Measuring Growth Toward College Readiness - Using MAP Scores to Predict Success on ACT Benchmark Scores

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia

Study examines how student growth on MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) links to college readiness benchmarks aligned with ACT scores. ACT benchmarks are set at 22 for mathematics and 21 for reading. By correlating Grade 11 MAP with ACT outcomes and then backward mapping benchmark scores, predictive accuracy is achieved starting in Grade 3. The work uses a large, multistate sample across grades 3–11 in open enrollment and university categories, reporting interim findings toward a final predictive model.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

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Measuring Growth Toward College Readiness

Using MAP Scores to Predict Success on the ACT Test Benchmark Scores

Benchmark Scores and Study Approach

Grade & Testing Season

Predictive Results for Mathematics and Reading

MEASURING GROWTH TOWARD COLLEGE READINESS: Using MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Scores to Predict Success on the ACT Test Benchmark Scores ROBERTA. THEAKER, Northwest Evaluation Association, Portland, Oregon CLAY S. JOHNSON, University of Arkansas ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS STUDY EXPANDS THE AUTHORS’ CONTINUING LINE OF RESEARCH TOWARD ACCURATELY ESTIMATING COLLEGE READINESS BENCHMARKS THROUGH ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE GRADES IN MATHEMATICS AND READING. Benchmark scores established by ACT® (22 in mathematics and 21 in reading) were used as score criteria. The MAP® assessments were used in order to connect third through 11th grade student growth with college readiness. A large, multistate sample allowed for the extension of the authors previous analyses. The use of 11th grade MAP and ACT score correlations to backward map benchmark scores resulted in predictive accuracy beginning in grade 3. This study provides the current findings of a work in progress, whose final goal is a model for predicting college readiness. Grade & Testing Season Open Enrollment S tate Universities Top Public Universities Ivy League ACT 16 ACT 24 ACT 29 ACT 32 Grade 3 Fall------------179 205 216 221 Grade 3 Spring---------189 213 224 229 Grade 4 Fall------------190 214 225 231 Grade 4 Spring---------197 221 231 236 Grade 5 Fall------------196 220 231 236 Grade 5 Spring---------204 226 235 240 Grade 6 Fall------------203 226 236 241 Grade 6 Spring---------209 230 239 244 Grade 7 Fall------------207 229 239 244 Grade 7 Spring---------212 232 241 246 Grade 8 Fall------------212 232 241 246 Grade 8 Spring---------215 235 244 249 Grade 9 Fall------------214 234 244 249 Grade 9 Spring---------216 237 246 251 Grade 10 Fall------------217 237 246 251 Grade 10 Spring---------219 239 248 253 Grade 11 Fall------------220 242 252 257 Grade 11 Spring---------219 243 254 260 READING Open Enrollment S tate Universities Top Public Universities Ivy League | ACT 16

179
188189
197197207205214
211
217
216
221
220
223224225
228
229 | ACT 24

207
220
217227
228
240239
246
242
248
247253250255253
258258262 | ACT 29

217234
228
240241253252
258
254
260
259
265262268265
271270275 | ACT 32

222
241234
246
247
260258265261267266
272
268
274272277277
282 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | MATHEMATICS Spring Grade 11 ACT College Readiness Benchmark Scores ---------------------------------------------- Reading ACT = 21 MAP Predictive Score = 237 Mathematics ACT = 22 MAP Predictive Score = 258 NOTE: Values were calculated by ACTfrom empirical data to identid the scores ofstudents with a 50% likelihood of achieving a B average in a freshman-level course (ACT, 2009) 280 > 275 > 270 > 265 > 260 > 255 > 250 > 245 > 240 > 235 > 230 > 225 > 220 > 215 > 210 > 205 > 200 > 195 > 190 > 185 > 180 > Grade 3 Fall Grade 3 Spring G.4.F G.4.S G.5.F G.5.S G.6.F G.6.S G.7.F G.7.S G.8.F G.8.S G.9.F G.9.S G.10.F G.10.S G.11.F G.11.S

FAQs

What ACT benchmark scores define college readiness in this study?

College readiness is benchmarked using ACT scores of 22 in mathematics and 21 in reading.

How does the study use MAP scores to predict ACT success?

It correlates Grade 11 MAP assessments with ACT results, then backward maps the ACT benchmark scores to earlier grades to estimate predictive accuracy.

In which grades does the predictive accuracy begin and what grades are included overall?

Predictive accuracy begins in Grade 3, and the dataset spans grades 3 through 11 across testing seasons.

Sep 15, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia