CogAT Test Scores: Understanding Your CogAT Score
Updated January 15, 2024
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- CogAT Scores Explained
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- The Uses of CogAT Scores
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- Interpreting CogAT Scores – CogAT Scores Explained
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- CogAT Score Profiles – CogAT Scores Explained
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- Example CogAT Score Chart
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- What Is a Gifted CogAT Score?
- How to Improve CogAT Scores
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
The raw score in the CogAT test is simply the number of correct answers a child provides. This raw score is then converted into a scaled score, which considers the difficulty of the questions and is ranked between 100 and 150.
This information is then used to create the standard age score, which compares the results of children of the same age.
The Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT) measures students’ cognitive ability to grant admission to various gifted programs.
It is used for children aged between five and 18 and assesses verbal, non-verbal, and quantitative skills.
This article will discuss how to interpret and improve CogAT scores to ensure the highest chance of admission into gifted programs.
CogAT Scores Explained
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a widely used assessment tool designed to measure a student's cognitive abilities.
It provides valuable insights into a student's critical thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning skills.
Understanding the CogAT test scores can help educators, parents, and students gain valuable insights into an individual's cognitive strengths and weaknesses.
Each section of the CogAT test consists of multiple-choice questions and is scored individually. CogAT test scores are based on a standardized scoring system that objectively measures a student's abilities.
The scores are reported as percentile ranks, which indicate how a student's performance compares to their peers. The test evaluates three main areas of cognitive development (known as the three batteries):
Verbal Reasoning
The verbal reasoning section measures a student's ability to understand and manipulate language-based tasks, including analogy, verbal classification, and sentence completion.
Quantitative Reasoning
This section assesses a student's ability to reason with mathematical concepts, solve problems, and identify patterns and relationships.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
This section evaluates a student's visual-spatial reasoning and ability to solve problems using shapes and figures.
The Uses of CogAT Scores
CogAT test scores have various applications in education.
Here are a few key uses of CogAT scores:
Identifying Gifted and Talented Students
CogAT scores can help identify students with advanced cognitive abilities. Educators can use this information to tailor instruction and provide appropriate development opportunities for these students.
Informing Educational Placement
CogAT scores can play a role in determining educational placement decisions. School administrators and educators can use the scores to identify students who may benefit from specialized programs or advanced coursework.
Parental Awareness and Support
CogAT scores can inform parents about their child's cognitive abilities. Understanding a child's strengths and weaknesses can help parents provide appropriate support and enrichment opportunities at home.
Interpreting CogAT Scores – CogAT Scores Explained
Raw Score to Scaled Score Conversion
The CogAT is scored based on a student's raw score, which is the total number of correct answers they provide on the test.
Universal Scale Score (USS)
The raw score is then converted into a Universal Scare Score (USS), which is a normalized standard score. There will be a separate USS score for each of the three sections, and the composite USS is calculated by averaging those three scores.
Standard Age Score (SAS)
Next, the standard age score is created by comparing the USS score to the results of children within the same system and who are of the same age.
The highest rank that a child can get on the CogAT SAS is 160, with 100 considered an average score.
Percentile Rank (PR)
CogAT scores are also reported as percentile ranks, indicating how a student's performance compares to their peers. A higher score on the CogAT score percentile chart reflects a stronger performance than others in the same age group.
For example, if a student's percentile rank in the Verbal Reasoning section is 80%, it means they performed better than 80% of their peers who took the test.
Stanine Age Score
The stanine score range is from 1 to 9, with a stanine of 5 considered average.
It provides a broader understanding of a student's overall performance across all sections. A stanine of 9 indicates exceptional performance, while a stanine of 1 represents below-average performance.
CogAT Score Profiles – CogAT Scores Explained
Score profiles are then created for each student, which are designed to give parents and educators all the information they require in a short and concise manner.
A score profile will look like this:
5B (V+ Q-)
Stanine
5 is the stanine age score as discussed above.
Score Pattern Indicator
The B in the formula represents the student's score pattern indicator. There are four possible letters that can be referenced:
- A: The student demonstrates the same abilities across all three elements.
