How Can I Help My Child Prepare for the CogAT?

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - September 22nd, 2012

One of the most popular methods of preparation for the CogAT test is practicing.

There are free CogAT practice questions available on the internet. Be sure that you’re choosing practice questions which are from a reliable source. Since the CogAT is protected, you’re unlikely to find a full practice test, and this is fine. The purpose of free CogAT practice questions is simply to help your child become familiar with the format of the test, since some questions are likely to be presented in a manner they haven’t dealt with previously.

Remember that while it’s always better to be prepared, over-preparation can have its own dangers. Students who place too much importance on a single test are likely to score poorly because of anxiety. Reassure your child that while the CogAT is a very important test, it is only a test. A wonderful way to further prepare your child, in addition to using free CogAT practice questions, is to have them take a class or lesson on test-taking skills. These skills can help them feel more comfortable while taking the CogAT, which, in turn, can lead to more accurate, higher scores.