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Edmonds School District

Information Sessions, Presentations & Handouts

 

 

Click on the below links for YouTube informative videos.

 

Challenge Program Overview 2024-25


Brier Terrace Middle School Tour 2021


Highly Capable High School Options Presentation  Fall 2021



Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Screener Quick Facts

 

This test is given to those students in grades Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th. Students must be referred prior to October 15th.

The Cognitive Abilities test is designed to help us evaluate how students understand and solve problems. The CogAT measures thinking skills developed in and out of school and how well a child can use these skills to solve verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal problems.

The VERBAL test measures reasoning, making inferences and judgments, problem solving, oral vocabulary and verbal comprehension.

The QUANTITATIVE test measures abstract reasoning and math ability, (including relationships between objects, number concepts, and story problems.)

The NONVERBAL test measures general abstract reasoning. This includes seeing visual similarities and differences, drawing inferences, and applying rules to visual patterns.

The COMPOSITE Score gives an overall measure of a student’s thinking abilities, including all three of the above tests.

All students will take the test using their Chromebooks.

There are three subtests each take approximately 10 - 15 minutes to complete depending on grade level. Kindergarten and 1st grade student tests are untimed but take approximately 15 minutes per section. Third grade and higher the test is timed at 10 minutes per section.
 

Test Levels and Number of Questions by Current Grade
Grade CogAT Test Level Number of Questions
Kindergarten Level 5/6 42
1st Grade Level 7 48
3rd Grade Level 9 60
4th Grade Level 10 64
5th Grade Level 11 64
7th Grade Level 13/14 64

 

Sample Question Format by Level

The CogAT Screener only tests the first test in each category. For example, Verbal Analogies, Number Analogies, and Figure Matrices. 

 

CogAT Format

The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test - Quick Facts

 

This test is given to all students in 2nd and 6th grades. If you do not want your child tested, please tell your students teacher before October 30th. You will need to complete an Opt-out form if you do not want your child taking the screener.

The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) is an assessment designed to measure a student's reasoning and problem-solving abilities without the use of language. It's often used to identify students for gifted programs or to assess their cognitive strengths.

Here's a breakdown parents might find helpful:

  1. Nonverbal: Unlike traditional tests that rely heavily on language skills, the NNAT focuses on nonverbal reasoning. This means it assesses a child's ability to solve problems using visual patterns and relationships rather than words.

  2. Visual-Spatial Skills: The NNAT evaluates a child's visual-spatial abilities, which involve understanding and interpreting visual information, such as shapes, designs, and arrangements.

  3. Reasoning Abilities: Through a series of questions, the NNAT measures a child's logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. These questions often involve identifying patterns, completing sequences, and making analogies.

  4. Multiple Choice Format: The NNAT is presented in a multiple-choice format, where children choose the response that best fits the pattern or completes the sequence provided. There are 48 questions per test regardless of age.

  5. Age-Adjusted: The test is designed to be age-adjusted, meaning that the difficulty level of the questions varies depending on the child's age. This allows for fair comparison among students of different ages.

  6. Time Limit: The NNAT is administered within a specific time limit of 30 minutes, so children need to work efficiently to answer as many questions as possible within the allotted time.

  7. Purpose: Schools often use the NNAT as part of their assessment process for identifying students who may benefit from gifted programs or who have particular strengths in nonverbal reasoning.

  8. Preparation: While it's essential for children to feel comfortable with the testing environment, excessive preparation for the NNAT isn't recommended. Familiarizing your child with the types of questions they may encounter can be helpful, but the test is designed to measure innate abilities rather than learned knowledge.

Overall, the NNAT provides valuable insights into a child's cognitive abilities, particularly in areas such as problem-solving, reasoning, and visual-spatial skills. Parents should encourage their child to approach the test with confidence and reassure them that it's just one way to understand their unique strengths.