MAPS, GRAPHS & CHARTS

Last Updated:  8/10/03

• ENTRIES.     As many as THREE students from EACH GRADE LEVEL (grades 5, 6, 7 and 8) may be entered in the MAPS, GRAPHS & CHARTS District Contest from each school.  Designated adults representing each school will select contestants to represent the campus at the District Meet based on their abilities to research geographical information, read and interpret charts and graphs, and other factors, which  are  decided  upon by each school. Each grade level is judged separately in contest.

• NATURE OF THE CONTEST.    The Maps, Graphs & Charts contest tests the contestant’s ability to locate and interpret information in an atlas or on representative charts and graphs not found in the atlas. Students are expected to know directions and to be able to approximate distances and values.  They must also be able to read legends and identify values or specific locations based on those legends.  Any combination of bar graphs, line graphs, and pie graphs may be used on the test, so students should be familiar with the formats of all three. Types of maps may range from road maps to topographical or other data-specific maps with legends.  The charts or tables may include conditional column or row headings (such as “from-to” ranges).  Students may tab their atlases and write in them as they deem necessary.    The atlas, a magnifying glass, and a ruler may be brought into the contest.  No loose papers or other materials are allowed.  Calculators are NOT permitted for use in the contest. The test consists of 50 questions.

• WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CONTEST.    The contest director will announce the time and place that contestants and one adult should report for verification of the scoring of tests.   Tests and answer sheets will be distributed to contestants face up, and contestants will be instructed to write their grade levels and their contestant ID numbers in the spaces provided on the front cover of the test and on the answer sheet.  Contestants must not open the test until the start signal is given. The contest director will tell contestants their ID numbers, usually during roll call. (Alternates taking the place of absent registered contestants should be sure to let the contest director know as they enter the room to save time in roll call.)  No alarm watches or other devices that emit sound are allowed in the contest room.

TIME ALOTTED. When the start signal is given, contestants will have 30 minutes to use their atlases to locate information for answers to test questions. Contestants will remain quietly in their seats until the time has expired.

MARKING ANSWERS.  Contestants may write on the test paper, but only the answer should be written in the answer space on the answer sheet.  ERASURES AND MARKOUTS IN THE ANSWER SPACE ARE NOT PERMITTED.  Any marking in the answer space will constitute an attempt.

• SCORING.    Add 5 points for each correct answer.   Subtract 2 points for each incorrect answer, or for each answer that was marked through or erased.  No points are added or deducted for skipped or unanswered test items.  Graders should each use a different color pen or pencil to mark papers and place their initials at the bottom of the test answer sheet to indicate that they have graded the paper.

• VERIFICATION PERIOD.     No pens or pencils should be in contestants’ hands while tests and answer sheets with keys are reviewed.  Contestants and ONE coach OR parent OR adult have 15 minutes to check the computation of scores and ask questions about items counted incorrect.  If the contest is held before March 31, tests must be turned back in to the contest director.  Contestants will be disqualified from the contest should the paper be taken from the room prior to this date.  After verification has been completed, awards will be issued. (At State, medals will be awarded through 6th place.)

• PREPARATION FOR CONTEST.     Read and follow all instructions provided in the “Information Pertaining to All Contests” section of the PSIA Academic Handbook.  Observe and practice with students all rules and procedures delineated in the “Instructions to the Contestant” and in the “Checklist for Contest Directors” and the “Checklist for Graders.”  Preparation for the MAPS, GRAPHS, & CHARTS Contest should include student practice researching information in the adopted geographic resource,the Nystrom Desk Atlas (2003 edition).  The objective questions will measure the mastery of skills, including using a reference book to locate information, making comparisons, estimating and approximating, using scale, interpreting legends and keys, and other skills used in obtaining information from maps, graphs and charts.  Previous years’ tests are also helpful in providing practice.  Because previous years’ editions of the atlas were used to compose these tests, adaptations should be made in the answer keys to coincide with the current adopted atlas resource.

• ADOPTED ATLAS.     Only one atlas will be the official resource for verifying answers beginning this year:  Nystrom Desk Atlas (2003 edition).  The atlas may only be purchased through Nystrom:  Division of Herff Jones, Inc.  Call 1-800-621-8086 if you are unable to locate the order flier included in the membership mailing.

• PERSONNEL NEEDED FOR CONTEST.
Contest Director and Assistant Director from two different schools, each knowledgeable of contest construction and administration.
Graders.  Director and assistant director may also serve as graders.  To expedite the grading process, provide at least two graders for every 15 papers.  Graders do not need to be certified in any certain field of study; however, coaches or geography teachers make the best graders because of their awareness and experience using the atlas. 

• MATERIALS.  Last year’s PSIA Maps, Graphs & Charts tests and answer keys, plus tests from previous PSIA contests, are included in the PSIA Academic Study Materials Booklets, which may be ordered from the PSIA office.   A PSIA Study Materials Order Forms for these booklets are included in the appendix of the PSIA Academic Handbook.

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Patricia Walters, Ed.D., Executive Director
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