The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is an aptitude test to determine a child’s eligibility into gifted-talented programs. Unlike traditional standardized tests that measure students’ content knowledge in areas such as math, science, reading and writing, CogAT tests the students’ abilities in reasoning, problem-solving and logic.
The CogAT is administered in different ways across the country. It is important you reach out to your school to get more information about the district/school’s administration of the test. Here are some things we do know:
CogAT has 3 Batteries (or parts): Verbal, Quantitative, and Non-verbal. Each battery has 3 subtests, which are shown in the chart below. The main difference to note is that grades K-2 are picture-based, while grades 3-8 are text-based.
Battery | Subtests |
---|---|
Verbal | Picture/Verbal Analogies Sentence Completion Picture/Verbal Classification |
Quantitative | Number Analogies Number Series Number Puzzles |
Non-verbal | Figure Matrices Figure Classification Paper Folding |
Administration time may vary, depending on how long the proctor takes to administer the test. Students are generally given between 30-45 minutes per battery. With administration time, it takes between two to three hours to complete all three batteries. In total, the CogAT has between 118 and 176 questions, depending on the level.
The CogAT is administered at different grades depending on the district/school your child attends. Tests are available for Kindergarten through 8th grade. Generally, there will be 1-2 grades for testing eligibility within a district. Check your local schools for further information.
Level | Grade |
---|---|
Level 5/6 | Kindergarten |
Level 7 | 1st grade |
Level 8 | 2nd grade |
Level 9 | 3rd grade |
Level 10 | 4th grade |
Level 11 | 5th grade |
Level 12 | 6th grade |
Level 13 | 7th grade |
Level 14 | 8th grade |