CogAT guide
The CogAT test, explained for parents
The CogAT® (Cognitive Abilities Test) looks at how children reason with words, numbers and shapes. It has three parts, called batteries, with three subtests each: nine question types in all, given at a level that matches your child’s grade.
Key takeaways
- The CogAT is a group test of reasoning, not school facts, with three batteries (Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal) of three subtests each.
- Each grade takes its own level: kindergarten Level 5/6, 1st grade Level 7, 2nd grade Level 8, 3rd grade Level 9, 4th grade Level 10, 5th grade Level 11.
- In K–2 the teacher reads every question aloud and children choose pictures at the group’s pace; from 3rd grade they read alone and each subtest takes 10 minutes.
- The publisher scores the test against children of the same age and grade, with percentile ranks, stanines and Standard Age Scores for each battery and overall.
- Prepare with short, regular practice in all nine formats, talk through mistakes, try a practice test or two, and protect sleep and a calm test morning.
On this page
What the CogAT is
The Cognitive Abilities Test, or CogAT®, is a group test that many US schools give to children from kindergarten up. It looks at reasoning: how a child sees relationships, finds patterns and solves problems that are new to them. Schools often use it, together with other information, to help identify students for gifted and talented programs. The publisher scores the test, and the current forms are Form 7 and Form 8.
Unlike a spelling or math test, the CogAT doesn’t ask what your child learned in a particular unit. It asks them to think: which picture goes with this one in the same way, what number comes next, how a folded paper will look when it is opened. That is why short, playful practice with the question formats helps much more than worksheets of facts.
The three batteries and nine subtests
The test is split into three batteries. Each battery has three subtests, so there are nine question types in all. Every subtest has its own page with a sample question and tips:
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.
The Verbal battery is about words and ideas, the Quantitative battery about numbers and amounts, and the Nonverbal battery about shapes and spatial thinking. Because the Nonverbal battery uses only figures, it looks almost the same from kindergarten to 5th grade; the questions simply get harder.
CogAT levels by grade
The CogAT comes in levels, and each grade usually takes the level shown below. Your school chooses the level and form, so ask if you are not sure which one your child will take.
| Grade | Usual CogAT level | How it is given |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | Level 5/6 | Questions read aloud, picture-based, untimed |
| 1st grade | Level 7 | Questions read aloud, picture-based, untimed |
| 2nd grade | Level 8 | Questions read aloud, picture-based, untimed |
| 3rd grade | Level 9 | Children read on their own, 10 minutes per subtest |
| 4th grade | Level 10 | Children read on their own, 10 minutes per subtest |
| 5th grade | Level 11 | Children read on their own, 10 minutes per subtest |
How the test is given
Kindergarten to 2nd grade (Levels 5/6 to 8)
Young children don’t need to read. The teacher reads the directions and each question aloud, and children answer by choosing a picture. The test is untimed in the sense that the teacher sets the pace for the group. Listening carefully, waiting for the whole question and marking the chosen answer are skills in themselves at this age, and worth practicing.
3rd grade and up (Levels 9 to 11)
From Level 9, children read the questions themselves. The verbal questions switch from pictures to words, the quantitative ones from pictures to numbers and equations, and each subtest is timed at 10 minutes. Reading carefully and keeping a steady pace become as important as the reasoning itself. Our 3rd grade guide covers this change in detail.
How many questions are on the CogAT?
The number of questions grows with each level. The table shows the count for every subtest in Forms 7 and 8:
| Battery | Subtest | Level 5/6 | Level 7 | Level 8 | Level 9 | Level 10–11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal | Verbal Analogies | 14 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 24 |
| Sentence Completion | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | |
| Verbal Classification | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | |
| Verbal total | 42 | 48 | 54 | 62 | 64 | |
| Quantitative | Number Analogies | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Number Puzzles | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | |
| Number Series | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | |
| Quantitative total | 38 | 44 | 50 | 52 | 52 | |
| Nonverbal | Figure Matrices | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 |
| Paper Folding | 10 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| Figure Classification | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | |
| Nonverbal total | 38 | 44 | 52 | 56 | 60 | |
| All nine subtests | 118 | 136 | 156 | 170 | 176 | |
Some schools give only three of the nine subtests, as the CogAT Screening Form: Verbal Analogies, Number Analogies and Figure Matrices. If your school uses the screener, those three subtests deserve most of your attention.
How CogAT results are reported
The publisher compares each child’s results with children of the same age and the same grade. Reports can show percentile ranks, stanines from 1 to 9 and Standard Age Scores, for each battery and for the test as a whole. Our guide to CogAT scores explains how to read a report calmly and what to ask your school.
How to prepare without pressure
- Get to know the formats. Most surprises on test day come from unfamiliar question types, especially paper folding and number puzzles. A few examples of each make a big difference.
- Keep it short and regular. Ten relaxed minutes a day for a few weeks is better than long sessions the weekend before.
- Talk about mistakes. Ask “what did you notice?” and let your child find the rule. Understanding why an answer is wrong is where most of the learning happens.
- Try a practice test or two. A practice test in the real format and order helps with stamina and pacing, especially from 3rd grade.
- Protect the day itself. Sleep, breakfast and a calm morning matter. See our test day tips.
Thinkling was built for exactly this kind of preparation: original questions in all nine formats, read aloud for kindergarten to 2nd grade, a short daily mission and practice tests when your child is ready.
CogAT guides by grade
Each grade guide covers what your child’s level looks like, how it is given and how to prepare at that age.
- KCogAT for kindergarten
- 1stCogAT for 1st grade
- 2ndCogAT for 2nd grade
- 3rdCogAT for 3rd grade
- 4thCogAT for 4th grade
- 5thCogAT for 5th grade
Frequently asked questions
What does the CogAT measure?
The CogAT looks at reasoning skills that children develop at home and at school: seeing relationships between words and pictures, working with numbers and patterns, and thinking about shapes and space. It is built around three areas, Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal, so it shows how a child reasons in each one, not just an overall result.
What grade takes which CogAT level?
Kindergarten usually takes Level 5/6, 1st grade Level 7, 2nd grade Level 8, 3rd grade Level 9, 4th grade Level 10 and 5th grade Level 11. Your school decides which level and form to use, so check with them if you are unsure.
Does my kindergartner need to read for the CogAT?
No. At Levels 5/6 through 8, which cover kindergarten to 2nd grade, the teacher reads the directions and questions aloud and the answers are pictures. From Level 9, usually in 3rd grade, children read the questions on their own.
Can you study for the CogAT?
There is no list of facts to memorize, but children do better when the question formats feel familiar and they know how to listen, look carefully and check their answer. Short, relaxed practice with the nine question types, plus everyday reasoning games, is a sensible way to prepare.
Is the CogAT an IQ test?
No. The CogAT measures developed reasoning in verbal, quantitative and nonverbal areas, and it is a group test given at school. IQ tests such as the WISC-V are given one-on-one by a licensed psychologist, and a CogAT score can’t be converted into an IQ. More in Is the CogAT an IQ test?