U.S. Geography Map Test
ABOUT THE MAP TEST
The U.S. Geography Map Test is a test of basic American geography. The test covers all 50 states, and 65 rivers, land forms, and lakes. As this test is the social studies equivalent of knowing one's times table in math, the bar for passing this test is very high. The only "passing" grades are A and A+. Any score of 60 (95%) or higher out of 65 is "passing".
That said, whatever score a student earns on the test will always be the score that is put into Campus. So if a students earns a B+ on the test... a B+ goes into Campus. If they earn a D... a D goes into Campus. This means that a "failing" grade on the test does NOT automatically mean that one's grade in class will suffer as a result.
Any score below an A (95%), will require the student to retake the test until they pass the 60-point threshold. Retakes of the test will be conducted in class every week. Students do NOT need to request and schedule a retake time.
There is really nothing innovative or revolutionary about this test. It doesn't utilize multiple learning styles, or allow for student choice and creativity. It is a very traditional, multiple-choice assessment of basic American geography. Rote memorization is the best way to deal with this test. Drill... drill... drill. That's really the best approach.
To assist with studying for the test, there are links below to a paper study guide which I made specifically for this test, and which will require a partner to quiz the student. And there are several links to some online puzzles and games.
Below the study guides and games is a key to the items on the test.
ONLINE GEOGRAPHY STUDY GUIDES & GAMES
You can download the customized study guides that I created specifically for the Map Test:
• download the paper MapTest Study Guide
Following are links to two good good online U.S. Geography games that will help you study for the Map Test...
• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm
• https://online.seterra.com/en/vgp/3003
If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can download the Stack the States app by clicking on the link belkow and going to iTunes:
• https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stack-the-states/id381342267?mt=8
MAP TEST ANSWER SHEET KEY
The computerized Map Test answer sheet which is returned to students indicates which questions the student missed, but it does not tell you what geographic items from the test (i.e. states, rivers, etc.) correspond to which numbers on the answer sheet. The following key will tell you which geographic items on the test were missed.
The U.S. Geography Map Test is a test of basic American geography. The test covers all 50 states, and 65 rivers, land forms, and lakes. As this test is the social studies equivalent of knowing one's times table in math, the bar for passing this test is very high. The only "passing" grades are A and A+. Any score of 60 (95%) or higher out of 65 is "passing".
That said, whatever score a student earns on the test will always be the score that is put into Campus. So if a students earns a B+ on the test... a B+ goes into Campus. If they earn a D... a D goes into Campus. This means that a "failing" grade on the test does NOT automatically mean that one's grade in class will suffer as a result.
Any score below an A (95%), will require the student to retake the test until they pass the 60-point threshold. Retakes of the test will be conducted in class every week. Students do NOT need to request and schedule a retake time.
There is really nothing innovative or revolutionary about this test. It doesn't utilize multiple learning styles, or allow for student choice and creativity. It is a very traditional, multiple-choice assessment of basic American geography. Rote memorization is the best way to deal with this test. Drill... drill... drill. That's really the best approach.
To assist with studying for the test, there are links below to a paper study guide which I made specifically for this test, and which will require a partner to quiz the student. And there are several links to some online puzzles and games.
Below the study guides and games is a key to the items on the test.
ONLINE GEOGRAPHY STUDY GUIDES & GAMES
You can download the customized study guides that I created specifically for the Map Test:
• download the paper MapTest Study Guide
Following are links to two good good online U.S. Geography games that will help you study for the Map Test...
• http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm
• https://online.seterra.com/en/vgp/3003
If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can download the Stack the States app by clicking on the link belkow and going to iTunes:
• https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stack-the-states/id381342267?mt=8
MAP TEST ANSWER SHEET KEY
The computerized Map Test answer sheet which is returned to students indicates which questions the student missed, but it does not tell you what geographic items from the test (i.e. states, rivers, etc.) correspond to which numbers on the answer sheet. The following key will tell you which geographic items on the test were missed.
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01. Alabama
02. Alaska 03. Arizona 04. Arkansas 05. California 06. Colorado 07. Connecticut 08. Delaware 09. Florida 10. Georgia 11. Hawaii 12. Idaho 13. Illinois 14. Indiana 15. Iowa 16. Kansas 17. Kentucky 18. Louisiana 19. Maine 20. Maryland 21. Massachusetts 22. Michigan |
23. Minnesota
24. Mississippi 25. Missouri 26. Montana 27. Nebraska 28. Nevada 29. New Hampshire 30. New Jersey 31. New Mexico 32. New York 33. North Carolina 34. North Dakota 35. Ohio 36. Oklahoma 37. Oregon 38. Pennsylvania 39. Rhode Island 40. South Carolina 41. South Dakota 42. Tennessee 43. Texas 44. Utah |
45. Vermont
46. Virginia 47. Washington 48. West Virginia 49. Wisconsin 50. Wyoming 51. Rocky Mountains 52. Sierra Nevada Mountains 53. Black Hills 54. Appalachian Mountains 55. The Great Plains 56. Ohio River Valley 57. The Great Lakes 58. Great Salt Lake 59. Ohion River 60. Mississippi River 61. Missouri River 62. Rio Grande River 63. Platte River 64. Colorado River 65. Arkansas River |