- B: The student scored above the other two in one section of the assessment.
- C: One of the scores is above average, with another below average, suggesting that they have a relative strength and weakness.
- E: Where there is a difference in the SAS score of a certain battery of 12 points or more.
This is considered too much of a difference and is a cause for concern.
Relative Strength and Weakness
The letters represent the separate batteries. Q for Quantitative, N for Nonverbal and V or Verbal.
This is represented by the V+ Q- inside the brackets. As you would expect, + highlights a relative strength, while - indicates a relative weakness.
Example CogAT Score Chart
Example Standard Age CogAT Score Chart
| Standard Age Score | Age Stanine | Age Percentile Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal | 106 | 6 | 65 |
| Quantitative | 112 | 7 | 77 |
| Non-Verbal | 94 | 4 | 35 |
| Composite | 104 | 8 | 80 |
| Number of Items | Number Att | Number correct | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal | 62 | 62 | 34 |
| Quantitative | 52 | 52 | 34 |
| Non-Verbal | 56 | 56 | 34 |
What Is a Gifted CogAT Score?
A gifted CogAT score refers to a score that indicates a high level of cognitive ability or potential in a specific area assessed by the test.
However, there is no specific numerical threshold or cutoff for what is considered a gifted CogAT score (and there is no gifted CogAT score chart).
CogAT score interpretation can vary depending on multiple factors, including the student's age, grade level, and location.
The CogAT scores are reported as percentile ranks, highlighting how a student's performance compares to their peers. Generally, a higher score on the CogAT score percentile chart (in a specific section of the CogAT) indicates a stronger performance in that area.
It is important to understand that giftedness is a complex concept that is challenging to determine solely with a single test score.
Other factors should also be considered, such as creativity, motivation, and social-emotional characteristics.
How to Improve CogAT Scores
Step 1. Understand the Assessment
The first step to improving CogAT test scores is to ensure that you understand the test format and content and how the scores are calculated. Appreciating the requirements of a CogAT gifted score will help build a stronger score with each attempt.
Step 2. Positive Reinforcement
Many children strongly benefit from a low-pressure environment surrounded by positive reinforcement.
When children are relaxed, they are more willing to learn and revise, meaning they have a much higher chance of success.
Step 3. Practice Makes Perfect
Analyze previous assessments' strengths and weaknesses to develop a study schedule catering to your child's needs.
Completing practice assessments online will also help your child become familiar with both the content and format of the CogAT assessment.
CogAT scores represent a child's verbal, non-verbal, and quantitative reasoning ability. The scores are calculated by comparing each candidate to their peers in the same demographic.
Parents and educators must consider the three scores for the separate elements of the assessment and the overall composite score, as this will highlight any areas for improvement. CogAT score charts are extremely useful in helping parents understand their child’s abilities.
CogAT scores are typically documented in some form of portal, which educators and parents should be able to access. This will depend on the specific program the child is enrolled on.
No set score automatically considers a child to be gifted (and there is no gifted CogAT score chart). However, gifted children typically score in the 97th percentile for at least one section of the CogAT test.
A child's maximum SAS is 160, with 100 being considered an average score. Typically, scores above 125 are considered 'above average', but this will depend on the specific circumstances.
The composite USS is calculated by averaging the three Universal Scale Scores. To be considered gifted, children must perform well across the board.
The best way to improve your CogAT test score is to review previous strengths and weaknesses and build a study plan based on those areas. It is also important to note that most children thrive through positive reinforcement and work well in calm, low-pressure environments.
Final Thoughts
The CogAT tests are divided into three separate batteries: verbal, non-verbal, and quantitative. For a child to be considered gifted, they must excel in all three of these sections.
CogAT scores are developed by first taking the raw score and converting it into a universal scale score. This is then compared with children of the same age to develop a standard age score.
Finally, these results are then given a percentile rank and stanine age score, which enables them to see how they performed in comparison to their peers.
These are often presented as a useful CogAT score chart, which concisely provides teachers and parents with all the necessary information.
