CogAT Test Prep - Free Practice & Guidance

CogAT Test Prep - Free Practice & Guidance


The CogAT marks a key milestone as students transition across grade bands and face tests that measure reasoning and not learned facts. It’s a multi-level, battery-based assessment (Verbal, Quantitative, Nonverbal) that is often used for screening, placement, and growth measurement. From my years of experience creating CogAT-style materials, I know what drives success. I’m Ariav Schlesinger, the CogAT specialist at TestPrep-Online.

If you’re looking to help your child or student prepare effectively for the CogAT, this page is the perfect starting point. Here, you’ll find:

  • Free sample questions across Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal batteries for K–6
  • Clear, grade-mapped explanation of format, timing, and skills
  • Guidance on understanding CogAT scores and reports
  • Prep tips, and FAQs to simplify planning

Kindergarten ||| 1st Grade ||| 2nd Grade ||| 3rd Grade ||| 4th Grade ||| 5th Grade ||| 6th Grade

All CogAT PrepPacks

Open the page content below to discover everything you need to know about the CogAT test, our page offers general information along with sample questions to get you started.

Page Content

Free CogAT Sample Questions

The CogAT is a fast-paced reasoning test built around three timed “batteries”, Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal. Each battery is broken into short subtests where students often have less than a minute per question, making time management just as important as skill. Altogether, the exam takes roughly 90 minutes to 2–3 hours, depending on grade level and proctor pacing. Below, you’ll find sample questions by grade to show what this format looks like in action.

CogAT Sample Questions: Grades K- 2 Levels 5-8

LEVELS (5–8)

For Kindergarten to Grade 2 questions are picture-based and have an untimed format.

VERBAL BATTERY (Lower Levels) 

The verbal battery looks at how young children understand language through pictures and spoken instructions. It doesn’t test reading: it measures how well they can connect ideas, use logic, and recognize relationships between words and images. 

  1. Picture Analogies

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Pairs of pictures (e.g., hand → glove :: foot → ?). 

Choose the picture that completes the relationship. 

Verbal reasoning using visual relationships. 

Verbal Sample Question - Picture Analogies

Make a logical connection.

cogat

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

View Explanation

 

Correct Answer Choice: B

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Verbal Battery: Picture Analogies subset. This subset tests your ability to recognize relationships between objects and apply that same relationship to a new pair. 

You see a spider and a spider web. Ask yourself: what is the relationship between these two things? The spider makes the web and lives in it. The web is the spider's home that it creates itself.

You have a bird and an empty box. You need to find what completes this analogy using the same relationship. Think about what a bird makes and lives in, just like the spider makes and lives in a web. A bird builds a nest and lives in it.

Choice A shows a bare tree (the bird doesn't make the tree), choice B shows a nest (the bird builds this and lives in it), and choice C shows a net (the bird doesn't build or live in this). Only choice B shows something the bird creates and lives in, matching the spider and web relationship perfectly.

  1. Sentence Completion

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

A spoken sentence (e.g., “Which one swims in the ocean?”) with picture options. 

Choose the picture that best completes the sentence. 

Listening comprehension and logical understanding of meaning. 

Verbal Sample Question - Sentence Completion

The following pictures belong together except for one. Which one does not belong?

Wrong

Wrong

Correct!

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: C

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Verbal Battery: Picture Classification subset. This subset tests your ability to identify what a group of pictures has in common and find which picture does not share those same characteristics.

Ask yourself what each pair has in common and how they might be related.

Examine choice 1. You see a chicken and a chick. The chick is the baby or young version of the chicken. They are the same animal at different life stages.

Examine choice 2. You see a butterfly and a caterpillar. The caterpillar is the young version that grows into a butterfly. Again, these are the same animal at different life stages.

Examine choice 3. You see a bird and an elephant. These are two completely different animals. The bird does not grow into an elephant, and they are not related at all.

Choices 1 and 2 both show an adult animal with its young or earlier life stage. Choice 3 shows two unrelated animals that have no connection. Choice 3 does not belong because it shows different animals rather than young and adult versions of the same animal.

The correct answer choice is C.

  1. Picture Classification

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

A group of three pictures (e.g., ball, bat, glove). 

Pick the picture that belongs with the group. 

Understanding of categories and relationships between ideas. 

