Gifted and Talented Tests Online Preparation: Free Practice Questions & Tips – 2025

What Is a Gifted and Talented Test?

Gifted and talented tests, also known as G&T tests, gifted children tests, and gifted & talented tests, are a type of test that assess children’s aptitude for learning. A gifted and talented program is an opportunity for students who learn faster than their peers. Rather than holding children back and making them learn at a slower pace, these types of programs will allow them to learn more information by attending a specialized program that moves at a faster pace. Gifted and talented programs can be extremely competitive, where only a few of the highest-scoring test takers will actually gain admittance. This means that even if your child scores a relatively high score, they still may not be competitive enough.

In many cases, these gifted and talented tests will measure a child’s ability to quickly solve problems and identify shape movements within a matrix. Gifted and talented tests can be both verbal and nonverbal. It is important to note that each state, city, and school district will have different requirements and tests. In order to know which gifted and talented test your child will be taking, you must reach out to your school district and obtain that information.

What Are the Most Common Gifted and Talented Tests?

There are dozens of options for the type of gifted and talented test that your child may take. In some cities, schools are required to use a specific test. In others, schools can choose to use a standardized aptitude test that is commonly used nationwide. Here are a few of the most common gifted and talented tests that your child may be asked to take.

• CogAT Test: The CogAT Test, also known as the Cognitive Abilities Test, is one of the largest, standardized aptitude tests in the United States. This test is administered to children in kindergarten through 12th grade. The CogAT Test is divided into three batteries, including a Verbal Battery, a Nonverbal Battery, and a Quantitative Battery. Within each battery, there will be an additional three subsections that will conduct in-depth testing on a specific knowledge area. After the test has been completed, the scores from the test will be compared with other children that are three months in age, and each child will be assigned a Percentile Rank that will determine their eligibility for a gifted and talented program.
• CCAT Test: The CCAT Test, also known as the Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test, is a standardized aptitude test administered to children in kindergarten through 12th grade in Canada. The CCAT Test is almost identical to the CogAT Test. Each test includes a Verbal, Nonverbal, and Quantitative Battery that are also further divided into subsections. The difference between the CCAT and CogAT tests are the way they are scored. Instead of a Percentile Rank, students will receive an Age Percentile Rank and a Grade Percentile Rank. These two scores will show a comparison of how your student performed based on their age and grade level.
• OLSAT Test: The OLSAT Test, also known as the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, is another large aptitude test that is administered to children in the United States. This test is administered to children in preschool through 12th grade, and includes OLSAT Levels A – G. The OLSAT Test only includes two sections: a Verbal Section and a Nonverbal Section. Each of these sections include subsections, and the Nonverbal Section also includes Quantitative Reasoning questions. Students will be assigned a Percentile Rank based on their performance on this exam.
• NNAT Test: The NNAT Test, also known as the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test, is a type of aptitude test that only measures the nonverbal abilities of children in kindergarten through 12th grade. The NNAT Test includes a Pattern Completion, Reasoning by Analogy, Serial Reasoning, and Spatial Visualization section. Depending on a child’s grade level, they may be asked to complete one or more of the sections. Students will receive a Percentile Rank score based on their performance on the NNAT Test compared with children of the same age.
• NYC Gifted and Talented Test: The New York City Gifted and Talented Test is an aptitude assessment strictly administered to children in NYC that are between 4 and 7 years in age. This test in unique in the sense that it uses testing material from two larger and well-known aptitude tests, including the OLSAT and NNAT tests. The NYC Gifted and Talented Test includes a Verbal and Nonverbal Section that also include several subsections. Students will receive a Percentile Rank based on how well they did compared to other students. Gifted and talented programs are extremely competitive in NYC. In recent years, only the top 99th percentile of students were admitted into these specialized programs.
• SCAT Test: The SCAT Test, also known as the School and College Ability Test, is a type of aptitude test administered to children that have applied for a John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (JHU CTY) program. This test is offered to children in 2nd grade through 12th grade, and is considered an above-grade level test. The testing material will include subjects that are typically taught at a higher grade level, which means that a 4th grader will be answering 6th grade-level questions. The SCAT Test includes a Verbal and Quantitative Section. Unlike other aptitude tests, in which the scores from both sections are combined together, the SCAT Test scores each section individually. Based on the section scores, students may be eligible for one or more JHU CTY programs.
• CAT 4 Tests: The CAT 4 Tests, also known as the Cognitive Abilities Test 4, is an aptitude test administered to children in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The test is used to admit children into gifted and talented programs, or simply to assess how a child is performing in school. The CAT 4 Tests are made up of four sections, including a Quantitative Reasoning Section, a Verbal Reasoning Section, a Nonverbal Reasoning Section, and a Spatial Ability Section. Each section will also have two subsections that ask in-depth questions about that specific subject. Students will receive a National Percentile Rank score that shows how well they did compared with other same-age students nationwide.

Do You Have to Prepare for a Gifted and Talented Test?

There are over 30 different types of gifted and talented tests that your child may be asked to take. Each school district will have their own guidance regarding which test they plan on administering. However, regardless of the type of test your child takes, it is imperative that they study and prepare for it well in advance. Each of the gifted and talented tests includes testing material that is not typically taught to students in school, which means on testing day, the material will look unfamiliar to them. In order to overcome this, students need to be familiarized with the material before they take the actual exam. Otherwise, they may feel overwhelmed with the unfamiliar testing content.

Gifted and Talented Test Tips for Younger Children

1. Avoid making studying time a chore. When it’s time to study, it is better to reassure your child that studying time is fun rather than a chore. Tell your child that you will be playing several fun games online. When you take online practice exams, make sure that you are present with your child. Reward them when they answer questions correctly, and guide them when they answer them wrong. Additionally, it is important to not place too much stress on this test in front of your child. Instead, tell them that their results do not matter, so long as they try their best.
2. Throw in some games while studying. Although online practice exams are the most efficient way to study, that does not mean parents can’t incorporate some fun into studying. If you notice your child struggling to pay attention, distract them with a little game that will keep their mind working. Point to a pattern in your house and ask your child to identify any pattern they see. This will keep them thinking and practicing without the formality of a practice exam.

Gifted and Talented Test Tips for Older Children

1. Start with easier questions and then work your way through harder ones. It is important to boost your child’s confidence during the initial stages of studying. Start out with lower-level practice exams until your child feels comfortable answering those questions. Then, work your way towards appropriate grade-level questions. After they have mastered those, you can start incorporating above-grade level questions. This method will gradually introduce difficult material to your child without them becoming overwhelmed.
2. Make sure that your child practices with every test section. Your child may be tempted to skip over any test sections that they believe they have mastered. In reality, the actual aptitude test may include questions that your child has never encountered before. This is why it is important that your child become familiar with every single section. After they complete the entire practice exam, they can start focusing on any areas that they struggled with.

How to Prepare for a Gifted and Talented Test?

Preparing for a gifted and talented test is absolutely essential. Online practice exams and study guides are great tools for introducing new material to your child. Practice exams also include a timer, which will be necessary to gauge whether or not your child is answering questions quickly enough. Almost every single gifted and talented test is timed, which means students need to be able to answer questions quickly when under pressure. The most valuable part about practice exams is their inclusion of explanations. Explanations are vital for comprehending why difficult or complex questions have certain answers. Explanations can also help your child understand why certain answers were not feasible, which could be extremely useful on the actual gifted and talented test. Many parents will be hoping to enroll their child into a gifted and talented program, but only a few students will actually score high enough to be eligible. Make sure your child has the best odds of scoring high on these gifted and talented tests by thoroughly preparing with practice exams.