Preparing for the CogAT ® Test

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - January 7th, 2015

The CogAT ® Test, or Cognitive Abilities Test™, is a commonly-given cognitive test used to determine whether kids will qualify for their district’s gifted and talented program. There are two versions of the CogAT test: the Form 6 and the Form 7. The Form 7 is newer, issued in 2011, and is being used in more and more schools.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the CogAT test Form 6 and Form 7 comes with the primary level questions, which cover kindergarten through 2nd grade. On the Form 6 test, these questions are verbal and have to be read aloud to the student. On the Form 7, the questions are more non-verbal and reading instructions may not be required. Paper folding questions (also called hole punch) start at an earlier level on the Form 7, beginning in kindergarten.

The CogAT test measures problem solving and reasoning abilities and focuses on 3 main areas: verbal, math, and spatial (or non-verbal).

There are 9 subtests on the CogAT test Form 7, broken up into three larger categories (verbal battery, quantitative battery and nonverbal battery). Here are the subtests and their corresponding category:

Subtest 1: Verbal Classification (Verbal Battery)
Subtest 2: Sentence Completion (Verbal Battery)
Subtest 3: Verbal Analogies (Verbal Battery)

Subtest 4: Number Analogies (Quantitative Battery)
Subtest 5: Number Series (Quantitative Battery)
Subtest 6: Number Puzzles (Quantitative Battery)

Subtest 7: Figure Classification (Nonverbal Battery)
Subtest 8: Figure Matrices (Nonverbal Battery)
Subtest 9: Paper Folding (Nonverbal Battery)

It’s important to find out if your child will be taking the full CogAT test or a modified version, since that could mean they will see a combination of Form 6 and Form 7 questions, or only some of the subtests. If you aren’t told at the outset what type of questions will be on the test, check with someone at your child’s school to see if they can give you some insight.

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.