Verbal Sample Question - Picture Classification

Make a logical connection.

Correct!

Wrong

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: A 

Let's break this down. 

This question is from the Verbal Battery: Picture Classification subset. This subset tests your ability to identify what a group of pictures has in common and find another picture that shares those same characteristics.

Identify the shared characteristics. All three are vehicles that have motors (engines) and travel on roads or tracks on the ground. They are all motor vehicles used for transportation.

Check choice A (car). It has a motor and travels on the road, just like the bus, motorcycle, and train. This matches perfectly! Check choice B (bicycle). Although it travels on the road, it does not have a motor. It is powered by pedaling, so it doesn't fit the pattern. Check choice C (airplane). While it has a motor, it flies in the sky rather than traveling on the ground like the other vehicles.

The correct answer choice is A.

Access Full Kindergarten Practice Pack
More Kindergarten Sample Questions

QUANTITATIVE BATTERY (Lower Levels) 

What it measures: This section checks how children notice and use number relationships. All questions are visual as  students don’t need to know math symbols yet. Beads, dots, and trains help them “see” quantities and patterns. 

  1. Number Analogies

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Pictures in a 2 X 2 matrix showing quantity changes (e.g., 2 beads → 4 beads :: 3 beads → ?). 

Choose the set that continues the same rule. 

Early number reasoning and recognizing quantity relationships. 

Quantitative Sample Question - Number Analogies

Choose what logically follows.

Wrong

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: C

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Quantitative Battery: Number Analogies subset. This subset tests your ability to identify mathematical relationships between pairs of numbers or quantities and apply that same relationship to complete a new pair.

In the left box, you see 2 slices of pizza. In the right box, you see 4 slices of pizza. Figure out the relationship between these two numbers. The relationship is that 4 is 2 more than 2, or you can think of it as 2 + 2 = 4. The pattern is adding 2 slices.

The left box shows 3 slices of pizza. The right box is empty with a question mark. You need to apply the same relationship.

This gives you 3 + 2 = 5 slices of pizza. Check each answer choice. Choice A shows 1 slice, choice B shows 2 slices, choice C shows 5 slices, and choice D shows a whole pizza (not 5 slices). Only choice C matches our answer of 5 slices.

  1. Number Puzzles

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

“Trains” made of dots or beads that balance or complete a set. 

Choose how many beads go in the missing train car. 

Understanding how quantities fit together,  the foundation of equation thinking. 

Quantitative Sample Question - Number Puzzles

Choose what logically follows.

cogat

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: B

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Quantitative Battery: Number Puzzles subset. This subset tests your ability to understand mathematical relationships and solve problems by figuring out missing values that make both sides equal.

You can see there are 6 apples in total in the car. Count the apples in the second train. There are 3 apples in the first car, and the second car has a question mark (this is what we need to find).

The key is understanding that both trains should carry the same total number of apples. Since the first train has 6 apples, the second train must also have 6 apples in total. 

The second train has 3 apples plus the unknown number. So: 3 + ? = 6. Solve the missing value. 6 minus 3 equals 3. We need 3 apples in the question mark car.

Check the answer choices. Choice A shows 1 apple, choice B shows 3 apples, and choice C shows 2 apples. Only choice B matches our answer.

The correct answer choice is B.

  1. Number Series

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Rows of beads or objects increasing or decreasing in number. 

Predict which group comes next. 

Recognizing and extending visual number patterns. 

Quantitative Sample Question - Number Series

Choose what logically follows.

Correct!

Wrong

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: A

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Quantitative Battery: Number Series subset. This subset tests your ability to identify patterns in sequences of numbers or objects and predict what comes next.

Count how many beads are on each vertical string from left to right: 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3.

Identify the pattern. The sequence goes 1 bead, 2 beads, 3 beads, then repeats again: 1 bead, 2 beads, 3 beads. This is a repeating pattern of 1, 2, 3.

Since the last string shows 3 beads, the pattern should start over from the beginning. The next string should have 1 bead. Eliminate wrong answers. Choice C shows 4 beads, which breaks the pattern since we never go above 3. Choice B shows 2 beads, which would skip the start of the repeating cycle. Confirm the correct answer. Choice A shows 1 bead, which perfectly continues the repeating pattern of 1, 2, 3.

