Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Looking for CogAT info regarding GT screening

DD's CogAT score was just shy of our district's cutoff for the GT program. She is 2E with a visual/motor issue and it really showed on the non-verbal section of the test.

Our district's policy is not to accept outside testing. I am looking for resources to advocate for her since her GAI on the WISC was 132 and her VCI was 140, both of which would qualify her based on their cutoff of 98th percentile.

Can anyone provide me with links showing that the CogAT is a less valid test in this context? Thanks in advance!

A couple of random comments. Where we live SD do not accept outside testing, but I have heard (second hand, so I can't be certain is not just a rumor) that people DO use individual tests as part of an arbitration program. I think there are set dates by which families can make a case of why their Dc did not pass the group tests. Not sure, but it is worth a try to talk directly to them.

OTOH, I have heard from some people, that while those group tests DO leave out many gifted kids, the tests do identify those gifted kids who tend to do better in their programs": those that are good at following directions, both from people and in writing; are self-motivated to stay on task for long periods of time, and do not have any sort of LD. The way those programs are set up, they do not work well for children with SOME LD. However, they are a good match for students with other LD, since there is much more individualization.

DD is good at following instructions. Her LD really only affects her writing execution (not content). As she becomes more proficient with keyboarding, I anticipate it becoming less of an issue.

On the CogAT, her performance was low on the spatial reasoning items.

I'll be interested to hear other responses because there's a district local to us that has a self-contained program for highly gifted children. They use a cut-off of the 99.7th percentile, but they also use the CogAT as their screening tool. Their website indicates that they do not accept outside testing for appeals. I've been wondering if the CogAT is really designed to discern intellectual ability at that level!

We haven't had DS tested through this school district, but we have been contemplating because I do find the idea of a program that is designed for HG+ kids intriguing. How likely is it that scores obtained on the CogAT would correspond reasonably well with scores from the WPPSI or WISC?

Nan - I've seen 3 kids not do well on CoGAT (relatively speaking, they did well but not enough for GT program) and all three kids later scored 138+ FSIQ on the WISCIV.

As far as I understand CogAT doesn't correlate poorly, and in fact it is reasonable, for IQ in the middle range. Once you get to gifted, then it doesn't. As many other tests, it is not designed to discern MG from HG++.

I also understand that top percentiles CogAT translates into giftedness, but giftedness doesn't necessarily show in CogAT.

Yes, that's what I've heard, too. Does anyone have references to papers or articles regarding those assertions?

Just speaking from personal experience, my daughter's scores on the "quantitative" section was 115 one year and 149 another. The other sections have had large gaps as well. For these reasons, I don't believe that this is an accurate gifted screening tool, and truthfully, the "Cogat" made some of the elementary school years miserable for her, as she wasn't eligible for the programs.

As someone else said, from what I've heard, if a child hits high enough on it... I would not doubt the child is gifted. It doesn't go the other direction. I've known at least one child that was gifted (IQ test later), that did not pass CoGat at a high enough level.


My district is similar to yours. They accept CoGat and that is it. If you do not hit the cut-off you are not in the program. I've talked with one of the gifted coordinators a few times, because I was very concerned about my VERY shy daughter performing adequetely in a group test environment.
I pretty much got this sort of speil.


The program isn't for everyone, and while it is a gifted program, the program is going to fit some kids better than others. For a program that is focusing on accelerated academics, they question if a child is ready for such a program if they can not sit their and focus on their test.

I understand, but personally do not agree with this.

I'm not sure if any amount of data is going to get them to change their minds in your case, if the above is their thought process.

Tammy

In our case, being identified as GT merely gives one the option of signing up for honors classes beginning in Jr. High. The classes are open to all high achievers (even those not IDed as GT) but the kids who are IDed as GT are guaranteed a spot. The district is very crowded, so I would like my DD to have that option available to her if possible. She would not be locked into the honors classes if we decided they were inappropriate for some reason.