Approach

Every year, Bright Kids NYC successfully prepares many students for the CogAT® (Cognitive Abilities Test).

The process begins with an initial assessment to identify the child’s strengths and skills needing development. Based on the assessment results, we create a customized curriculum and carefully choose a teacher to work with your child.

We offer 1-on-1 tutoring in the privacy of your home, that is flexible to fit your scheduling needs. We also offer a more structured option, with a weekend tutoring session once a week over a set number of weeks. (For parents outside the five boroughs, ask about our Skype/Whiteboard tutoring services.) Bright Kids NYC also offers CogAT Practice Test materials that parents can purchase and use to prepare their child on their own.

About the test

The CogAT® is designed primarily for use in schools in order to evaluate general cognitive abilities that are fundamental to achieving instructional objectives at each grade. The CogAT® test measures both general and specific reasoning abilities. The general reasoning abilities reflect the overall efficiency of cognitive processes and strategies that enable individuals to learn new tasks and solve problems in the absence of direct instruction. These abilities are assessed in three domains: verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal. Each domain is represented by two or three different reasoning tasks to ensure the dependability of the score that is reported for each student.

Timing

The CogAT® test is given over a two week period (ten school days). The dates are dependent on your district. In our practice, children generally begin preparing 10-15 weeks before their test date. For parents who want to start early, we recommend our CogAT® Practice Test to gauge your child’s abilities.

FAQ

When is the test given?

The CogAT® is given over a two week period (ten school days). The dates depend on your district.

How long is the test?

The CogAT® tests for kindergarten through 2nd grade are made up of 132 questions. The 3rd-12th grade tests include 190 questions.

My child is taking the kindergarten entry test. Will he have to bubble in the answers?

No. Children entering kindergarten will only have to mark underneath the correct answer. Children begin filling in answer bubbles for the 1st grade entry test.

Is the test given in a group?

The CogAT® test for kindergarten entry is administered one-on-one. All other grades take the CogAT® test in groups.

When should my child start preparing for the test?

The CogAT® is a difficult test, so we recommend steady work over a period of several months. Signing up for an assessment is the best way to find out how much practice your child will need in order to perform to the best of his or her ability on the test.