Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment CogAt test results

I am new to the arena of "gifted" children. My son has always been a little different in the way he sees the world around him. His teacher last year suggested that he take the GT assessment test given to enter the Gt program (CogAt) but it was too late to have him tested last year. We were new to the school discrict last year. His teacher noticed he was getting bored with the material and spoke more as an adult than a child. His teacher this year had him tested last Fall. He was not excepted because his composite score was only an 86 - (90 is needed for admission). His percentile ranks were 92 for Verbal, 71 for Quantitative and 87 for Non-verbal. He only scored a 71 in Quantitative because he didn't answer all the questions in the time given. He answered 46 our of 60 and all of his answers were correct. He just turned 9 and is in the 3rd grade. My question is, do these scores really mean anything? Why does it not matter that he got all the correct answers but just didn't finish the test? Aren't many gifted children perfectionists? My son can't go on to the next problem unless he is 100% sure of the answer. His teachers see him getting bored in class. He goes nuts when the other children have to read aloud. He scored a 9.3 on the STAR test last fall. I just want to keep his sense of wonder in learning.

Thanks for your input. He hasn't been given any other test. He answered all the questions on Verbal, and didn't answer 5 on nonverbal. There are only 65 Verbal questions total, 60 Quantitative and 65 Non-Verbal. So if a child only misses one question the score drops considerably. When he is given math tests that are timed,he gets 100% every time and in the time he would have been tested at the end of the school year. I talked to the GT teacher, she said he just didn't answer the last questions on the test. Even if he never gets into an advanced class, I really enjoy seeing how his mind works. He is addicted to any tv show that has engineering or science themes. IE, How it's made, Time Warp, Modern Marvels or Myth Busters. He always seems to come up with creative ways to solve problems and seems to understand concepts way beyond his years. He loves to play chess and my husband is starting to be afraid playing him anymore. I found out from one of the other parents that in Texas they only go by the CogAT test and teacher recommendations. Both his teacher from last year and this have stated they want to formally protest his non-admission. For all that would do. Thanks for the ear. Any suggestions on ways I can keep him interested in a public school setting without the GT label?

Now I am nervous about DS6 taking the CogAt in March.
I wish I had some good ideas, but I am in a similar boat...a little bit behind you.

Best of luck juliaidansarah.

I have read that the Cogat is for initial screening only, and to use it as the only testing available seems unlikely - I would strongly suggest you find out more from your district/county.
At the very least they might allow you to submit testing that you seek for your ds on your own. If the teachers think there is a way to protest/reapply then there probably is.
I have also read that it is not uncommon for gifted kids to blow these sorts of tests - perfectionism, boredom, etc. do play a part.


We are in another area of the country, but in a similar boat. The county here does have alternative individual tests they can do upon request/with sufficient reason to think the cogat scores are not representative of a child's full potential.
You might have already found this thread..
http://giftedissues.davidsongifted.org/BB/ubbthreads.php/topics/37118/Test_Scores#Post37118

I would also suggest the link found in this thread and just generally reading on this forum for more info on identification, testing, etc. Good luck!
http://giftedissues.davidsongifted....newest_guest_author_for_my_sit#Post37354

Chris, my school district uses the CoGAT as the ONLY test for admission into the gifted program. I know it's supposed to be only a screener but many places use it as THE test.

To the OP: I have 3 friends whose kids are all gifted and some HG+, all wouldn't have made it into GT programs based on the CoGAT. Get outside testing if you can.

He missed 5 questions on the Verbal portion of the test. Out of 65 questions. All were answered. It does seem sad to me that one must pay for outside testing to get the help your child needs. This wouldn't probably be an issue if he had a different learning disability. How do the families who can't afford private testing, tutors or special school and classes get help for their children?
He is especially well adjusted in his current class. He has the ability to modify his speech to fit the person he is conversing with. And doesn't seem at all bothered by others comments in class. Actually, he mostly gets in trouble when other students ask for his help. We have been extremely blessed with teachers so far who have understood his quirks and personality. But I am just concerned that he may not in the future be so lucky.