Preparation for the Fairfax Abilities Test™ (FxAT™ Test)

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - March 16th, 2015

The Fairfax Abilities Test ™, also called the FxAT ™ test or the Fairfax County Advanced Academic Programs, is the test for children who are looking to get into the Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Even though Fairfax County boasts some of the best public schools in the nation, the Fairfax Abilities Test is nonetheless extremely competitive, as parents across the district jockey to get their children into this prestigious program.

Second graders taking the Fairfax Abilities Test take a custom form of the CogAT® test, or Cognitive Abilities Test.™ Their scores are compared to other children in Fairfax County who took the test (rather than being compared to children across the country, in contrast to some other gifted & talented tests). This means that the number of children who score in the highest percentile ranges will be relatively few.

Although it’s not entirely clear which form of the CogAT test is used to prepare the custom form used on the Fairfax Abilities Test, signs point to the Form 7 being the basis for the test. There are also indications that the form of the CogAT test used on the Fairfax Abilities Test is more difficult than the “normal” CogAT test for the grade range, which means it’s important to start practicing as soon as you can so your child doesn’t feel overwhelmed with the process. It’s also a good idea to start with questions several grades below your child’s current grade level, so that they can build their confidence with comparatively “easy” questions and then move onto questions similar to those they’re likely to see on the test.

This Fairfax County Public Schools page provides lots of helpful information on the Fairfax Abilities Test.

Cognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT®) is a registered trademark of Riverside Publishing, a Houghton Mifflin Company, or their affiliate(s), or their licensors. TestingMom.com is not affiliated with nor related to Houghton Mifflin Company or its affiliates (“Houghton Mifflin”). Houghton Mifflin does not sponsor or endorse any TestingMom.com product, nor have TestingMom.com products or services been reviewed, certified, or approved by Houghton Mifflin. Trademarks referring to specific test providers are used by TestingMom.com for nominative purposes only and such trademarks are solely the property of their respective owners.

Fairfax Abilities Test™ (FxAT™ Test) is a trademark of Fairfax County Public Schools, or their affiliate(s), or their licensors. TestingMom.com is not affiliated with nor related to Fairfax County Public Schools or its affiliates (“Fairfax County Public Schools”). Fairfax County Public Schools does not sponsor or endorse any TestingMom.com product, nor have TestingMom.com products or services been reviewed, certified, or approved by Fairfax County Public Schools. Trademarks referring to specific test providers are used by TestingMom.com for nominative purposes only and such trademarks are solely the property of their respective owners.