAP Growth Test
These tests help teachers understand your child’s current abilities and where they are ready to grow next.
What Does the MAP Test Cover for Early Learners?
The MAP test for Kindergarten and 1st grade focuses on foundational skills in reading, math, and sometimes science. Here’s what you can expect:
Computer-based and Adaptive: The test adjusts question difficulty based on your child’s answers, providing a personalized challenge level.
Foundational Skills Focus: Early literacy, phonics, letter recognition, numeracy, and early math concepts like counting and simple computation.
Interactive Questions: Students may click, drag, or draw to answer questions.
Flexible Timing: Tests typically take about an hour but can be split into shorter sessions.
Frequent Testing: Schools often administer the MAP test 3–4 times a year to monitor progress.
Many schools also include a science section in grades 1 and 2, introducing basic scientific inquiry and concepts like life science and earth science.
MAP Screening Test for Kindergarten and Pre-K
The MAP Screening Test helps establish a starting point for early learners. It covers two key areas: Math Numeracy and Reading Literacy.
Math Early Numeracy Test
Total Questions: 35
Skills Covered:
Counting 1–10 and One-to-One Correspondence
Recognizing numbers 1–10
Basic computation with manipulatives
The test adapts based on your child’s answers:
Less Difficult Section: Counting, matching numbers, identifying more or fewer objects.
More Difficult Section: Counting and recognizing numbers up to 20, basic addition with objects.
Reading Early Literacy Test
Total Questions: 33
Skills Covered:
Rhyming words and sound matching
Letter identification
Understanding book basics (title, author, reading behaviors)
Like the math section, this part also adapts based on performance, helping teachers identify early reading strengths and areas for improvement.
MAP Growth Test for Kindergarten and 1st Grade
The MAP Growth Test measures progress over time, showing what your child is ready to learn next. It includes:
MAP Growth Math K–2 (Early Learners): This covers number sense, shapes, measurement, and basic operations.
MAP Growth Reading K–2 (Early Learners): This supports both pre-readers and emerging readers. Some questions are read aloud through headphones, while others require reading independently.
MAP Reading for Kindergarten–Grade 2
Length: Around 40 minutes, typically in two 20-minute sessions (but untimed).
Question Count: About 43 adaptive questions.
Content: Depending on your child’s answers, they may see questions at, below, or above their grade level. Tests are often aligned with state standards.
Here are some areas that your child may be expected to know on their MAP Reading K-2 test:
| Skill Type | Content |
|---|---|
| Foundational Skills | Phonics and Word Recognition Phonological Awareness Print Concepts |
| Literary and Informational Text | Meaning, Context, Craft, and Structure Informational Text: Key Ideas, Details, Craft, Structure Literature: Key ideas, Craft, Structure |
| Language and Writing | Capitalize, Spell, Punctuate Language: Grammar, Usage Writing: Purposes: Plan, Develop, Edit Text Types and Purposes, Research |
| Vocabulary Acquisition and Use | Word Meanings and Relationships |
| Vocabulary Use and Functions | Language: Context Clues and References Vocabulary Acquisition and Use |
How to Help Your Child Prepare
Talk to your child’s teacher about when the MAP test will be given and how you can support your child at home. Practice basic math facts, read together daily, and help your child become comfortable using a computer or tablet.
MAP Reading Test Practice for Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
TestingMom has many resources for students preparing for their MAP Growth Reading K-2 (Early Learners) test. Here is what a MAP Test question may look like for your student!
Answer: 1st bubble
Answer: 3rd bubble
Answer: 3rd bubble
Answer: 2nd bubble
Be sure to become a member of TestingMom.com to unlock MAP Test practice questions like these and much more for your student!
MAP Math Kindergarten – Grade 2
MAP Growth Math K-2 (Early Learners) is approximately 40 minutes long, with two 20-minute sessions, although the test is untimed. The test will have around 43 questions.
What your child sees on their Math K-2 (Early Learners) is dependent on both the state your child is in & their school district. The test is adaptive, so your child may see questions from above their grade level, and the test’s difficulty will adjust according to what your student answers correctly or incorrectly.
Here are some areas your child may be expected to know on their MAP Math K-2 test:
| Skill | Content |
|---|---|
| Geometry | Reason with Shapes and Their Attributes |
| Measurement and Data | Represent and Interpret Data Solve Problems Involving Measurement |
| Number and Operations | Number and Operations: Base Ten and Fractions Understand Place Value, Counting, and Cardinality |
| Operations and Algebraic Thinking | Properties of Operations Represent and Solve Problems |
MAP Math Test Practice for 2nd Grade
TestingMom has many resources for you and your child as you prepare for your MAP Growth Math K-2 (Early Learners) test. Here are some sample MAP Test practice questions that your child may see on their test!
