Informational Overview of the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Assessment For students in grades 3 & 4 Spring 2016 During the month of March, students in third and fourth grade will be administered the CogAT test of cognitive abilities. This assessment is being administered as a rolling administration, meaning that the date and time is dependent upon the building and student’s schedule. The range of dates for administration is March 9 through March 31. Thomas Elementary will give the CogAT on March 16th and 17th. Please be aware that the CogAT is a test that measures both general and specific reasoning abilities. Students are assessed in the areas of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal abilities. It is used to identify students whose academic achievement is in the superior range, which results in a gifted identification in the area of superior cognitive ability. A score at or above 128 on this assessment meets the criteria established by the Ohio Department of Education for a superior cognitive gifted identification. Average scores on this assessment fall between 90 to110. Scores will be shared with parents via the online Parent Dashboard in late April. Parents will receive an email when scores are ready to be viewed. When viewing test scores, it is important to interpret them as representing a range of ability rather than as a precise, specific, unchanging point on a score scale. It is also important to keep in mind that there are many factors that affect a child’s school achievement such as effort, attention, persistence, attitude and support at home and school.