CogAT case studies
CogAT · Put your knowledge to work in context.
CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) is a K–12 cognitive abilities assessment published by Riverside Insights. It is used by schools to measure students' abilities, identify academic potential, and inform placement and instruction. According to the publisher, CogAT is the only assessment that measures verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning together, giving a complete picture of student potential. The test is most often associated with gifted and talented identification, but the publisher also positions it for fairer placement decisions, understanding multilingual learners' academic potential, and planning differentiated, strengths-based instruction. The CogAT case studies are 5 cases and about 3,750 words.
1Four Defensible Odd Ones Out
During a word-study block, four students each argue for a different odd one out from the same four words written on the board: BAT, PENGUIN, OSTRICH, BUTTERFLY. The teacher sets two ground rules before anyone votes.
710 words, about 4 min2Three Weighings That Do Not Fully Order the Tokens
The math club has four brass tokens labeled A, B, C, and D. Each token has a different whole-number weight in grams, and none weighs less than 1 g.
810 words, about 4 min3Two Punches in a Twice-Folded Square
A square sheet of paper has its corners labeled P (top-left), Q (top-right), R (bottom-right), and S (bottom-left). The top edge is folded down onto the bottom edge, then the left edge is folded over onto the right edge, leaving a quarter-size square packet.
751 words, about 4 min4Why the Reversed-Number Trick Always Lands on a Multiple of Nine
In a math circle, students are investigating what happens when a two-digit number is written backwards and subtracted from the original, larger number first. Four results go on the board: 52 − 25 = 27; 74 − 47 = 27; 81 − 18 = 63; 30 − 03 = 27.
731 words, about 4 min5Choosing the Tightest Analogy: Orchard Is to Apple
A vocabulary warm-up asks the class to complete the analogy ORCHARD : APPLE :: . Four candidate answers are on the board: A.
748 words, about 4 min