CogAT Test Makes a Come Back

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - September 3rd, 2011

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) was once widely used to determine student and teacher performance in school districts across the nation. However, with the emergence of state mandated standardized testing programs the CogAT took a backseat to IQ tests and similar exams for many years.

While these other tests may have a place in the overall determination of a school districts performance and the funding they should receive for a state sponsored gifted and talented program, they should not be the end all and be all of assessing student abilities or teacher performance in the classroom.

Recent studies have shown that the CogAT test is a more accurate measure of true student abilities and is also an unbiased testing tool for students of all backgrounds, races, classes and ethnic heritages. This new information about the CogAT has made many school districts across the nation decide to bring the Cognitive Abilities Test back into the fold for assessing student, teach, school and district performance, as well as for establishing long and short term performance goals for school districts.