The correct answer choice is A.

Access Full 1st Grade Practice Pack
More 1st Grade Sample Questions

NONVERBAL BATTERY (Lower Levels) 

What it measures: This part doesn’t use language at all. Children solve picture and shape puzzles that test reasoning and spatial awareness. It’s especially helpful for identifying bright thinkers who may still be developing English skills. 

 

  1. Figure Matrices

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

A 2x2 grid of shapes where one shape is missing. 

Choose the shape that completes the pattern. 

Understanding how shapes change and relate using visual logic. 

Nonverbal Sample Question - Figure Matrices

Choose the right shape to follow the pattern.

cogat

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: B

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Non-Verbal Battery: Figure Matrices subset. This subset tests your ability to recognize patterns and transformations between shapes, then apply that same rule to complete a new pair.

You have a rectangle divided in half vertically, and it transforms into a square divided into four quarters with opposite corners shaded (top right and bottom left are black).

The shape gets divided into quarters, and the diagonal opposite quarters get shaded. Specifically, the top right and bottom left quarters are filled in black. Now apply this same rule to the bottom row. You start with a circle divided in half vertically. You need to find what it transforms into using the same pattern.

The circle should be divided into four quarters, and the same diagonal opposite quarters (top right and bottom left) should be shaded black. Choice A has the wrong quarters shaded (top left and bottom right). Choice C is only divided in half, not into quarters. Choice B has the circle divided into four quarters with the top right and bottom left shaded, matching the pattern perfectly.

The correct answer choice is B.

 

  1. Paper Folding

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Drawings of folded paper with a hole punched. 

Pick what the paper will look like unfolded. 

Spatial visualization and pattern recognition. 

Nonverbal Sample Question - Paper Folding

Choose the right shape to follow the pattern.

Wrong

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: C

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Non-Verbal Battery: Paper Folding subset. This subset tests your ability to visualize what happens when paper is folded and cut, then mentally unfold it to see the resulting pattern.

Look at the sequence shown. A rectangular paper starts flat, then gets folded in half lengthwise (vertically down the middle), as shown by the curved arrow.

After folding, an L-shape and an arrow are cut out of the folded paper. These cutouts appear on the right side of the fold line.

Visualize what happens when you unfold the paper. Since the paper was folded in half, any cuts will appear on both sides of the fold line, creating a mirror image.

The L-shape and arrow on the right side will be mirrored to create matching cutouts on the left side. The arrow should point in the opposite direction (left instead of right) on the mirrored side. Check the answer choices. Choice A and B show arrows pointing the wrong directions. Choice D has the arrow above the L-shape instead of below it. Only choice C shows the correct mirror pattern with arrows pointing outward and L-shapes positioned correctly on both sides.

The correct answer choice is C.

  1. FigureClassification( isthis not where we identify whats in the group) 

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Groups of simple shapes (circle, square, triangle). 

Choose which shape belongs with the group. 

Visual pattern matching and categorization. 

Nonverbal Sample Question - Figure Classification

Choose the right shape to follow the pattern.

Wrong

Wrong

Correct!

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: C

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Non-Verbal Battery: Figure Classification subset. This subset tests your ability to identify common characteristics among shapes and find which answer choice shares those same features.

Notice that each shape (circle, rectangle, triangle) is divided into two parts by a vertical line.

Examine how the shapes are divided. The key detail is that each shape is split into two uneven pieces. One side is larger (2/3) and one side is smaller (1/3).

See which one follows this same rule of being divided into two uneven pieces.

Answer choice A shows a rectangle divided evenly (both pieces are equal), so this doesn't match. Answer choice B shows an oval divided evenly into two equal halves, so this is also incorrect.: Answer choice C shows an oval divided by a horizontal line into two uneven pieces (top is larger, bottom is smaller). This matches the pattern perfectly!

The correct answer choice is C.

Access Full 2nd Grade Practice Pack
More 2nd Grade Sample Questions

CogAT Sample Questions: Grades 3- 6 Levels 9-12

For Grades 3–6, questions are  text, number, and abstract format; timed sections (about 10 minutes each). 

VERBAL BATTERY (Higher Levels) 

What it measures: At higher levels, the verbal battery examines how students think about relationships and meanings in written language. It goes beyond vocabulary to assess reasoning and comprehension. 

