# Should you prepare your child for gifted testing?

> Yes, a little, and in the right way. Helping your child get familiar with the question formats and the testing situation is reasonable, especially for young children who have never seen a test like this. Heavy drilling, long sessions and pressure are not, and they add stress without adding much.

Source: https://www.thinklingapp.com/should-you-prep-for-gifted-testing/ · Thinkling parent guide · Updated 2026-10-18

## Key takeaways

- Getting familiar with the question formats and the testing situation is reasonable, since many young children have never seen a test like this.
- Familiarity means knowing what each question type asks; coaching means drilling answers or tricks, and that goes too far.
- A few weeks of short, playful practice on most days is enough; long sessions and pressure add stress without adding much.
- Tears, dread, poor sleep or a child who says “I’m bad at puzzles” are signs to step back, shorten sessions or stop.
- If your child is not selected, ask the school what it looked at and what comes next; one test result doesn’t define your child.

## The short answer

Gifted and talented testing at school often includes an ability test such as the [CogAT®](https://www.thinklingapp.com/cogat/), the [OLSAT®](https://www.thinklingapp.com/olsat/) or the [NNAT®](https://www.thinklingapp.com/nnat/). These tests look at reasoning, not at what was taught in a particular unit, so there is no list of facts to memorize. But they come in formats many young children have never met.

That points to a sensible middle path. Helping your child get familiar with the question types and the testing situation is reasonable. Drilling for months, piling on practice or making the test feel like a big deal is not.

It also helps to keep the test in proportion. Schools usually look at several kinds of information, such as ability tests, achievement tests, teacher observations or rating scales, and work samples. Rules, cutoffs and timelines vary, so ask your school or district how it identifies students.

## Why some familiarity makes sense

Picture a kindergartner on test day. They may never have:

- sat in a group while an adult reads questions aloud, one after another;
- seen a picture analogy (“these two go together; what goes with this one?”);
- imagined a folded sheet of paper opening up;
- chosen one answer and moved on without a grown-up saying whether it was right.

Older children meet something new too: from 3rd grade, they read the questions on their own, and each subtest has a 10-minute limit.

None of these is about how well a child reasons. They are about knowing what the question is asking. A child who meets a format for the first time during the test may spend their attention working out the task instead of thinking about the answer. A few relaxed examples beforehand take that surprise away.

That is the whole case for preparation: not a promise of a better result, but a fair chance for your child to show how they already think. Our [CogAT sample questions](https://www.thinklingapp.com/cogat/sample-questions/) show one of each type, which is often all a family needs to start.

## Familiarity vs. coaching

The line is less about whether you practice than about how.

|  | Familiarity (reasonable) | Coaching or drilling (too far) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Question types | A few examples of each type | Hundreds of near-identical items |
| Thinking | Asking “How did you know?” | Teaching tricks for guessing |
| Answers | Talking through why a choice fits | Memorizing answers to specific questions |
| Time | Short sessions for a few weeks | Long sessions for months |
| Practice tests | One or two as a rehearsal | Repeated testing to chase a number |
| Materials | Original questions in the same formats | Anything claiming to be real test items |

A simple check: if your child could explain to a friend how a question type works, that is familiarity. If they can recite answers without being able to explain them, it has become coaching.

## How much is enough?

For most families, a few weeks is plenty:

- **Kindergarten to 2nd grade:** about 5–15 minutes on most days, read aloud, with no timer. Younger children need the shorter end.
- **3rd to 5th grade:** about 10–15 minutes on most days, plus a few short timed sets once a format feels familiar.
- **Practice tests:** one or two in the real format, split into short sittings.
- **The last days:** light review, then rest.

Once your child knows what each question type asks and can work through a short set calmly, you have done the useful part. Our [CogAT prep plan](https://www.thinklingapp.com/cogat/how-to-prepare/) lays out a 4-week and a 1-week version.