Answer: 3rd bubble
Answer: 1st bubble
Answer: 3rd bubble
Answer: 3rd bubble
Be sure to become a member of TestingMom to access MAP Test practice questions like this and so much more!
Skills Checklist
The Skills Checklist MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Test is used to assess a student’s knowledge of a specific skill, either before or after teaching it. There are 10 reading skills and 28 math skills to choose from, and each test is scored as a percentage of correct answers.
Depending on your student’s teacher, school, and state curriculum, a Skills Checklist test may be given throughout the year.
Here is the list of skills that your child may be tested on for a Math Skills Checklist test:
| Name of Test | Content |
|---|---|
| Math Computation 10 Manipulatives | Addition: Computation and Story Problems – Using Manipulatives Subtraction: Computation and Story Problems – Using Manipulatives |
| Math Computation- 10 Numbers | Addition: Two 1-Digit Numbers – Horizontal and Vertical Addition: Three 1-Digit Numbers Subtraction: Two 1-Digit Numbers – Horizontal and Vertical |
| Math Computation 10 Problem Solving | Addition: Story Problems – Result Unknown Subtraction: Story Problems – Result Unknown |
| Math Computation 20 Manipulatives | Addition: Story Problems – Using Manipulatives Subtraction: Computation – Using Manipulatives |
| Math Computation- 20 Numbers | Addition: Two 1-Digit Numbers – Horizontal and Vertical Addition: Three 1-Digit Numbers Subtraction: Two 1-Digit Numbers – Horizontal and Vertical |
| Math Computation- 20 Problem Solving | Addition: Story Problems – Result Unknown Subtraction: Story Problems – Result Unknown |
| Math Computation- 100 Manipulatives | Addition and Subtraction – Using Manipulatives Multiplication – Using Manipulatives Division – Using Manipulatives |
| Math Computation- 100 Manipulatives Regroup | Addition and Subtraction – Using Manipulatives Multiplication – Using Manipulatives Division – Using Manipulatives |
| Math Computation- 100 Numbers | Addition: 1- or 2-Digit Numbers – Horizontal and Vertical Addition: Multiple 1- and 2-Digit Numbers Subtraction: Two 1- or 2-digit numbers – Horizontal and Vertical Multiplication: Basic Facts – Horizontal and Vertical |
| Math Computation- 100 Numbers Regroups | Addition: 1- or 2-Digit Numbers – Horizontal and Vertical Addition: Multiple 1- and 2-Digit Numbers Subtraction: Two 1- or 2-digit numbers – Horizontal and Vertical Multiplication: 2-Digit Numbers <20 by a 1-Digit Numbers Division: Basic Facts |
| Math Computation- 100 Problem Solving | Addition: Story Problems – Result Unknown Addition: Story Problems – Start of Change Unknown Addition: Story Problems – Multiple Numbers Subtraction: Story Problems – Result Unknown Subtraction: Story Problems – Start or Change Unknown |
| Math Computation- 100 Problem Solving Regroup | Addition: Story Problems and Estimation Subtraction: Story Problems and Estimation |
| Math Computation- 1000 Manipulatives | Addition: Using Manipulatives Subtraction: Using Manipulatives Multiplication: Using Manipulatives Division: Using Manipulatives (with remainders) |
| Math Computation- 1000 Numbers | Additions: Sums to 1000 Subtraction: Minuend <1000 Multiplication: 2- or 3-Digit Number by a 1- or 2-Digit Number Division: Numbers 100 or Less by a 1- or 2-Digit Number |
| Math Computation- 1000 Problem Solving | Addition: Story Problems and Estimation Subtraction: Story Problems and Estimation Multiplication: Story Problems Division: Story Problems |
| Math NumberSense- 10: Count-Order-PlaceValue | Counts to 10 – Forwards and Backwards One-to-One Correspondence Identifies position – First, Last and 1st – 10th Compare Numbers Using Words Group Objects into 10s |
| Math NumberSense- 10: Representation | Names Numerals Represents Numerals Correctly Composes and Decomposes Numbers Identifies or Represents Whole, Part of, Half Identifies a Penny, a Nickel, and a Dime Identifies Name of Coin Worth 1¢, 5¢, 10¢ |
| Math NumberSense- 20: Count-Order-PlaceValue | Counts by 1s, 2s, and 5s, Counts Backwards Counts on from Any Number by 1s One-to-One Correspondence Groups Objects into 10s and 1s |
| Math NumberSense- 20: Ordering | Identifies Position: 11th to 20th Compares Numbers |