 

  1. Verbal Analogies

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Word pairs (e.g., TV : watch :: newspaper : read). 

Choose the word that completes the analogy. 

Language-based reasoning and relationship mapping. 

Verbal Sample Question - Verbal Analogies

The words in the first pair are related in a certain way. Choose the word that completes the second pair so that the words are related in the same way.

honey → bees :  wool →

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

View Explanation

12. Verbal Classification

What Students See

What They Do

What It Measures

Word groups (e.g., apple, orange, pear, ____).

Pick the word that fits the same category.

Category reasoning and vocabulary knowledge.

 

Ask yourself, what is the relationship between these two words?

Honey is something that comes from bees. Bees produce honey naturally as part of their work. So the relationship is: product comes from animal.

You need to find what completes this analogy using the same relationship.

Think about where wool comes from. Wool is produced by an animal, just like honey is produced by bees. What animal produces wool?

Cotton is a plant product. Coat and fabric are things made from wool, not the source. Hair is similar but not specific. Sheep are the animals that produce wool naturally.

Sheep is the correct answer because wool comes from sheep, just like honey comes from bees. Both show the same product-to-animal relationship.

The correct answer choice is sheep.

  1. Sentence Completion

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Incomplete sentences with multiple-choice options. 

Select the best word to complete each sentence. 

Reading comprehension and grammar reasoning. 

Verbal Sample Question - Sentence Completion

Choose the words that best complete the sentence.

On the surface Ben seems _____ but to all of his close peers he is _____ .

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: D Shy .. Outgoing 

Let's break this down. 

This question is from the Verbal Battery: Sentence Completion subset. This subset tests your ability to understand sentence structure and choose words that make logical sense based on context clues. 

"On the surface Ben seems _____ but to all of his close peers he is _____." Notice the signal word "but" in the middle.

The word "but" signals a contrast or opposite relationship. This tells you that Ben appears one way on the surface, but acts differently around his close friends.

You need to find a pair of words that are opposites or contrasting. The first blank describes how Ben seems to strangers, and the second blank describes how he really is with friends.

Awkward and clumsy are similar (both mean not smooth). Peculiar and weird are similar (both mean unusual). Attentive and shallow are unrelated traits. Traditional and observant are unrelated or sometimes similar. Look at shy and outgoing. Shy means reserved and quiet around others. Outgoing means friendly and sociable. These are clear opposites that create a logical contrast. The sentence makes perfect sense: Ben seems shy on the surface, but to his close friends he is outgoing.

The correct answer choice is shy .. outgoing.

  1. Verbal Classification

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Word groups (e.g., apple, orange, pear, ____). 

Pick the word that fits the same category. 

Category reasoning and vocabulary knowledge. 

Verbal Sample Question - Verbal Classification

Find the logical connection. 

lemon   orange   lime

Wrong

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

Wrong

View Explanation

The correct answer is C grapefruit.

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Verbal Battery: Verbal Classification subset. This subset tests your ability to identify what a group of words has in common and find another word that shares those same characteristics.

Ask yourself what all three of these have in common. Think about the categories these items belong to. All three are fruits, but that's not specific enough. What special type of fruits are they?

Identify the key characteristic. Lemons, oranges, and limes are all citrus fruits. Citrus fruits have a tangy, acidic taste and typically have thick peels.

Apple is a pome fruit, strawberry is a berry, pear is a pome fruit, and avocado is technically a berry. None of these are citrus fruits. Grapefruit, however, is a citrus fruit with the same tangy taste and thick peel as lemons, oranges, and limes.

Grapefruit is the only answer that belongs to the citrus fruit family, making it the correct choice.

The correct answer choice is grapefruit.

Access Full 3rd Grade Practice Pack
More 3rd Grade Sample Questions

QUANTITATIVE BATTERY (Higher Levels) 

What it measures: This battery moves from counting pictures to using numbers and symbols. Students show how well they can reason about quantity, detect number patterns, and solve simple equations. 

  1. Number Analogies

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Number relationships (1 → 2 :: 3 → ?). 

 

Apply the same rule to find the missing number. 

 

Abstract number pattern reasoning. 

 

Quantitative Sample Question - Number Analogies

What number comes next in the series?

