NYC Gifted and Talented Test Online Preparation: Free Practice Questions, Samples & Tips – 2025

What Is the NYC Gifted and Talented Test?

The NYC Gifted and Talented test is a type of aptitude assessment that is administered by the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to children that are 4 to 7 years of age, or children in grades kindergarten through 3rd grade. These tests are used to measure the cognitive abilities in young children. Students that score well on this exam are considered to have exceptional learning abilities and only the top few scorers will be placed into a gifted and talented program.

The NYC Gifted and Talented test is extremely unique. The test uses material taken from two well-known aptitude tests. Verbal questions are utilized from the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) and the nonverbal questions are utilized from the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT). The questions on these exams are relatively difficult, even for adults. The material covered on these exams do not include material that is typically taught in school, making this a difficult exam to study for. Students that score well on the NYC Gifted and Talented test will have likely prepared weeks in advance with study materials and resources found online.

 NYC G&T Test by levels:

What Are NYC’s Gifted and Talented Test Sections?

The NYC Gifted and Talented Test will include two sections: a Verbal Section and a Nonverbal Section. Both of these sections will account for half of the overall composite score, regardless of the amount of questions that are asked per section. The scoring method is different than other types of aptitude tests, which usually average every section’s scores together. Within both the Verbal and Nonverbal Sections, there will be several subsections that will ask in-depth questions about specific topics relating to those sections. The number of subsections that a student will be required to take will depend on the level of test the child is taking.

Verbal Section

The Verbal Section is entirely made up of questions taken from the OLSAT exam. In total, the Verbal Section will ask students 30 questions, and the results from this section will account for one-half of a student’s overall composite score. Although this section does include verbal questions, students will not be expected to read at lower levels. Instead, the questions and their instructions will be read to the students out loud by a designated test proctor or teacher. Students will need to listen to the directions carefully, as they will only be read out loud once. Students will not be allowed to ask the teacher or test proctor to repeat the questions. Students completing the Verbal Section of the NYC Gifted and Talented Test may be asked to complete one or more of the following subsections.

Nonverbal Section

The Nonverbal Section is entirely made up of questions taken off of the NNAT exam. In total, the Nonverbal Section will ask students 48 questions, and the results from this section will account for one-half of a student’s overall composite score. The Nonverbal Section includes questions that are designed to test a child’s abstract spatial reasoning skills. Because the Nonverbal Section uses very few, if any, words, the section is a great way for students with underdeveloped language skills to excel on this test. It also provides an even playing ground for students of all backgrounds, even for those who have a different first language other than English. Students completing the Nonverbal Section of the NYC Gifted and Talented Test may be asked to complete one or more of the following subsections.

How to Read NYC’s Gifted and Talented Test Score Report

Every student will receive a score report several weeks after completing the NYC gifted and Talented Test. The score report will include several scores that will display how your child performed throughout the exam. The overall score is first determined by adding up the amount of answers responded to correctly from each section. Keep in mind that the individual section scores will not be added together, unlike other types of aptitude tests. The sum of the scores is shown as the raw score. The highest raw score possible for the Verbal Section is 30 and 48 for the Nonverbal Section.

The raw scores are then compared with other students throughout NYC and ranked. The norm ranks are converted into normal curve equivalents (NCE), which are considered to be a scaled score. Students will see their final score shown as a percentile between 1 and 99. In order to be admitted into a gifted and talented program in NYC, students will need to score within the top percentile for their age.

NYC Gifted and Talented Test Tips

1. Take advantage of any explanations provided at the end of a practice exam. During the actual NYC Gifted and Talented Test, students will not receive explanations for why a question was answered right or wrong. However, at the completion of a practice exam, you will receive detailed explanations for every single question that will teach you about how to answer any difficult questions. Explanations for every single question should be read, even if your child answered it right. There are times when a question could be answered correctly, but it may be a result of a lucky guess.
2. It may be helpful to ask your child to say their thought process out loud. It is important that parents occasionally sit down with their child during studying sessions to make sure that their child is understanding the information. If there is a particular section that you feel your child is not grasping, have them explain their thought process out loud to you. This could help you identify which parts your child is not understanding and you can help steer them back on track to understanding any difficult information.
3. Each question deserves the same amount of time. There will be times where your child runs across a question that they don’t immediately know the answer to. When this happens, it is important that your child not waste too much time trying to answer a single question. The entire NYC Gifted and Talented Test is timed, which means students don’t have unlimited time to pay attention to difficult questions. One of the best things to do when trying to answer a tricky question is rule out any answers that are obviously wrong, and then answer with the first answer that pops in your mind.
4. Practice and become familiar with the process of elimination. This is one of the best tools to have in your tool box. When those tricky questions appear, the process of elimination can help your child narrow down the answer to two or three feasible possibilities. The process of elimination works by identifying answers that are obviously wrong, and removing them from the possibilities. Continue doing this process until you cannot any longer. Your child should be left with two or three possibilities, which will give them a better chance at answering the question correctly.
5. Make sure to start studying at least two weeks in advance. Some schools are notorious for not notifying parents that their child will be taking a NYC Gifted and Talented Test until the very last second. However, as soon as you find out that your child is taking it, you need to start preparing with practice exams. Practice exams are designed to be repeatedly taken until your child has a firm grasp on the material. This cannot be accomplished if you wait until a few days beforehand to start cramming. This kind of studying method usually results in a severe loss of information very quickly. If possible, children should be studying at least two weeks in advance, which gives them plenty of time to soak up the new information.

How to Prepare for the NYC Gifted and Talented Test

Gifted and talented programs in New York City are extremely competitive and coveted. Many children will take the NYC Gifted and Talented Test, but only a few will be selected to join a specialized program. Gifted and talented programs are considered to be exceptional opportunities for a number of reasons. Mainly, these programs teach children information at a faster rate than their peers, which allows students to learn more information in a shorter amount of time. These programs also introduce students to other gifted students, and they will be able to learn new ideas off of each other. Gifted and talented programs are not offered by every school, making the opportunity to join one rare and sought-after.

In order to prepare for the NYC Gifted and Talented Test, parents need to first know what to prepare for. The easiest way to become acquainted and familiarized with the testing material is through the use of online resources, including practice exams and study guides. Generally, study guides include sample questions that introduce you to the type of questions your child will be asked as well as detailed explanations regarding why certain questions require a certain response. Practice exams also help your child be able to identify patterns that are usually obscure. Without the use of practice exams, the testing material and format that your child sees during the actual exam will likely all be new information, which could be extremely overwhelming for children. The easiest and best way to prepare for the NYC Gifted and Talented Test is through the extensive use of online practice exams and other study material.