| Math NumberSense- 20: Representation | Identifies Numerals and Represents Numbers Composes and Decomposes Numbers Identifies Multiple Ways of Representing Numbers Identifies or Represents Fractions: Fourths |
| Math NumberSense- 100: Counting | Counts on by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s Counts by 10s to 100 |
| Math NumberSense- 100: Ordering | Compares Numbers Identifies Numbers 1 Greater Than and Less Than a Given Number Identifies Numbers Between Two Given Numbers Orders and Compares the Value of Coins |
| Math NumberSense- 100: Place Value | Identifies Standard Form Name Identifies Number of sets give pictures Identifies number of sets given numbers Reorganizes groups of 10s and 1s |
| Math NumberSense- 100: Representation | Identifies numerals Represents numbers Composes and Decomposes numbers Identifies multiple ways of representing numbers Fractions: thirds Money |
| Math NumberSense- 1000: Counting | Counts by 3s Counts on by 2s and 5s Counts by 10s and 100s from numbers ≤100 and ≥100 Counts by 10s from any multiple of 10 Counts on by 10s from any number |
| Math NumberSense- 1000: Ordering | Compares numbers using words and symbols Identifies number 10 less or more than a given number Identifies number 100 less or more than a given number Identifies numbers between two given numbers |
| Math NumberSense- 1000: Place Value | Groups objects into 100s, 10s, and 1s Identifies the number of 100s, 10s, and 1s in a number Identifies the number of 100s, 10s, and 1s in a number Identifies the standard form of a number from expanded form Identifies multiples ways of showing the same number using place values |
| Math NumberSense- 1000: Representation | Identifies numerals Represents numbers Composes and decomposes Identifies multiple ways of representing numbers Fractions: eighths Money |
Here is a list of skills that your child may be tested on in a Reading Skills Checklist test:
| Name of Test | Content |
|---|---|
| Reading Consonant Blends-Digraphs | Initial Blends and Clusters Final Blends Initial and Final Digraphs |
| Reading Decoding Multi-Syllable Words | Inflectional Endings Prefixes and Suffixes Open and Closed/C+le Syllables |
| Reading Decoding Patterns-Word Families | Words with Common Spelling Patterns |
| Reading Letter Identification | Upper Case Lower Case |
| Reading Manipulation of Sounds | Substitution of Sounds: Beginning, Middle, and End Blending of Sounds Deletion of Sounds |
| Reading Matching Letters to Sounds | Consonants Vowels |
| Reading Phoneme Identification | Initial Consonant Sounds Final Consonant Sounds Middle Vowel Sounds |
| Reading Phonological Awareness | Identifying Number of Syllables (one, two, and three) Rhyming Blending |
| Reading Syllable Types- CVC-CVCe-R-Controlled | CVC CVCe R-Controlled |
| Reading Vowel-Digraphs-Diphthongs | Digraphs Diphthongs |
Final Thoughts: Understanding MAP Tests for Early Learners
The MAP test for Kindergarten and 1st-grade students provides valuable insights into your child’s growth in core academic areas. With its adaptive format and focus on early literacy and numeracy, the test helps teachers tailor instruction and helps parents understand how to support their child’s learning journey. TestingMom’s practice questions for members can be found on THIS PAGE.
See if TestingMom.com supports your child’s test by your school district. If you don't see your child's school district listed, check with us! We have practice for other tests as well.
Tell us about your experiences
5 Responses
Kenna
this is so hard. i am in sixth grade and i don’t even understand this. Also, how will kindergartners be able to read this stuff!
Mercy
This is pretty difficult for kindergarten
TestingMom.com
Hi Mercy,
Yes, and many times this is the first time they will be taking an actual test that is more formal than the classroom work. Talk about being nervous! That’s why, here at TestingMom.com, we have numerous resources to help students of all ages feel more prepared and have thousands of practice questions for the MAP test. Please email us at help@testingmom.com if you need help finding any of these resources for the MAP test.
Cash
Unable to answer to my child why the 1st answer is a cylinder and not a cone. Please explain
TestingMom.com
Hi there! THANK YOU for giving us feedback about this error. We have now corrected it so you can let your daughter know she was right, the traffic cone is a CONE shape!