[75 → 66]       [33 → 24]       [58 → ?]

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: B

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Quantitative Battery: Number Analogies subset. This subset tests your ability to identify mathematical relationships between pairs of numbers and apply that same relationship to complete a new pair.

Look at the first pair: 75 and 66. Figure out what operation connects these two numbers. What do you need to do to 75 to get 66?

Calculate the difference: 75 minus 66 equals 9. So the relationship is subtracting 9 from the first number to get the second number (75 - 9 = 66).

Check if this rule works for the second pair: 33 and 24. Does 33 minus 9 equal 24? Yes! 33 - 9 = 24. The pattern is confirmed. Now apply this same rule to the third pair: 58 and the missing number. Use the subtraction pattern you discovered. Calculate the answer: 58 - 9 = 49. The missing number should be 49.

  1. Number Puzzles

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Number sentences (2 + 3 = 1 + ?).   

Solve for the missing value. 

 

Symbolic reasoning and understanding of mathematical equality. 

 

Quantitative Sample Question - Number Puzzles

Find the missing number.

2 x 6 = ? + 7

Correct!

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: A

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Quantitative Battery: Number Puzzles subset. This subset tests your ability to understand mathematical relationships and solve problems by figuring out missing values that make equations balanced.

Look at the equation: 2 × 6 = ? + 7. Remember that both sides of the equation must be equal to each other. First, solve the left side of the equation. Calculate 2 × 6, which equals 12. Now your equation becomes: 12 = ? + 7.

To find the missing number, ask yourself: what number plus 7 equals 12? You need to figure out what value makes the right side equal to 12.

Work backwards from 12. If something plus 7 equals 12, then that something must be 12 minus 7. Calculate: 12 - 7 = 5. This means the missing number is 5.

Check your answer by substituting 5 back into the original equation: 2 × 6 = 5 + 7. Does 12 = 12? Yes! Your answer is correct.

  1. Number Series

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Numeric sequences (2, 4, 6, 8, ?). 

Identify the rule and continue the pattern. 

Pattern detection and rule application. 

Quantitative Sample Question - Number Series

What number comes next in the series?

1   5   7   11   13   17   ?

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

Correct!

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: 19

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Quantitative Battery: Number Series subset. This subset tests your ability to identify patterns in sequences of numbers and predict what comes next.

Look at the series of numbers: 1, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, ?. You need to figure out the rule that connects these numbers.

Find the difference between consecutive numbers. From 1 to 5 is +4, from 5 to 7 is +2, from 7 to 11 is +4, from 11 to 13 is +2, from 13 to 17 is +4. Notice the pattern! The differences alternate: +4, +2, +4, +2, +4. This is a repeating pattern where you add 4, then add 2, then add 4 again, and so on.

Determine what comes next. The last jump was from 13 to 17, which was +4. Following the alternating pattern, the next operation should be +2. Calculate the answer. Take the last number in the series (17) and add 2: 17 + 2 = 19.

Access Full 4th Grade Practice Pack
More 4th Grade Sample Questions

NONVERBAL BATTERY (Higher Levels) 

What it measures: This section focuses on complex visual and spatial reasoning. Students must analyze abstract designs and apply multiple transformation rules: it’s all about logic and visual flexibility. 

 

  1. Figure Matrices

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Abstract designs that change by shape, shading, or rotation. 

Select the figure that completes the logical sequence. 

Multi-rule visual reasoning. 

Nonverbal Sample Question - Figure Matrices

Choose the picture that belongs with the bottom picture in the same way the pictures on top belong together. 

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: B

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Non-Verbal Battery: Figure Matrices subset. This subset tests your ability to recognize patterns and transformations between shapes, then apply that same rule to complete a new pair.

The left cell has three stacked shapes (circle on top, triangle in middle, trapezoid on bottom). The right cell shows these same shapes rearranged.

Figure out what happens to each shape. The bottom shape (trapezoid) becomes the outermost (largest) shape. The middle shape (triangle) rotates 90 degrees clockwise and becomes the innermost (smallest) shape. The top shape (circle) becomes the middle shape.

The left cell shows an oval on top, triangle in middle, and rectangle on bottom. Transform each shape using the rule. The bottom rectangle should become the outermost shape. This eliminates choices D and E, which have circles as the outer shape.

