CogAT Ability Testing

What is the CogAT?  The CogAT is the Cognitive Abilities Test, which measures both general and specific cognitive abilities. The general reasoning abilities measured by the test show the cognitive process and strategies that help a student learn new tasks or solve problems. This test measures developed abilities, not innate abilities.  The CogAT measures learned reasoning and problem-solving skills in three different areas: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. The verbal section has three subtests, which focus on reasoning skills, flexibility and fluency. The quantitative section tests the child’s understanding of basic quantitative concepts and relationships that are essential for learning mathematics.  The non-verbal section uses geometric shapes and figures. This section helps us see how students look for shapes and patterns. A separate score is reported for each of these three areas. A composite, or total, abstract reasoning score is also reported. Reasoning abilities have substantial correlations with learning and problem solving, both in and out of school. This is a multiple choice test.

Is the CogAT a measure of achievement?  No. It is a measure of reasoning ability in specific aptitude areas. It is also not an IQ test. 

What does the Verbal CogAT measure?  It is a measure of verbal abilities. It includes sub tests on verbal classification, sentence completion and verbal analogies.
 
What does the Quantitative CogAT measure?   It is a measure of math abilities. It includes sub tests on quantitative relations, number series, and equation building. The equation-building test looks at a students’ ability to organize, structure and give meaning to an unordered set of numerals and mathematical symbols.
 
What is an SAS?  SAS stands for Standard Age Score. The CogAT is scored based on the child’s age (Not grade level). The SAS compares your child to other children based on age. The highest SAS that a child can score on the CogAT is 150. 100 is considered to be an average SAS.

Why do we use the CogAT as part of our Gifted Identification Process?  The high ceiling on CogAT, its ability to make reliable discriminations among the top ten percent of scores in all age groups, and its broad sampling of cognitive skills make this a great assessment to use for our Gifted Program Identification.

Are there any good parent resources to better understand the CogAT?   

Understanding the CogAT for Parents 

Getting to Know the CogAT Parent Video

How to Support the Learner in Your Home

Is there a sample test that students can take?  Teachers are provided with sample questions that can be used in the school to help students prepare.   There are also a number of online sites that offer CogAT sample questions.  We strongly encourage parents to understand that taking multiple sample tests does not typically help improve test performance. The sample questions are simply for the student to understand the type of problems he or she will see and help build comfort with the test.  There are also samples of test questions in the document Understanding the CogAT for Parents.  
 
Will I get the results of this test?  Yes.  The results will be given to you with an explanation sheet of how to understand the scores by your child's classroom teacher.  Any additional questions may be directed to the Differentiation Specialist who currently works with the gifted learners at your child's school (Elementary).  Middle and high school results may be discussed with the AIG School Coordinator for additional explanations or clarifications.  Further information about your child's score may be found at www.cogat.com