## Signs it’s too much

- Tears, stalling or stomachaches around practice time.
- Your child worries out loud about the test, or says things like “I’m bad at puzzles” or “I’m not smart.”
- Trouble sleeping in the days before the test.
- Practice crowding out play, reading together or time outside.
- You find yourself checking progress every day or comparing with other children.

If you notice any of these, step back. Shorten sessions, skip a few days or switch to games, and make sure your child hears that you love them whatever happens. Stopping formal practice altogether is fine too.

## How to keep it playful

- **Call it puzzle time,** not test prep.
- **Mix in games.** Odd one out, “what comes next” with beads, and paper snowflakes all use the same kinds of thinking. Our [logic games for kids](https://www.thinklingapp.com/logic-games-for-kids/) have more ideas.
- **Praise thinking,** not just right answers: “You checked every choice!”
- **Let your child lead** some days, choosing the puzzle type or quizzing you.
- **End on a win.** Stop after a question your child can solve.

Thinkling was built in this spirit: a short daily mission of 5, 10 or 15 minutes, a garden that grows a plant for each finished mission, and every mistake explained with pictures and voice before your child tries again.

## What if your child is not selected?

Not being selected says nothing about your child’s worth, curiosity or future. A few things help:

- **Keep your reaction calm.** Children notice how we react more than what we say. “You did your best, and I’m proud of how you tried” is enough.
- **Ask the school what it looked at.** Find out which information was used and what the report shows. Our guide to [CogAT scores](https://www.thinklingapp.com/cogat/scores/) explains the numbers.
- **Ask about next steps.** Whether and when there are other chances varies by school and district, so ask rather than assume.
- **Keep feeding curiosity.** Books, building, nature, music and games keep a curious mind growing, whatever a single test says.

A gifted program is one path for a curious child, not the only one.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can you study for the CogAT?

Not in the usual sense. The CogAT measures reasoning with words, numbers and shapes, so there are no facts to memorize. What a child can do is get familiar with the nine question types and the way the test is given: listening to questions read aloud in K–2, or reading alone against a 10-minute limit per subtest from 3rd grade. That familiarity is the reasonable part of preparation.

### Is it OK to prepare my child for the CogAT?

Yes, within reason. Showing your child what each question type looks like, practicing a few minutes on most days for a few weeks and trying a practice test in the real format are sensible steps. What goes too far is months of drilling, long daily sessions, memorizing answers or making the test feel like a big decision about your child’s future.

### Is preparing for a gifted test the same as cheating?

No. Getting familiar with the formats is no different from knowing how any test works before taking it. The line is crossed by anything claiming to be real test items or by memorizing specific answers. Use original practice questions in the same formats, and if you are unsure about particular materials, ask your school or district.

### How early should I start preparing for gifted testing?

A few weeks before the test is enough for most children. That leaves time to meet every question type, practice the unfamiliar ones and try a practice test, without prep turning into a long project. Starting many months ahead tends to bring boredom and pressure. First, ask your school for the test date and which test your child will take.

### Will test prep get my child into a gifted program?

No preparation can promise that. Schools usually look at several kinds of information, such as ability tests, achievement tests, teacher observations or rating scales, and work samples, and the rules vary by district. The honest goal of prep is narrower: making sure nothing about the format surprises your child, so the test shows how they already think.

### How do I prepare a kindergartner for gifted testing?

Keep it short and playful. Kindergartners taking the CogAT hear every question read aloud and answer with pictures, so practice listening to a whole question, looking at every choice and picking one without help. A few minutes on most days, plus everyday games such as odd one out or paper snowflakes, is plenty for a five-year-old.

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CogAT® is a registered trademark of Riverside Assessments, LLC. OLSAT® and NNAT® are trademarks, in the US and/or other countries, of Pearson Education, Inc. or its affiliate(s). Other test names mentioned on this site (such as MAP Growth, the Iowa Assessments and the WISC-V) are trademarks of their respective owners. These trademark holders are not affiliated with, and do not sponsor or endorse, Thinkling. All questions are original.