The middle triangle should rotate 90 degrees clockwise and become the innermost shape. Choices A and C show the triangle in the wrong position, so eliminate them. Only choice B correctly shows the rectangle as outer, triangle rotated as inner, and oval as middle.

The correct answer choice is B.

  1. Paper Folding

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Several folds and punch locations shown step by step. 

Choose how the unfolded paper would look. 

Advanced spatial reasoning and visualization. 

Nonverbal Sample Question - Paper Folding

Choose the right shape to follow the pattern.

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: D

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Non-Verbal Battery: Paper Folding subset. This subset tests your ability to visualize what happens when paper is folded and cut, then mentally unfold it to see the resulting pattern

The square paper is first folded in half horizontally (widthwise), then folded in half again vertically (lengthwise). The paper now has four layers.

Notice that three holes are punched through all four layers of the folded paper. Since the holes go through four layers, each hole will appear four times when unfolded.

Three holes times four layers equals 12 holes total (3 × 4 = 12). This eliminates choices A, C, and E, which show fewer than 12 holes.

Because the paper was folded twice (once horizontally, once vertically), the holes must mirror across both fold lines. Each quarter section must mirror the quarters above, below, and beside it.

Check choice B. The holes in the top half are positioned exactly the same as the bottom half instead of mirroring them properly. This is incorrect. Choice D shows 12 holes with proper mirroring across both the horizontal and vertical fold lines.

The correct answer choice is D.

  1. FigureClassification

What Students See 

What They Do 

What It Measures 

Complex or unfamiliar abstract shapes. 

Pick the one that belongs with the group. 

Abstract visual categorization and pattern detection. 

Nonverbal Sample Question - Figure Classification

Choose the right shape to follow the pattern.

Wrong

Wrong

Wrong

Correct!

Wrong

View Explanation

Correct Answer Choice: D

Let's break this down.

This question is from the Non-Verbal Battery: Figure Classification subset. This subset tests your ability to identify common characteristics among shapes and find which answer choice shares those same features.

Look at the three shapes in the pattern: a hexagon (green), a circle (blue), and a square (white outline). Count how many sides each shape has.

The hexagon has 6 sides, the circle has 0 straight sides (it's curved), and the square has 4 sides. Wait, that doesn't seem like an obvious pattern at first. Look more carefully. The hexagon has 6 sides (even number), the circle is a special case, and the square has 4 sides (even number). Actually, if we count vertices or corners, hexagon has 6, square has 4. Both are even numbers. The circle doesn't fit this pattern perfectly, so focus on the polygon shapes having even numbers of sides.

Now check each answer choice for even-sided polygons. Choice A (pentagon) has 5 sides (odd). Choice B (arrow) has 7 sides (odd). Choice C (oval) has no straight sides. Choice D (parallelogram) has 4 sides (even). Choice E (heptagon) has 7 sides (odd). Only choice D has an even number of sides, matching the pattern of the hexagon and square.

The correct answer choice is D.

Access Full 5th Grade Practice Pack
More 5th Grade Sample Questions

Understanding Your Child’s CogAT Scores

The CogAT shows how your child reasons and solves problems in Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal areas. Here’s what each score means:

  • Raw Score: Number of questions answered correctly.
  • Universal Scale Score (USS): A standardized score for each battery.
  • Standard Age Score (SAS): Ranges from 100 (average) to 160 (very advanced).
  • Percentile Rank (PR): Shows how your child compares to same-age peers (e.g., PR 80 means higher than 80 percent of students).
  • Stanine (1–9): A broad ability band, with 5 as average and 9 as very high.

For a full parent guide with examples, visit our CogAT Score Explanation page.

Access Full 6th Grade Practice Pack
More 6th Grade Sample Questions

Making Sense of the Scores

Your child's report will include several types of scores for each battery:

These are compiled into a score profile

CogAT Score Profiles: Understanding the Score Pattern

The report includes a letter and number code (like "7A" or "8B(Q+)") that reveals important information:

Stanines: The Number (1-9) indicates overall ability level, with 5-6 representing average performance, 7-8 above average, and 9 very high.

