Comparison
CogAT vs. OLSAT: what parents should know
The CogAT and the OLSAT are two separate reasoning tests that schools may use when screening for gifted programs. The CogAT covers verbal, quantitative and nonverbal reasoning in nine subtests; the OLSAT covers verbal and nonverbal reasoning. Your school can tell you which one your child takes.
Key takeaways
- The CogAT and the OLSAT are separate reasoning tests, and both are used by some schools to help identify children for gifted and talented programs.
- The CogAT has three batteries (Verbal, Quantitative, Nonverbal) and nine subtests; the OLSAT, published by Pearson, covers verbal and nonverbal reasoning.
- On the CogAT, K–2 questions are read aloud and picture-based; from 3rd grade children read on their own and each subtest is timed at 10 minutes.
- The OLSAT’s sections, timing and score types depend on the version, so ask your school which test, which form, the date and how results are shared.
- Because the thinking skills overlap, one calm plan works for both: relationships, sorting into groups, patterns, careful listening and, from 3rd grade, pacing.
On this page
The short answer
The CogAT® (Cognitive Abilities Test) and the OLSAT® (Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, published by Pearson) are two separate reasoning tests. Both are used by some schools to help identify children for gifted and talented programs.
One visible difference is how they are organized. The CogAT has three batteries, Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal, with nine subtests in total. The OLSAT is organized around verbal and nonverbal reasoning. In practice the thinking skills overlap a lot, so good preparation for one supports the other.
Side-by-side comparison
This table sticks to what we can state with confidence. Where it says “Ask your school,” the answer depends on the version your child takes or on how your school gives the test, and we would rather not guess.
| At a glance | CogAT | OLSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cognitive Abilities Test | Otis-Lennon School Ability Test |
| What it covers | Verbal, quantitative and nonverbal reasoning | Verbal and nonverbal reasoning |
| How it is organized | 3 batteries, 3 subtests each (9 in total) | Ask your school |
| Kindergarten to 2nd grade | Questions read aloud by the teacher; picture-based; no reading needed | Ask your school |
| Timing | K–2 (Levels 5/6–8): untimed, the teacher paces the group. 3rd grade and up (Level 9+): 10 minutes per subtest | Ask your school |
| Shorter screening version | CogAT Screening Form: 3 subtests | Ask your school |
| Scores | Compared with children of the same age and grade (percentile ranks, stanines, Standard Age Scores) | Ask your school |
| Gifted screening | Often used by schools | Used by some schools |
What the CogAT covers
The CogAT measures learned reasoning skills in three batteries, each with three subtests:
Verbal battery
Words, pictures and the ideas behind them.
- Verbal AnalogiesTwo pictures that go together, then a third picture: the child picks the picture that goes with it in the same way.
- Sentence CompletionA question is read aloud and the child picks the picture that answers it.
- Verbal ClassificationThree pictures that belong together; the child picks the picture that belongs with them.
Quantitative battery
Numbers, amounts and number patterns.
- Number AnalogiesPictures of amounts change by a rule (for example, one more); the child applies the same rule.
- Number PuzzlesTwo trains carry objects; the child finds the car that makes both trains hold the same number.
- Number SeriesBeads on an abacus follow a pattern; the child picks the rod that comes next.
Nonverbal battery
Shapes, patterns and spatial thinking.
- Figure MatricesTwo shapes change in a certain way; the child changes a third shape the same way.
- Paper FoldingA sheet of paper is folded, then holes are punched or shapes cut; the child picks how it looks unfolded.
- Figure ClassificationThree shapes are alike in some way; the child picks the shape that belongs with them.
In kindergarten to 2nd grade (Levels 5/6 to 8), the teacher reads every question aloud and the questions are picture-based, so no reading is needed. From 3rd grade (Level 9), children read on their own and each subtest is timed at 10 minutes. Some schools start with the shorter CogAT Screening Form, which uses three subtests: Verbal Analogies, Number Analogies and Figure Matrices. Our CogAT guide covers the full picture.
What the OLSAT covers
The OLSAT looks at verbal and nonverbal reasoning. In everyday terms, verbal reasoning is thinking with words and ideas: what a question means, how two ideas are related, which one doesn’t belong. Nonverbal reasoning is thinking with shapes and patterns: how a figure changes, what comes next, which piece completes a design.
We don’t list the OLSAT’s sections, timings or score types here, because those depend on the version your child takes and are best confirmed by your school. Our OLSAT guide for parents goes further into preparation.
How to find out which test your child takes
Schools and districts choose their own tests and their own process, so the only reliable source is your school. A short email or a quick chat with the teacher can answer most questions. Useful things to ask:
- Which test will my child take: the CogAT, the OLSAT, the NNAT® or another one?
- Is it the full test or a shorter screening version?
- What is the date, and how will the test be given?
- Does my child need to bring anything?
- How and when are results shared with families?
- What happens if my child is sick that day?
How to prepare for either test
Because the reasoning overlaps, one calm plan works for both:
- Relationships: practice “this is to that” thinking with words, numbers and shapes, as in Verbal Analogies and Figure Matrices.
- Groups: sort things at home and ask your child to explain why they belong together.
- Patterns: find the repeating step in a row of numbers or shapes, then predict what comes next.
- Listening: give a direction once and ask your child to follow it, especially in K–2.
- Pace: from 3rd grade, practice moving on calmly from a question that is taking too long.
Keep sessions to a few minutes, explain mistakes calmly, and try a practice test a week or two before the real one so the format feels familiar. Our test day tips cover the last few days.
Thinkling is built mainly for the CogAT, with all nine question types in the real formats, and it also includes OLSAT-style and NNAT-style practice with pattern completion, figure series and matrices.
Where the NNAT fits
Some families also hear about the NNAT, the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, published by Pearson. It is nonverbal only, with figure-based questions involving skills such as pattern completion, reasoning by analogy, serial reasoning and spatial visualization. If your child takes it, practice with shapes and patterns, like the three subtests of the CogAT Nonverbal battery, is the closest match. See our NNAT guide for more.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CogAT harder than the OLSAT?
There is no fair way to call one test harder. They are separate tests with their own questions and their own scoring, and how hard a test feels depends a lot on the child. A child who loves words may find verbal questions friendlier, while a puzzle lover may prefer shapes. Familiarity and a calm test day matter more than which test it is.
Does CogAT prep help with the OLSAT?
Much of it does. Both tests involve verbal and nonverbal reasoning, so practice with analogies, sorting into groups and patterns builds habits that carry over. The formats are not identical, though, so ask your school what your child will see, and treat CogAT-style practice as support for the shared skills rather than as a copy of the OLSAT.
Can CogAT and OLSAT scores be compared?
Not directly. Each test has its own scoring, so a number from one should not be read as if it came from the other. CogAT results compare a child with children of the same age and the same grade. For how your school uses either test’s results, ask your school or district, since practices vary.
Why does my school use the OLSAT instead of the CogAT?
Schools and districts choose their own tests for their own reasons, and we can’t speak for any of them. If you are curious, it is reasonable to ask which test is used, in which grades, and how results fit into decisions. Whichever test it is, the same short, calm practice with words, shapes and patterns helps.
Which test should my child practice for?
Practice for the test your school actually uses, so start by asking. If you don’t know yet, or your child may take more than one test over the years, focus on the shared skills: relationships between words and between shapes, sorting into groups, patterns and careful listening. Those help with the CogAT, the OLSAT and the NNAT alike.