The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a group-administered K–12 assessment intended to estimate students' learned reasoning and problem solving abilities through a battery of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal test items. The test purports to assess students' acquired reasoning abilities while also predicting achievement scores when administered with the co-normed Iowa Tests. The author of the test is David F. Lohman, professor emeritus at the University of Iowa.
The CogAT is one of several tests used in the United States to help teachers or other school staff make student placement decisions for gifted education programs.
The most seventh edition of the CogAT was designed to be appropriate for non-native English speakers, and independent reviews indicate that the test's creators have been mostly successful in this goal.
Subtests
Each level of the CogAT includes test batteries with verbal, quantitative, or nonverbal items. Scores are reported separately for each category, and the three batteries may be administered separately.