Frequently Asked Questions

• What does MAPP stand for?
• What is MAPP?
• How long will it take to complete my MAPP Assessment?
• How many questions are there?
• I want to choose two "mosts." What should I do?
• What if I don’t understand a word in one of the questions?
• How old do you have to be to take the MAPP?
• Why should I take this if I’m just beginning high school?
• How do I receive my results?
• I looked at my results but I am not sure what the numbers on the right mean.
• I had all 2’s, 3’s and 4’s in my MAPP. Is this good or bad?
• Can my appraisal help me get a job?
• I love music! How come I have a low motivational rating under music?
• I want to use my appraisal to match my learning style with others who learn the same way. Can this be done?
• Does the Top 10 list mean I should look for a job in those fields?
• I have trade management on my Top 10 list. What does this mean?
• My results say I should be a taxi driver. What’s up with this?
• What are the benefits of MAPP from an educator’s point of view?
• Will my results change over time?
• Have you done any studies to prove the MAPP is valid?
• What is validity?
• What does reliability mean?
• How does MAPP compare to other assessment tools?
• Will my work be saved if I get interrupted when taking the assessment?
• Are there other language options besides English?

• Q: What does MAPP stand for?
  A: MAPP stands for Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential. This tool is based on motivation and is available to help you pinpoint where your motivations are and aid you in choosing classes, colleges and careers that are a good fit for you. After all, if you like what you do it will feel more like a hobby and less like work. That’s the goal. We want to help you concentrate on a career path that is a fit for you.
• Q: What is MAPP?
  A: MAPP is a fully integrated computer-aided assessment system that measures an individual’s potential and motivation for given areas of work and describes their temperament, aptitude, vocational interests and learning style preferences. The MAPP technology classifies, codes and identifies every type of person. There are no two MAPPs alike.
• Q: How long will it take to complete my MAPP Assessment?
  A: It takes approximately 25 minutes to complete the assessment.
• Q: How many questions are there?
  A: There are 71 sets of preferences in which you have three options. You choose the option you prefer to do the most and the one you prefer the least, and leave one blank. They are called preferences because there is no right or wrong answer. This is not a test and you will not be graded. This is a career tool for you.
• Q: I want to choose two "mosts." What should I do?
  A: Sorry, that’s not an option. Even if you like all of the tasks listed, you must still choose one that you would prefer to do more than the others. Try this method to help you: If you could do all three, in which order would you do them?
• Q: What if I don’t understand a word in one of the questions?
  A: If you have a question about any of the words and their meanings, you can click on the word for a definition. It’s ok to ask a teacher or relative for help defining a word. Remember, this is not a test. Getting the proper information to help you make accurate decisions when responding to the 71 situations will help you get the most accurate results.
• Q: How old do you have to be to take the MAPP?
  A: We recommend MAPP only for those people who are ages 13 and older.
• Q: Why should I take this if I’m just beginning high school?
  A: What you learn from your appraisal will help you choose classes and teachers. You will also learn which methods of study work best for you, helping you to better understand the material and get better grades. Once you start thinking of jobs and colleges, MAPP can help you choose a career path. You can use your results to decide what training is necessary to land the job you want. MAPP is a tool that will be helpful to you as you begin your schooling and throughout your working life.
• Q: How do I receive my results?
  A: You will receive your results immediately upon completing the assessment. Just click on Your Results at the top of the page to log-in with your email and personal password. This is a protected area for you.
• Q: I looked at my results but I am not sure what the numbers on the right side mean?
  A: MAPP measures motivation on a scale from 1 to 5. Each number describes a motivation level, with 1's being the highest and 5 the lowest. You can find more information about these motivation levels under Reading Your Appraisal.
• Q: I had all 2’s, 3’s and 4’s in my MAPP. Is this good or bad?
