Frequently Asked Questions About CogAT

What type of test is the CogAT?

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a nationally standardized, norm-referenced test (NRT).

What does CogAT measure?

TheCogATmeasuresreasoningandproblem-solvingskillsin three differentareas:verbal,quantitative, andnonverbal. Reasoningskillsdevelopgraduallythroughout a person's lifetime andat different ratesfor different individuals. Reasoningabilitiesaregoodpredictorsofsuccessin schoolandareimportant outcomesofgoodschooling.CogATdoes not measuresuchfactorsaseffort, attention, motivation, andwork habits, whichalsocontributeimportantly to school achievement.

How do the three sections of the CogAT differ?

•	The Verbal Battery measures flexibility, fluency, and adaptability in reasoning with verbal materials and in solving

verbal problems. These reasoning abilities play an important role in reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, andvirtually all verbal learningtasks.
•	The Quantitative Battery measures quantitative reasoning skills; flexibility and fluency in working with quantitative symbols and concepts; and the ability to organize, structure, and give meaning to an unordered set of numerals and

mathematical symbols. These reasoning skills are significantly related to problem solving in mathematics and other

disciplines.

•      The Nonverbal Battery measures reasoning using geometric shapes and figures. To perform successfully, students must invent strategies for solving novel problems. They must be flexible in using these strategies and accurate in

implementing them.

What type of results does the CogAT provide?

The CogAt provides raw scores,standard ageand/or gradescores,percentile rank scores, stanine scores.

What is a stanine score?

The stanine score is a normalized standard score ranging from 1-9. Stanines are grouped as follows:

Stanine 9 Very High Stanines 7- 8 Above Average Stanines 4-6 Average Stanines 2-3 Below Average Stanine 1 Very Low

What is the standard age score (SAS)?

The standard age score is a number that allow s the teacher to compare the rate and level of a student's cognitive development with other students the same age. It has a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 16. If a student hasa SAS of 100, he/she is typical students for his/her age. On the other hand, if a student has a SAS of 125 that student hasa higher and faster rateof learningthan moststudents his/her age.

What is a national percentile rank (NPR) score?

A percentile rank indicates the percentage of students in the same age or grade group whose scores fall below the score obtained

by a particular student. For example, if a fifth -grade student obtains a grade PR of 90 on the Quantitative Battery,it meansthat 90percent of the fifth-grade studentsin the sample received scoreslower thanthe onereceived by the student.