For youngsters, Cogat testing can be a confusing matter. However, it is actually a relatively simple concept, which allows for a child’s potential for development to be understood and identified. The term ‘Cogat’ is an acronym for Cognitive Abilities Test, and the exam undertaken takes into account the most basic of skills. This does not require for books to be read and learnt by heart or anything else of the sort. Instead, what is seen is the capacity for reasoning, thinking and logical point making, all of which are key factors in determining the child’s future potential. Anybody can go through a book and learn everything from cover to end, but that does not make them smart. It just talks up their capacity to learn. Conversely, the Cogat test checks for other factors.
The test is generally held for students within the grades of 3rd through 5th, and there is no prescribed syllabus, as mentioned before. The questions are divided into three basic categories, which are Non-verbal, Verbal and Quantitative. Each section of Cogat testing covers a specific skill set, and the scores combine to provide the final result. There is also a stipulated time limit for each section, and whether or not the test can be completed within the provided time also plays a role in determining the cognitive abilities skill of the student.
The Verbal section is aimed to target the vocabulary and speaking skills of the child, as well as the way in which they make different associations between words. Being good at verbal skills is one of the most basic of requirements when it comes to being able to understand concepts and excel at the scholastic level. Verbal analogies, sentence completion and classification are the three divisions within this section, and it is allotted a time slot in total of 30 minutes of the Cogat testing duration.
The Non-verbal section is the converse of the verbal one, and is aimed to understand the potential of students who might not be very good with the English language. It is comprised completely of different problems regarding shapes and geometric objects, which are universal and does not require a particular language in order to be understood. Similar to the previous section of Cogat testing, this one also has a time slot allotted for 30 minutes in total, with figure classification, analogies and analysis being the key sub-sections.
The Quantitative section is based on numbers, and tests the capacity of a child to reason in an analytical manner to figure out the correct answer. While it also possesses a time slot of 30 minutes, it is divided up unevenly amongst the three sub-sections. Students are required to relate various problems, build equations for the correct answer match and figure out number series. All three require children to think logically, and the process of Cogat testing to find out where they stand in the area. As is quite clear, the process and exam itself is quite easy, and it does not point to the intelligence of a child. It simply figures out what their analytical skills are, and can be quite useful for their future as well.