Gifted Children Test Prep

Prepare for the 2023 Testing Season

Gifted and Talented programs and schools are becoming increasingly popular across the United States. These programs are very challenging: they are taught at a faster pace, cover more material, and delve deeper into educational content. In order to be admitted, children often need to take a gifted program test.

In the United States, policies for gifted program admissions may vary based on state, city, or school district. Often, gifted tests are administered to all students in a certain grade. In some instances, a teacher or parent nominates a student believed to be gifted, and refers the student to take a gifted children test.

Gifted programs and schools are becoming increasingly more competitive from year to year, as outlined in a recent article in The New York Times:

Nearly 5,000 children qualified for gifted and talented kindergarten seats in New York City public schools in the fall, 22 percent more than last year and more than double the number four years ago, setting off a fierce competition for the most sought-after programs in the system. Out of the children that qualified, not all were granted a spot in a NYC gifted school.

With increasing competition, it is important to make sure that your child is prepared when test day arrives. TestPrep-Online provides thorough, realistic preparation material for some of the most common gifted children tests, such as the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT), Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT), Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), New York City Gifted & Talented Test (NYC G&T), and the School and College Ability Test (SCAT).

What Do Parents Have to Say?

What Is the CogAT?

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a multiple choice, primarily nonverbal test used to assess cognitive development among children in grades K-12. It is often used for admissions into gifted and talented programs in the US. The test is comprised of three batteries: the Verbal Battery, the Quantitative Battery, and the Nonverbal Battery. These batteries evaluate specific reasoning skills in order to predict future academic success. The CogAT assesses one's problem solving abilities, cognitive development, and the ability to learn new tasks.

What Is the OLSAT?

The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) is a multiple choice test frequently used to identify students who are gifted and talented. Programs and schools for gifted and talented children frequently use the OLSAT to assess scholastic achievement among students. The test consists of verbal and nonverbal questions, both of which evaluate a student's ability to handle academic tasks. The purpose of the OLSAT is to assess memory, the ability to see relationships and patterns, and speed of thought.

Get a glimpse of the real OLSAT with our Free tests!

What Is the NNAT?

The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) is a nonverbal test that assesses general ability and is often used to identify gifted and talented children. The NNAT questions are made up of symbols and/or shapes, require few instructions, and evaluate nonverbal reasoning and problem solving abilities in children aged 5 to 17. Since the NNAT requires minimal use of language and does not require reading, writing, or speaking, it is considered to be culturally neutral. The test utilizes abstract shapes and designs, allowing for unbiased scoring, regardless of the student's primary language as well as academic and socioeconomic background.

What Is the NYC G&T?

The New York City Gifted & Talented Test (NYC G&T) is administered by the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to students aged 4-7 for entry into grades K-3. The test assesses New York City children to determine eligibility for NYC Gifted & Talented programs and schools. The test is made up of nonverbal questions from the NNAT and verbal questions from the OLSAT.

What Is the SCAT?

The School and College Ability Test (SCAT) is an above-grade level test administered by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY). The test is comprised of a verbal section and a quantitative section. All questions are multiple choice, and the test itself is computerized and available at computer test centers. The SCAT is used by CTY to identify gifted youth who demonstrate high academic potential. CTY offers various programs for gifted youth.

School Districts and their Gifted Tests

Below you will find links that lead to free sample tests that are commonly used in each school district for admission into G&T programs.

Texas Gifted & Talented Tests - STAAR, OLSAT, CogAT, and ISEE

Ontario Gifted & Talented Test - CCAT

Florida Gifted & Talented Test - CogAT, OLSAT, and NNAT

Georgia Gifted & Talented Test - CogAT

NJ Gifted & Talented Test - CogAT

As you can see above some school districts have several testing options. to know which one your child will take, you should ask your school directly what test is used.

Gifted and Talented Practice at TestPrep-Online

TestPrep-Online is a global leader in test preparation. We are proud to provide high quality products for a low, affordable price. Give your child a competitive edge by preparing them for the OLSAT, NNAT, CogAT, NYC Gifted and Talented Test, or SCAT.

All of our study packs include realistic, full-length gifted and talented practice tests, detailed answer explanations, and thorough progress reports at the culmination of every test. Additionally, many of our premium packs include video tutorials and hundreds of additional sample questions. Our interactive online interface is easy to use, child-friendly, and readily accessible. 

TestPrep-Online is here to help your child practice and prepare for gifted and talented testing. Browse through our grade-specific practice resources, which are immediately accessible online.

Learn More About Gifted Testing

Chinese SCAT & Korean SCAT  

More Information On Gifted Tests