A practical guide to preparing your child for CogAT, NNAT, and OLSAT — the three most common gifted screening tests in the US. No paid subscription required.
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Most public school gifted programs use one of three tests. Which one depends on your school district:
Used in: Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and 25+ more states. Most common nationwide.
Study guide →
Used in: California, New York, Florida, many suburban districts. Nonverbal only.
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Used in: New York City (G&T programs), some NJ and CA districts. Verbal + Nonverbal.
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The honest truth: Gifted tests measure reasoning ability, not memorized knowledge. You can't "teach" a child to think more creatively. But you can reduce test-day anxiety, improve pacing, and make sure your child is comfortable with the format so their true ability shows. That's what prep actually does.
Effective prep has three components:
1. Format familiarity
Most young children have never seen multiple-choice picture-based questions on a computer. First-time exposure hurts scores. Even 4–6 practice sessions of 15 minutes each builds the visual recognition patterns needed to see these question types fluidly.
2. Vocabulary building (especially for CogAT/OLSAT)
The Verbal Battery of CogAT and the OLSAT both test vocabulary at a surprisingly advanced level. Reading aloud, using new words in context, and explicit vocabulary study 6–8 weeks out can move scores meaningfully.
3. Stamina and focus
CogAT and OLSAT run 45–90 minutes. Young children who aren't used to sustained focus may rush or disengage. Timed practice sessions help them learn to pace themselves and stay engaged until the last question.
8–12 weeks out
Learn the format
Look up which test your district uses. Visit the exam hub on OpenKidsPrep. Do 5–10 sample questions with your child to see how they react. Note which question types feel unfamiliar.
4–8 weeks out
Regular short sessions
15–20 min sessions, 3–4x per week. Mix of online practice questions and a workbook. Keep sessions positive — never push so hard it becomes stressful. Introduce vocabulary games for CogAT/OLSAT.
1–2 weeks out
Timed simulation + rest
Run one full timed practice test. Review any errors together calmly. Then STOP prep and let the child rest and play. Overprep in the final week raises anxiety and hurts performance.
Test day
Calm, rested, fed
Good sleep, good breakfast, no "we've been practicing for this!" pressure. Tell them it's just answering questions and doing their best. Test day confidence comes from preparation, not pep talks.
CogAT Hub
Practice Qs + study guide + flashcards
NNAT Hub
Pattern questions + prep guide
OLSAT Hub
Verbal + nonverbal practice
Flashcards
Key terms for all 7 tests
Glossary
25+ test terms defined
Prep Books
Recommended workbooks by test