  A: With MAPP, there is no good or bad. The motivation levels 1-5 are based on the measurement of 72 worker traits that were defined by the government. If you don’t have any 1’s or 5’s, then you are more "middle of the road." This means that you can do a little of everything but don’t have to do anything in particular. This indicates flexibility.
• Q: Can my appraisal help me get a job?
  A: Many individuals have included a copy of their appraisal with their resume to help "sell" themselves. It’s a great non-biased tool to show a potential employer that you are right for the job. It is a good idea to use your appraisal when interviewing, especially if you don’t have any previous job experience. They will get an idea of what you want to do, and they will see that you have the motivation to learn.
• Q: I love music! How come I have a low motivational rating under music?
  A: You have to ask yourself what you like about music that you would apply to a career. If you enjoy listening to music that may mean you are to do just that. So when you look at your motivational levels, be sure to think of the traits you prefer in a career context.
• Q: I want to use my appraisal to match my learning style with others that learn the same way. Can this be done?
  A: Absolutely. Just look at your learning styles section and determine the type of teacher you prefer, environment you prefer and the most effective way you test. By looking at these traits, you can determine if you need to study alone or in a groups where you can talk things over. Once you are aware of how you learn best, you can start forming study groups or lock yourself in your room, whichever works for you!
• Q: Does the Top 10 list mean I should look for a job in those fields?
  A: The Top Ten Vocational Areas are broad indications of possible career choices. This means that you should consider careers in those related fields. For example, if your list includes law, you may look into becoming a police officer, judge or lawyer. Brainstorm about the general area of concentration, then come up with more specific jobs that you might be interested in. We don’t list exact jobs because there are so many being added each year, we could never keep up.
• Q: I have trade management on my top 10 list. What does this mean?
  A: Trade management is a term used to describe professions that involve a learned skill. Examples include electricians, plumbers, and jobs in the computer industry. You will see Trade Management on your list if you have the motivations to be a computer programmer, web designer, or other IT specialist.
• Q: My results say I should be a taxi driver, what’s up with this?
  A: It implies that you like to help others and provide a service to them. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should drive a taxi for a living. It is simply suggesting that you have the motivations to do so and enjoy it. Other jobs require many of the same motivations as driving a taxi: working without supervision, traveling, meeting lots of new and interesting people. Look for the traits behind your Top 10 areas and brainstorm about them. Try to come up with more specific jobs in which you are interested.
• Q: What are the benefits of MAPP from an educator’s point of view?
  A: The learning style section of the appraisal will be of great value to teachers. When students share their appraisal with you, you will be able to see the type of teacher and classroom environment they prefer. You will also be able to see how they most effectively test. This will allow you to plan lessons and tests in a manner that students understand, enabling them to retain the information.
• Q: Will my results change over time?
  A: Not very much. For the most part, your motivations remain the same. As you grow and mature in the world of work, you may see some of your motivations strengthen.
• Q: Have you done any studies to prove the MAPP is valid?
  A: Working with psychologists, International Assessment Network has conducted both validity and reliability studies. These studies are published on-line in the Teaching Community section of the website.
• Q: What is validity?
  A: Validity studies are conducted to measure whether or not an instrument is really testing what it says it will test. For example, we are saying that MAPP will give you information on careers and job fit, and it does.
• Q: What does Reliability mean?
  A: Reliability studies measure whether or not you get the same score under the same circumstances each time the study is conducted. Over time, more research will strengthen the results of the reliability.
• Q: How does MAPP compare to other assessment tools?
  A: Most tools concentrate on personality type, interest or aptitude. MAPP concentrates on motivation but also correlates to other tools.
• Q: Will my work be saved if I get interrupted when taking the assessment?
  A: Yes. Just come back to http://student.assessment.com and click on Finish MAPP. The MAPP System will recognize you and let you start where you left off.
• Q: Are there other language options besides English?
  A: Yes. Currently, you can take the MAPP assessment in 6 languages: English, French, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish and Spanish. We are working on translations so you will soon be able to receive your results in all of the above languages as well.