What’s on the CogAT Test?

Most parents who learn that their child will be taking the CogAT test don’t really know what to expect. What’s on the CogAT test, anyway?

The CogAT, or Cognitive Abilities Test, is designed to test a student’s cognitive function. Specifically, the test looks at three subsets of cognitive function: verbal, nonverbal and quantitative. In special cases, each of these categories may be administered separate and apart from one another; however, this is not normally how the test is given. That’s because a child’s cognitive function is much more accurately addressed by looking at the three sections as a whole. Sometimes the test is administered over multiple days, especially when time in the classroom is short.

The CogAT® looks at these three areas because they are broadly recognized as the three categories of cognitive function that have the closest relationship to learning and academics.  If a student scores highly on the CogAT, he or she is more likely to be placed into gifted, enrichment or talented classes. A child who gets an exceptionally low score, on the other hand, may need some kind of supplemental education such as tutoring, special classes or at-home study.

The Cognitive Abilities Test helps schools pinpoint which students are above “average” for their age and grade level in reasoning ability. Identifying these groups is very important to providing students a challenging and fulfilling learning experience that helps them continue to achieve in education and in their career beyond that.

Gifted and Talented Tests

The CogAT, which stands for the Cognitive Abilities Test, is a Gifted and Talented test, also known as a GATE test. There are many different tests, called Gifted and Talented tests, that are used to determine acceptance in gifted and talented programs. The CogAT is used across the country for entrance to Gifted and Talented programs. The process for applying to Gifted and Talented programs differs from program to program, but often will include a standardized test such as the CogAT.

Gifted and Talented programs will differ depending on the program that your child will be entering into. A good description of Gifted and Talented programs can be read here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talented_and_Gifted_program. Sometimes these Gifted and Talented programs will be a part of a completely different school, and will require a school transfer, or they will require a classroom change for your child in the same school they currently attend. These Gifted and Talented programs will have accelerated curriculum. This accelerated curriculum often keeps these “gifted” children from being bored in the classroom and keeps them focused.

The gifted and talented tests used to determine acceptance into these programs can cause stress and anxiety for both the child and parents. There are many different steps that you can take to reduce this stress for both you and your child. First, try and reduce your own stress, as children are intuitive and will be able to pick up on your stress. If your child is too stressed by the exam that can inaccurately lower your child’s score. If your child scores inaccurately low, then your gifted child may remain in a class far below his true level.

The best way to combat that stress and anxiety is to prepare for the gifted and talented test. Even simply reviewing the structure of the test with your child can help reduce their anxiety. They will go into the test knowing what to expect and can then perform better. Since most of the tests used are based on innate knowledge, studying is not necessary.

Cognitive Abilities Test- CogAT

The Cognitive Abilities Test, or the CogAT, is a test used by many gifted and talented programs across the country. There are two different forms of the CogAT that you may come across, either Form 6 or From 7. School districts are allowed to choose which CogAT version they use.

The CogAT is an IQ assessment test that is administered to children to determine their overall intelligence and to evaluate their “gifted” status. These “gifted” students are often then places in gifted and talented programs with accelerated curriculum. This accelerated curriculum often keeps these “gifted” children from being bored in the classroom and keeps them focused.

The CogAT assesses reasoning and problem solving abilities in three key areas. The three areas the CogAT tests are verbal, math and non-verbal, also known as spatial. The CogAT will test your child’s thinking and reasoning abilities in language, math and spatial reasoning. These skills that the CogAT tests are not specifically taught in school, which makes preparing for success for the CogAT more difficult.

The CogAT has 9 subtests, which each test a different skill. These 9 subtest are broken down into the three skills. The Verbal Battery skill have the Verbal Classification, Sentence Completion and Verbal Analogies subtests. The Quantitative Battery skill have the Quantitative Relations, Number Series, and Equation Building subtests. The Nonverbal Battery skills have the Figure Classification, Figure Analogies, and Figure Analysis subtests.

Because of the specific skills your children need for the CogAT, it is advisable to do some form of test prep. The test prep for the CogAT will boost your child’s confidence in their abilities, and help them do as well as possible on the exam. The CogAT has specific question formats that you can expose your children to, to prepare them for the exam.