Test comparison
CogAT vs. MAP Growth: what each test tells you
The CogAT is a reasoning test: it looks at how a child works things out with words, numbers and shapes. MAP Growth is an achievement test in reading and math: it looks at what a child has learned in school. They answer different questions, so schools may look at both.
Key takeaways
- The CogAT measures reasoning in verbal, quantitative and nonverbal areas; MAP Growth measures what a child has learned in reading and math.
- MAP Growth is computer-adaptive, is often given more than once a year, and reports scores on the RIT scale.
- CogAT results compare a child with others of the same age and grade, using percentile ranks, stanines and Standard Age Scores.
- A child can score differently on the two tests, and that is normal: they look at different skills on different scales.
- Schools may look at both, along with other information; ask your school or district how each result is used.
On this page
The short answer
The CogAT® (Cognitive Abilities Test) and MAP Growth, from NWEA, measure different things. The CogAT is a reasoning test: it looks at how a child works things out with words, numbers and shapes. MAP Growth is an achievement test in reading and math: it looks at what a child has learned in those school subjects.
Because they answer different questions, a school may look at both, and a child can do well on one and less well on the other. That isn’t a contradiction. It is two views of the same child.
CogAT vs. MAP Growth at a glance
This table sticks to what we can state with confidence. “Ask your school” means the answer depends on how your school gives the test.
| At a glance | CogAT | MAP Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Kind of test | Reasoning (ability) test | Achievement test |
| What it looks at | Learned reasoning in verbal, quantitative and nonverbal areas | What a child has learned in reading and math |
| How it is organized | 3 batteries, 3 subtests each (9 in total) | Reading and math |
| How it is given | At school, on paper or online (the school’s choice); the level depends on grade | At school, on a computer; adaptive, so questions get harder or easier as the child answers |
| Kindergarten to 2nd grade | Read aloud by the teacher; picture-based; no reading needed | Ask your school |
| How often | The school decides when, and in which grades | Often more than once a year |
| Scores | Percentile ranks, stanines (1–9) and Standard Age Scores (average 100), compared with children of the same age and grade | RIT scale |
Ability vs. achievement, in plain words
An achievement test asks, “What has this child learned?” MAP Growth looks at reading and math, the subjects your child works on in class every week. The results reflect what your child has learned through teaching and practice.
A reasoning test asks, “How does this child work out something new?” On the CogAT, a kindergartner might see a bead abacus whose rods follow a pattern and pick the rod that comes next, in the Number Series subtest. It isn’t a reading or math lesson. The task is less about knowing a fact and more about spotting a rule and applying it.
The two are connected, but they are not the same. The CogAT measures learned reasoning skills, which grow with experience, conversation and play. Achievement grows with teaching and practice in the subject itself.
How each test works
MAP Growth
MAP Growth is given at school on a computer, in reading and math, and often more than once a year. It is computer-adaptive: as your child answers, the questions get harder or easier. Results are reported on the RIT scale. Because the test is often repeated, it can show how a child’s scores change from one test to the next. Your child’s teacher is the best person to explain what a particular score means for classwork.
The CogAT
The CogAT has three batteries, Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal, with three subtests each. In kindergarten to 2nd grade, the teacher reads every question aloud and the questions are picture-based, so no reading is needed. From 3rd grade, children read on their own and each subtest is timed at 10 minutes.
The publisher scores the test and compares each child with children of the same age and the same grade. Reports can show percentile ranks, stanines from 1 to 9 and Standard Age Scores, where the average is 100, for each battery and for a composite. Our CogAT scores guide explains each one.
Why schools may look at both
When schools identify children for gifted programs, they usually look at several kinds of information: ability tests such as the CogAT, achievement tests, teacher observations or rating scales, and work samples. A reasoning result and an achievement result together give a fuller picture than either one alone.
Which results count, how they are weighed and when testing happens all vary by district, so ask your school or district. If your school also gives the Iowa Assessments, another achievement test, see our guide to the CogAT and the Iowa Assessments.
Why a child can score differently on each
It is normal for a child’s CogAT and MAP Growth results to tell different stories. A few reasons:
- Different skills. One test uses unfamiliar puzzles; the other uses reading and math taught in class. A child can be quick to spot patterns and still be learning to read, or be a careful, strong reader who finds abstract shape puzzles new.
- Different areas. MAP Growth covers reading and math. The CogAT’s Nonverbal battery, made only of shapes, has no direct MAP Growth counterpart.
- Different scales. A RIT score and a CogAT percentile rank or Standard Age Score are not on the same scale, so they can’t be lined up number for number.
- Different days. Every test is a snapshot. Sleep, nerves, a new format or a noisy room can all affect one morning.
A gap in either direction is information, not a verdict on your child. It is a good reason for a calm conversation with the teacher about what your child is like in class.
What parents can do with each result
With a MAP Growth report
- Ask the teacher what the results suggest about next steps in reading and math, and how you can support them at home.
- Look at how the scores change from one test to the next, rather than at a single number.
- Keep everyday learning going: read together, talk about books and use numbers in daily life, like counting change or comparing prices.
With a CogAT report
- Start with the three battery scores before the composite; together they show your child’s relative strengths.
- Check whether you are looking at an age comparison or a grade comparison.
- Ask how the school uses the results and what other information it considers.
How to prepare for each
MAP Growth reflects schoolwork, so ordinary learning is the preparation: reading together, talking about numbers in daily life and a rested child on test day. If you want to do more, ask the teacher which skills are worth practicing.
The CogAT is different. Its formats, such as picture analogies or a bead abacus, can feel unfamiliar, so a little practice helps a child understand what each kind of question is asking. Short, playful sessions are enough; our guide on how to prepare for the CogAT has a calm plan. Thinkling is a CogAT prep app with all nine question types in the real formats; it doesn’t cover MAP Growth.
And if the bigger question on your mind is whether your child is gifted, our guide Is my child gifted? looks at what that word means at school.
Frequently asked questions
What is MAP testing?
MAP testing usually refers to MAP Growth, from NWEA. It is a computer-adaptive achievement test in reading and math, given at school and often more than once a year. Questions get harder or easier depending on how your child answers, and results are reported on the RIT scale. Your child’s teacher can explain what the results mean for classwork and how the school uses them.
Is the MAP test the same as the CogAT?
No. MAP Growth is an achievement test: it looks at what a child has learned in reading and math. The CogAT is a reasoning test: it looks at how a child works with words, numbers and shapes, including shape puzzles that don’t belong to any school subject. The two are scored on different scales and answer different questions, which is why a school may look at both.
Why are my child’s MAP and CogAT results so different?
Because the tests look at different things. A child can be quick to spot patterns in unfamiliar puzzles while still building reading skills, or be a strong reader who finds abstract shape questions new. Each test is also a snapshot of one day. A gap in either direction is not a problem in itself; it is a good starting point for a calm conversation with the teacher.
Can I compare a RIT score with a CogAT score?
Not directly. RIT scores come from MAP Growth and sit on their own scale. CogAT results are percentile ranks, stanines and Standard Age Scores that compare a child with children of the same age and grade. Because the numbers are on different scales, they can’t be lined up or converted into each other. Read each report on its own terms, and ask the school how it uses them.
Is MAP Growth used to identify gifted students?
It depends on the school. When identifying children for gifted programs, schools usually look at several kinds of information, such as ability tests, achievement tests, teacher observations or rating scales, and work samples. Whether MAP Growth results are part of that, and how much they count, varies by district. Your school or district is the only reliable source for the rules where you live.