Score Pattern Indicator: The letter shows how consistent the scores are:

  • A: All three scores are similar so you have balanced strengths across the board
  • B: One area stands out as notably stronger or weaker
  • C: Two areas contrast with each other
  • D: Significant differences between scores

The Plus or Minus Signs highlight specific strengths (+) or areas for growth (−):

  • V+ or V− = Verbal
  • Q+ or Q− = Quantitative
  • N+ or N− = Nonverbal

What This Means for Your Child

Verbal Strengths (V+)

Children with verbal strengths typically excel at reading, writing, and expressing ideas. They often thrive in:

  • Language arts and literature
  • Social studies and discussions
  • Any subject requiring clear communication
  • How to support: Encourage reading for pleasure, conversations about complex topics, and writing activities.

Quantitative Strengths (Q+)

  • These children are natural problem-solvers who think logically and work well with numbers. They often enjoy:
  • Mathematics and logic puzzles
  • Science experiments
  • Strategy games and coding
  • How to support: Provide math-based challenges, building activities, and opportunities to explore patterns in everyday life.

Nonverbal Strengths (N+)

  • Students with nonverbal strengths excel at visual thinking and spatial reasoning. They often shine in:
  • Geometry and visual arts
  • Engineering and design
  • Technology and hands-on projects
  • How to support: Offer opportunities for building, drawing, and working with visual materials like maps and diagrams.

Using Strengths to Support Growth

The most valuable aspect of CogAT results is understanding how to leverage your child's strengths to support areas that may need more development. For example:

A child with V+ but Q− might benefit from explaining math problems aloud or reading word problems carefully

A student with Q+ but V− could use charts, graphs, and organized lists to structure their writing

A learner with N+ but V− might connect better with concepts when shown diagrams, videos, or demonstrations

How Can Parents Help Students Prepare?

Effective CogAT prep focuses on building reasoning habits, not teaching test tricks. Here are four practical tips:

  • Daily short practice: 10–15 minutes of mixed battery practice improves pattern recognition.
  • Explain reasoning aloud: Ask students to say why they picked an answer to strengthen reasoning pathways.
  • Focus on unfamiliar formats: Paper folding and matrices often surprise students, so use hands-on practice.
  • Build stamina gently: Practice with timed mini sessions ahead of the full test day.

Preparing Your Child for CogAT Success: What’s in Our PrepPack

Our CogAT PrepPack is tailored for all grade bands and includes thoughtfully sequenced practice that mirrors the official batteries. It’s designed to boost reasoning, not rote memory.

What's included

Full-length practice tests per grade band

Quizzes

Study guides

CogAT Test Prep FAQs

The CogAT measures reasoning skills in three areas: Verbal, Quantitative (math-based reasoning), and Nonverbal (visual–spatial problem solving).

More than Practice Tests

Practice Tests, Video Tutorials, Study Guides, Additional Drills, Expert Explanations

Realistic Simulations
PrepPacks tailored to accurate test scenarios.

 

Interactive Tests
Practice materials, designed to help students perform their best on their tests!

Premium Quality
Expert-crafted practice tests with accurate questions and explanations

Start Practicing Now

No. It measures how students think and learn, not overall intelligence. It focuses on patterns, relationships, and logic.

Students complete three batteries—Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal—each made up of three short subtests. Younger grades use pictures; older grades use words and numbers.

No. K–2 tasks rely mostly on pictures and oral directions. Grades 3+ use reading, number reasoning, and more complex problem-solving. Difficulty arises with age.

Practice with sample questions and simulated test conditions helps, as does building familiarity with test sections; formal tutoring is less critical at earlier grades.

Most commonly in the fall or spring, varying by school district.

Ask Ariav

A certified teacher with a Master’s in Education and a MAP Growth specialist with over a decade of experience developing MAP-aligned questions that match the real test’s rigor. Ariav creates materials with clear, detailed explanations that build understanding, boost reasoning skills, and help every child perform their best on the MAP Growth assessment.



All CogAT Practice Packs

Money back guarantee

Close
TestPrep-Online TestPrep-Online

Since 1992, TestPrep-Online has helped individuals prepare for all kinds of tests. From entrance exams into gifted programs, to assessment tests, and graduate assessment and placement tests, TestPrep-Online can help you prepare and pass.

JobTestPrep JobTestPrep
Company Company
Help Help
Partnerships Partnerships
Copyright © 2025 TestPrep-Online. All Rights Reserved.