As many students continue to embrace remote learning, several changes have become necessary for the NWEA (Northwestern Evaluation Association) MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) tests.
Every year, these tests are top of mind for parents of rising 5th and 9th grade students, because they’re required to attend a selective enrollment CPS school with academic requirements. CPS will continue to use these tests for eligibility, but does not require tests from Fall 2020.
Here’s what you need to know to prepare for this year’s NWEA MAP tests.
If your child attended Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for the 2019-2020 school year
In this case, your child likely took their most recent NWEA MAP tests in Winter 2019. Because of COVID, parents are not bound to these scores but can instead use the child’s best score from any of the following administrations:
- Spring 2019 (2018-2019 school year)
- Fall 2019 (2019-2020 school year)
- Winter 2019 (2019-2020 school year)
The scores they received will be used for admission into selective enrollment schools and count for 1/3 of the admission requirements for these schools.
If you’re in this boat, now is a great time to review your child’s results from the winter test. The NWEA provides a parent toolkit for this purpose, and we’ve also broken down how to understand your child’s NWEA MAP scores in this article.
If your child did not attend CPS for the 2019-2020 school year
If your child is not currently attending a CPS school, but wants to apply to a selective enrollment school for the 2020-2021 school year, now is the time to prepare. If your child does not have any NWEA scores from Spring 2019, Fall 2019, or Winter 2019, they will have an opportunity to take the NWEA MAP tests free of charge in the fall of 2020. If your child does have scores from any of these testing windows, they will not take the exam this fall.
These exams are offered free of charge and consist of two parts: reading and math. These parts are usually taken on separate days but you have the option to sign your child up to take both parts on the same day if that works best for your schedule.
Fall 2020 NWEA MAP Schedule in Chicago
Keep in mind that these session dates and locations are specific to the Chicago area, where The Critical Thinking Child is located. If you live outside of Chicago, check the NWEA website and contact your local school district for information specific to your area.
Within Chicago, testing is available on each of the following dates:
- Saturday, October 3, 2020
- Sunday, October 4, 2020
- Sunday, October 18, 2020
- Saturday, October 24, 2020.
Coronavirus sanitation and safety protocols will be in place for each testing session.
Here’s the official letter sent out by Chicago Public Schools.
How to prepare your child for the NWEA MAP exam
The testing window is upon us, so we’ve put together an article all about how to best prepare your student for an exam, both in the months and weeks leading up to it, and on the day it’s administered.
We also recommend that you have your child take the test even if you’re not sure you want to apply to a selective enrollment middle or high school. The test is free, and the results can help you determine next steps for your child academically.
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