CogAT Grade 2 study plan
CogAT Grade 2 · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Verbal reasoning & Quantitative reasoning
Define the three CogAT Grade 2 domains and the question types used in each, writing a one-line description for every type.
Explain to a child, in plain language, what a Verbal Analogies item asks and how to eliminate one wrong choice.
Build a 30-item picture-and-word analogy set from everyday objects (dog:puppy, bird:egg) and record the intended relationship for each pair.
Introduce a daily 10-minute routine of oral analogy practice using household items, and log each session.
Your checkpoint
A one-page domain map plus a 30-pair analogy list with the relationship labeled for each pair.
Verbal reasoning
Teach the four most common analogy relationships (category, function, part-whole, opposite) using at least four examples each.
Run two 15-minute oral practice rounds in which the child completes a sentence classification task ("Which one does not belong?") and record the reasoning given.
Create 20 picture-classification sets of four items where exactly one does not belong, and verify the intended rule for each set.
Model think-aloud reasoning for one item of each verbal type so the child hears how to justify an answer.
Your checkpoint
A 20-set classification bank with the rule written under each set, plus notes from two practice rounds.
Verbal reasoning & Quantitative reasoning
Introduce verbal analogies in sentence-completion form and practice 15 items with the child choosing between two options.
Teach number-series reasoning with simple +1, +2, +5, and +10 patterns, and have the child build three of their own series.
Practice counting and comparing quantities up to 100 using verbal prompts ("which is more, 47 or 74?").
Review errors from weeks 1-2 and re-teach any relationship the child missed twice.
Your checkpoint
A written error log listing every missed item from weeks 1-3 with the corrected reasoning.
Quantitative reasoning
Teach the four operations as story problems using small numbers (sums and differences within 20, doubles, simple sharing).
Drill relational concepts (more than, less than, equal to) with 20 comparison prompts read aloud.
Introduce simple equation balancing (e.g., 3 + __ = 7) and practice 15 items with counters as support.
Time a 10-item mixed quantitative check and record accuracy and completion time.
Your checkpoint
A scored 10-item quantitative check with accuracy and time recorded, plus the corrected version.
Quantitative reasoning & Nonverbal reasoning
Teach number-series patterns that combine two rules (alternating +2/+3, doubling) and practice 15 items.
Introduce figure classification with shapes: same shape, same size, same shading, rotated.
Have the child sort a set of 12 paper shapes into two groups and state the rule used for each group.
Review the week-4 check and re-teach the two most-missed quantitative item types.
Your checkpoint
A shape-sorting worksheet with 12 cut-out shapes, two written grouping rules, and the child's own explanation recorded.
Nonverbal reasoning
Teach figure analogies (shape A to shape B as shape C to ?) using color, size, rotation, and number of sides as the changing attribute.
Practice 20 paper-folding and hole-punch items using real paper, then predict the unfolded result before checking.
Introduce paper-folding sequences with two folds and have the child draw the unfolded pattern.
Run a 15-minute nonverbal practice round and note which attribute (shape, size, shading, position) caused each error.
Your checkpoint
A completed set of 10 real-paper fold-and-punch trials with the child's predicted unfold drawn before verification.
Verbal reasoning & Quantitative reasoning & Nonverbal reasoning
Run three timed 20-minute mixed practice sessions, one per domain, and record raw scores.
Re-teach the three weakest item types identified across all timed sessions.
Practice test-taking behaviors: reading all choices before answering, skipping and returning, and checking work.
Reduce reliance on counters and drawings for quantitative items to build mental fluency.
Your checkpoint
A three-session score sheet with per-domain raw scores, item-type error tallies, and a list of the three weakest types.
Verbal reasoning & Quantitative reasoning & Nonverbal reasoning
Run two full-length mixed practice sessions under quiet, timed conditions and score them.
Review every missed item and confirm the child can explain the correct reasoning aloud.
Revisit the weakest item types from week 7 and confirm improvement on at least two of the three.
Finalize a short test-day routine covering sleep, breakfast, and a calm pre-test warm-up of five easy items.
Your checkpoint
Two scored full-length practice results with a one-page test-day routine written and rehearsed once.
Milestones
Week 2: Child correctly completes at least 8 of 10 oral analogy items and can state the relationship for each correct answer.
Week 4: Quantitative check accuracy is at least 70% and the child solves 5 of 5 simple balancing equations with counters.
Week 6: Child predicts the unfolded result correctly on at least 7 of 10 real-paper fold-and-punch trials.
Week 8: Both full-length practice sessions are completed within time, and the three weakest item types from week 7 show improvement in at least two.